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Presbyterian Church History Timeline

(16th century–Present)

Presbyterian Church History traces the development of Reformed Christianity from the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation through the formation of Presbyterian denominations and their worldwide expansion. Less

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Reformation origins

Protestant Reformation begins

1500 - 1599

Presbyterians trace their historical origins to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, the broad religious movement that challenged established Western Catholic structures and produced the Reformed Protestant tradition.

Image source: Reformation

Protestant Reformation begins

John Calvin shapes Reformed theology

1509 - 1564

French theologian and lawyer John Calvin developed writings that consolidated Reformed theological thought. His work built on earlier sermons and writings by Huldrych Zwingli and became foundational for Presbyterian theology.

Image source: John Calvin

John Calvin shapes Reformed theology

Scottish Reformation

1560

John Knox, a former Catholic priest who studied with Calvin in Geneva, carried Calvin's teachings back to Scotland and led the Scottish Reformation of 1560, establishing a central foundation for the Presbyterian tradition.

Image source: Scottish Reformation

Scottish Reformation

American Presbyterian beginnings

Presbyterianism reaches colonial America

1640

Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought Presbyterianism to America as early as 1640. Immigration remained an important source of Presbyterian growth throughout the colonial era.

First American presbytery established

1706

Seven ministers led by Francis Makemie established the first American presbytery in Philadelphia, creating an organized Presbyterian governing structure in the colonies.

Synod of Philadelphia created

1717

The Synod of Philadelphia was created in 1717 as a broader governing body following the establishment of the first American presbytery.

Image source: Synod of the Trinity

Synod of Philadelphia created

Presbyterian Church in America formation

Presbyterian renewal groups emerge

1942

As neo-orthodoxy and liberalism became influential in PCUS seminaries and merger discussions continued, renewal organizations formed. These included Presbyterian Churchmen United, the Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship, and the Concerned Presbyterians.

PCUS confessional revision begins

1942

Beginning in 1942, the Presbyterian Church in the United States experimented with revising its confessional standards. Later theological developments intensified conservative concerns within the denomination.

Reformed Theological Seminary founded

1966

Conservatives within the PCUS founded Reformed Theological Seminary in 1966 because of concerns about the direction of denominational seminaries.

Confessional objections to UPCUSA merger

1967

Opponents of a proposed merger objected to the United Presbyterian Church's adherence to the Auburn Affirmation and the Confession of 1967. They criticized what they viewed as amorphous biblical doctrine, a lax sexual ethic, and ecumenical engagement with bodies outside the Reformed faith.

National Presbyterian Church organized

Dec 1973

Delegates representing about 260 congregations and more than 41,000 communicant members who had left the PCUS gathered at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and organized the National Presbyterian Church.

Presbyterian Church in America name adopted

1974

The denomination adopted its present name, Presbyterian Church in America, the day after taking the name National Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Kenyon Case alternatives considered

1974

Men concerned about the direction of the Kenyon Case sent four representatives from an informal committee considering alternatives to the UPCUSA to the second General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America.

Denomination renamed National Reformed Presbyterian Church

1974

After protests from a UPCUSA congregation with the same name in Washington, D.C., the denomination renamed itself the National Reformed Presbyterian Church at its Second General Assembly.

PCA joins NAPARC

1975

The Presbyterian Church in America joined the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod, and Christian Reformed Church in North America as a charter member of NAPARC.

Siouxlands Presbytery formed

1975

The Siouxlands Presbytery was formed with South Dakota as its territory after the Presbyterian realignment of the 1970s.

Ascension Presbytery organized

Jul 29, 1975

Churches that seceded from the UPCUSA formed Ascension Presbytery, which was officially organized on July 29, 1975.

PCA and RPCES merger discussions begin

1979

The Presbyterian Church in America began discussions with the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, itself formed through a union involving the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod.

PCA expands Siouxlands boundaries

1982

Following the PCA's joining and receiving with the RPCES, Siouxlands Presbytery expanded from South Dakota to include Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa.

PCA and RPCES approve merger

Jun 12, 1982 - Jun 14, 1982

The RPCES Synod voted to join the PCA on June 12, 1982, and the PCA General Assembly voted to receive the RPCES on June 14. The merger united two conservative denominations and brought 25,718 RPCES communicant members in 187 congregations into the PCA.

PCA development and contemporary history

First Korean PCA presbytery formed

1982

The first Korean presbytery in the Presbyterian Church in America was formed in 1982, beginning the growth of Korean-language presbyteries within the denomination.

PCUS churches join PCA

1983 - 1990

From 1983 to 1990, the PCUS allowed churches to leave with their property. Early PCA growth was largely driven by these secessions rather than by organic expansion alone.

Congregations realign from OPC to PCA

1986

During the four years after 1986, congregations voluntarily left the OPC for the PCA, particularly in California, Montana, and Pennsylvania, with additional congregations coming from Alaska.

PCA invites OPC to join

1986

In 1986, the PCA again invited the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to join it, but the invitation was not accepted.

