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54-646: In 1910, 1916, and again in 1923, the General Assembly declared that every candidate seeking to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church ought to be able to affirm The Auburn Theological Seminary history professor, Robert Hastings Nichols , proposed to challenge this procedure of repeatedly affirming additional standards of orthodoxy, besides the Bible and the Westminster Confession of Faith - which were

108-410: A presbytery exists perpetually. The officers of a presbytery are a moderator and a stated or principal clerk . The moderator acts as chair of presbytery meetings. As with the moderators of synods and assemblies, the moderatorship is a primus inter pares position appointed by the presbytery itself. The moderator is addressed as "moderator" during meetings, but their position has no bearing outside of

162-463: A research center focused on the study of seminaries, divinity schools, and the preparation of faith leaders working for social justice . It was one of the first seminaries in the country to admit African Americans ( Moses A. Hopkins , 1877), Japanese (Naoomi Tamura, 1882) and later, female seminarians (Ida Thorne Parker, 1917). Auburn Theological Seminary was established in Auburn, New York, by action of

216-415: Is also distinct from congregationalism , in that individual congregations are not independent, but are answerable to the wider church, through its governing bodies (presbyteries, synods and assemblies). Moreover, the ordained ministry possesses a distinct responsibility for preaching and sacraments. Congregational churches are sometimes called "Presbyterian" if they are governed by a council of elders; but

270-466: Is for the service of the congregation, to pray for them and to encourage them in the faith. The elders together exercise oversight (episcopacy) over the local congregation, with superior groups of elders gathered on a regional basis exercising wider oversight. Presbyterians typically have viewed this method of government as approximating that of the New Testament and earliest churches. Presbyterianism

324-428: Is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session (or consistory ), though other terms, such as church board , may apply. Groups of local churches are governed by a higher assembly of elders known as the presbytery or classis ; presbyteries can be grouped into a synod , and presbyteries and synods nationwide often join together in a general assembly . Responsibility for conduct of church services

378-456: Is not as clear under the Presbyterian system as in others). The terms 'lay' and 'clergy' are not properly used in presbyterian polity. Ministers may be considered equal in status with the other elders, but they have a distinct ordination and distinct function. They are the primary preachers and teachers, celebrants of sacraments. There are sometimes further distinctions between the minister and

432-493: Is often appointed for an indefinite term. Presbytery Clerks are the ecclesiastical administrators and generally regarded as substantially influential due to their greater experience of the governance of the church and their ordering of the business of the presbytery. They are thus very much more than secretaries and often in fact are the lynch pin of the organisation. Presbyteries meet at a regularity between monthly and quarterly, some half-yearly. In denominations too large for all

486-423: Is reserved to an ordained minister or pastor known as a teaching elder , or a minister of the word and sacrament. Presbyterian polity was developed as a rejection of governance by hierarchies of single bishops ( episcopal polity ), but also differs from the congregationalist polity in which each congregation is independent. In contrast to the other two forms, authority in the presbyterian polity flows both from

540-669: Is succinctly summarized in two sentences: Partly due to the acceptance of the Auburn Affirmation, Presbyterian traditionalists who found themselves displaced because of it went on to found the Orthodox Presbyterian Church . This church maintains the older standards, such as belief in the five essential doctrines (listed above). Discussion of the Affirmation continued into the 1940s when the Presbyterian Church in

594-462: Is to speak about issues or topics that commissioners would usually not worry about or care to speak about during a General Assembly meeting. Advisory Delegates may not present motions or vote in meetings of the General Assembly. The powers of the general assembly are usually wide-ranging. However, they may be limited by some form of external review. For example, the rules of the Church of Scotland include

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648-709: Is usually considered a demarcation issue, distinguishing "liberal" from "conservative" Presbyterian denominations. In North America, the Reformed Church in America , Christian Reformed Church in North America (both of Dutch Reformed heritage), Cumberland Presbyterian Church , ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians , Evangelical Presbyterian Church , Presbyterian Church in Canada , and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are denominations with presbyterian polity which allow for

702-615: The Barrier Act , which requires that certain major changes to the polity of the church be referred to the presbyteries, before being enacted by the general assembly. There may be issues arising between annual General Assemblies which require urgent attention. In these cases some presbyterian churches have a 'commission of assembly' who will deal with the issue and refer it to the next General Assembly for homologation. The word Presbyterianism , when capitalized, often refers specifically to churches founded on principles of presbyterian polity in

756-555: The British Isles and their derivatives in other countries. In France , presbyterianism was represented by the Église réformée de France . There are also Lutherans and Evangelicals. The logo is a Huguenot Cross ( Croix huguenote ) with the burning bush. The origins of the Waldensian Evangelical Church lie in the medieval Waldensian movement for religious reform. The Waldensians adopted Calvinist theology during

