United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
Encyclopedia
The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA, UPUSA, or UP) was the largest branch of Presbyterianism
in the United States
from May 28, 1958 to 1983. It was formed by the union of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
(PCUSA), often referred to, inaccurately, mostly by Southerners
, as the "Northern" Presbyterian Church, with the United Presbyterian Church of North America
(UPCNA), a smaller church of Covenanter
-Seceder tradition at a conference in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in May 1958. Vigorous ecumenical activity on the part of PCUSA leaders led to this merger, something of a reunion of two long-separated branches of the larger Presbyterian family deriving from the British Isles
.
and parts of Ohio
. One institutional expression of the union was the consolidation of two nearby seminaries into the new Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
.
As had been customary for centuries, the UPCUSA originally held solely to the Westminster Confession of Faith
and catechisms. But, in the 1960s, under the increasing awareness of the diversity of Reformed theologies in Europe
that had nurtured the neo-orthodox theological movement, the church appointed a commission to examine and revise, if needed, the traditional standards of doctrine required of ministers and ruling elders
. The commission proposed adding several more confessions as doctrinal guides (as opposed to a strictly-enforced "system of Scriptural doctrine," as Westminster was historically conceived) in the UPCUSA Book of Confessions
; it also developed a new statement of beliefs, the Confession of 1967
, which was heavily influenced by the biblical theology
movement of the mid-20th century. Despite strong opposition from conservative evangelicals, much of which dovetailed with their hostility toward the denomination's perceived focus on social action that the Confession of 1967 in particular appeared to endorse, nine-tenths of the presbyteries approved the new documents.
Generally speaking, the UPCUSA (especially its leadership) was a strong supporter of progressive
causes, such as civil rights
and feminism
. Like most traditional "mainline" Protestant churches in the U.S., the UPCUSA began to decline numerically in the mid-1960s, reversing a 20-year period of growth on the heels of World War II
; some of those losses can be attributed to defections of conservatives (sometimes entire congregations) to evangelical Presbyterian (or other) denominations on the one hand, and on the other, by children who chose for various reasons not to follow their parents' footsteps into church membership. The year 1981 witnessed a number of evangelical congregations leave in order to form the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In response to this action, that year's General Assembly modified the UPCUSA Book of Order to legally restrain a local church from taking its property to another denomination, without explicit release from its presbytery.
Still, the UPCUSA went forward with its ecumenical ambitions, the primary of which was reunion with the Presbyterian Church in the United States
(PCUS, often called, inaccurately, the "Southern" church), which split from the PCUSA in 1861 at the start of the Civil War
. Although the UPCUSA sought from its beginning in putting into effect a merger between the two churches, it was not until the 1970s, when a significant number of conservative PCUS congregations left to form the Presbyterian Church in America
, that talks gained strong momentum. A decade's work on the part of both churches resulted in the current-day Presbyterian Church (USA)
, which began in 1983 (the current PC(USA) should not be confused with the earlier PCUSA, which had the words in its formal title spelled out after the word Church).
, Robert McAfee Brown
, Lloyd John Ogilvie
, William Sloane Coffin
, and David H. C. Read
. Among its members was President Dwight Eisenhower.
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,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from May 28, 1958 to 1983. It was formed by the union of 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), often referred to, inaccurately, mostly by Southerners
Southerners
Southerners may refer to:* Southerners Sports Club , an informal, non-commercial Bangkok-based club of expats and Thais.* Southerners, are a group of Mexican American street gangs with origins in the oldest barrios of Southern California....
, as the "Northern" Presbyterian Church, with the United Presbyterian Church of North America
United Presbyterian Church of North America
The United Presbyterian Church of North America was an American Presbyterian denomination that existed for exactly one hundred years. It was formed on May 26, 1858 by the union of the Northern branch of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with the Associate Presbyterian Church at a...
(UPCNA), a smaller church of Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
-Seceder tradition at a conference in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in May 1958. Vigorous ecumenical activity on the part of PCUSA leaders led to this merger, something of a reunion of two long-separated branches of the larger Presbyterian family deriving from the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
.
History
By the time of the merger, the PCUSA had churches in all 50 states, while the heaviest concentration of UPCNA congregations could be found in Western PennsylvaniaWestern Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
and parts of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. One institutional expression of the union was the consolidation of two nearby seminaries into the new Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, founded in 1794, is a graduate theological institution associated with the Presbyterian Church USA. It is located in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and houses one of the largest theological libraries in the nation...