PCA adopts abortion and euthanasia position

1988

At its 16th General Assembly, the PCA adopted an official statement opposing abortion and euthanasia, describing euthanasia or mercy-killing, including suicide, as murder.

PCA described as rapidly growing denomination

1995

In 1995, the PCA was described as one of the fastest-growing denominations in the United States, having experienced steady growth since its founding in 1973.

Covenant Presbyterian Church formed in Michigan

1996

Dissenting Christian Reformed and Reformed Church in America members formed Covenant Presbyterian Church in Holland, Michigan, under Tom Vanden Heuvel, citing concerns that the Christian Reformed Church had departed from its original commitment to scriptural clarity and authority.

PCA begins receiving PC(USA) congregations

1996

Beginning in 1996, congregations from the Presbyterian Church (USA) began joining the PCA; about 23 PC(USA) congregations had joined by the time described in the source material.

First Presbyterian Church of Charleston joins PCA

2004

First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, Mississippi, formerly a PC(USA) congregation, voted in 2004 to join the PCA rather than the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

PCA and Presbyterian Church of Brazil enter relationship

2008

In 2008, the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and the Presbyterian Church in America entered into a full fraternal relationship.

PCA reports first net membership loss

2009

In 2009, the PCA reported a net loss in members for the first time, marking a change from its previous pattern of steady denominational growth.

PCA reaches 1,771 churches

Dec 31, 2011

As of December 31, 2011, the PCA reported 1,771 churches across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and five Canadian provinces.

PCA reports 1,777 congregations

2012

In 2012, the PCA reported 1,777 congregations, consisting of 1,474 particular churches and 303 mission churches, with total membership of 364,019.

PCA establishes relationship with Mexico

2012

At its 41st General Assembly in 2012, the PCA and the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico entered into an assembly-level ecclesiastical relationship.

Michael Oh appointed Lausanne CEO

2013

In 2013, Michael Oh was appointed chief executive officer of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, reflecting the PCA's participation in wider evangelical leadership.

Lloyd Kim appointed Mission to the World coordinator

2014

In 2014, Lloyd Kim was appointed coordinator of Mission to the World, the PCA's international missions organization.

Conservative PC(USA) departures accelerate

2014

By the 2014 PC(USA) General Assembly, many departing churches were joining the Evangelical Presbyterian Church or ECO. Conservative congregations continued to affiliate with the PCA, partly because those alternatives accepted women ministers.

University Reformed Church leaves RCA

Mar 21, 2015

University Reformed Church was granted dismissal by its RCA classis on March 21, 2015, in the context of the broader Presbyterian and Reformed realignment described in the source material.

PCA adopts racial reconciliation statement

Jun 23, 2016

The PCA General Assembly approved a statement on racial reconciliation that acknowledged corporate and historical sins, including racial segregation, exclusion from membership and presbyteries, defenses of white supremacy, and failures during and after the Civil Rights era.

Alexander Jun becomes PCA's first non-Anglo moderator

2017

In 2017, the PCA elected Alexander Jun as its first non-Anglo moderator.

PCA affirms Nashville Statement

2019

The PCA officially affirmed the Nashville Statement at its annual General Assembly in 2019.

Walter Kim leads National Association of Evangelicals

2019

Walter Kim was elected president of the National Association of Evangelicals in 2019.

Julius Kim leads The Gospel Coalition

2020

Julius Kim was selected as president of The Gospel Coalition in 2020.

Image source: The Gospel Coalition

Julius Kim leads The Gospel Coalition

PCA human sexuality report issued

2020

The PCA's Committee Report on Human Sexuality concluded in 2020 that Christians generally should not identify themselves as gay Christians, even when abstaining from homosexual activity, because it regarded homoerotic desires as sinful in nature.

Johnson judicial case reaches ruling

Oct 22, 2021

After investigations and appeals concerning PCA pastor Greg Johnson's public statements about his sexual orientation, the denomination's Standing Judicial Commission ruled in his favor by a vote of 16 to 7 on October 22, 2021.

PCA votes to leave NAE

Jun 22, 2022

The PCA voted on June 22, 2022, to leave the National Association of Evangelicals, ending its membership in that organization.

Memorial Presbyterian Church withdraws from PCA

Nov 2022

In November 2022, Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis voted to withdraw from the PCA, citing continued attacks within the denomination. Greg Johnson left the PCA with the congregation.

Key Facts

  1. Presbyterianism emerged from the Protestant Reformation, drawing heavily on the theology of John Calvin and other Reformed leaders.
  2. John Knox helped establish the Reformed Church in Scotland during the sixteenth century, making Scotland a central early setting for Presbyterianism.
  3. The Presbyterian system of church government is led by representative elders through sessions, presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies.
  4. The Westminster Assembly produced the Westminster Confession of Faith and related catechisms in the 1640s, important standards for many Presbyterian churches.
  5. Presbyterian churches spread globally through migration and missionary work, developing diverse denominations and communities that continue into the present.

Source

This Presbyterian Church History timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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