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~ epreS!!rteI1an utgdi@ 1 1jl VOL. 42, NO.7 - AUG./SEPT., 1973 new presbyterian church in the south new reformed seminary in france new degrees awarded at westminster The Southern Scene ~ Contill,uing Asheville, N.C. -Over three hundred been organized. Now it called for the voting delegates and another three hun new church to be organized in 1973. dred observers gathered here, August 7 The meeting in Asheville was a vital through 9, to prepare for the birth of a step in meeting that goal. But much new Presbyterian denomination. Voting planning had already taken place, and delegates represented over 200 congre the delegates were able to move throu gations, most of which only recently a heavy docket with a minimum of dis9h withdrew from the Presbyterian Church, agreement or debate. U. S. (i.e., "Southern"). Call for a General Assembly More precisely, this was the Advisory Convention for the Continuing Presby As its first item of business, the terian Church. Its business was to de Convention unanimously issued a call cide whether to call the first general for the First General Assembly to meet assembly of a new Presbyterian body in Birmingham, Ala., on December 4, to be made up of congregations, mainly 1973. A name for the new denomination located in the South, that felt obliged has yet to be determined. to separate f rom the POJS because of the increasingly liberal leadership in The Convention elected as its per the parent denomination. manent chairman ruling elder W. Jack Williamson of Greenville, Ala. Dr. Background of the C. P. C. Morton Smith, professor at Reformed In the 1950s a campaign in the Pres Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., byterian Church, U.S., largely led by was chosen as clerk. In a later action conservative laymen, was successful both men were recommended for the in defeating a merger with what is now equivalent posts in the Assembly. the United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. Constitutional standards proposed But the pro-union and theologically liberal leaders proceeded to work for The Convention then proceeded to a union anyway. consideration of proposals dealing with Joint UPUSA-POJS congregations doctrinal and governmental standards, were fostered; joint literature projects and organizational structures, for recom undertaken; union presbyteries, con mendation to the General Assembly. trary to the POJS constitution, were Ready agreement was given to the approved by the Assembly. Westminster Confession of Faith and Conservatives organized in various Catechisms. The precise form proposed groupings -which were roundly con is identical to that of the Orthodox demned 'as 'unPresbyterian' - and did Presbyterian Church. win some skirmishes. But conservative The Convention also agreed to use strength was eroding as sernlnary grad the 1933 edition of the PCUS Boo~ of uates tended to be liberal, and presby Church Order with certain changes, to tery control was lost. strengthen the rights of local congrega When union talks were begun again tions to their property and to delete with the UPUSA, conservative strength provisions for (regional) synods - both was still sufficient to force an "escape areas in which conservatives in the r------------------ clause" into the Plan of Union that PCUS had been threatened by liberal would have permitted dissidents to stay forces. The Convention also deleted a Westminster Theological Seminary Chestnut Hill out of a merger. But when PCUS repre requirement for a Latin essay by candi Philadelphia, PA 19118 sentatives in the union talks moved to dates for the ministry! delete the escape provision, it was Denominational structures ( ) Yes, I am interested in the West time to escape anyway. minster Deposit Gift Agreement. A Steering Committee for a Continu Much time and careful discussion Please send me more information. ing Presbyterian Church had already preceded decisions on the new church's Name _ The Presbyterian Guardian is published ten times each year, every month ex cept for combined issues in J une-July and August-September, by the Presby Address, _ terian Guardian Publishing Corporation, 7401 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19126, at the following rates, payable in advance, postage prepaid: $3.75 per year ($3.25 in clubs of ten or more; special rate for 'every-family City _ churches' on request). Second class mail privileges authorized at the Post Office, Philadelphia, Pa. State ZIP _ 98 Age(s) _ The Presbyterian Guardian organizational patterns. Four permanent local churches. One such group is now tion to establish a continuation of the committees were proposed for General being formed and others are expected. old "Southern" Presbyterial. Church Assembly consideration. Committees on In reaction to abuses in the PCUS, and the frequently heard interest in a home and foreign missions and Christian provision was made for· congregational national Reformed and Presbyterian education were agreed to and