Guide to the Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns Records

Inclusive Dates

1965-1989

Call Number

RG 518

Creator(s)

Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns (U.S.)

Quantity

27.00 cubic feet (27 boxes)

Language

Materials in English

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

On July 1st 1965, a group of Presbyterian pastors, professors, and lay people gathered at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. They gathered to discuss their concerns and create revisions to the drafted Confession of 1967 in the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. According to their statement of purpose, the group hoped to somehow shape the theological content of the confession to make it “more Biblical, more evangelical, and more consistent with our Reformed Faith.”

This initial meeting was soon followed by a larger gathering in Chicago, attended by over 500 Presbyterians. John Calvin Reid and Cary Weisiger were charged with creating an official organization from these meetings, with Jerry Kirk elected the first executive. Kirk devoted his initial two months of leadership toward uniting pastors across America in the growing fellowship, then called Presbyterians United for Biblical Confession. The name was changed to Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns (PUBC) in 1968.

The organization continued after its initial campaign to revise the Confession of 1967. Throughout its run, it focused on supporting church missions and building a fellowship of evangelicals throughout the church to help one another in their ministry. The PUBC published a quarterly newsletter and bi-monthly church bulletin inserts, held conferences and mission consultations, created an active presence at General Assemblies, and organized an Evangelical Communications Network.

Matthew J. Welde served as the executive director from 1977 to 1989. During this time, the PUBC became actively involved in the conversation over homosexuality in the Presbyterian Church. It notably campaigned for the General Assembly to reject the report of the UPCUSA Task Force to Study Homosexuality which recommended that the church allow the ordination of gay and lesbian Presbyterians in 1978.

In the summer of 1989, the PUBC merged with the Covenant Fellowship to create Presbyterians for Renewal. This organization later merged with the Presbyterian Coalition to form The Fellowship in 2014.

Collection Overview

Committee minutes, correspondence, and extensive subject files document how Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns (PUBC) worked to create a network of evangelical Presbyterians within the church from 1965-1989.

The Committees series, 1965-1989, contains meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, and subject files created by the Board of Directors as well as the permanent and temporary PUBC committees. The seven permanent committees were the Editorial Advisory Committee, Finance and Development Committee, Issues and Strategy Committee, Missions Committee, Nominating Committee, Parish Renewal and Evangelism Committee, and the Seminaries and Colleges Committee. The Issues and Strategy Committee worked to organize PUBC breakfasts, attendance, and outreach at General Assemblies. [Note that additional materials related to planning the PUBC’s presence at General Assemblies are in the Subject Files series under General Assembly.]

The Correspondence series, 1966-1987, consists of ingoing and outgoing correspondence with church members, PUBC members, directors of other church mission organizations, evangelical leaders, and leaders from other denominations. Scattered throughout the series are correspondence and minutes from PUBC committees. The bulk of correspondence was written by or to Matthew Welde who served as the executive director from 1977-1989.

The Subject Files series, 1965-1989, contains topical files created by the PUBC. Some of the files were used by specific PUBC committees. For example, the General Assembly folders in this series were used and added to by the Issues and Strategy Committee as they organized the PUBC’s witness at each assembly. [Note that the rest of the Issues and Strategy material can be found in Series I: Committees, 1965-1989.]

This series also contains PUBC publications and administrative files such as copies of the official newsletter The Presbyterian Communique, conference planning notes, directories, and brochures. These are all under the heading “PUBC.”

Also included are files related to “issues” in the Presbyterian Church. A significant amount contains material on the debate over homosexuality in the church from 1976-1989. This includes: programs and correspondence related to the PUBC Consultation on the Ministry to Homosexuals in 1976 that was attended by members of the UPCUSA Task Force to Study Homosexuality; folders of correspondence and press releases related to dialogue between members of the PUBC and members of Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (PLGC) in the 1980s; and a subject file on conversion therapy that maintains its original title “redeemed homosexuals.”

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: COMMITTEES, 1965-1989

SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE, 1966-1987

SERIES III: SUBJECT FILES, 1965-1989

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns minutes, 1965-1983, also available on microfilm: MFPOS 344.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Received from Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns in 1978, 1986, and 1990; Bryson Schreiner in 1990; and Matthew Welde in 1993 and 1995.

