Disagreements over revivalism, itinerant preaching, and educational requirements for clergy led to a division known as the Old Side–New Side Controversy that lasted from 1741 to 1758. In the South, the Presbyterians were evangelical dissenters, mostly Scotch-Irish, who expanded into Virginia between 1740 and 1758.
Disagreements over revivalism, itinerant preaching, and educational requirements for clergy led to a division known as the Old Side–New Side Controversy that lasted from 1741 to 1758. In the South, the Presbyterians were evangelical dissenters, mostly Scotch-Irish, who expanded into Virginia between 1740 and 1758.
In 1751, Scottish Covenanters began sending ministers to America, and the Seceders were doing the same by 1753.
In 1751, Scottish Covenanters began sending ministers to America, and the Seceders were doing the same by 1753.
Disagreements over revivalism, itinerant preaching, and educational requirements for clergy led to a division known as the Old Side–New Side Controversy that lasted from 1741 to 1758. In the South, the Presbyterians were evangelical dissenters, mostly Scotch-Irish, who expanded into Virginia between 1740 and 1758.
The Briery church purchased five slaves in 1766 and raised money for church expenses by hiring them out to local planters. After the United States achieved independence from Great Britain, Presbyterian leaders felt that a national Presbyterian denomination was needed, and the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) was organized.
The first general assembly was held in Philadelphia in 1789.
In 1810, frontier revivalists split from the PCUSA and organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Throughout the 1820s, support and opposition to revivalism hardened into well-defined factions, the New School and Old School respectively.
By the 1838, the Old School–New School Controversy had divided the PCUSA.
In 1858, the majority of Covenanters and Seceders merged to create the United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPCNA). ===19th century=== In the decades after independence, many Americans including Calvinists (Presbyterians and Congregationalists), Methodists, and Baptists were swept up in Protestant religious revivals that would later become known as the Second Great Awakening.
There were now two general assemblies each claiming to represent the PCUSA. In 1858, the New School split along sectional lines when its Southern synods and presbyteries established the pro-slavery United Synod of the Presbyterian Church.
Old School Presbyterians followed in 1861 after the start of hostilities in the American Civil War with the formation of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America.
The Presbyterian Church in the CSA absorbed the smaller United Synod in 1864.
In 1869, the northern PCUSA's Old School and New School factions reunited as well and was known as the "Northern Presbyterian Church". ===20th century to the present=== The early part of the 20th century saw continued growth in both major sections of the church.
During the 20th century, Presbyterians were offered optional use of liturgical books: The Book of Common Worship of 1906 The Book of Common Worship of 1932 The Book of Common Worship of 1946 The Worshipbook of 1970 (spelling is correct) The Book of Common Worship of 1993 For more information, see Liturgical book of the Presbyterian Church (USA) In regard to vestments, the Directory for Worship leaves that decision up to the ministers.
The very first Youth Triennium was held in 1980 at Indiana University and the conference for teens is an effort of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the nation; Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, the first African-American denomination to embrace Presbyterianism in the reformed tradition. Since 1907, Montreat, North Carolina has hosted a youth conference every year.
In 1920, it absorbed the Welsh Calvinist Methodist Church.
Nelson is the first African American to be elected to the office, and is a third-generation Presbyterian pastor. The Stated Clerk is also responsible for the records of the denomination, a function formalized in 1925 when the General Assembly created the "Department of Historical Research and Conservation" as part of the Office of the General Assembly.
Gresham Machen, a former Princeton Theological Seminary New Testament professor who had founded Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929, and who was a PCUSA minister, many of these conservatives would establish what became known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936.
During the 20th century, Presbyterians were offered optional use of liturgical books: The Book of Common Worship of 1906 The Book of Common Worship of 1932 The Book of Common Worship of 1946 The Worshipbook of 1970 (spelling is correct) The Book of Common Worship of 1993 For more information, see Liturgical book of the Presbyterian Church (USA) In regard to vestments, the Directory for Worship leaves that decision up to the ministers.
Gresham Machen, a former Princeton Theological Seminary New Testament professor who had founded Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929, and who was a PCUSA minister, many of these conservatives would establish what became known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936.
For example, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church broke away from the Presbyterian Church in the USA (PC-USA) in 1936. More recently formed Presbyterian denominations have posed a threat to modern day PC(USA) congregations disenchanted with the direction of the denomination, but wishing to continue in a Reformed, Presbyterian denomination.
During the 20th century, Presbyterians were offered optional use of liturgical books: The Book of Common Worship of 1906 The Book of Common Worship of 1932 The Book of Common Worship of 1946 The Worshipbook of 1970 (spelling is correct) The Book of Common Worship of 1993 For more information, see Liturgical book of the Presbyterian Church (USA) In regard to vestments, the Directory for Worship leaves that decision up to the ministers.
