the
WRS Journal
Western Reformed Seminary, Tacoma, Washington
Volume 13, Issue 2
August 2006
This issue: Presbyterianism in
America: Celebrating 300 Years
EDITOR’S NOTES
Chart: The Presbyterian
Family Connections
KEYNOTE
inside cover
page 1
pages 2-8
“I Will Shake All Nations”: The Impact of
Presbyterianism on America, G. W. Fisher,
Pastor, Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church,
Tacoma, Washington; WRS board member
Monument at grave of
Francis Makemie
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5 South “G” Street
Tacoma, Washington 98405
(Accomack County,
Virginia)
HISTORY
pages 9-43
Presbyterianism in America: The Eighteenth
Century, John T. Dyck, Pastor, Edmonton Bible
Presbyterian Church, Edmonton, Alberta
Presbyterianism in America: The Nineteenth
Century, Christopher K. Lensch, Associate
Professor of Old Testament
Next Issue:
“Baptism: Sign
of the Covenant
of Grace”
Presbyterianism in America: The Twentieth
Century, John A. Battle, Professor of New
Testament and Theology
APPLICATION & PERSPECTIVE pages 44-48
The Present State of American
Presbyterianism, Dennis W. Jowers, Adjunct
Professor of Theology
EDITOR’S NOTES: FROM JOHN A. BATTLE
This is a banner year for American Presbyterians. Three hundred years
ago, in 1706, a small group of Presbyterian ministers and elders met in Philadelphia to organize the first presbytery in the American colonies. The leader of
that group was Francis Makemie, a Scotsman who had come to these shores
from Ireland. Within a few decades the Presbyterian churches became a force
in the New World. Among other things, Presbyterians were in the forefront of
the American Revolution of 1776. Thereafter Presbyterians have made a great
impact on our nation, far beyond what their numbers may have indicated.
This issue of the WRS Journal traces the history and significance of
Presbyterianism in its development in America for the last three hundred years.
John Dyck, Chris Lensch, and I each concentrate on one of the centuries of
this history. G. W. Fisher explains the great impact Presbyterians had on our
nation’s institutions, especially their leadership in obtaining our civil and religious liberty. Dennis Jowers offers his assessment of the condition of
Presbyterianism in America in our own day. Unfortunately, we are now only a
very small percentage of the population, and are not doctrinally united. The call
is clear. It’s time for us to reestablish our base and reach out with the wonderful gospel and teachings so many of our forebears fought and died for.
We trust this issue will be a blessing and an encouragement to you. Let us
know what you think!
Subscription Information
The WRS Journal (ISSN 1555-6786) is published semi-annually, every February and
August. Circulation is currently 800, with a production run of 1000 copies. Subscriptions
for churches and school libraries in the U.S. are free. Individual subscriptions are available for $5 US per annum (2 issues) for domestic addresses, and $10 US per annum for
international addresses. Please write or call to subscribe. You may also e-mail your subscription requests and/or comments to:
[email protected]
the WRS Journal
5 South G Street, Tacoma, Washington 98405
(253) 272-0417
Back issues are available electronically at: www.wrs.edu
Opinions expressed herein are those of the contributors, and do not
necessarily reflect the official position of WRS on any given topic.
For a copy of our catalog, contact the office.
The WRS Journal 13:2, August 2006
WESTERN
REFORMED SEMINARY
Since 1983, Training Christian Leaders to Serve Christ
“in Spirit and in Truth”
· Bible-believing and Reformed
· Masters programs, day and night classes
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Reformed Theological Seminaries
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with the National Association of Nouthetic
Counselors
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(253) 272-0417
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Five South G Street, Tacoma, WA 98405