Presbyterianism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==By Region== ===Europe=== ====Scotland==== [[John Knox]] (1505–1572), a [[Scottish people|Scot]] who had spent time studying under [[John Calvin|Calvin]] in Geneva, returned to [[Scotland]] and urged his countrymen to reform the Church in line with [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] doctrines. After a period of religious convulsion and political conflict culminating in a victory for the [[Lords of the Congregation|Protestant party]] at the [[Siege of Leith]] the authority of the [[Catholic Church]] was abolished in favour of [[Scottish Reformation|Reformation]] by the legislation of the [[Scottish Reformation Parliament]] in 1560. The Church was eventually organised by [[Andrew Melville]] along Presbyterian lines to become the national [[Church of Scotland]]. [[King James VI and I]] moved the Church of Scotland towards an episcopal form of government, and in 1637, James' successor, [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] and [[William Laud]], the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], attempted to force the Church of Scotland to use the [[Book of Common Prayer]]. What resulted was an armed insurrection, with many Scots signing the ''[[Solemn League and Covenant]]''. The [[Covenanter]]s would serve as the government of Scotland for nearly a decade, and would also send military support to the [[Roundhead|Parliamentarians]] during the [[English Civil War]]. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], despite the initial support that he received from the Covenanters, reinstated an episcopal form of government on the church. [[File:Covenanters in a Glen.jpg|thumb|An illegal [[conventicle]], ''Covenanters in a Glen''|upright=1.4]] However, with the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688 the Church of Scotland was unequivocally recognised as a Presbyterian institution by the monarch due to Scottish Presbyterian support for the aforementioned revolution and the [[Acts of Union 1707]] between Scotland and England guaranteed the Church of Scotland's form of government. However, legislation by the [[United Kingdom parliament]] allowing [[patronage]] led to splits in the Church. In 1733, a group of ministers [[First Secession|seceded from the Church of Scotland]] to form the Associate Presbytery, another group seceded in 1761 to form the [[Relief Church]] and the [[Disruption of 1843]] led to the formation of the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)|Free Church of Scotland]]. Further splits took place, especially over theological issues, but most Presbyterians in Scotland were reunited by 1929 union of the established Church of Scotland and the [[United Free Church of Scotland]]. There are now eight Presbyterian denominations in Scotland today. These are, in order of size: the [[Church of Scotland]], the [[Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], the [[United Free Church of Scotland]], the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]], the [[Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)]], the [[Associated Presbyterian Churches|Associated Presbyterian Church]], the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]], and the [[International Presbyterian Church]]. Combined, they have over 1500 congregations in Scotland. Within Scotland the term '[[kirk]]' is usually used to refer to a local Presbyterian church. Informally, the term 'The Kirk' refers to the Church of Scotland. Some of the values and ideals espoused in Scottish Presbyterian denominations can be reflected in this reference in a book from Norman Drummond, chaplain to the Queen in Scotland.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Drummond|first1=Norman|title=The Power of Three: Discovering what really matters in life|date=2010|publisher=Hachette (Hodder & Stoughton)|location=London|isbn=978-0-340-97991-4|language=en}}</ref> '''Chart of splits and mergers of the Scottish Presbyterian churches''' {{chart top|width=100%|Splits and mergers of the Scottish Presbyterian churches}} {{chart/start|align=center}} {{chart| | | | | | | | |CS| CS=[[Church of Scotland]] ([[Scottish Reformation Parliament|1560]])}} {{chart| | | | |CO|-|-|(| CO=[[Covenanters]] ([[Rescissory Act 1661|1661]])}} {{chart| | | | | |)|-|-|.|!| |CS=[[Church of Scotland]] (1688)}} {{chart| | | | | |!| | |CS| |CS=[[Church of Scotland]] ([[Glorious Revolution in Scotland|1688]])}} {{chart| | | | | |!| | | |)|-|-|EP |EP=[[Episcopal polity|Episcopalians]] (1689)}} {{chart| | | | |RP| | |!| | | |!|RP=[[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland|RPCS]] (1690)}} {{chart| | | | | |!| | | |!| | |EC|EC=[[Scottish Episcopal Church]] ([[Scottish Episcopalians Act 1711|1711]])}} {{chart| | | | | |!| | | |!| | | |`|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|}} {{chart| | | | | |!| | | |!|}} {{chart| | | | | |!| | | |)|-|-|-|SE| SE=[[First Secession|Associate Presbytery]] (1733)}} {{chart| | | | | |!| | | |!| | |,|-|^|-|.| | }} {{chart| | | | | |!| | | |!| |BR| |AN| BR=[[Burgher (Church history)|Burghers]] (1747)| AN=[[Anti-Burgher]]s (1747)}} {{chart|RC|-|-|b|-|-|-|(| | |!|!| |!|!| RC=[[Relief Church]] (1761)}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |!| |,|'|NL|`|.| NL=[[Old and New Lights|New Lights]] (1800s)}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |!| |!| | |!| | |!}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |!| |!| |US| |!