.
As had been customary for centuries, the UPCUSA originally held solely to the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
and catechisms. But, in the 1960s, under the increasing awareness of the diversity of Reformed theologies in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
that had nurtured the neo-orthodox theological movement, the church appointed a commission to examine and revise, if needed, the traditional standards of doctrine required of ministers and ruling elders
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
. The commission proposed adding several more confessions as doctrinal guides (as opposed to a strictly-enforced "system of Scriptural doctrine," as Westminster was historically conceived) in the UPCUSA Book of Confessions
Book of Confessions
The Book of Confessions is the book of doctrinal statements of the Presbyterian Church and is designated "Part 1" of the PCUSA Constitution, "Part 2" being the Book of Order. The BOC consists of eleven ecumenical, Reformed, and modern statements of the Christian faith. These are the updated...
; it also developed a new statement of beliefs, the Confession of 1967
Confession of 1967
The Confession of 1967 is a confessional standard of the Presbyterian Church . The Special Committee on a Brief Contemporary Statement of Faith began preparing the Confession of 1967 in 1958 as a response to the Presbytery of Amarillo's 1957 overture to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian...
, which was heavily influenced by the biblical theology
Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is a discipline within Christian theology which studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity following the Fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament...
movement of the mid-20th century. Despite strong opposition from conservative evangelicals, much of which dovetailed with their hostility toward the denomination's perceived focus on social action that the Confession of 1967 in particular appeared to endorse, nine-tenths of the presbyteries approved the new documents.
Generally speaking, the UPCUSA (especially its leadership) was a strong supporter of progressive
Social progress
Social progress is the idea that societies can or do improve in terms of their social, political, and economic structures. This may happen as a result of direct human action, as in social enterprise or through social activism, or as a natural part of sociocultural evolution...
causes, such as civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
. Like most traditional "mainline" Protestant churches in the U.S., the UPCUSA began to decline numerically in the mid-1960s, reversing a 20-year period of growth on the heels of World War II
World 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...
; some of those losses can be attributed to defections of conservatives (sometimes entire congregations) to evangelical Presbyterian (or other) denominations on the one hand, and on the other, by children who chose for various reasons not to follow their parents' footsteps into church membership. The year 1981 witnessed a number of evangelical congregations leave in order to form the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In response to this action, that year's General Assembly modified the UPCUSA Book of Order to legally restrain a local church from taking its property to another denomination, without explicit release from its presbytery.
Still, the UPCUSA went forward with its ecumenical ambitions, the primary of which was reunion with the Presbyterian Church in the United States
Presbyterian Church in the United States
The Presbyterian Church in the United States was a Protestant Christian denomination in the Southern and border states of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1983...
(PCUS, often called, inaccurately, the "Southern" church), which split from the PCUSA in 1861 at the start of the 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...
. Although the UPCUSA sought from its beginning in putting into effect a merger between the two churches, it was not until the 1970s, when a significant number of conservative PCUS congregations left to form 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...
, that talks gained strong momentum. A decade's work on the part of both churches resulted in the current-day Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
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...
, which began in 1983 (the current PC(USA) should not be confused with the earlier PCUSA, which had the words in its formal title spelled out after the word Church).
Notable members
Prominent leaders and theologians from the period included Eugene Carson BlakeEugene Carson Blake
Eugene Carson Blake was an American Protestant Church leader in the 1950s and 60s, and President of the National Council of Churches in the United States, 1954—1957...
, Robert McAfee Brown
Robert McAfee Brown
Robert McAfee Brown was an American theologian and activist.Brown earned a bachelor's degree from Amherst College in 1943 and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1944...
, Lloyd John Ogilvie
Lloyd John Ogilvie
Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie is a Presbyterian minister who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate from 104th through 107th Congresses .-Early years:Lloyd John Oglivie, was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, September 2, 1930...
, William Sloane Coffin
William Sloane Coffin
William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was an American liberal Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ....
, and David H. C. Read
David H. C. Read
The Reverend Doctor David Haxton Carswell Read, B.D. D.D. was a Scottish Presbyterian clergyman and author who served as Senior Minister at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, New York from 1956 - 1989...
. Among its members was President Dwight Eisenhower.