| Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia |
|---|
 |
| Classification | Protestant |
|---|
| Orientation | Calvinism |
|---|
| Origin | 1846
Sydney |
|---|
| Separated from | "Synod of Australia in connexion with the Established Church of Scotland" in 1846 |
|---|
| Separations | 1979 Australian Free Church |
|---|
| Congregations | 17 |
|---|
| Members | 800 |
|---|
The Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia (PCEA) is a small
Presbyterian denomination which was formed in
Sydney on 10 October 1846 by three ministers and a ruling elder. As of December 2012 it consists of 13 pastoral charges with a total of 17 regular preaching points, 12 serving ministers, 1 minister without charge, 6 retired ministers and a community of about 800 (including about 450 communicant members).
Origins
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
Free Presbyterian Church of Australia Felix
(afterwards Victoria). The remnant of this body joined the PCEA in 1953.
History
The revolution caused by the
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 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 contributed to several 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 position
The PCEA is distinguished from the
Declaratory Statement, such as
that of the PCA, which includes allowance of "liberty of opinion on matters not essential to the doctrine" without defining what is essential. Despite this difference there have been many strong connections with the PCA, particularly since it has moved to a more conservative theological position since 1977. One minister served as Professor in the PCA's
Theological College in Melbourne (1977–81), another as Principal of
Presbyterian Ladies' College (Melbourne) (1986–97), and another has written extensively on Australian Presbyterian history.
The PCEA is often noted for its practice of
Free Church of Scotland
in November 2010 in relaxing its stance on
a capella psalmody have no bearing on the practice of the PCEA.
Organisation
The PCEA’s supreme assembly is a
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 about 450 with a total community of about 800. 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 has developed among Sudanese refugees in Melbourne, with one minister from the Nuer people of South Sudan.
The main centres are:
- Northern Presbytery:
Port Macquarie
)
- Central Presbytery:
- Southern Presbytery:
See also
External links
Further reading
Rowland S. Ward, The Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia 1846-2013 (New Melbourne Press, 2014)