| US=[[United Secession Church]] (1820)}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |!| |!| | |!| | |!}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |!|,|b|-|-|b|-|-|(}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | |CS|!| | |!| | |!| CS=Church of Scotland (1822)}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |!|,|'| | |!| |OS| OS=[[Original Secession Church|Original<br/>Secession<br/>Church]] (1827)}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | |CS| | | |!| | |!| CS=Church of Scotland (1839)}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |!| | | | |!| | |!}} {{chart| |!| | | |!| | | |)|-|FC|!| | |!| FC=[[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] ([[Disruption of 1843|1843]])}} {{chart| |!| |,|-|b|-|-|-|b|-|-|b|-|'| | |!}} {{chart| |US| |!| | | |!| | |!|,|-|-|-|(| US=[[United Presbyterian Church (Scotland)|United<br/>Presbyterian<br/>Church]] (1847)}} {{chart| | |!| | |!| | | |!| |FC| | | |!| FC=Free Church of Scotland (1852)}} {{chart| | |!| | |)|-|-|-|b|-|.|!| | | | |!| }} {{chart| | |!| | |!| | | |!| |FC| | | |!| FC=Free Church of Scotland (1876)}} {{chart| | |!| | |!| | | |!| | |!| | | | |!| }} {{chart| | |!| | |!| | | |!| | |)|-|FP|!| FP=[[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] (1893)}} {{chart| | |!| |,|b|-|-|-|b|-|-|(| | |!| |!| }} {{chart| | |UF|!| | | |!| |FC| |!| |!| UF=[[United Free Church of Scotland]] (1900)| FC=[[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] (1900)}} {{chart| | | |)|-|b|-|-|.|!| | |!| | |!| |!| }} {{chart| | | |!| |!| | |CS| |!| | |!| |!| CS=Church of Scotland (1929)}} {{chart| | | |!| |!| | | |!|,|-|b|-|-|b|-|'| }} {{chart| | | |!| |!| | |CS| |!| | |!| CS=[[Church of Scotland]] (1956)}} {{chart| | | |!| |!| | | |!| | |!| | |)|AP| AP=[[Associated Presbyterian Churches|Associated<br/>Presbyterian<br/>Churches]] (1989)}} {{chart| | | |!| |!|FP|b|-|-|(| | |!| |!| FP=[[Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)|Free<br/>Church of Scotland<br/>(Continuing)]] (2000)}} {{chart/end}} {{chart bottom}} ====England==== {{Main|English Presbyterianism}} In England, Presbyterianism was established in secret in 1592. [[Thomas Cartwright (Puritan)|Thomas Cartwright]] is thought to be the first Presbyterian in England. Cartwright's controversial lectures at [[Cambridge University]] condemning the [[episcopal polity|episcopal]] hierarchy of the [[Elizabethan era|Elizabethan]] Church led to his deprivation of his post by Archbishop [[John Whitgift]] and his emigration abroad. Between 1645 and 1648, a series of ordinances of the [[Long Parliament]] established Presbyterianism as the polity of the [[Church of England]]. Presbyterian government was established in London and Lancashire and in a few other places in England, although Presbyterian hostility to the [[Execution of Charles I|execution]] of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] and the establishment of the republican [[Commonwealth of England]] meant that Parliament never enforced the Presbyterian system in England. The [[Stuart Restoration|Restoration of the monarchy]] in 1660 brought the return of [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal church government]] in England (and in Scotland for a short time); but the Presbyterian church in England continued in Non-Conformity, outside of the established church. In 1719 a major split, the [[Thomas Bradbury (minister)|Salter's Hall controversy]], occurred; with the majority siding with [[nontrinitarian]] views. [[Thomas Bradbury (minister)|Thomas Bradbury]] published several sermons bearing on the controversy, and in 1719, "An answer to the reproaches cast on the [[dissenting minister]]s who subscribed their belief of the Eternal Trinity." By the 18th century many English Presbyterian congregations had become [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] in doctrine. A number of new Presbyterian Churches were founded by [[Scottish people|Scottish]] immigrants to England in the 19th century and later. Following the 'Disruption' in 1843 many of those linked to the Church of Scotland eventually joined what became the Presbyterian Church of England in 1876. Some, such as Crown Court (Covent Garden, London), St Andrew's (Stepney, London) and [[Swallow Street]] (London), did not join the English denomination, which is why there are Church of Scotland congregations in England such as those at [[Crown Court Church|Crown Court]], and [[St Columba's Church, London|St Columba's]], Pont Street (Knightsbridge) in London. There is also a congregation in the heart of London's financial district called London City Presbyterian Church that is affiliated with the Free Church of Scotland. In 1972, the Presbyterian Church of England (PCofE) united with the [[Congregational Church in England and Wales]] to form the [[United Reformed Church]] (URC). Among the congregations the PCofE brought to the URC were Tunley (Lancashire), [[Aston Tirrold]] (Oxfordshire) and John Knox Presbyterian Church, Stepney, London (now part of [[Stepney Meeting House]] URC) – these are among the sole survivors today of the English Presbyterian churches of the 17th century. The URC also has a presence in Scotland, mostly of former [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]] Churches. Two former Presbyterian congregations, [[Downing Place United Reformed Church, Cambridge#St Columba's Church|St Columba's, Cambridge]] (founded in 1879), and [[St Columba's United Reformed Church, Oxford|St Columba's, Oxford]] (founded as a chaplaincy by