810-473: The Hungarian Reformed Church there remain bishops who have a superintending role. Presbyterian polity is constructed on specific assumptions about the form of the government intended by the Bible : Presbyterianism uses a conciliar method of church government (that is, leadership by the group or council). Thus, the ministers and "elders" govern together as a group, and at all times the office

864-579: The Kirk session , church session, or (in Continental Reformed usage) consistory . In some Continental Reformed churches, deacons are members of the consistory; others, such as the Christian Reformed Church in North America , distinguish between the consistory, comprising the pastor and elders, and the council, which comprises the pastor(s), the elders, and the deacons. In most denominations

918-529: The Presbyterian Synod of Geneva on 16 August 1818. It obtained a charter from the New York State legislature on 14 April 1820 as a post-baccalaureate theological seminary , and it matriculated its first students in 1821. From its inception, the seminary drew support from beyond the Presbyterian Church . Its charter stipulated that "no student of any Christian denomination shall be excluded, " and

972-418: The ruling elder . An excerpt from Miller (1831) expands this. In every Church completely organized, that is, furnished with all the officers which Christ has instituted and which are necessary for carrying into full effect the laws of his kingdom, there ought to be three classes of officers, viz: at least one Teaching Elder, Bishop, or Pastor — a bench of Ruling Elders — and Deacons. The first to "minister in

1026-604: The Assembly that year appeared to indicate that their thesis would be favorably received by moderates, Coffin suggested that the Affirmation should be signed by ministers before being formally made public; and in accord with that advice it was circulated for signature in preparation for the General Assembly of 1924. Although the Affirmation did not officially come from Auburn Theological Seminary (at that time located in Auburn, New York ),

1080-413: The Auburn Affirmation, adopted in 1924, which defended theological freedom and prevented a fundamentalist takeover of the Presbyterian Church. The Great Depression left Auburn Seminary with a diminished student body and strained resources. The faculty and President Paul Silas Heath (1936–1939) began conversations with several seminaries about possibly relocating. In 1939, it closed its Auburn campus and at

1134-469: The Auburn Declaration of 1837. Under the presidency of George Black Stewart (1899–1926), the school grew to 105 students and eleven faculty. A Summer School of Theology for clergy and laity was established in 1911, and a School of Religious Education in 1921. Auburn Theological Seminary's faculty, led by Robert Hastings Nichols, professor of church history, played a key role in what became known as

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1188-609: The Holy Spirit. In presbyterianism, congregations are united in accountability to a regional body called the presbytery, or, in Continental Reformed terminology, the classis , which comes from the Latin word for "fleet". Presbyteries are made up of all the teaching and ruling elders in a particular geographic region. In some Dutch Reformed bodies, a classis serves as a delegated body, which ceases to exist in between meetings, whereas

1242-521: The Study of Theological Education was established. Katharine Rhodes Henderson was inaugurated as president in 2009, shifting the institution's focus toward training and supporting faith leaders who work in progressive justice organizations and movements. Auburn's signature programs include: media training, Auburn Senior Fellows, Sojourner Truth Leadership Circle, digital organizing, coaching for faith leaders, and entrepreneurial ministry. Auburn Research explores

1296-565: The U.S. (aka, Southern Presbyterian Church) began to consider union with the northern Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. , with conservatives charging that the Affirmation was indicative of the theological posture of the northern denomination. Auburn Theological Seminary Auburn Theological Seminary , located in New York City , teaches students about progressive social issues by offering workshops, providing consulting, and conducting research on faith leadership development. The seminary

1350-617: The Word and Doctrine", and to dispense the sacraments; — the second to assist in the inspection and government of the Church; — and the third to "serve tables"; that is, to take care of the Church's funds destined for the support of the poor, and sometimes to manage whatever relates to the temporal support of the gospel and its ministers. Depending upon the specific denomination, teaching elders may also be referred to with terms such as "Minister of Word and Sacrament". The elders are persons chosen from among

1404-451: The agenda. General assemblies meet less regularly than their subordinate courts, often annually, or in the case of the Presbyterian Church (USA), every other year. The General Assembly also has members serve as Advisory Delegates. There are four different types of advisory delegates, each with a focus on a different area in the Presbyterian Church like young adult, theological student, missionary and ecumenical. The role of an advisory delegate

1458-404: The assembly meeting and affords him/her no special place in other courts. He or she presides over meetings of the assembly, and may be called on in a representative function for the remainder of the year. The stated clerk and deputy clerk of the general assembly administer the minutes, correspondence, and business of the assembly. In some cases a separate business convenor is appointed to deal with

