Foreword / George M. Marsden -- Increasing divergence after common origins in the British reformations -- Stuart pressures against Presbyterians and Puritans -- Two attempts at Protestant religious uniformity -- What restored monarchy meant for England and Scotland -- Developments in evangelism, mission, and theology -- New World immigration and the first presbytery -- A great awakening shapes the church -- American independence and a national assembly -- Missions and revivals in the early republic -- American Reformed theology -- Debate on the question of slavery -- Presbyterianism, civil war, and reunions -- The Darwinian challenge -- Immigration, urbanization, and industrialization -- German universities and American Protestantism -- Fundamentalism and Modernism -- Two world wars and reaching the world for Christ -- Women, civil rights, and a new confession -- Evangelical marginalization and resurgence -- Conclusion: Presbyterians as Evangelicals -- Appendix I: American Presbyterian Denominations ranked by membership -- Appendix II. Genealogical table of American Presbyterians.
Summary:
Reformed and Evangelical across Four Centuries tells the story of the Presbyterian church in the United States, beginning with its British foundations and extending to its present-day expression in multiple American Presbyterian denominations. This account emphasizes the role of the evangelical movement in shaping various Presbyterian bodies in America, especially in the twentieth century amid increasing departures from traditional Calvinism, historic orthodoxy, and a focus on biblical authority. Particular attention is also given to crucial elements of diversity in the Presbyterian story, with increasing numbers of African American, Latino/a, and Korean American Presbyterians—among others—in the twenty-first century. Overall, this book will be a bountiful resource to anyone curious about what it means to be Presbyterian in the multidimensional American context, as well as to anyone looking to understand this piece of the larger history of Christianity in the United States.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.