Chapter 7: The Bible Presbyterian Church - PCA Historical Center

The Bible Presbyterian Church 247cerning the use of intoxicating liquors which it was felt by many wasboth contrary to the Word of God and calculated to prevent thatchurch from ever awakening a wide response in the hearts of AmericanChristians. So, for the sake not only of the principles at stake, but alsowith a view to the need for the establishment of a great nation-widewitness to the Word of God, there were many who believed that thethen „Presbyterian Church of America‟ as it had existed up until thattime represented a „false start.‟ 3Thus, on the evening of June 4, 1937, during the ThirdGeneral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America, asmall group of fourteen ministers and three ruling eldersgathered in the St. James Hotel in Philadelphia to determinewhat would be done should they for the sake of consciencefeel compelled to leave the Church. They decided that in thatevent they would probably form a synod which would be a„Presbyterian Church in every sense of the word.‟ CarlMcIntire spoke out for a strong Presbyterian Church. MiloJamison wanted a „Bible Church.‟ Thus the moderator of themeeting, J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., suggested the name „BiblePresbyterian.‟ 4At this meeting certain „Articles of Association‟ weredrawn up. The first paragraph reads:For the sake of fellowship in the principles for which we stand, andas a testimony to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and because of theofficial apostasy of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., and becauseof the departure of the Presbyterian Church of America from the historicposition of American Presbyterianism, we, a group of ministersand ruling elders, do associate ourselves together in the Bible PresbyterianSynod. 53. Christian Beacon (CB), Aug. 31, 1939. Cf. M. G. Harden (ed.), A BriefHistory of the Bible Presbyterian Church and Its Agencies, 1967, 62. This work isvaluable, not only because it is the only published history of the Church butbecause it contains lengthy excerpts from old issues of the Christian Beacon andSynod Minutes which are very scarce. It goes without saying that this historyembodies the viewpoint of Carl McIntire, editor of the Beacon.4. As recalled by Buswell, Bible Press, July 22, 1955, 8. Cf. CB, Aug. 31,1939. Apparently the word synod was used purposely because there was stillsome doubt as to whether a new church would be necessary. Cf. R. L. Harris,Evangelical Presbyterian Reporter (EPR), 8:1 (Jan., 1962), 4.5. Harden, 61. Cf. CB, June 10, 1937.History Behind the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, pp. 244-296.