New School Presbyterian

New School Presbyterian
Attribution · source
Name	New School Presbyterian
Type	Presbyterian
Main classification	Protestant
Orientation	Calvinist
Polity	Presbyterian
Founder	Charles Hodge, Albert Barnes, Lyman Beecher
Founded date	1837
Separated from	Old School Presbyterian
Merged into	United Presbyterian Church of North America

New School Presbyterian was a theological movement within the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America that emerged in the early 19th century, influenced by the Second Great Awakening and the teachings of Charles Finney, Nathaniel William Taylor, and Bertinus de Vries. The movement was characterized by its emphasis on revivalism, evangelism, and social reform, as seen in the work of William Wilberforce, Charles Grandison Finney, and Theodore Weld. Key figures such as Charles Hodge, Albert Barnes, and Lyman Beecher played important roles in shaping the movement's theology and practice, which was also influenced by the Princeton Theological Seminary and the Yale Divinity School. The New School Presbyterian movement was closely tied to other religious and social movements of the time, including the Abolitionist Movement and the Women's Suffrage Movement, which involved figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Sojourner Truth.

● History

The New School Presbyterian movement emerged in the 1830s, primarily in the northeastern United States, particularly in New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. The movement was influenced by the Second Great Awakening and the teachings of Charles Finney, who emphasized the importance of revivalism and personal conversion. Key events, such as the General Assembly of 1837 and the Plan of Union of 1801, shaped the movement's development, which was also influenced by the American Colonization Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society. Figures like William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Beecher Stowe played important roles in shaping the movement's social and theological perspectives, which were also influenced by the Oberlin College and the Lane Theological Seminary.

● Theology

The New School Presbyterian movement was characterized by its emphasis on Arminianism and revivalism, which distinguished it from the Old School Presbyterian movement, which was more closely tied to Calvinism and the teachings of John Calvin. The movement's theology was influenced by the work of Charles Finney, Nathaniel William Taylor, and Bertinus de Vries, who emphasized the importance of free will and personal conversion. The movement's theological perspectives were also shaped by the Mercersburg Theology and the Princeton Theology, which involved figures like John Williamson Nevin, Philip Schaff, and Archibald Alexander. Key concepts, such as original sin and predestination, were reinterpreted in light of the movement's emphasis on revivalism and social reform, which was influenced by the Social Gospel movement and the Federal Council of Churches.

● Doctrine

The New School Presbyterian movement's doctrine was characterized by its emphasis on evangelism, missionary work, and social reform. The movement's doctrine was influenced by the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Auburn Affirmation, which emphasized the importance of personal conversion and social justice. Key figures, such as Charles Hodge and Albert Barnes, played important roles in shaping the movement's doctrine, which was also influenced by the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the United Presbyterian Church of North America. The movement's doctrine was closely tied to other theological movements of the time, including the Mercersburg Theology and the Princeton Theology, which involved figures like John Williamson Nevin, Philip Schaff, and Archibald Alexander.

● Notable Figures

The New School Presbyterian movement was influenced by a number of notable figures, including Charles Hodge, Albert Barnes, and Lyman Beecher. Other key figures, such as Charles Finney, Nathaniel William Taylor, and Bertinus de Vries, played important roles in shaping the movement's theology and practice, which was also influenced by the Oberlin College and the Lane Theological Seminary. Figures like William Wilberforce, Charles Grandison Finney, and Theodore Weld were also influential in shaping the movement's social and theological perspectives, which were closely tied to the Abolitionist Movement and the Women's Suffrage Movement. Additional notable figures, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Sojourner Truth, played important roles in shaping the movement's social and theological perspectives, which were influenced by the American Colonization Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society.

● Controversies

The New School Presbyterian movement was involved in a number of controversies, including the Old School-New School Controversy and the Auburn Affirmation. The movement's emphasis on revivalism and social reform led to conflicts with the Old School Presbyterian movement, which was more closely tied to Calvinism and the teachings of John Calvin. Key figures, such as Charles Hodge and Albert Barnes, were involved in these controversies, which were also influenced by the Princeton Theological Seminary and the Yale Divinity School. The movement's controversies were closely tied to other theological and social movements of the time, including the Mercersburg Theology and the Princeton Theology, which involved figures like John Williamson Nevin, Philip Schaff, and Archibald Alexander.

● Decline and Legacy

The New School Presbyterian movement declined in the late 19th century, as the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the United Presbyterian Church of North America merged to form the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. The movement's legacy can be seen in the Social Gospel movement and the Federal Council of Churches, which emphasized the importance of social justice and ecumenism. Key figures, such as Walter Rauschenbusch and Washington Gladden, were influenced by the New School Presbyterian movement's emphasis on social reform and revivalism. The movement's legacy is also evident in the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, which continue to emphasize the importance of social justice and ecumenism, and involve figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu, and Katharine Jefferts Schori.