Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly Special Committee of Fifteen to Examine the Proposal to Revise the Confessional Position of the Church Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly Special Committee of Fifteen to Examine the Proposal to Revise the Confessional Position of the Church Records

Inclusive Dates

1965-1969

Call Number

RG 75

Creator(s)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly. Special Committee of Fifteen to Examine the Proposal to Revise the Confessional Position of the Church

Quantity

2.00 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

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

Repository

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

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

The 170th General Assembly (1958) appointed a special committee to reconcile the differences in the theological positions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) and the United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPCNA). This committee selected seven historical statements of belief ranging from the Apostle's Creed to the Theological Declaration of Barmen, added a brief contemporary statement of faith now known as the Confession of 1967 (named for the first year in which it became official), and changed the subscription for ordination of offices to comply with the new Book of Confessions. The 177th General Assembly (1965) approved the Book of Confessions and appointed a Special Committee of Fifteen to analyze it and report its findings to the next General Assembly, in 1966. At that Assembly the final decision on the new Presbyterian confession would be made.

The Rev. W. Sherman Skinner chaired the Committee of Fifteen, and Lewis Seymour Mudge was its secretary. The 178th General Assembly adopted the Confession of 1967.

Collection Overview

Record Group 75 contains correspondence, minutes, reports and articles relating to the work of the Special Committee of Fifteen.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

The researcher will notice that Box 1 does not contain a Folder 2; this folder, which contained acquisition correspondence, was withdrawn from the collection and placed with donor and acquisition files.

Catalog Headings

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

Corporate Subject

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly Special Committee of Fifteen to Examine the Proposal to Revise the Confessional Position of the Church Archives.

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Creeds.

Title Subject

Confession of 1967.

Topical Subject

Presbyterian Church Creeds History and criticism.

Personal Added Name

Mudge, Lewis Seymour, 1929-2009.

Skinner, W. Sherman (William Sherman), 1906-1976.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 75
	2	This folder, which contained acquisition correspondence, was withdrawn from the collection and placed with donor and acquisition files.
	3	W. Sherman Skinner--Correspondence concerning arrangements, June 1965 - June 1966
	4	Minutes of Committee; Sept - Oct, Dec 1965, Feb - March 1966
	5	Announcements, aims
	6	Report to Presbytery December 14, 1965

		LEWIS SEYMOUR MUDGE, SECRETARY--PAPERS

1	7	June - September 1965
	8	September - October 1965
	9	October - December 1965
	10	January - March 1966
	11	Closing correspondence, May 1966 - February 1967
	12	The Confession of 1967--William Keesecker
	13	The Contemporary Statement of Faith
	14	Criticism of Proposed Confession--Carl C. Batz, December 1965
	15	The Dangers in a "Book of Confessions"--Edward L. Junkin
	16	Historical Background to Confession Writing in the Reformed Churches--W.F. Graham
	17	Correspondence concerning hearing October 1965- January 1966
	18	Report from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, 1965
	19	Report of Committee of 15 to General Assembly, 1966
	20	Working papers on revisions
	21	Notes - motions at General Assembly
	22	Printed articles about the Confession
	23	Presbyterian Lay Committee
	24	Seattle, WA--First Presbyterian Church, Correspondence
	25	W. Sherman Skinner--papers, correspondence, July 1965 - May 1966
	26	W. Sherman Skinner--Committee correspondence, July 1968-April 1969

		CORRESPONDENCE TO COMMITTEE

1	27	1965 June - September
	28	1965 October
	29	1965 November
	30	1965 November
	31	1965 November
	32	1965 December
	33	1965 December
	34	1965 December

2	1	1965 December
	2	1966 January
	3	1966 January
	4	1966 January
	5	1966 January
	6	1966 January
	7	1966 February
	8	1966 March
	9	1966 April - May
	10	1967 January, March, April
	11	Miscellaneous

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Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly Special Committee of Fifteen to Examine the Proposal to Revise the Confessional Position of the Church Records

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