the PCofE and the [[Church of Scotland]] in 1908 and as a congregation of the PCofE in 1929), continue as congregations of the URC and university chaplaincies of the [[Church of Scotland]]. In recent years a number of smaller denominations adopting Presbyterian forms of church government have organised in England, including the [[International Presbyterian Church]] planted by evangelical theologian [[Francis Schaeffer]] of the [[L'Abri|L'Abri Fellowship]] in the 1970s, and the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales]] founded in the North of England in the late 1980s. ====Wales==== In [[Wales]], Presbyterianism is represented by the [[Presbyterian Church of Wales]], which was originally composed largely of [[Calvinistic Methodists]] who accepted Calvinist theology rather than the [[Arminianism]] of the Wesleyan Methodists. They broke off from the Church of England in 1811, ordaining their own ministers. They were originally known as the Calvinist Methodist connexion and in the 1920s it became alternatively known as the Presbyterian Church of Wales. ====Ireland==== Presbyterianism ({{lang-ga|Preispitéireachas}}, {{lang-sco|label=[[Ulster Scots dialect|Ulster Scots]]|Prisbytairinism}}) is the largest Protestant denomination in [[Northern Ireland]] and the second largest on the island of Ireland (after the [[Anglican]] [[Church of Ireland]]),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kiprop |first1=Victor |title=Religion Demographics Of Northern Ireland |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religion-demographics-of-northern-ireland.html#:~:text=%20Religion%20Demographics%20of%20Northern%20Ireland%20%201,religion%20of%20Northern%20Ireland.%20It%20is...%20More%20 |website=www.worldatlas.com |date=16 April 2019 |publisher=World Facts |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> and was brought by Scottish [[Plantation of Ulster|plantation settlers]] to [[Ulster]] who had been strongly encouraged to emigrate by James VI of Scotland, also [[James I of England|James I of Ireland and England]]. An estimated 100,000 Scottish Presbyterians moved to the northern counties of Ireland between 1607 and the [[Battle of the Boyne]] in 1690.{{Citation needed|date=September 2007}} The Presbytery of Ulster was formed in 1642 separately from the established Anglican Church. Presbyterians, along with [[Catholic]]s in Ulster and the rest of Ireland, suffered under the discriminatory [[Penal Laws against Irish Catholics|Penal Laws]] until they were revoked in the early 19th century. Presbyterianism is represented in Ireland by the [[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]], the [[Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland]], the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster]], the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland]] and the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Ireland)|Evangelical Presbyterian Church]]. ====France==== There is a Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) in central Paris: [[The Scots Kirk, Paris|The Scots Kirk]], which is English-speaking, and is attended by many nationalities. It maintains close links with the Church of Scotland in Scotland itself, as well as with the [[Reformed Church of France]]. ====Italy==== {{further|Waldensians}} The Waldensian Evangelical Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese, CEV) is an Italian Protestant denomination. The church was founded in the 12th century, and centuries later, after the Protestant Reformation, it adhered to Calvinist theology and became the Italian branch of the Presbyterian churches. As such, the church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. ===North America=== {{See also|List of Presbyterian churches in North America}} Even before Presbyterianism spread with immigrants abroad from Scotland, there were divisions in the larger Presbyterian family. Some later rejoined only to separate again. In what some interpret as rueful self-reproach, some Presbyterians refer to the divided Presbyterian churches as the "Split Ps". [[File:Presbyterian Family Connections.jpg|thumb|Evolution of Presbyterianism in the United States|upright=2.4]] [[File:The First Presbyterian Church Phoenix.JPG|thumb|[[First Presbyterian Church (Phoenix, Arizona)|First Presbyterian Church]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]]]] [[File:Westminster Presbyterian Church Los Angeles.jpg|thumb|Westminster Presbyterian Church [[Los Angeles]]]] ====United States==== {{see also|Presbyterianism in the United States}} Presbyterianism first officially arrived in Colonial America in 1644 with the establishment of Christ's First Presbyterian Church in Hempstead, New York. The Church was organized by the Rev. Richard Denton. In 1703 the first Presbytery in Philadelphia was established. In time, the presbytery would be joined by two more to form a synod (1717) and would evolve into the [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]] in 1789. The nation's largest Presbyterian denomination, the [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]] – PC (USA) – can trace its heritage back to the original PCUSA, as can the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] (PCA), the [[Orthodox Presbyterian Church]] (OPC), the [[Bible Presbyterian Church]] (BPC), the [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church]] (CPC), the [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America]], the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States)|Evangelical