1512-461: The congregation and "installed" to a permanent pastorate by the presbytery, have votes as members of the session on any and all matters; however, often they refrain from voting except in tie situations. The Pastor is not a voting member of the congregation. With the Session there is one person, usually an elder but not always, who will be given the title, "Clerk of Session". This person is more or less

1566-462: The congregation and ordained for this service. Beyond that, practices vary: sometimes elders are elected by the congregation, sometimes appointed by the session, in some denominations elders serve for life, others have fixed terms, and some churches appoint elders on a rotation from among willing members in good standing in the church. However, in many churches, ruling elders retain their ordination for life, even though they serve fixed terms. Even after

1620-479: The constituent presbyteries are members of the synod. Like the commissioners to presbyteries, the commissioners to synods do not act on instruction from their congregations or presbyteries, but exercise their own judgement. A synod also has a moderator and clerk, and generally meet less often than the presbytery. Some presbyterian churches, like the Church of Scotland , Orthodox Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church in America have no intermediate court between

1674-414: The difference is that every local congregation is independent, and its elders are accountable to its members, and congregationalism's wider assemblies are not ordinarily empowered to enforce discipline. Thus, these are ruled by elders only at the level of the congregations, which are united with one another by covenants of trust. There are two types of elder; the teaching elder (see Minister below) and

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1728-401: The elders. In some cases deacons administer the welfare matters of the congregation, while a separate board of management or trustees administers the other material business ( temporalities ) of the congregation, such as its endowments, salaries and buildings. A session is a corporate body of teaching and ruling elders elected by a particular church. sessio from sedere "to sit"), sometimes

1782-452: The end of their terms, they may be active in presbyteries or other bodies, and may serve communion. In addition to sitting on the session and other church courts, ruling elders have duties as individuals. Again, Miller (1831) explains, It is their duty to have an eye of inspection and care over all the members of the congregation; and, for this purpose, to cultivate a universal and intimate acquaintance, as far as may be, with every family in

1836-403: The first class of eleven students represented eight denominations. The Roman Catholic bishop from Boston, Bishop Chevereux, donated books for the school's library. The school's founders and early faculty (Dirck Lansing, Matthew Perrine, and Henry Mills) rejected sterner forms of Calvinism and advocated for flexible church governance within the Presbyterian Church. These beliefs became known as

1890-437: The flock of which they are made "overseers". In some denominations they are called Ministers of Word and Sacrament , and in others they are called Teaching Elders . Ministers called to a particular congregation are called pastors , and serve a function analogous to clergy in other denominations. (Because ruling elders are often ordained in a fashion nearly identical to teaching elders, the distinction between lay and clergy

1944-478: The invitation of President Henry Sloan Coffin, moved to the campus of Union Theological Seminary in New York City, although it maintained its board of trustees and endowment. With the move to Union Theological Seminary, Auburn Theological Seminary ceased granting degrees, instead developing new initiatives: a Program of Training for Rural Ministry in 1944, which continued its emphasis on preparing individuals for

1998-534: The name "Auburn Affirmation" has been attached to the document from the beginning, because of Nichols' influence as the originator of the idea. The Auburn Affirmation was the culmination of the Fundamentalist–Modernist Controversy , which by 1924 had been a conflict of more than thirty years within the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is generally regarded as signalling a turning point in the history of American Presbyterianism, because it garnered

2052-400: The needs of theological institutions, their leaders and students, and the ways in which leaders of faith and moral courage are affecting positive social change in society. Presbyterian polity#Synod Presbyterian (or presbyteral ) polity is a method of church governance (" ecclesiastical polity ") typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters , or elders. Each local church

2106-417: The norm for church government. St. Jerome (347–420) "In Epistle Titus", vol. iv, said, "Elder is identical with bishop; and before the urging of the devil gave rise to factionalism in religion, so much that it was being said among the people, 'I am of Paul, I of Apollos, I of Cephas', the churches were governed by a joint council of elders. After it was... decreed throughout the world that one chosen from among

2160-482: The only standards of orthodoxy officially recognized by the church. The Affirmation denounces that procedure of affirming the Fundamentals in the General Assembly as a contradiction of the history and polity of the Presbyterian Church. It was drafted and signed by a writing group, primarily Nichols and Henry Sloane Coffin , with the original intention of presenting it to the General Assembly of 1923. After events of

2214-524: The ordination of women. The general assembly of a denomination often decides on what grounds a person may be ordained, but the ordination of ministers is the right of the presbytery or classis, and the right to extend a call to a minister is the privilege of the members of the parish or congregation. The office of deacon has different meanings among different presbyterian churches. In some churches, deacons exercise responsibility for practical matters of finance and fabric, either separately or together with

