Reformed Theological Seminary - Orlando Presbyterian Ministry in American Culture (2DM844) January 22-26, 2018

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1 Class Times Mon 1:00 6:00 p.m. Tues thru Thurs, 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Fri 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Dr. S. Donald Fortson (RTS) Reformed Theological Seminary - Orlando Presbyterian Ministry in American Culture (2DM844) January 22-26, 2018 Course Description This class is an introduction to the faith and practice of Presbyterianism in America. The course will trace the historical path of the American Presbyterian family as it has unfolded from the colonial period up to the present day. Emphasis will be placed on major events, movements, controversies, institutions and personalities that have helped shape the contemporary church s faith. In telling the uniquely American story of Presbyterianism, the course will address the changing culture of the United States and its impact on Presbyterians. Required Texts **Students should complete reading Machen, Stewart and Whitlock before class begins as these books will be discussed in class. For each of these three books write down a list of three takeaways and three questions. Reading the rest of the books before class is encouraged! Armstrong, Maurice W., Lefferts A. Loetscher and Charles A. Anderson. The Presbyterian Enterprise: Sources of American Presbyterian History. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, Reprint: Wipf and Stock. Fortson, S. Donald. The Presbyterian Creed: A Confessional Tradition in America Paternoster Press, Reprint: Wipf and Stock.. Editor, Colonial Presbyterianism: Old Faith in a New Land. Princeton Theological Monograph Series, Pickwick Publications. Wipf and Stock, Longfield, Bradley J. Presbyterians and American Culture: A History. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, Machen, J. Gresham. Christianity & Liberalism, 1923, New Edition. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, (any edition is acceptable) Stewart, Kenneth J. The Ten Myths of Calvinism: Recovering the Breadth of the Reformed Tradition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic. InterVarsity Press, Whitlock, Luder, Divided We Fall: Overcoming a History of Christian Disunity. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing,

2 Biography Assignment Each student will select and read a biography of an influential American Presbyterian (200 page minimum). A list of suggested persons is included below. Students may consult the professor if they need assistance. Students should be prepared to make a short presentation on this person (20-30 minutes) sometime during the class week. The presentation will cover his life story and contributions to the church. Presbyterian Biographies Please notify the professor of your choice so students each choose a different one. Below are some persons to consider - you may choose someone not on this list. Professor John Muether will give a guest lecture on J. Gresham Machen. John Witherspoon Samuel Davies B.B. Warfield Jonathan Dickinson Gilbert Tennent Billy Sunday Archibald Alexander Charles Hodge L. Nelson Bell Samuel Miller Albert Barnes Francis Schaeffer Henry B. Smith Lyman Beecher Francis Makemie Robert L. Dabney Benjamin Morgan Palmer James Henley Thornwell John L. Girardeau Gardiner Spring Stonewall Jackson William Jennings Bryan Woodrow Wilson Sheldon Jackson Charles Augustus Briggs J. Gresham Machen (Muether) Henry Sloane Coffin Research Paper Students will write a page (minimum) research paper on an event, movement, controversy or person in American Presbyterian history. The paper should include research into primary sources as well as secondary sources. Lectures and text books will assist students to identify a paper topic as well as guidance from the instructor. Approval of the research topic is required. Please write the paper in 12-point font, double-spaced with footnotes and bibliography. The paper is due April 30 to the instructor. Mail a hard copy of the paper to: Reformed Theological Seminary Attn: Dr. Don Fortson 2101 Carmel Road Charlotte, NC Reading Report A reading report is attached to this syllabus. Students should indicate the percentage of required reading that has been completed by the end of the course. This one-page report is due to the instructor on April 30. Send this report along with the course paper to address above. 2

3 Grading Class presentation and participation - 20% Reading Report - 40% Research Paper - 40% Course Objectives Related to DMin* Student Learning Outcomes DMin* Student Learning Outcomes In order to measure the success of the DMin curriculum, RTS has defined the following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process. Each course contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the contribution of this course to the DMin outcomes. Rubric Strong Moderate Minimal None Mini-Justification Biblical/ Theological Foundations: Significant knowledge of biblical and theological foundations for pastoral ministry. (This includes interaction with Biblical texts, as well as awareness of Reformed Theology.) Moderate Course is historical in focus, but will deal with theological issues as each period of the Presbyterian story is explored. Consideration will be given to how the Bible was handled in specific eras. Historical/ Contemporary Practices: Significant knowledge of historical and contemporary practices of pastoral ministry. Strong This course will be an overview of how Presbyterians engaged in ministry given the historical times in which they lived. Significant attention will be given to the question of contemporary application of ministry practices from the past. Integration: Ability to reflect upon and integrate theology and practice, as well as implementation in a contemporary pastoral setting. Strong The issue of appropriate integration of theology and practice will be highlighted throughout the course. Sanctification: Demonstrates a love for the Triune God that aids in the student s sanctification. Moderate The course will address issues of piety, especially as related to the Awakenings of the 18 th and 19 th centuries. 3

4 Presbyterian Ministry in American Culture Reading Report Please state the percentage of the Required Reading that you have completed. Armstrong, et.al. The Presbyterian Enterprise Fortson, The Presbyterian Creed Fortson, et al. Colonial Presbyterianism Longfield, Presbyterians and American Culture Machen, Christianity and Liberalism Stewart, The Ten Myths of Calvinism Whitlock, Divided We Fall Name Date 4

