Presbyterian Church History
The following concise history is excerpted from:
About Being Presbyterian...a guide to more effective church membership. 2001 ed. South Deerfield: Channing L. Bete Co., Inc., 1974.
Learn About Being a Presbyterian. 2001 ed. South Deerfield: Channing L. Bete Co., Inc., 2000.
The History of the Presbyterian Church. 1999 ed. South Deerfield: Channing L. Bete Co., Inc., 1983.
Like all Christian churches, the Presbyterian church, traces its roots back to the early church in Jerusalem. Many people consider modern Presbyterianism to be a rebirth of the early church of the New Testament.
The Protestant Reformation moved forward in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther fought against the pretensions of authority by the Pope and called for direct authority from God.
John Calvin, called the father of Presbyterianism, converted to Protestantism in 1533. He interpreted the Bible as the revelation of God, emphasizing:
- Theology
- Worship
- Education
- Thrift
- Ethical behavior
- Representative government
for his followers. From his home city, Geneva, Calvin's ideas spread throughout Europe.
The Scottish Protestant, John Knox, fled persecution in his homeland and studied with Calvin in Geneva. He returned in 1559 and established Presbyterianism in Scotland.
In England the "Westminster Assembly" of 151 Presbyterians worked steadily between 1643 and 1649 to write the doctrinal guides which Presbyterians now recognize along with the Bible as some of their basic texts and two main sources for inspiration and guidance in their faith.
Presbyterians escaped persecution in Europe and settled in America. Presbyterianism was so prevalent in America that some British called the American Revolution the "Presbyterian Revolt". At least 14 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Presbyterians including clergyman John Witherspoon.
The first presbytery in America was established in Philadelphia in 1706. During the 1800's, disagreement over slavery and Evangelism broke the church into northern and southern branches. The two branches reunited in 1983 to form the Presbyterian Church (USA).
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