|
 The
“Methodists” were a society in the Church of England, having
an episcopal form of government. Their claim to be “historic”
demanded an unbroken line of succession of bishops, so in 1784
John Wesley ordained Thomas Coke as a bishop, who then came to
America and consecrated Thomas Asbury. But James O’Kelley had
been attracted to religion by some Wesley tracts that pled for
the all-sufficiency of the Bible, saying, “We will be
downright Christians.” Further study convinced him that
congregations should be independent, and the developing
episcopacy did not please him. On Dec. 25, 1793, O’Kelley and
others separated themselves to form the “Republican Methodist”
party. Further study led them, in 1801, to change their name to
the “Christian Church.”
Barton
W. Stone was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry with doubts
in his mind concerning Calvinistic doctrine. When asked if he
would receive the Confession of Faith he answered, “I do, so
far as I see it consistent with the Word of God.” But as
further studies led him to preach the sufficiency of the gospel,
confident that sinners were capable of understanding, believing,
and coming to Christ for salvation, he found himself at odds
with the Presbytery. In September, 1803, he and four others
withdrew and formed their own Presbytery. By June, 1804, they
had decided to disband their ecclesiasticism, and wrote “The
Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery.” Item
5: “We will, that the Church of Christ resume her native right
of internal government.. .“ Item 6: “. . .and never
henceforth delegate her right of government to any man or set of
men whatever.” Congregational independence
|
|
was a cardinal point with Stone. He
opposed institutions and unions which he feared would “detract
from the glory which belonged to the church” or if he thought
it would “promote sectarianism.” Independent churches
established by Stone were called Christian Churches; and to some
extent became one with the O’Kelley churches.
Thomas
Campbell came to America as a Seceder Presbyterian in 1807.
Before the year ended he was in trouble with the Presbytery for
saying there was nothing but human authority for human creeds
and confessions of faith. By September, 1808, he denounced the
authority of the Presbytery, the Synod, and all their courts.
Many reformers had said as much about Roman Catholic councils
and decrees, but Campbell saw that Protestant Confessions of
Faith were often just as binding.
A
study group which he formed later became an independent
congregation. After Alexander Campbell came to this country
(1809) and promoted baptism by immersion, this church became
part of the Redstone Baptist Association, but freedom and
independence in congregational government remained one of its
chief characteristics.
We
have briefly sketched some “Restoration” history to point up
one fact. When pioneer preachers turned to the Bible alone, the
rejection of council domination and a turning to congregational
independence was the very heart of their “restoration.” It
is with good reason that we place great stress on those things
today.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
