Chapter 7: The Bible Presbyterian Church - PCA Historical Center

248 The Bible Presbyterian ChurchThe aim was „to form a testimony which they felt would bemore in line with the historic attitudes of the PresbyterianChurch in the U.S.A. which they had so recently left.‟ 6The group reaffirmed their belief in the infallible authorityof the Bible, the Westminster Standards—in the form inwhich they stood in the Constitution of the PresbyterianChurch in the U.S.A. in May, 1936—and in the fundamentalprinciples of Presbyterian church polity. They proposed toamend the Westminster Standards „in any particular in whichthe premillennial teaching of the Scriptures may be held tobe obscured.‟ They also reaffirmed their faith in, and supportof the Independent Board. The final paragraph reads: „We arepersuaded that the great battle in the world today is the faithof our fathers versus modernism, compromise, indifferentism,and worldliness. With all our hearts we throw our strengthinto the great task of winning lost souls to Jesus Christ by theGospel of the grace of God.‟ 7 Thus it was their intention, as„stalwart fundamental Christians‟ having withdrawn from theold Church, to form „a new testimony—Calvinistic, fundamental,premillennial, and evangelistic.‟ 8Faith Theological Seminary was opened in the fall of1937, under an independent board of trustees, to representthe distinctive views of the Synod. 9 However, in that therewas apparently some doubt as to whether a new Churchwould be formed, the First General Synod of the Bible PresbyterianChurch did not meet until September, 1938. 10 TheSynod approved the Bible Presbyterian Articles of Associa-6. Harris, op. cit.7. Harden, ibid.; CB, June 10, 1937.8. Harden, 73.9. Ibid., 133 f. The seminary charter reads: „The teaching is to be true to thegreat Christian fundamentals, including the premillennial return of Christ. Thesystem of doctrine contained in the Scriptures and expounded in the historicWestminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms shall form the basis of the instruction.True piety is to be nurtured, and an attitude of devotion and constantprayerfulness inculcated.‟10. Cf. Harris, op. cit., 4 f: „It was not at first certain that a new churchwould be constituted, but in September of 1938, thirty-eight ministers and elevenelders gathered in the first synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church.‟This digital edition prepared by the staff of the PCA Historical Center, 04/10/2009.