Processing Information

Collection processed and guide prepared in 2019 by Elizabeth Wittrig, Pam Byers Memorial Fund Project Archivist, as part of the Pam Byers Memorial Collection.

Preferred Citation

Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns, RG 518, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Welde, Matthew J., 1932-2015.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns (U.S.)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Task Force to Study Homosexuality.

Conference Subject

Consultation on the Ministry to Homosexuals (1976 : Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Topical Subject

Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Ordination of gay people--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Ordination of lesbians--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Gay clergy--United States--History--20th century.

Sex--Religious aspects--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Evangelicalism--United States--History--20th century.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Minutes (administrative records) aat

Reports. aat

Photographs. aat

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

		SERIES I: COMMITTEES, 1965-1989

1	1	Early history of PUBC and statement of purpose, undated
1	2	By-laws, 1968-1988
1	3	Committee and task force overviews, 1983-1988, undated
1	4-5	Confession of 1967 Revision , 1965-1967
1	6	Biblical Renewal Task Force, 1980
1	7-11	Board of Directors, 1965-1976
1	12	Board of Directors, hiring of Matthew Welde, 1976-1977
1	13-18	Board of Directors, 1978-1981

2	1-15	Board of Directors, 1982-1988

3	1-2	Board of Directors, 1988-1989
3	3-5	Board of Directors, News Update, 1980-1988
3	6	Editorial Advisory Committee, 1986
3	7-13	Executive Committee, 1965-1974

4	1-8	Executive Committee, 1975-1989
4	9	Evangelism, Fellowship, and Mobilization Task Force, 1973-1975
4	10	Evangelism Task Force, 1976-1977
4	11-15	Finance and Development Committee, 1977-1985

5	1	Finance and Development Committee, 1986-1988
5	2-3	Finance and Development Committee, church pledges, 1974-1986
5	4	Finance and Development Committee, correspondence with foundations, 1977-1988
5	5-10	Finance and Development Committee, financial reports, 1966-1986
5	11-13	Finance and Development Committee, fundraising, 1978-1986

6	1	Finance and Development Committee, gift acknowledgements, 1974-1975
6	2	Finance and Development Committee, staff associate, 1980-1985
6	3-5	Issues and Strategy Committee, 1977-1981
6	6-7	Issues and Strategy Committee, overtures on property, 1981
6	8	Issues and Strategy Committee, 1982-1983
6	9-10	Issues and Strategy Committee, 194th General Assembly, 1982
6	11-12	Issues and Strategy Committee, 195th General Assembly, 1983
6	13	Issues and Strategy Committee, 195th General Assembly, Reunion planning, 1979-1983

7	1	Issues and Strategy Committee, 195th General Assembly, Reunion planning, 1979-1983
7	2-6	Issues and Strategy Committee, 1984-1989
7	7	Merger Committee (Covenant Fellowship and PUBC merger), 1982-1986
7	8-13	Mission Committee, 1974-1986
7	14	Mission Committee, discussions with Program Agency, 1977
7	15	Mission Committee, directories and home assignments, 1982-1986

8	1	Mission Committee, major projects, 1978-1981
8	2-5	Mission Committee, materials, 1974-1979
8	6	Mission Committee, materials - General Assembly, 1976-1986
8	7	Mission Committee, Mexico, 1977-1979 [includes photographs]
8	8-9	Mission Committee, missionary lists and personnel, 1977-1984
8	10	Mission Committee, overseas ministries, 1980-1982
8	11-12	Mission Committee, Partnership in Mission, 1979-1981
8	13	Mission Committee, Presbyterians United for MIssion Advance, 1984-1985
8	14	Mission Committee, Questionnaires, 1976
8	15	Mission Committee, staff associate for mission development, 1974-1986
8	16	Mission Committee, United Presbyterian Center for Mission Studies and United Presbyterian World Mission, 1976-1981
8	17	Mission Committee, Wilbur Kuhl correspondence, 1976-1978

9	1-2	Nominating Committee, 1973-1988
9	3-4	Parish Renewal and Evangelism Committee, 1979-1986
9	5	Personnel Committee, 1986
9	6	Political Strategy Task Force, 1974-1975
9	7	Seminary Task Force, 1977-1979
9	8	Seminaries and Colleges Committee, 1982-1985
9	9	Seminaries and Colleges Committee, final report, 1984-1986
9	10-11	Seminaries and Colleges Committee, gathered brochures and resources, 1977-1986
9	12	Steering Committee, 1974
9	13	Theology Task Force, 1974

		SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE, 1966-1987

9	14	Address lists, 1973-1976
9	15	Executive secretary travel correspondence, 1974-1985
9	16-17	Membership mailings and press releases, 1970-1972
9	18	Requests for material, 1972-1982
9	19	Stated Clerk (letters sent by PUBC), 1968-1976

10	1	A-Z, 1966-1970
10	2	A-Z, 1971
10	3	A-Z, 1972
10	4-5	A-Z, 1973
10	6-7	A-Z, 1974
10	8-11	A-Z, 1975
10	12-14	A-Z, 1976
10	15	A-Z, 1977

11	1-7	A-Z, 1978
11	8-13	A-M, 1979

12	1-5	M-Z, 1979
12	6-12	A-P, 1980-1982

13	1-2	Q-Z, 1980-1982
13	3-7	A-Z, 1983
13	8-13	A-Z, 1984

14	1-5	A-Z, 1985
14	6-11	A-Z, 1986
14	12-15	A-Z, 1987

		SERIES III: SUBJECT FILES, 1965-1989

15	1	"A.D." magazine, 1975-1976
15	2	Advisory Council on the Church and Society report, "Social Health Effects of Alcohol Use and Abuse," 1986
15	3	Association of Evangelical Presbyterian Churches, 1980-1982
15	4	Association of Reformed Presbyterian Churches in Latin America, 1981
15	5	Black Presbyterians United, 1984-1987
15	6	CELEP Associates and the Latin American Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies, 1982
15	7-9	Celebration of Evangelism Conference, 1971
15	10	Celebration of Renewal, 1980
15	11	Christian Ministies Management Assocation, 1988
15	12	Christian Nationals Evangelism Commission, 1980
15	13	Church information forms, 1982-1988
15	14	Churches under discipline, 1975
15	15	Concerned United Presbyterians, 1975-1980
15	16	Consultants for Christian Witness, 1977
15	17	Consultation on Concerts of Prayer, 1984
15	18	Covenant Evangelistic Fellowship, 1987
15	19	Covenant Fellowship of Presbyterians, 1976-1986
15	20	Disciples of Christ, 1986-1987
15	21	Evangelical church and pastor lists, 1975-1983
15	22-24	Evangelical Communications Network, 1980-1987

16	1	Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, 1985-1986
16	2-3	Evangelical Missionary letters and lists, 1977-1989
16	4	Evangelicals for Social Action, 1977-1981
16	5-6	Evangelism, miscellaneous newsletters and publications, 1971-1984
16	7	First Presbyterian Church (Waukegan, IL) bulletins, 1976
16	8	General Assembly, “Fresh Bread” newsletters, 1981-1986
16	9-17	General Assembly, 1969-1978

17	1-11	General Assembly, 1979-1986

18	1-5	General Assembly, 1986-1988
18	6	Geneva Forum, 1978-1988
18	7	“Here’s Life, America” seminars, 1975
18	8-10	Holy Land Tour, 1978-1985
18	11	Issues – Deity of Christ, 1980-1981
18	12-14	Issues – Deity of Christ, Kaseman examination, 1980-1981
18	15	Issues – Deity of Christ, John Hick case, 1981-1983
18	16-17	Issues – General, 1973-1986

19	1	Issues - General, 1973-1986
19	2-3	Issues – Guatemala, 1976-1983
19	4	Issues - Homosexuality, ABC Television program, 1977
19	5	Issues - Homosexuality, AIDS, 1983-1985
19	6	Issues - Homosexuality, Anita Bryant “Save Our Children," 1977
19	7	Issues - Homosexuality, Arnold Come editorial, 1984
19	8-12	Issues - Homosexuality, Biblical perspectives, 1972-1985
19	13	Issues - Homosexuality, Buena Memorial Presbyterian Church (Chicago, IL) case, 1984
19	14	Issues - Homosexuality, Civil Rights
19	15	Issues - Homosexuality, Committee on Pluralism and Conflict, 1983-1986
19	16	Issues - Homosexuality, Consultation on Homophobia (Stony Point, NY), 1982-1985	Digital
19	16	Weekly news wrap-up, October 1984.	Digital
19	16	Bell Tower News - Homosexuality, homophobia and you, 1985	Digital
19	16	Church & Society - Homophobia: the overlooked sin, 1982	Digital
19	16	The Presbyterian Consultation on Homophobia Education, 1984.	Digital
19	16	Connections Conversation Piece newsletter, 1985	Digital
19	17	Issues - Homosexuality, Consultation on Homophobia (Stony Point, NY), 1982-1985

