Presbyterian Church in the United States
Encyclopedia
The Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) was a Protestant Christian denomination
in the Southern and border states
of the United States
that existed from 1861 to 1983. That year it merged with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
(UPCUSA) to form the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
.
Presbyterianism
, the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
(PCUSA), after that body's General Assembly passed the Gardiner Spring Resolutions passed in May 1861. These resolutions denounced secession
as an act of treason. Prior to the split, the Old School Presbyterian Church was the only mainline Protestant denomination to maintain a national unity across sectional lines as late as mid-1861. During the American Civil War
, the denomination was known as the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America.
Also divisive was the Civil Rights Movement
, the response to which in effect split the PCUS into three factions: a liberal group desiring full endorsement of the movement's platform, a moderate faction desiring church-wide consensus before taking positive action, and a conservative/traditionalist group vigorously opposing what it believed was the meddling of the church in the civil and cultural traditions of its native region. Conservatives argued that church activity on behalf of racial desegregation and voting rights constituted a violation of the doctrine of "the spirituality of the church," a late-19th century principle developed by PCUS theologians that declared that social reform and political participation were duties or pursuits to be taken up by individuals, not church courts. In particular, the conservative group defended that teaching aggressively, a doctrine that liberal critics deemed a justification for maintaining racial segregation
and preserving the social standing of historic upper-class elites within Southern society, a fair percentage of which were PCUS members.
Having been eventually defeated numerous times in the General Assembly by a coalition of the liberals and moderates from the 1960s onward, some PCUS conservatives, primarily from non-metropolitan parts of the Deep South
, founded what today is the Presbyterian Church in America
(PCA) in late 1973, formally citing its rationale as "[a] long-developing theological liberalism which denied the deity of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy and authority of Scripture" on the part of PCUS leaders. Some evangelicals, however, remained in the PCUS in order to contend for their beliefs; this group was more willing to perceive common cause with UPCUSA conservatives. Nonetheless, by the 2000s, some churches from both heritages began to depart the post-merger denomination over similar concerns and moral disputes, namely in favor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
After the PCA congregations left, the PCUS was able to work more closely with the UPCUSA towards a merger which finally happened in 1983 as the two formed the present Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Today, this is the largest Presbyterian denominational body in the country with around 2 million congregants.
, many ministers and churches, especially in larger cities, began to adopt a more modernist understanding of doctrine and church life.
One important product of this liberalization was ecumenism
, expressed in merger talks with the "northern" Presbyterian Church, known as the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America after 1958 (despite the common reference as "northern," the UPCUSA had congregations in all 50 states by the 20th century, with most of its southern churches the result of a 1906 merger with most of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
or the affiliation of African-American churches in the South Atlantic
states after the Civil War). In 1946, with cooperation of three other denominations, it formed the United Andean Indian Mission
, an agency that sent missionaries to Ecuador. Among some of the other liberalizing trends were the ordination of women to the offices of elder and deacon
, the ratification of a pro-choice
position on abortion by the General Assembly, and the rejection by that assembly of the plenary verbal inspiration of the Bible
, considered by conservatives as a touchstone dogma.
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in the Southern and border states
Border states (Civil War)
In the context of the American Civil War, the border states were slave states that did not declare their secession from the United States before April 1861...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that existed from 1861 to 1983. That year it merged with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was the largest branch of Presbyterianism in the United States from May 28, 1958 to 1983...
(UPCUSA) to form the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
.
History
This group split from the main national body of Old SchoolOld School-New School Controversy
The Old School-New School Controversy was a schism of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America which began in 1837. Later, both the Old School and New School branches further split over the issue of slavery, into southern and northern churches...
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
, the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was a Presbyterian denomination in the United States. It was organized in 1789 under the leadership of John Witherspoon in the wake of the American Revolution and existed until 1958 when it merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North...
(PCUSA), after that body's General Assembly passed the Gardiner Spring Resolutions passed in May 1861. These resolutions denounced secession
Secession in the United States
Secession in the United States can refer to secession of a state from the United States, secession of part of a state from that state to form a new state, or secession of an area from a city or county....
as an act of treason. Prior to the split, the Old School Presbyterian Church was the only mainline Protestant denomination to maintain a national unity across sectional lines as late as mid-1861. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the denomination was known as the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America.