5 SELECT AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN BIBLIOGRAPHY Surveys of American Presbyterian History Biographical Sketches of the Founder and Principal Alumni of the Log College. Together with an Account of the Revivals of Religion Under Their Ministry, Archibald Alexander Colonial Presbyterianism, ed. S. Donald Fortson, The Continuing Church: The Roots of the PCA, Sean Lucas, 2015 The Forming of an American Tradition, Leonard Trinterud, 1949 The Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church in United States of America, Charles Hodge, 1840 A History of the Rise, Progress, Genius, and Character of American Presbyterianism: Together with a Review of the Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, by Chas. Hodge, D.D. Professor in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J., William Hill, 1839 New England Calvinism and the Disruption of the Presbyterian Church, Earl A. Pope, 1987 A History of the New School, Samuel J. Baird, 1856 A History of the Presbyterian Church in America from its Origin Until the Year 1760 with Biographical Sketches of its Ministers, Richard Webster, 1857 History of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, 2 Vols., E. H. Gillett, 1864 A History of the Southern Presbyterian Church, Thomas C. Johnson, 1894 A Brief Sketch of the United Synod of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Thomas C. Johnson, reprint,1894 The United Synod of the South, Harold M. Parker, 1988 American Presbyterianism: Its Origin and Early History, Charles A. Briggs, 1885 The Presbyterian Church New School, , Edward D. Morris, 1905 The Presbyterian Creed, S. Donald Fortson, 2008 Evangelical Mind and New School Presbyterian Experience, George Marsden, 1970 The Broadening Church: A Study of Theological Issues in the Presbyterian Church Since 1869, Lefferts Loetscher, 1954 Princeton Seminary, Vol.1, , Vol.2, , David B. Calhoun, 1996 The Presbyterian Controversy: Fundamentalists, Modernists, & Moderates, Bradley Longfield, 1991 The Presbyterian Conflict, Ewin Rian, 1940 Presbyterian Ministry in American Culture, E.A. Smith, 1962 Presbyterian Worship in America: Changing Patterns Since 1787, Julius Melton, 1967 Presbyterians and American Culture, Bradley Longfield, 2013 Presbyterians in the South, 3 Vols. E.T. Thompson, 1963 A Brief History of the Presbyterians, Loefferts Loetscher, 1978 A Brief History of the Presbyterians, James Smylie, 1996 The Presbyterians, Randall Balmer and John R. Fitzmier, 1994 Seeking a Better Country, D.G. Hart and John R. Muether, 2007 American Presbyterians: A Pictorial History, James H. Smylie, Journal of Presbyterian History, 5

6 Spring/Summer, 1985 General Assembly Minutes and Digests*** Minutes of the Presbyterian Church in America, , ed. Guy S. Klett, 1977 Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Chruch in the United States of America, Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Chruch n the United States of America (New School) Vol.1: , Vol.2: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Chruch in the United States of America (Old School), A Collection of the Act, Deliverances, and Testimonies of the Supreme Judicatory of the Presbyterian Church from its Origin in America to the Present Time, ed. Samuel J. Baird, 1856 A New Digest of the Acts and Deliverances of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, ed. William E. Moore, 1861 A Digest of the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, Revised Down to and Including the General Assembly of 1910, ed. W.A. Alexander and G.F. Nicolassen, 1911 Digest of the Acts and Deliverances of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Vol. 1, ed. Lewis S. Mudge and William P. Finney, 1930 How Has the Gold Become Dim: The Decline of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. As Reflected in Its Assembly Actions, Morton H. Smith, 1973 ***See each Denomination s Annual Record of General Assembly Meetings in GA Minutes Reference Works and Bibliographies Presbyterian Encyclopedia, Alfred Nevin, 1884 Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith, Donald McKim, 1992 Dictionary of the Presbyterian & Reformed Tradition in America, D.G. Hart and Mark Noll, 1999 A Bibliography of American Presbyterianism During the Colonial Period, Leonard J. Trinterud, 1968 Bibliography of Published Articles on American Presbyterianism, , Harold Parker, 1985 A Bibliographic Essay in The Presbyterians, Balmer and Fitzmier, 1994 Selected Readings from Primary Sources The Presbyterian Enterprise: Sources of American Presbyterian History, Armstrong, Loetscher, Anderson, 1956 American Presbyterians and the American Revolution: A Documentary Account, Journal of Presbyterian History, ed., James Smylie, Winter

7 Paradigms in Polity: Classic Readings in Reformed and Presbyterian Church Government, David Hall and Joseph Hall, 1994 Presbyterian Historical Journal Journal of Presbyterian History (also known as American Presbyterians, Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society) - Hundreds of articles on Presbyterian History, published continuously since 1901 Historical Presbyterian Theological Journals, News Magazines and Newspapers (partial list) The Presbyterian, (Northern Old School newspaper) The Southern Presbyterian (Southern Old School newspaper) The Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review (Princeton Review, Presbyterian Review) - Old School Journal by Princeton Faculty, Annual Reviews of GA American Presbyterian and Theological Review - New School Journal Presbyterian Quarterly Review - New School Journal Southern Presbyterian Review - Southern Old School Journal The Presbyterian Outlook - PCUSA The Presbyterian Survey - PCUS The Southern Presbyterian Journal (Presbyterian Journal) - conservative, PCUS The News, (Presbyterians Today) - PC(USA) The Presbyterian Layman - conservative, PC(USA) 7