their basic rather than presbytery representation in church including OPs and RPs, even duties carefully defined. Considerable General Assembly. A carefully drawn some UPs perhaps, and these Continu attention was given to avoiding many of statement on credentials for the first ing Presbyterians. the abuses of power in the POlS. General Assembly sought to insure that Already over two hundred congrega A Committee on Administration was churches and ministers were committed tions have taken steps to unite with also proposed. Its duties would be to to Reformed doctrine and Presbyterian the Continuing Church. Total member nominate and supervise the General church order. ship exceeds 40,000 and total giving Assembly's stated clerk and business in 1972 was more than $7 million. Only administrator, to operate insurance and Impressions on an observer 150 ministers so far have emolled; but retirement programs, to review budget This observer felt quite at home in much of the impetus in the movement requests of the other three committees the company of these southern Presby has been from ruling elders all along. and to recommend budgets for them to ~erians. Having been born and baptized There is a concern also to avoid the General Assembly. Into the POlS and a communicant mem bitterness and to maintain communica Though it gave budget control to its ber for many years, there were strong tion with those who do not see their Committee on Administration, the Con bonds of memory and friendship. way clear to leave the PCUS. Many vention - after much debate - insisted But more important by far was the conservatives are staying in; but how that each committee must raise its own repeated and insistent note that this long mutual respect can survive across budget and maintain its own treasurer. was to be a genuinely Reformed and denominational boundaries remains to Presbyterian church. No doubt there be seen. Interchurch relations will be disappointing faIlings away as Will there be separations among the According to a resolution adopted by the members, and even the ruling elders separatists, as in 1937? Some may pre the Convention, the Continuing Presby and ministers, come to learn what the fer independency. A few ministers are terian Church "will be a separate and doctrines of God's sovereign grace said to hold neo-pentecostal views, and distinct Presbyterian denomination. It really are. Instruction in these truths such views have been divisive else is not likely to commit itself to organic has been sadly deficient in the PCUS where. But the overwhelming majority union with other denominations in the in its seminaries and literature. But want a truly Reformed and Presbyterian near future." But the new church "shall many do know these grand truths and church. This observer believes they encourage fellowship with all evangeli are fully prepared to stand for them. will have such a church, by God's help cals who believe the entire Bible to be At times the Convention seemed to and in faithfulness to their vows. the verbally inspired and inerrant Word overreact to the past. It required any of God" and eagerly desires "fraternal constitutional amendments to pass the relations and associations with those General Assembly by a three-fourths L. Nelson Bell dies who adhere to the distinctives of the majority, be adopted by three-fourths Reformed Faith." of the presbyteries, and passed again Montreat, N.C. - Dr. L. Nelson Bell, An attempt to have the Convention by the same majority in a second died in his sleep in the early morning appoint representatives to a meeting Assembly - which should make even of August 2. A former medical mission in early September sponsored by the minor changes nearly impossible. ary to China, a founder of the Presby National Presbyterian and Reformed On the other hand, there was a warm terian Journal, he was immediate past Fellowship was defeated. Reasons for appreciation voiced to the examples of moderator of the Presbyterian Churchr, this action were its unsuitability until the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and U.S. Though a noted conservative in after the Assembly could meet and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evange southern Presbyterian circles, Dr. Bell new denomination be constituted. It lical Synod, which were the only de had refused to join with those who are was strongly urged that the action not nominations to have official observers leaving the POlS in protest over its be seen as in any way unfriendly to the present. A particularly cordial interest increasingly liberal tendencies. other groups in the NPRF. was shown in the Great Commission Dr. Bell served in China for 25 Publications of the ope. years until forced out by the Japanese Other decisions in 1941. In that same year the]ournal Prospects for the future Those who met in Asheville are re was founded to give conservatives a presentative of many true Presbyterians Parallels with 1936 were obvious, voice.

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