Evangelical Presbyterian Church - Timeline Event
Time Period
1981
Description
Conservative discontent with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s reworked 1967 confession continued into the 1970s. Thirty-five churches reached a tipping point over the controversy surrounding Mansfield Kaseman. Kaseman, who had been named the pastor of a joint Presbyterian-United Church of Christ congregation in Maryland, denied the deity and bodily resurrection of Christ. When questioned by PCUSA officials, he stated that "the God worth knowing is found more in the quest of liberation than in the pursuit of orthodoxy."
The denomination confirmed his appointment regardless, outraging conservatives who saw it as proof that the Confession of 1967 had abandoned historic Christian teachings. Close to 20,000 members subsequently left the PCUSA in 1981 to form the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
As of 2014, the EPC is the third largest Presbyterian denomination in America with close to 140,000 members.
The denomination confirmed his appointment regardless, outraging conservatives who saw it as proof that the Confession of 1967 had abandoned historic Christian teachings. Close to 20,000 members subsequently left the PCUSA in 1981 to form the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
As of 2014, the EPC is the third largest Presbyterian denomination in America with close to 140,000 members.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Presbyterian-Reformed Family: Other ARDA LinksPresbyterian-Reformed Family: Religious Family Tree
Related Dictionary Terms
Christianity, