the pca had originally invited three denominations to the merger, including the orthodox presbyterian church (opc) and the reformed presbyterian church of north america (rpcna). the opc voted to accept the invitation to join the pca, but the pca voted against receiving them. the pca presbyteries did not approve the application by the required three-quarters majority, and so the proposed invitation process was terminated without the opc presbyteries voting on the issue. the rpces was the only church to carry through with the merger. the merger was called "joining and receiving." when a sufficient number of rpces and pca presbyteries voted in favor of the plan, the final votes occurred at the respective annual meetings, both held in grand rapids, michigan: the rpces synod voted to join the pca on june 12, 1982 and the pca general assembly voted to receive the rpces on june 14. the reformed presbyterian church, evangelical synod agencies and committees were united with their pca counterparts. the history and historical documents of the rpces were incorporated into the pca. graduates from covenant college and seminary were also officially recognized.