20	1	Issues - Homosexuality, Council on Theology and Culture, 1977
20	2	Issues - Homosexuality, Damascus Light, 1986
20	3	Issues - Homosexuality, Denominational Statements, 1984
20	4	Issues - Homosexuality, DIGNITY, 1971-1973
20	5	Issues - Homosexuality, Evangelical Leadership Group, 1984
20	6	Issues - Homosexuality, Evangelicals Concerned and Exodus International, 1976-1985
20	7	Issues - Homosexuality, Fourth Presbyterian Church of Washington D.C., 1981-1985
20	8	Issues - Homosexuality, Lazarus Project, 1981-1985
20	8	The Lazarus Project brochure	Digital
20	9	Issues - Homosexuality, Metropolitan Community Churches, 1982-1983
20	10	Issues - Homosexuality, More Light Churches Network, 1982-1984	Digital
20	11	Issues - Homosexuality, Ordination and overtures, 1977-1984
20	12	Issues - Homosexuality, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 1978
20	13	Issues - Homosexuality, Personnel policies, 1983-1985
20	14	Issues - Homosexuality, Philadelphia Presbytery, 1973-1985
20	15	Issues - Homosexuality, PC(USA) Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality, 1988
20	16	Issues - Homosexuality, Presbyterians for Biblical Sexuality, 1983-1986
20	17-19	Issues - Homosexuality, PUBC Consultation on Homosexuality, 1975-1977
20	20-21	Issues - Homosexuality, PUBC dialogue with Presbyterians for Lesbian/Gay Concerns, 1982-1986
20	22	Issues - Homosexuality, PUBC position papers and General Assembly manual, 1976-1988
20	23	Issues - Homosexuality, Presbytery of San Francisco, 1984
20	24	Issues - Homosexuality, psychological perspectives, 1969-1985
20	25	Issues - Homosexuality, “redeemed homosexuals," 1975-1986
20	26	Issues - Homosexuality, seminaries, 1981-1983
20	27	Issues - Homosexuality, UPCUSA Advisory Council on Church and Society study, 1976-1977
20	28	Issues - Homosexuality, UPCUSA Task Force to Study Homosexuality, 1972-1978

21	1-3	Issues - Homosexuality, UPCUSA Task Force to Study Homosexuality, 1972-1978
21	4	Issues - Homosexuality, UPCUSA Task Force to Study Homosexuality, the Chicago Plan, 1972-1978
21	5	Issues - Homosexuality, UPCUSA Task Force to Study Homosexuality, PUBC strategy, 1972-1978
21	6-7	Issues - Homosexuality, Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, NY), 1983-1985
21	8	Issues - Inclusive language, 1983-1984
21	9	Issues - Jack Rogers, “Presbyterian Creeds: A Guide to the Book of Confessions," 1984-1985
21	10-14	Issues - National Council of Churches/World Council of Churches, 1974-1988

22	1	Issues - Peacemaking, 1981-1983
22	2	Issues - Pornography, 1979-1981
22	3	Issues - Prayer in public schools, 1984
22	4	Issues - Property, 1979-1981
22	5-6	Issues - Reunion, 1982-1983
22	7	Issues - Salaries of ministers, 1982
22	8	Issues - Sanctuary/Anti-sanctuary, 1985
22	9-13	Issues - Women’s Ordination, 1975-1986
22	14	Issues - Women’s Ordination, Don Riley case, 1983-1985
22	15	Issues - Women’s Ordination, Kenyon case, 1975
22	16	Issues - Women’s Ordination, Spitzel/Palafoutas case, 1979
22	17	The Kerygma Program, 1980-1981
22	18	La Rosca, 1972-1975
22	19	Ligonier Valley Study Center, 1973
22	20	Literacy and Evangelism Inc., 1979-1987
22	21	The Lydia Fund, 1986-1987
22	22	Monastery (New Mellary Abbey), 1976-1980
22	23	Moral Majority (pulpit politicians), 1980
22	24	National Christian Investment Corporation, 1979-1980