The UPCUSA also adopted a Book of Confessions in 1967, which would include the Confession of 1967, the Westminster Confession and Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic and Scots Confessions and the Barmen Declaration. An attempt to reunite the United Presbyterian Church in the USA with the Presbyterian Church in the United States in the late 1950s failed when the latter church was unwilling to accept ecclesiastical centralization.
The United Presbyterian Church of North America merged with the PCUSA in 1958 to form the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA). Under Eugene Carson Blake, the UPCUSA's stated clerk, the denomination entered into a period of social activism and ecumenical endeavors, which culminated in the development of the Confession of 1967 which was the church's first new confession of faith in three centuries.
The 170th General Assembly in 1958 authorized a committee to develop a brief contemporary statement of faith.
The first action was to adopt a different translation of the Heidelberg Catechism from 1962, removing the words "homosexual perversions" among other changes.
The 177th General Assembly in 1965 considered and amended the draft confession and sent a revised version for general discussion within the church.
(The combined membership of the PCUS and United Presbyterian Church peaked in 1965 at 4.25 million communicant members.) The PC (USA) has had the sharpest decline in their membership among the protestant denominations in U.S.A.
The 178th General Assembly in 1966 accepted a revised draft and sent it to presbyteries throughout the church for final ratification.
The United Presbyterian Church of North America merged with the PCUSA in 1958 to form the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA). Under Eugene Carson Blake, the UPCUSA's stated clerk, the denomination entered into a period of social activism and ecumenical endeavors, which culminated in the development of the Confession of 1967 which was the church's first new confession of faith in three centuries.
As the confession was ratified by more than 90% of all presbyteries, the 178th General Assembly finally adopted it in 1967.
The UPCUSA also adopted a Book of Confessions in 1967, which would include the Confession of 1967, the Westminster Confession and Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic and Scots Confessions and the Barmen Declaration. An attempt to reunite the United Presbyterian Church in the USA with the Presbyterian Church in the United States in the late 1950s failed when the latter church was unwilling to accept ecclesiastical centralization.
Like other mainline denominations, the PC(USA) has also seen a great deal of demographic aging, with fewer new members and declining membership since 1967. ====Social justice initiatives and renewal movements==== In the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, the General Assembly of PC(USA) adopted several social justice initiatives, which covered a range of topics including: stewardship of God's creation, world hunger, homelessness, and LGBT issues.
This group formed the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Attempts at union between the churches (UPCUSA and PCUS) were renewed in the 1970s, culminating in the merger of the two churches to form the Presbyterian Church (USA) on June 10, 1983.
During the 20th century, Presbyterians were offered optional use of liturgical books: The Book of Common Worship of 1906 The Book of Common Worship of 1932 The Book of Common Worship of 1946 The Worshipbook of 1970 (spelling is correct) The Book of Common Worship of 1993 For more information, see Liturgical book of the Presbyterian Church (USA) In regard to vestments, the Directory for Worship leaves that decision up to the ministers.
This is taken from Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, NYC Order of Worship | Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church The creation of the Service for the Lord's Day was one of the most positive contributions of the Worshipbook of 1970.
churches used in the 1970s and 80s in a successful campaign to end apartheid in South Africa". A second resolution, calling for an end to the construction of a wall by the state of Israel, passed.
In the meantime, a conservative group broke away from the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1973, mainly over the issues of women's ordination and a perceived drift toward theological liberalism.
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), which does not allow ordained female clergy, separated from Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1973 and has subsequently become the second largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States.
The very first Youth Triennium was held in 1980 at Indiana University and the conference for teens is an effort of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the nation; Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, the first African-American denomination to embrace Presbyterianism in the reformed tradition. Since 1907, Montreat, North Carolina has hosted a youth conference every year.
In 2012, the PC(USA) granted permission, nationally, to begin ordaining openly gay and lesbian clergy. Since 1980, the More Light Churches Network has served many congregations and individuals within American Presbyterianism who promote the full participation of all people in the PC(USA) regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), which gives local presbyteries the option of allowing ordained female pastors, broke away from the United Presbyterian Church and incorporated in 1981.
The PC(USA) was established by the 1983 merger of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, whose churches were located in the Southern and border states, with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, whose congregations could be found in every state.
This group formed the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Attempts at union between the churches (UPCUSA and PCUS) were renewed in the 1970s, culminating in the merger of the two churches to form the Presbyterian Church (USA) on June 10, 1983.
Few have chosen to join the larger more conservative Presbyterian Church in America, which does not permit female clergy. ====Youth==== Since 1983 the Presbyterian Youth Triennium has been held every three years at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, US, and is open to Presbyterian high school students throughout the world.