Presbyterian Church]] (EPC), and the [[Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians]] (ECO). Other Presbyterian bodies in the United States include the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America]] (RPCNA), the [[Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church]] (ARP), the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States]] (RPCUS), the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly]], the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery]], the [[Covenant Presbyterian Church]], the [[Presbyterian Reformed Church (North America)|Presbyterian Reformed Church]], the [[Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States]], the [[Korean American Presbyterian Church]], and the [[Free Presbyterian Church of North America]]. The territory within about a {{convert|50|mi|km|0|adj=on}} radius of [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], is historically the greatest concentration of Presbyterianism in the Southern United States, while an almost identical geographic area around [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania, contains probably the largest number of Presbyterians in the entire nation. The PC (USA), beginning with its predecessor bodies, has, in common with other so-called "mainline" Protestant denominations, experienced a significant decline in members in recent years. Some estimates have placed that loss at nearly half in the last forty years.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.layman.org./layman/news/2006-news/big-losses-projected.htm |publisher=Layman |title=News |year=2006 |contribution=Big Losses Projected |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705214053/http://www.layman.org/layman/news/2006-news/big-losses-projected.htm |archive-date=5 July 2008 }}.</ref> Presbyterian influence, especially through [[Princeton theology]], can be traced in modern [[Evangelicalism]]. Balmer says that: {{Blockquote|Evangelicalism itself, I believe, is a quintessentially North American phenomenon, deriving as it did from the confluence of [[Pietism]], Presbyterianism, and the vestiges of [[Puritanism]]. Evangelicalism picked up the peculiar characteristics from each strain – warmhearted spirituality from the Pietists (for instance), doctrinal precisionism from the Presbyterians, and individualistic introspection from the Puritans – even as the North American context itself has profoundly shaped the various manifestations of evangelicalism: fundamentalism, neo-evangelicalism, the holiness movement, Pentecostalism, the charismatic movement, and various forms of African-American and Hispanic evangelicalism.<ref>{{cite book| first = Randall| last = Balmer| title = The Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=syUupeVJOz4C&pg=PR8| year = 2002| publisher = Westminster John Knox Press| pages = vii–viii| isbn = 978-0-664-22409-7| access-date = 27 June 2015| archive-date = 6 September 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150906081358/https://books.google.com/books?id=syUupeVJOz4C&pg=PR8| url-status = live}}</ref>|author=Randall Balmer|title=The Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism (2002)}} In the late 1800s, Presbyterian missionaries established a presence in what is now northern New Mexico. This provided an alternative to the Catholicism, which was brought to the area by the Spanish Conquistadors and had remained unchanged. The area experienced a "mini" reformation, in that many converts were made to Presbyterianism, prompting persecution. In some cases, the converts left towns and villages to establish their own neighboring villages. The arrival of the United States to the area prompted the Catholic church to modernize and make efforts at winning the converts back, many of which did return. However, there are still stalwart Presbyterians and Presbyterian churches in the area. Historically, along with Lutherans and [[Episcopal Church (USA)|Episcopalians]], Presbyterians tend to be considerably wealthier<ref name="THE EPISCOPALIANS">{{cite news|last=Ayres|first=B. Drummond Jr. |date=28 April 1981|title=The Episcopalians: An American Elite with Roots Going Back to Jamestown|newspaper=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/28/us/the-episcopalians-an-american-elite-with-roots-going-back-to-jamestown.html|url-status=live|access-date=2012-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119035058/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/28/us/the-episcopalians-an-american-elite-with-roots-going-back-to-jamestown.html|archive-date=19 January 2018}}</ref> and are better educated (having more [[Academic degree|graduate]] and post-graduate degrees per capita) than most other religious groups in United States;<ref>Irving Lewis Allen, "WASP—From Sociological Concept to Epithet", ''Ethnicity,'' 1975 154+</ref> a group known as [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestants]] (WASPs), they are disproportionately represented in the upper reaches of American business,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hacker|first=Andrew|year=1957|title=Liberal Democracy and Social Control|journal=[[American Political Science Review]]|volume=51|issue=4|pages=1009–1026 [p. 1011]|doi=10.2307/1952449|jstor=1952449|s2cid=146933599 }}</ref> law, and politics.