23	1	National Committee on the self-development of people, 1971-1975
23	2	National Prayer Committee, 1985
23	3	National Presbyterian and Reformed Fellowship, 1975-1977
23	4	Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, 1975-1977
23	5	Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, photographs, 1975
23	6	Pioneer Ministries, 1981-1983
23	7	Presbyterian Charismatic Communion, 1975-1982
23	8	Presbyterian Congress on Evangelism, 1971-1973
23	9	Presbyterian Congress of Renewal, 1983-1985
23	10	Presbyterian Evangelical Coalition, 1978
23	11	Presbyterians for Democracy and Religious Freedom, 1985
23	12	Presbyterian Historical Society, 1975-1986
23	13-14	Presbyterian Journal, 1976
23	15-17	Presbyterian Lay Committee, 1970-1977
23	18-19	Presbyterian Outlook, issues, 1976

24	1	Presbyterians Pro-Life, 1983-1984
24	2-3	PUBC area conferences, 1969-1985
24	4-5	PUBC brochures, 1965-1984
24	6	PUBC The Bulletin and newsletters, 1966-1980
24	7-9	PUBC Church Mission Consultation, 1974-1975
24	10	PUBC Church Mission Consultation, negative responses, 1974-1975
24	11-12	PUBC Church Mission Consultation, positive responses, 1974-1975
24	13	PUBC Church Mission Consultation, presbytery and synod responses, 1974-1975
24	14-16	PUBC Communique, 1969-1989

25	1	PUBC Communique, correspondence, 1975-1987
25	2	PUBC Communique, materials for future issues, 1975-1976
25	3	PUBC Congress on Evangelism, 1967-1968
25	4	PUBC Director of Church Relations (Larry Hoyt), 1973-1974
25	5	PUBC Directories, 1983-1986
25	6-8	PUBC Films, 1980-1986
25	9	PUBC Films, questionnaires and viewer responses, 1982-1983
25	10	PUBC Films, “Stirrings of the Spirit," 1982-1983
25	11	PUBC Films, “Stirrings of the Spirit” requests, 1982-1983
25	12	PUBC Films, “Stirrings of the Spirit” script, 1982-1983
25	13	PUBC membership, 1974-1976
25	14	PUBC pastor placements, 1974-1976
25	15	PUBC position statements, 1969-1987
25	16	PUBC Presbyterian Panel Questionnaires, 1974-1984

26	1	PUBC programs and activities, 1979-1982
26	2	PUBC publicity, lists and quotes about PUBC, 1976-1985
26	3-5	PUBC speaking engagements, 1974-1985
26	6	PresbyNet, 1986
26	7	Presbytery/Synod publications lists, 1982
26	8	Renewal Groups, 1976-1988
26	9	Research Center for Religion and Human Rights, 1974
26	10	Secession of Churches, 1980-1981
26	11-12	Seminaries, 1970-1985
26	13	Seminaries, Council of Theological Seminaries, 1974-1975
26	14-15	Seminaries, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1971-1975

27	1	Seminaries, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1971-1975
27	2	Stony Point Conference, 1973-1974
27	3	Tall Steeple Pastors, 1978-1981
27	4	Theological Student Fellowship, 1978-1985
27	5	“Updating the Eternal Church” manuscript by George E. Sweazey, undated
27	6-7	United Methodist Evangelical Mission Council, 1975-1976
27	8	United Ministries in Higher Education, 1971-1975
27	9	UPCUSA General Assembly Mission Council, 1970-1978
27	10	UPCUSA Program Agency, “Reach Out” (Louisville 1974), 1973-1974
27	11-12	UPCUSA Support Agency, 1973-1975
27	13-14	UPCUSA Task Force on Biblical Authority and Interpretation, 1978-1986
27	15	UPCUSA Vocation Agency, 1975
27	16	United Presbyterian Liberation Front, 1971-1973
27	17	United Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, 1974
27	18	Unity of the Church – Moderator’s Conference, 1980
27	19	Urbana ’79 (Inter-varsity Student Missions Convention in Urbana, Illinois), 1979-1980
27	20	Voice of Calvary, 1975
27	21	Walnut Creek Church Relations Committee, 1975-1976

You are here

Guide to the Presbyterians United for Biblical Concerns Records

Creator(s)