Also divisive was the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, the response to which in effect split the PCUS into three factions: a liberal group desiring full endorsement of the movement's platform, a moderate faction desiring church-wide consensus before taking positive action, and a conservative/traditionalist group vigorously opposing what it believed was the meddling of the church in the civil and cultural traditions of its native region. Conservatives argued that church activity on behalf of racial desegregation and voting rights constituted a violation of the doctrine of "the spirituality of the church," a late-19th century principle developed by PCUS theologians that declared that social reform and political participation were duties or pursuits to be taken up by individuals, not church courts. In particular, the conservative group defended that teaching aggressively, a doctrine that liberal critics deemed a justification for maintaining racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
and preserving the social standing of historic upper-class elites within Southern society, a fair percentage of which were PCUS members.
Having been eventually defeated numerous times in the General Assembly by a coalition of the liberals and moderates from the 1960s onward, some PCUS conservatives, primarily from non-metropolitan parts of the Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
, founded what today is the Presbyterian Church in America
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
(PCA) in late 1973, formally citing its rationale as "[a] long-developing theological liberalism which denied the deity of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy and authority of Scripture" on the part of PCUS leaders. Some evangelicals, however, remained in the PCUS in order to contend for their beliefs; this group was more willing to perceive common cause with UPCUSA conservatives. Nonetheless, by the 2000s, some churches from both heritages began to depart the post-merger denomination over similar concerns and moral disputes, namely in favor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
After the PCA congregations left, the PCUS was able to work more closely with the UPCUSA towards a merger which finally happened in 1983 as the two formed the present Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Today, this is the largest Presbyterian denominational body in the country with around 2 million congregants.
Beliefs and practices
The PCUS was one of the more conservative bodies of Presbyterianism throughout most of its history, with a strong emphasis on subscription to the Westminster Confession and interest in Calvinist scholasticism, particularly as expressed in Common Sense Realism and later the Princeton Theology. However, in the immediate years after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many ministers and churches, especially in larger cities, began to adopt a more modernist understanding of doctrine and church life.
One important product of this liberalization was ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
, expressed in merger talks with the "northern" Presbyterian Church, known as the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America after 1958 (despite the common reference as "northern," the UPCUSA had congregations in all 50 states by the 20th century, with most of its southern churches the result of a 1906 merger with most of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian Christian denomination spawned by the Second Great Awakening. In 2007, it had an active membership of less than 50,000 and about 800 congregations, the majority of which are concentrated in the United States...
or the affiliation of African-American churches in the South Atlantic
South Atlantic States
The South Atlantic United States form one of the nine Census Bureau Divisions within the United States that are recognized by the United States Census Bureau....
states after the Civil War). In 1946, with cooperation of three other denominations, it formed the United Andean Indian Mission
United Andean Indian Mission
The United Andean Indian Mission , was an ecumenical and interdenominational Protestant mission, formed in the United States of America in 1946 with the purpose of working among the indigenous peoples in Ecuador, South America...
, an agency that sent missionaries to Ecuador. Among some of the other liberalizing trends were the ordination of women to the offices of elder and deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, the ratification of a pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
position on abortion by the General Assembly, and the rejection by that assembly of the plenary verbal inspiration of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, considered by conservatives as a touchstone dogma.
Notable members
- L. Nelson BellL. Nelson BellLemuel Nelson Bell was a medical missionary in China and the father-in-law of famous evangelist Billy Graham. Few people had more influence on Billy Graham than Bell. -Life:Bell was born in Longdale, Virginia...
(father-in-law of Billy Graham). - Reverend Bob Childress, Appalachian pastor featured in the book "The Man Who Moved A Mountain".
- Robert Lewis DabneyRobert Lewis DabneyRobert Lewis Dabney was an American Christian theologian, a Southern Presbyterian pastor, and Confederate Army chaplain. He was also chief of staff and biographer to Stonewall Jackson. His biography of Jackson remains in print today.Dabney and James Henley Thornwell were two of Southern...
- John L. Girardeau
- Joseph R. WilsonJoseph R. WilsonJoseph Ruggles Wilson, Sr. was a prominent Presbyterian theologian and father of President Woodrow Wilson and of Joseph Ruggles Wilson, Jr..-Biography:...
(Woodrow Wilson's father) - a founder of PCUS and its first permanent stated clerk - Benjamin Morgan Palmer
- James Henley ThornwellJames Henley ThornwellJames Henley Thornwell was an American Presbyterian preacher and religious writer.Born in Marlboro District, South Carolina, on December 9, 1812; Thornwell graduated from South Carolina College at nineteen, studied briefly at Harvard, then entered the Presbyterian ministry...
- J. Vernon McGeeJ. Vernon McGeeJohn Vernon McGee, Th.D., LL.D, was an ordained Presbyterian minister who later pastored an interdenominational church, a Bible teacher, theologian, and was also a radio minister.-Early Years and Education:...