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baltzell|url=https://archive.org/details/protestantestabl00baltrich|title=The Protestant Establishment|year=1964|page=[https://archive.org/details/protestantestabl00baltrich/page/9 9]|publisher=New York, Random House|url-access=registration}}</ref> ====Canada==== [[File:Rev Bruin Romcas Comisco, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.png|thumb|Rev [[Bruin Romkes Comingo]], 1st Presbyterian Minister in Canada, [[St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Lunenburg)]]]] In Canada, the largest Presbyterian denomination – and indeed the largest Protestant denomination – was the [[Presbyterian Church in Canada]], formed in 1875 with the merger of four regional groups. In 1925, the [[United Church of Canada]] was formed by the majority of Presbyterians combining with the [[Methodist Church]], Canada, and the [[Congregational church|Congregational Union of Canada]]. A sizable minority of Canadian Presbyterians, primarily in southern [[Ontario]] but also throughout the entire nation, withdrew, and reconstituted themselves as a non-concurring continuing Presbyterian body. They regained use of the original name in 1939. ===Latin America=== [[File:Catedral Presbiteriana, Rio de Janeiro.jpg|thumb|Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]] Presbyterianism arrived in Latin America in the 19th century. ==== Mexico ==== [[File:IglesiaSionSLP.jpg|thumb|[[National Presbyterian Church in Mexico|National Presbyterian Church]] in the Historic Center of [[San Luis Potosí (city)|San Luis Potosí]], [[Mexico]].]] The biggest Presbyterian church is the [[National Presbyterian Church in Mexico]] (''Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México''), which has around 2,500,000 members and associates and 3000 congregations, but there are other small denominations like the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Mexico which was founded in 1875 by the Associate Reformed Church in North America. The Independent Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Mexico, and the National Conservative Presbyterian Church in Mexico are existing churches in the Reformed tradition. ==== Brazil ==== In Brazil, the [[Presbyterian Church of Brazil]] (''Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil'') totals approximately 1,011,300 members;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.executivaipb.com.br/site/estatisticas/estatistica_2011.pdf|title=Estatísticas 2011 Dados Estimados|website=Executivaipb.com.br|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924004821/http://www.executivaipb.com.br/site/estatisticas/estatistica_2011.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> other Presbyterian churches (Independents, United, Conservatives, Renovated, etc.) in this nation have around 350,000 members. The [[Renewed Presbyterian Church in Brazil]] was influenced by the charismatic movement and has about 131 000 members as of 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.iprb.org.br/inic.htm |title = Igreja Presbiteriana Renovada do Brasil |publisher = IPRB |access-date = 25 May 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161101121902/http://www.iprb.org.br/inic.htm |archive-date = 1 November 2016 }}</ref> The [[Conservative Presbyterian Church in Brazil]] was founded in 1940 and has eight presbyteries.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ipcb.org.br |title= Igreja Presbiteriana Conservadora do Brasil |publisher= IPCB |access-date= 25 May 2013 |archive-date= 21 May 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130521041043/http://ipcb.org.br/ |url-status= live }}</ref> The Fundamentalist Presbyterian church in Brazil was influenced by [[Carl McIntire]] and the US [[Bible Presbyterian Church]] and has around 1 800 members. The [[Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil]] was founded in 1903 by Rev. Eduardo Carlos Pereira, has 500 congregations and 75 000 members. The [[United Presbyterian Church of Brazil]] has around 4 000 members. There are also ethnic Korean Presbyterian churches in the country. The [[Evangelical Reformed Churches in Brazil]] has Dutch origin. The [[Reformed Churches in Brazil]] were recently founded by the [[Canadian and American Reformed Churches|Canadian Reformed Churches]] with the [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)]]. [[Congregational church|Congregational]] churches present in the country are also part of the Calvinistic tradition in Latin America. ==== Other Latin American states ==== There are probably more than four million members of Presbyterian churches in all of Latin America. Presbyterian churches are also present in Peru, Bolivia, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Argentina, Honduras and others, but with few members. The Presbyterian Church in Belize has 17 churches and church plants and there is a Reformed Seminary founded in 2004. Some Latin Americans in North America are active in the [[Presbyterian Cursillo Movement]]. ===Africa=== [[File:Christ Presbyterian Church Akropong.jpg|thumb|[[Christ Presbyterian Church, Akropong]], Ghana]] Presbyterianism arrived in Africa in the 19th century through the work of Scottish missionaries and founded churches such as [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Blantyre, Malawi]]. The church has grown extensively and now has a presence in at least 23 countries in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/global/africa/ |publisher= PC(USA) |title= Worldwide Ministries, Africa |access-date= 7 December 