In 1983, Montreat Conference Center became a National Conference Center of the PC(USA) when the northern and southern denominational churches reunited. ==Structure== ===Constitution=== The Constitution of PC(USA) is composed of two portions: Part I, the Book of Confessions and Part II, the Book of Order.
Statistics shows steadily decline since 1983.
A new national headquarters was established in Louisville, Kentucky in 1988 replacing the headquarters of the UPCUSA in New York City and the PCUS located in Atlanta, Georgia. The merger essentially consolidated moderate-to-liberal American Presbyterians into one body.
Like other mainline denominations, the PC(USA) has also seen a great deal of demographic aging, with fewer new members and declining membership since 1967. ====Social justice initiatives and renewal movements==== In the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, the General Assembly of PC(USA) adopted several social justice initiatives, which covered a range of topics including: stewardship of God's creation, world hunger, homelessness, and LGBT issues.
During the 20th century, Presbyterians were offered optional use of liturgical books: The Book of Common Worship of 1906 The Book of Common Worship of 1932 The Book of Common Worship of 1946 The Worshipbook of 1970 (spelling is correct) The Book of Common Worship of 1993 For more information, see Liturgical book of the Presbyterian Church (USA) In regard to vestments, the Directory for Worship leaves that decision up to the ministers.
The Book of Common Worship of 1993 leaned heavily upon this service. ==Influence== Presbyterians are among the wealthiest religious groups and are disproportionately represented in American business, law, and politics. Many Presbyterians have been Presidents, the latest being Ronald Reagan; and they represent 13% of the U.S.
Despite declines in the total membership of the PC(USA), the percentage of racial-ethnic minority members has stayed about the same since 1995.
The partnership is considered incomplete until the partnering communions reconcile their understanding of ordination and devise an orderly exchange of clergy. ==Current controversies== ===Homosexuality=== Paragraph G-6.0106b of the Book of Order, which was adopted in 1996, prohibited the ordination of those who were not faithful in heterosexual marriage or chaste in singleness.
It is a member of Churches for Middle East Peace. ===Formula of agreement=== In 1997 the PCUSA and three other churches of Reformation heritage: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ, acted on an ecumenical proposal of historic importance, known as A Formula of Agreement.
This paragraph was included in the Book of Order from 1997 to 2011, and was commonly referred to by its pre-ratification designation, "Amendment B".
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians was formed in 1997 to support repeal of "Amendment B" and to encourage networking amongst like-minded clergy and congregations.
In 1998 the Seventh Plenary of the Consultation on Church Union approved a document "Churches in Covenant Communion: The Church of Christ Uniting" as a plan for the formation of a covenant communion of churches.
Like other mainline denominations, the PC(USA) has also seen a great deal of demographic aging, with fewer new members and declining membership since 1967. ====Social justice initiatives and renewal movements==== In the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, the General Assembly of PC(USA) adopted several social justice initiatives, which covered a range of topics including: stewardship of God's creation, world hunger, homelessness, and LGBT issues.
In 2002 the nine denominations inaugurated the new relationship and became known as Churches Uniting in Christ.
Until the 216th assembly met in Richmond, Virginia in 2004, the General Assembly met annually; since 2004, the General Assembly has met biennially in even-numbered years.
Recently this provision has been vigorously tested in courts of law. ===Israeli–Palestinian conflict=== In June 2004, the General Assembly met in Richmond, Virginia, and adopted by a vote of 431–62 a resolution that called on the church's committee on Mission Responsibility through Investment (MRTI) "to initiate a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel".
For example, in 2005, the PC(USA) claimed 318,291 baptized, but not confirmed, members and nearly 500,000 inactive members in addition to active members.
Additionally, the Assembly approved amending the Book of Order that would change the definition of marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two people, traditionally between a man and a woman". ===General Assembly 2006=== The 2006 Report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church, in theory, attempted to find common ground.
The recommendation for more control by local presbyteries and sessions is viewed by its opposition as a method for bypassing the constitutional restrictions currently in place concerning ordination and marriage, effectively making the constitutional "standard" entirely subjective. In the General Assembly gathering of June 2006, Presbyterian voting Commissioners passed an "authoritative interpretation", recommended by the Theological Task Force, of the Book of Order (the church constitution).
On June 20, 2006, the General Assembly voted 298 to 221 (or 57% to 43%) to approve such interpretation.
Some critics of the divestment policy accused church leaders of anti-Semitism. In June 2006, after the General Assembly in Birmingham, Alabama changed policy (details), both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups praised the resolution.
The former Stated Clerk of the General Assembly is Gradye Parsons, who had served in that role since 2008 and was unanimously reelected in 2012.
