Initially, the church did well, including sending missionaries to India, and adopting both a Book of Discipline and a Directory for Public Worship.
[2]: 82 Debates on issues such as exclusive psalmody,[2]: 85 the use of instruments in worship,[2]: 92 and union with the UPCNA[2]: 89 led to even further dissension and division in the church.
[5] By the 1950s, the RPCGS had been moving away from its Covenanter heritage, including dropping its Reformation Principles Exhibited (1807) as a subordinate standard in 1959,[2]: 355 and had also been looking to merge with another denomination.
Eventually, thanks to influence of newer people in the denomination such as Gordon Clark, discussions began with the Bible Presbyterian Church-Columbus Synod, which included members such as Francis Schaeffer and Jay E. Adams.
During the years of negotiations, the BPC-Columbus Synod would eventually rename itself, becoming the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.