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130815182043/http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/global/africa/ |archive-date= 15 August 2013 }}</ref> African Presbyterian churches often incorporate diaconal ministries, including social services, emergency relief, and the operation of mission hospitals. A number of partnerships exist between presbyteries in Africa and the PC(USA), including specific connections with Lesotho, Cameroon, Malawi, South Africa, Ghana and Zambia. For example, the Lackawanna Presbytery, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, has a partnership with a presbytery in Ghana. Also the Southminster Presbyterian Church, located near Pittsburgh, has partnerships with churches in Malawi and Kenya. The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, western Africa is also healthy and strong in mostly the southern states of this nation, strong density in the south-eastern states of this country. Beginning from Cross River state, the nearby coastal states, Rivers state, Lagos state to Ebonyi and Abia States. [[Hope Masterton Waddell|Hope Waddel]]'s missionary expedition in the mid 19th century, and later [[Mary Slessor]]'s stay in this coastal regions of the then British colony has brought about the beginning and the flourishing of this church in these areas. '''Cameroon''' The [[Presbyterian Church in Cameroon]] currently a member of reformed churches in Cameroon ====Kenya==== The [[Presbyterian Church of East Africa]], based in Kenya, is particularly strong, with 500 clergy and 4 million members.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/global/kenya/ | publisher = PC(USA) | title = Worldwide Ministries, Kenya | access-date = 7 December 2012 | archive-date = 15 August 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130815202357/http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/global/kenya/ | url-status = live }}</ref> ==== Malawi ==== The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Malawi has 150 congregations and 17 000–20 000 members{{Citation needed|date = September 2018|reason = Dubious}}. It was a mission of the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland. The Restored Reformed Church works with RPCM. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Malawi is an existing small church. Part of the Presbyterian Church in Malawi and Zambia is known as CCAP, Church of Central Africa-Presbyterian. Often the churches there have one main congregation and a number of prayer houses develop. Education, health ministries, and worship and spiritual development are important. ====Southern Africa==== Southern Africa is a major base of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches.{{Citation needed|date = December 2015|reason = Dubious}} ====Northern Africa==== * [[Presbyterian Church in Sudan|The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and Sudan]], founded in 1902 by American missionaries in [[Malakal]], was deprived of foreign pastors since 1962 by decision of the Sudanese government but it continued to grow. It is now the 3rd largest Christian church in Sudan with 1,000,000 members, now shared between [[Sudan]] and [[South Sudan]].<ref name = PCSSS>{{cite web | url = https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/presbyterian-church-of-the-sudan | publisher = the website of the [[World Council of Churches]] | title = Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and Sudan | date = January 1965 | access-date = September 14, 2018 | archive-date = 18 November 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181118184224/https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/presbyterian-church-of-the-sudan | url-status = live }}.</ref> * The [[Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church|Presbyterian Evangelical Church of Sudan]] was founded in the north of the country and in Khartoum by the same American missionaries in the late 19th century but left under the guidance of Egyptian evangelical pastors of Coptic origin.<ref name = PCSSS/> In addition, there are a number of Presbyterian Churches in north Africa, the most known is the Nile Synod in Egypt and a recently founded synod for Sudan. ===Asia=== ==== Hong Kong ==== [[The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China]] (CCC) is a uniting church formed by [[Presbyterians]] and [[Congregationalists]], which inherited the [[Reformed tradition]]. [[The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China|HKCCCC]] is also the only [[Mainline Protestant|mainline]] Reformed church in Hong Kong. [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church Yao Dao Secondary School]] is a Presbyterian school in [[Yuen Long]], [[New Territories]]. The [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church]] also have a church on the island of [[Cheung Chau]]. There are also [[Korean Christians in Hong Kong|Korean Christians]] resident in Hong Kong who are Presbyterians.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} ====South Korea==== {{main|Presbyterianism in South Korea}} Presbyterian Churches are the biggest and by far the most influential Protestant denominations in South Korea, with close to 20,000 churches affiliated with the two largest Presbyterian denominations in the country.<ref>{{cite web | place = [[Korea|KR]] | title = History | url = http://www.pck.or.kr/Eng/History/MajorH.asp | publisher = The Presbyterian Church of Korea | access-date = 1 August 2011 | archive-date = 18 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718113130/http://www.pck.or.kr/Eng/History/MajorH.asp | url-status = live }}.