In that same session on June 20, the General Assembly also voted 405 to 92 (with 4 abstentions) to uphold the constitutional standard for ordination requiring fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness. ===General Assembly 2008=== The General Assembly of 2008 took several actions related to homosexuality.
This third action failed to obtain the required approval of a majority of the presbyteries by June 2009.
Like other mainline denominations, the PC(USA) has also seen a great deal of demographic aging, with fewer new members and declining membership since 1967. ====Social justice initiatives and renewal movements==== In the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, the General Assembly of PC(USA) adopted several social justice initiatives, which covered a range of topics including: stewardship of God's creation, world hunger, homelessness, and LGBT issues.
This will require the approval of the 2010 and 2012 General Assemblies as well as the votes of the presbyteries after the 2010 Assembly.
Fourth, a resolution was adopted to affirm the definition of marriage from Scripture and the Confessions as being between a man and a woman. ===General Assembly 2010=== In July 2010, by a vote of 373 to 323, the General Assembly voted to propose to the presbyteries for ratification a constitutional amendment to remove from the Book of Order section G-6.0106.b.
As of 2011, the PC(USA) no longer excludes Partnered Gay and Lesbian ministers from the ministry.
This paragraph was included in the Book of Order from 1997 to 2011, and was commonly referred to by its pre-ratification designation, "Amendment B".
Several attempts were made to remove this from the Book of Order, ultimately culminating in its removal in 2011.
In 2011, the Presbyteries of the PC(USA) passed Amendment 10-A permitting congregations to ordain openly gay and lesbian elders and deacons, and allowing presbyteries to ordain ministers without reference to the fidelity/chastity provision, saying "governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates". Many Presbyterian scholars, pastors, and theologians have been heavily involved in the debate over homosexuality over the years.
Other organizations of Presbyterians, such as the Confessing Movement and the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, have organized on the other side of the issue to support the fidelity/chastity standard for ordination, which was removed in 2011. The Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to allow same-sex marriages on June 19, 2014 during its 221st General Assembly, making it one of the largest Christian denominations in the world to allow same-sex unions.
A majority of presbytery votes was reached in May 2011.
The constitutional amendment took effect July 10, 2011.
The former Stated Clerk of the General Assembly is Gradye Parsons, who had served in that role since 2008 and was unanimously reelected in 2012.
The Presbyterian Church of India's cooperation with the Presbyterian Church (USA) was dissolved in 2012 when the PC(USA) voted to ordain openly gay clergy to the ministry.
In 2012, the PC(USA) granted permission, nationally, to begin ordaining openly gay and lesbian clergy. Since 1980, the More Light Churches Network has served many congregations and individuals within American Presbyterianism who promote the full participation of all people in the PC(USA) regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
This will require the approval of the 2010 and 2012 General Assemblies as well as the votes of the presbyteries after the 2010 Assembly.
Average denominational worship attendance dropped to 565,467 in 2017 from 748,774 in 2013.
Other organizations of Presbyterians, such as the Confessing Movement and the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, have organized on the other side of the issue to support the fidelity/chastity standard for ordination, which was removed in 2011. The Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to allow same-sex marriages on June 19, 2014 during its 221st General Assembly, making it one of the largest Christian denominations in the world to allow same-sex unions.
Each ordaining body, the session for deacon or elder and the presbytery for minister, is now responsible to make its own interpretation of what scripture and the confessions require of ordained officers. ===General Assembly 2014=== In June 2014, the General Assembly approved a change in the wording of its constitution to define marriage a contract "between a woman and a man" to being "between two people, traditionally a man and a woman".
The PC(USA) subsequently withdrew the publication from sale on its website. On June 20, 2014 the General Assembly in Detroit approved a measure (310–303) calling for divestment from stock in Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions in protest of Israeli policies on the West Bank.
Parsons did not stand for re-election at the 222nd General Assembly meeting in 2016, and J.
Herbert Nelson was elected Stated Clerk at the 2016 General Assembly meeting in Portland.
Average denominational worship attendance dropped to 565,467 in 2017 from 748,774 in 2013.
Elected in 2018 is Teaching Elder Diane Givens Moffett (2018- ). The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) is the highest Church court of the denomination.
As of 2020, the denomination has 1,245,354 members and about 8,925 local congregations. The average local Presbyterian Church has 148 members (the mean in 2018).
The similarly named Presbyterian Church in America is a separate denomination whose congregations can also trace their history to the various schisms and mergers of Presbyterian churches in the United States. The denomination had 1,245,354 active members and 18,785 ordained ministers in 8,925 congregations at the end of 2020.
As of 2020, the denomination has 1,245,354 members and about 8,925 local congregations. The average local Presbyterian Church has 148 members (the mean in 2018).
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