Harada, Koji (2010) A study of the origin of Scottish Presbyterianism (1560-1638). MTh(R) thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1655/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] A STUDY OF THE ORIGIN OF SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIANISM (1560-1638) BY KOJI HARADA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND COLLEGE A thesis submitted to the Senate of Free Church College, And to University of Glasgow for the degree of Master of Theology September 2009 © Koji Harada 2009 i Declaration I declare that I have composed this thesis, A Study of the Origin of Scottish Presbyterianism (1560-1638), and that it is my own work, that it has not been submitted in whole or in part for any other degree or professional qualification, and that all sources used or quoted have been indicated and specifically acknowledged. KOJI HARADA ii Acknowledgements I owe a debt of gratitude to a host of people without whom the completion of this thesis would not be possible. On completion of this study I would like to express my appreciation, first of all, to Prof. John R. McIntosh for his patience and guidance, as my supervisor. His pastoral kindness enabled me to accomplish my study. Any shortcomings are, of course, entirely mine. Furthermore, acknowledgement is due to the professors and my colleagues of Free Church College for their warm fellowship and kind friendship. Research work is generally a lonely experience. However, fellowship with them encouraged me and sustained my study. I especially thank my friend from Singapore, Winston Tay, for his friendship to me as both a colleague and a roommate at Montpelier. And I thank the principal Donald MacLeod for granting me entrance to study at Free Church College, so that I could have such an enriching experience in Edinburgh. Furthermore, there are people in Japan who played an important part in making the completion of this dissertation possible. I thank Rev. Professor Yasuhiro Sekikawa, who instructed and baptized me into the Christian faith. He was also my supervisor when I was a candidate for the ministry at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary. I am grateful for his guidance and for his constant support. He has also been instrumental in my attraction to Scottish church history and theology. Thanks is also due to all members of Tondabayashi Church in the United Church of Christ in Japan, where I served as a minister for more than six years from 2001 to 2007, and to my mother Mitsuno Harada, and elder brother Masanobu Harada. I owe much gratitude for their support to my study in Edinburgh. Finally, I give thanks to God, who lead me to Scotland and gave me wonderful fellowship with good international friends, and sustained me even in the times of depression, encouraging me to continue studying. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER ONE: The Eve of Scottish Presbyterianism I: Religious Situations of the pre-1560 period in Scotland................................................ 1 II: The ‘Superintendent’ ....................................................................................................... 6 1. The Purpose of the Office of Superintendent...........................................................................................7 2. Functions of Superintendent .............................................................................................................................9 1. Preacher of the Gospel ..................................................................................................................................10 2. Admission..............................................................................................................................................................11 3. Oversight ...............................................................................................................................................................13 3. Abolition of the Superintendent .....................................................................................................................15 III: The ‘Exercise’ ................................................................................................................. 19 1. Biblical foundation ..................................................................................................................................................20 2. Roots in the Reformed tradition .......................................................................................................................21 3. Purpose of its institution........................................................................................................................................23 4. Transformation of the exercise .........................................................................................................................26 1. Obligation of Attendance..............................................................................................................................26 2. An Administrative Body ..............................................................................................................................27 CHAPTER TWO: Reconstruction of the System of the Church -Forming process of the ‘Second Book of Discipline’ and its contents I: Reasons for Revision: A Post-Reformation Standstill ......................................... 31 II: The Making of the ‘Second Book of Discipline’ by the General Assembly ................ 34 1. 1575 - Precursors to the Reconstruction Begun at the General Assembly of 1576 ...................34 2. 1576 - Organization of the Special Committee to draft the New Church Government............37 3. 1577 - Discussions in the General Assemblies concerning the Draft................................................40 4. 1578 - Approval for the revised Draft which was to be the ‘Second Book of Discipline’........43 III: A survey of the Contents of the Second Book of Discipline........................................... 46 1. The composition .......................................................................................................................................................47 2. Chapter I: Church and State................................................................................................................................49 3. Chapter II, III, VI and VIII: The Offices in the Church ....................................................................50 4. Chapter VII: Ecclesiastical Courts .................................................................................................................54 5. Chapter XII: Plea for Further Reformation ...............................................................................................55 iv CHAPTER THREE: the Eldership in the Scottish Reformation and the Formation of the Presbytery I: Examination of the ‘Eldership’ in the Scottish Reformation .................................... 59 1. The ‘Eldership’ in the Second Book of Discipline ...........................................................................59 2. The ‘Eldership’ in Other Reformed Traditions during the Sixteenth Century................. 62 3. Comparison to ‘Eldership’ in the First Book of Discipline..........................................................69 II: The Idea of ‘Ane Common Eldership’ in the Second Book of Discipline ..................74 1. James Kirk’s Analysis of the Emergence of the Idea of ‘Ane Common Eldership’.....74 2. The Exercise and Synods in Relation to the Common Eldership.............................................78 1 The Exercise during the 1570s .................................................................................................................78 2 The Synod in Sixteenth Century...............................................................................................................80 III: Process for Inauguration of ‘Presbytery’ by the General Assemblies (1579-1581)...84 1. 1579 .............................................................................................................................................................................84 2. 1580 .............................................................................................................................................................................86 3. 1581 .............................................................................................................................................................................89 IV: Inauguration of Stirling Presbytery in August 1581 ..................................................93 CHAPTER FOUR: The Development of Presbyteries (1581 - 1638) -The Growth of the Presbyterian Powerbase in the Age of Conflict I: Historical Survey of the Period between 1581 and 1638 ............................................99 II: Presbyterian Polity during 1581 and 1638 ...............................................................105