</ref> In South Korea there are 9 million Presbyterians, forming the majority of the 15 million Korean [[Protestant]]s. In South Korea there are 100 different Presbyterian denominations.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.crcna.org/news-and-views/touched-devotion-south-korea | title = Touched by Devotion in South Korea | type = article | publisher = Christian Reformed Church | date = 4 October 2010 | access-date = 4 September 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170709093000/https://www.crcna.org/news-and-views/touched-devotion-south-korea | archive-date = 9 July 2017 }}.</ref> Most of the Korean Presbyterian denominations share the same name in Korean, 대한예수교장로회 (literally means the Presbyterian Church of Korea or PCK), tracing its roots to the United Presbyterian Assembly before its long history of disputes and schisms. The Presbyterian schism began with the controversy in relation to the Japanese shrine worship enforced during the Japanese colonial period and the establishment of a minor division (Koryu-pa, 고려파, later The Koshin Presbyterian Church in Korea, Koshin 고신) in 1952. And in 1953 the second schism happened when the theological orientation of the Chosun Seminary (later Hanshin University) founded in 1947 could not be tolerated in the PCK and another minor group (The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, Kijang, 기장) was separated. The last major schism had to do with the issue of whether the PCK should join the WCC. The controversy divided the PCK into two denominations, The Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap, 통합) and The General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong, 합동) in 1959. All major seminaries associated with each denomination claim heritage from the Pyung Yang Theological Seminary, therefore, not only Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary and Chongsin University which are related to PCK but also Hanshin University of PROK all celebrated the 100th class in 2007, 100 years from the first graduates of Pyung Yang Theological Seminary.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://reformednews.co.kr/sub_read.html?uid=824§ion=sc4 | script-title = ko:리폼드뉴스 | language = ko | publisher = Reformed news | place = KR | access-date = 7 August 2011 | archive-date = 22 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722134614/http://reformednews.co.kr/sub_read.html?uid=824§ion=sc4 | url-status = live | date = 28 May 2009 }}</ref> Korean Presbyterian denominations are active in evangelism and many of its missionaries are being sent overseas, being the second biggest missionary sender in the world after the United States. GMS, the missionary body of the "Hapdong" General Assembly of Presbyterian Churches of Korea, is the single largest Presbyterian missionary organization in Korea.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://kcm.kr/dic_view.php?nid=39503 | publisher = KCM | title = Search | access-date = 7 August 2011 | place = KR | archive-date = 29 October 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193844/http://kcm.kr/dic_view.php?nid=39503 | url-status = live }}.</ref> In addition there are many Korean-American Presbyterians in the United States, either with their own church sites or sharing space in pre-existing churches as is the case in Australia, New Zealand and even Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia with Korean immigration. The Korean Presbyterian Church started through the mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Australian Presbyterian theological tradition is central to the United States. But after independence, the 'Presbyterian Church in Korea (KoRyuPa)' advocated a Dutch [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] position. In the 21st century, a new General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Korea (Founder. Ha Seung-moo) in 2012 declared itself an authentic historical succession of Scottish Presbyterian John Knox. ====Taiwan==== The [[Presbyterian Church in Taiwan]] (PCT) is by far the largest Protestant denomination in [[Taiwan]], with some 238,372 members as of 2009 (including a majority of the island's [[Formosan Aboriginals|aborigines]]). [[English Presbyterian Mission]]ary [[James Laidlaw Maxwell]] established the first Presbyterian church in [[Tainan]] in 1865. His colleague [[George Leslie Mackay]], of the [[Canadian Presbyterian Mission]], was active in [[Tamsui]] and north Taiwan from 1872 to 1901; he founded the island's first university and hospital, and created a written script for [[Taiwanese Minnan]]. The English and Canadian missions joined as the PCT in 1912. One of the few churches permitted to operate in Taiwan through the era of Japanese rule (1895–1945), the PCT experienced rapid growth during the era of [[Kuomintang]]-imposed martial law (1949–1987), in part due to its support for democracy, human rights, and [[Taiwan independence]]. Former [[Republic of China|ROC]] president [[Lee Teng-hui]] (in office 1988–2000) was a Presbyterian. ====India==== [[File:Jowai Presbyterian Church.JPG|thumb|[[Jowai]] Presbyterian Church, India]] In the mainly Christian Indian state of [[Mizoram]], Presbyterianism is the largest of all [[Christian denomination]]s. It was brought there by [[missionaries]] from [[Wales]] in 1897. Prior to Mizoram, Welsh Presbyterians started venturing into the northeast India through