Organized in 1937, the Bible Presbyterian Church separated from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church shortly after that denomination was formed in 1936.
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church was made up conservatives who had left the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. However, the new body soon realized that it consisted of two differing groups.
One faction of the Church tied to the traditional worship styles of Reformed theology, dictated by the Westminster Confession and the Catechisms. They might be thought of as the Orthodox faction. The other group was also conservative but had a larger interest in political and cultural affairs. Fundamentalist in nature, the second group became associated with the Bible faction, and was led by Carl McIntire, J. Oliver Buswell, and Allan MacRae, who would later form an important part of what became known as the Christian Right in American politics.
One of the issues that would lead to the separation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was the use of alcoholic beverages. Neither side supported drinking to excess, but the Orthodox faction did not agree that the Bible required total abstinence from alcoholic beverages, as was asserted by the Bible faction.
Another issue of dispute had to do with faithfulness to Covenant theology, as opposed to a toleration of Dispensationalism. The Bible faction had acquired a respect for the Scofield Reference Bible, which taught the theology of Dispensationalism in the margins, whereas the other group held to the traditional Covenant theology of most Reformed denominations.
When Scofield's notes came under concentrated attack by members of the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary, the Bible faction viewed this as a dismissal of their views.
The Bible faction began organizing a new Presbyterian body in 1937, which became official in 1938. They did not depart on particularly angry terms and, somewhat ironically, the Bible Presbyterian Church later passed resolutions against Dispensationalism.
The first minister ordained by the Bible Presbyterian Church was Francis Schaeffer.
In 1955, there was a significant split in the Bible Presbyterian Church, forming the Bible Presbyterian Church Collingswood Synod and the Bible Presbyterian Church Columbus Synod. The Collingswood Synod remained under the leadership of McIntire, while the Columbus Synod included Francis Schaeffer and Jay E. Adams, who had become a leader in the Church. The Columbus Synod became the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in 1961, which is not the same denomination now using that name. The Collingswood Synod then resumed using the name of the Bible Presbyterian Church.
In 1979, a smaller group left the Bible Presbyterian Church to form the American Presbyterian Church, which now consists of only two congregations.
In 2008, the South Atlantic Presbytery left because the PBC had reestablished formal relations with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The departing group formed the Faith Presbytery, Bible Presbyterian Church.
The Bible Presbyterian Church uses the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger Catechism, and the Shorter Catechism, and is in agreement with the original manuscript of the Confession.
Member churches are mostly in the United States, but there is one congregation in Alberta, Canada. Rather than utilizing Synod-controlled boards for the Church's mission and educational work, the PBC approves independent agencies, colleges, and seminaries for this work on an annual basis.
The focus of this category is on the Bible Presbyterian Church, its affiliated ministries, associations, and corporations. For the most part, websites representing local congregations should be submitted to the appropriate Local & Global category, however.
Recommended Resources
Bible Presbyterian Church General Synod
Formed in 1937, the BPC is a conservative Reformed Presbyterian denomination in the United States and Canada. The official denominational website offers a history of the body, and an overview of the Synod, the denomination’s beliefs and practices, an archive of audio sermons, downloadable resolutions of the Synod, its agencies and missions, and a brief introduction. A directory of member churches is included.
http://bpc.org/
Bible Presbyterian Publications
Originally known as Fundamental Presbyterian Publications, BPP is an agency approved by the Bible Presbyterian Church to publish literature from and for the denomination’s ministers and elders. Available for purchase online, its products include booklets, brochures, bulletin inserts, pamphlets, and tracts. Essay contests and other youth contests, news and announcements, and its policies for accepting contributions or payments.
http://fppublications.org/
FEBC is a reformed, fundamentalist, separatist Bible-Presbyterian college in Singapore, which is affiliated with and shares the premises with Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. An introduction to the college is presented, including its academic and admissions policies, on-campus and distance learning programs, a semester timetable and college calendar, audio sermons, and access to various programs and publications.
http://www.febc.edu.sg/
Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions
Headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, IBPFM is the overseas missions agency for the Bible Presbyterian Church. The needs and opportunities to participate in the mission work are set forth, and both individual and family prayer requests may be made through the site. Its missions stations are identified, and active missionaries are introduced. Prospective missionaries and volunteers may apply for missionary service online.
https://praysendgo.com/
The non-profit missions agency is associated with the Bible Presbyterian Church, working to advance the cause of the denomination’s domestic and foreign missions. Its history and organizational structure, home missions emphasis, foreign and short-term missions work, and pastoral assistance programs are set forth. Its doctrinal positions, constitution, bylaws, and staff contacts are published to the site.
http://presbyterianmissions.org/
Located in Tacoma, Washington, WRS provides theological training to ministers, missionaries, and teachers of the Bible Presbyterian Church, as well as BPC members and other interested Christians. Its admissions and registration policies, tuition and fees, finance options, and an overview of its academic policies are posted to the site. Student resources include enrollment status, current courses, required textbooks, employment and housing, and other information.
http://www.wrs.edu/