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2268-425: The other elders. Some Presbyterian denominations enroll ministers as members of their respective congregations, while others enroll the minister as a member of the regional presbytery. The presbyteries are responsible for the ordination of the ministers. Until the 20th century, only men had been eligible for ordination as elders or ministers of the word and sacrament. This is widely not the case any longer, although it

2322-460: The pastor serves as Moderator and presides over the session ( primus inter pares ), in which all elders have an equal vote. In some denominations, the pastor is not given a vote; however, in a sitting body of an even number or with a quorum of the session counted they can break a tie by a casting vote. In the Polity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the pastor and associate pastor(s), if elected by

2376-720: The practice of ministry, not for theological specialization; in 1964 the Center for Continuing Education was established as well as the Experimental Program for the Practice of Christian Ministry; in 1968 Auburn Studies in Theological Education was begun; in 1971 the Susquehanna Valley Project to support local ministers started; in 1985 interreligious programs for faith leaders were developed and in 1991 The Center for

2430-565: The presbyters should be placed over the others." This observation was also made by Chrysostom (349–407) in "Homilia i, in Phil. i, 1" and Theodoret (393–457) in "Interpret ad. Phil. iii", 445. Aerius of Sebaste also attacked the episcopal polity in the 4th century. Presbyterianism was first described in detail by Martin Bucer of Strasbourg , who believed that the early Christian church implemented presbyterian polity. The first modern implementation

2484-446: The presbytery and the general assembly. The general assembly (or general synod ) is the highest court of presbyterian polity. Each presbytery selects a number of its members to be commissioners to the general assembly. The general assembly is chaired by its own moderator , who is usually elected to a single term. He or she is addressed as moderator during meetings, but like the other moderators, their position has no bearing outside of

2538-416: The presbytery meeting and affords him/her no special place in other courts, although typically the moderator (especially if a member of the clergy) will conduct worship and oversee ordinations and installations of ministers as a "liturgical" bishop, and other ordinances which are seen as acts of the presbytery. The stated or principal clerk takes minutes and deals with the correspondence of the presbytery, and

2592-503: The secretary for Session. They take notes on each meeting and are responsible for records of the congregation. In addition they find a wide area of responsibility, including responsibility for conduct of worship should a minister suddenly not be available. Although it is the responsibility of the Moderator (minister), Session Clerks often have the ability to assist in keeping meetings on track due to skills which are received from experience and

2646-473: The support of both theological traditionalists and liberals. Besides the 1274 signatories, the document as submitted claimed the support of "hundreds of ministers who agree with and approve of the Affirmation, though they have refrained from signing it." The Affirmation has six sections that can be summarized as: Referring to the Five Fundamentals as "particular theories", the Affirmation's argument

2700-508: The top down (as higher assemblies exercise limited but important authority over individual congregations, e.g., only the presbytery can ordain ministers, install pastors, and start up, close, and approve relocating a congregation) and from the bottom up (e.g., the moderator and officers are not appointed from above but are rather elected by and from among the members of the assembly). This theory of governance developed in Geneva under John Calvin and

2754-545: The work of the denomination to be done by a single presbytery, the parishes may be divided into several presbyteries under synods and general assemblies , the synod being the lower court of the two. In the United Church of Canada , this is referred to as "conferences" and "General Council". However, the United Church of Canada does not bear the formal ecclesiastical structure of classic Presbyterianism. Often all members of

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2808-637: Was by the Geneva church under the leadership of John Calvin in 1541. In the early days of the Scottish Reformation there were Superintendents. There were also Tulchan Bishops and Archbishops. Much of the history of the Church of Scotland and the nation itself is bound up with the relation between Episcopalianism , which the Protestant monarchs favoured, and the Presbyterianism of the reformers. In

2862-744: Was established in Auburn, New York , in 1818 to prepare young ministers for the frontier. In 1939, weakened by the Great Depression , the seminary relocated from Auburn to the Union Theological Seminary 's campus in New York City, although it maintained its independence from Union Theological Seminary. In 2014, it designed and moved to a new leadership development lab in The Interchurch Center in Morningside Heights , Manhattan , New York City. Auburn Theological Seminary houses

2916-450: Was introduced to Scotland by John Knox after his period of exile in Geneva. It is strongly associated with French , Dutch , Swiss and Scottish Reformation movements, and the Reformed and Presbyterian churches . Among the early church fathers, it was noted that the offices of elder and bishop were identical, and were not differentiated until later, and that plurality of elders was

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