the [[Khasi Hills]] (now in the state of [[Meghalaya]] in India) and established Presbyterian churches all over the Khasi Hills from the 1840s onwards. Hence, there is a strong presence of Presbyterians in [[Shillong]] (the present capital of Meghalaya) and the areas adjoining it. The Welsh missionaries built their first church in [[Sohra]] (aka [[Cherrapunji]]) in 1846. The Presbyterian church in India was integrated in 1970 into the [[United Church of Northern India – Presbyterian Synod|United Church of Northern India]] (originally formed in 1924). It is the largest Presbyterian denomination in India. ===Oceania=== ====Australia==== {{See also|List of Presbyterian denominations in Australia}} [[File:Timeline of Aust. Pres. Denominations.png|thumb|upright=2|Timeline showing the Presbyterian denominations in Australia over the past 100 years, and the movement of congregations from one to another]]In Australia, Presbyterianism is the fourth largest denomination of Christianity, with nearly 600,000 Australians claiming to be Presbyterian in the 2006 Commonwealth Census. Presbyterian churches were founded in each colony, some with links to the Church of Scotland and others to the Free Church. There were also congregations originating from United Presbyterian Church of Scotland as well as a number founded by [[John Dunmore Lang]]. Most of these bodies merged between 1859 and 1870, and in 1901 formed a federal union called the [[Presbyterian Church of Australia]] but retaining their state assemblies. The [[Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia]] representing the Free Church of Scotland tradition, and congregations in Victoria of the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia|Reformed Presbyterian Church]], originally from Ireland, are the other existing denominations dating from colonial times. In 1977, about 70% of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, along with most of the [[Congregational Union of Australia]] and all the [[Methodist Church of Australasia]], combined to form the [[Uniting Church in Australia]].<ref>Rowland Ward and Robert Humphreys, ''Religious Bodies in Australia'', 3rd edition ([[Wantirna, Victoria]]: New Melbourne Press, 1995), 77.</ref> The 30% who did not unite had various reasons for so acting, often cultural attachment but often conservative theological or social views. The permission for the ordination of women given in 1974 was rescinded in 1991 without affecting the two or three existing woman ministers{{Citation needed|date = September 2018|reason = Dubious}}. The approval of women elders given in the 1960s has been rescinded in all states except New South Wales, which has the largest membership{{Citation needed|date = September 2018|reason = Dubious}}. The theology of the church is now generally conservative and Reformed{{Citation needed|date = September 2018|reason = Unclear. Which church?}}. A number of small Presbyterian denominations have arisen since the 1950s through migration or schism. ====New Zealand==== [[File:Kaikorai Presbyterian Church Dunedin New Zealand.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Kaikorai Presbyterian Church]], New Zealand]] In [[New Zealand]], Presbyterian is the dominant denomination in Otago and Southland due largely to the rich [[Scottish people|Scottish]] and to a lesser extent [[Ulster Scots people|Ulster-Scots]] heritage in the region. The area around Christchurch, Canterbury, is dominated philosophically by the [[Anglican]] denomination. Originally there were two branches of Presbyterianism in New Zealand, the northern Presbyterian church which existed in the North Island and the parts of the South Island north of the [[Waitaki River]], and the [[Synod of Otago and Southland]], founded by [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church]] settlers in southern South Island. The two churches merged in 1901, forming what is now the [[Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand]]. In addition to the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, there is also a more conservative Presbyterian church called [[Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand]]. Many of its members left the largely liberal PCANZ because they were seeking a more conservative church. It has 17 churches throughout New Zealand. ====Vanuatu==== The [[Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu]] is the largest denomination in the country, with approximately one-third of the population of Vanuatu members of the church. The PCV was taken to Vanuatu by missionaries from Scotland. The PCV (Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu) is headed by a moderator with offices in [[Port Vila]]. The PCV is particularly strong in the provinces of [[Tafea]], [[Shefa Province|Shefa]], and [[Malampa]]. The Province of [[Sanma Province|Sanma]] is mainly Presbyterian with a strong Catholic minority in the [[Francophone]] areas of the province. There are some Presbyterian people, but no organised Presbyterian churches in [[Penama]] and [[Torba Province|Torba]], both of which are traditionally Anglican. Vanuatu is the only country in the South Pacific with a significant Presbyterian heritage and membership. The PCV is a founding member of the [[Vanuatu Christian Council]] (VCC). The PCV runs many primary schools and Onesua secondary school. The church is strong in the rural villages. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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