Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia: Difference between revisions

| congregations = 1917

| members = 1,000800

In October 1840 the Presbyterian ministers then in mainland Australia formed the "Synod of Australia in connection with the Established Church of Scotland". However, the movement in the Established [[Church of Scotland]], which resulted in the exodus of about 40% of the ministers in 1843 to form the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], had repercussions in Australia. Ultimately the Australian Synod decided to retain its legal and moral connection with the Established Church despite the acceptance of what was considered improper State interference by that body, contrary to the [[Westminster Confession of Faith|Confession of Faith]]. This led to Rev [[William McIntyre (minister)|William McIntyre]] ([[Maitland, New South Wales|Maitland]]), Rev John Tait ([[Parramatta, New South Wales|Parramatta]]), Rev Colin Stewart ([[Bowenfels, New South Wales|Bowenfels]]) and Samuel Martin ([[Hunter ValleyRegion|Hunter]] elder) protesting and constituting a new Synod on the original basis. While independent of the Free Church of Scotland, the PCEA received its ministers from that source in the early years. In far-off [[Melbourne]], [[James Forbes (minister)|James Forbes]] of [[Scots' Church, Melbourne|Scots Church]] also protested and withdrew. He formed the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Australia Felix]] (afterwards Victoria). The remnant of this body joined the PCEA in 1953.

The revolution caused by the [[Australian gold rushes|discovery of gold in 1851]], brought more ministers and a vastly increased population. The three Presbyterian divisions then existing in Australia – representing the Established, Free and [[United Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] streams – achieved union over the years 1859/1865. Sections of the latter two streams remained apart, the Free because of the practical compromise considered to be involved in the united body receiving ministers from the different streams, despite the Free Church of Scotland policy from 1858 being in favour of colonial unions. It was considered that diversity of view at this point established an attitude which would lead to diversity on other points at the very heart of the faith. There was also concern that toleration of a view point found among United Presbyterians could lead to the secular ideal of the state, which indeed developed in the 20th century. The PCEA became a very active body, although short of ministers until 1853.

Seven of the 22 PCEA ministers in November 1864 stayed out of the union. Most early PCEA members were Highland Scots or conservative Irish Presbyterians. The PCEA grew to 12 ministers within a few years of 1864, despite the death of early leaders, but suffered a serious schism in 1884 over the training of students. This was not healed until the 20th century, and much ground was lost. A section of the Brushgrove-Grafton congregation was not reconciled and joined the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] in 1911. [The descendants of this group have a church in Grafton and another in Riverstone (Sydney).] Additionally there was no recognition by the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] from 1864 until after 1900, when close relations were resumed with the section that stayed outside the union which formed the [[United Free Church of Scotland]] in 1900. There was a painful dispute in the 1970s which led to a minister who made exaggerated claims for the King James Version of the Bible being removed in 1979. The repercussions resultedcontributed into a number ofseveral ministers joining the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The New International Version (1984) or the New King James Version are the most generally used translations at present. Of recent times the church has been stable with increasing diversity of ethnic origins represented in its membership and ministerial ranks. Until recent years the membership was largely outside major cities. Currently (2017) about 60% of the following is in the capital cities of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

==Distinctive Positionposition==

The PCEA is distinguished from the [[Presbyterian Church of Australia]] (PCA) by adherence to “the"the whole doctrine”doctrine" of the Confession of Faith as adopted by the Church of Scotland in 1647 and vindicated in the [[Disruption of 1843|Scottish Disruption of 1843]]. It does not have what it considers an ambiguous [[Basis of Union (Presbyterian Church of Australia)|Declaratory Statement]], such as that[[Basis of theUnion (Presbyterian Church of Australia)|that of (the "PCA")]], which includes allowance of “liberty"liberty of opinion on matters not essential to the doctrine”doctrine" without defining what is essential. Despite this difference there have been many strong connections with the [[Presbyterian Church of Australia|PCA]], particularly since it has moved to a more conservative theological position since 1977. One minister served as Professor in the PCA's [[Presbyterian Theological College|Theological College]] in Melbourne (1977-811977–81), another as Principal of [[Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne|Presbyterian Ladies' College (Melbourne)]] (1986-971986–97), and another has written extensively on Australian Presbyterian history.

The PCEA is often noted for its practice of [[exclusive psalmody]]. This is the maintenance of the older pre-1870 approach to public worship among Presbyterians in which the 150 psalms of the Word of God in metrical form were exclusively used, and without instrumental accompaniment. The [[Scots Metrical Psalter|Scottish Psalter of 1650]] was traditionally used in the PCEA, but is now supplanted in a number ofmost congregations by more modern versions either the version produced by Melbourne PCEA in 1991, or the version produced by the Free Church of Scotland in 2003. The principle behind the practice of exclusive psalmody is that [[Regulative principle of worship|Scripture should regulate our worship]] and that we cannot do better than to use the Word of God in the public worship. The actions of the [[Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] in November 2010 in relaxing its stance on ''a capella'' psalmody have no bearing on the practice of the PCEA.

The PCEA’s supreme assembly is a [[Synod]] which meets annually hosted by one of the congregations. The PCEA has a long-standing arrangement enabling ready interchange of ministers with the [[Free Church of Scotland (post-1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], and is a member of the [[International Conference of Reformed Churches]] (ICRC). More recently, interchange of ministers with the [[Reformed Churches of New Zealand]] (2006) and with the [[Orthodox Presbyterian Church]] in the US (2007), both also ICRC members, has been approved. The PCEA does not operate its own theological college, but has trained ministers in the Free Church of Scotland College, [[Edinburgh]], at the [[Reformed Theological College]], Geelong, and, more recently, in the training institutions of the mainline Presbyterian Church, supplemented in certain subjects. In Victoria it has friendly relations with the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia]] which has congregations at Geelong, Frankston and MacKinnon, and whose presence in Australia also dates from colonial times.

The current communicant membership (31/12/2017) is 460about 450 with a total community of about 1000800. At the same date there were 11 ministers in pastoral charges and another seconded to provide leadership for [[Australian Indigenous Ministries]] (formerly Aboriginal Inland Mission). A significant work ishas developingdeveloped among [[Sudan]]ese refugees in Melbourne, with one minister from the Nuer people of South Sudan. Another minister provides leadership for [[Australian Indigenous Ministries]] (formerly Aboriginal Inland Mission).

*'''Northern Presbytery:''' [[Brisbane]] (Woolowin); Northern Rivers ([[Maclean, New South Wales|Maclean]], [[Grafton, New South Wales|Grafton]]); [[Armidale, New South Wales|Armidale]]; [[Port Macquarie-Hastings|Hastings]] ([[Wauchope, New South Wales|Wauchope]], [[Port Macquarie, New South Wales|Port Macquarie]])

*'''Central Presbytery:''' [[Manning Valley|Manning]] ([[Taree, New South Wales|Taree]], [[Wingham, New South Wales|Wingham]], [[Tinonee, New South Wales|Tinonee]]); [[Hunter Valley, New South WalesRegion|Hunter]] (Queens AveAvenue, [[Cardiff, New South Wales|Cardiff]], [[Raymond Terrace, New South Wales|Raymond Terrace]]); Sydney: St Georges, 201a Castlereagh St.Street, [[Mount Druitt, New South Wales|Mount Druitt]], [[Bexley North, New South Wales|Bexley North]]

*'''Southern Presbytery:''' [[Geelong, Victoria|Geelong]] (Newcomb), Melbourne - Knox ([[Wantirna, Victoria|Wantirna]]), All Nations ([[Mulgrave, Victoria|Mulgrave]]); [[Carrum Downs]]; [[Narre Warren, Victoria|Narre Warren]]; [[Ulverstone, Tasmania|Ulverstone]], [[Tasmania]]

*[[List of Presbyterian polityand Reformed denominations in Australia]]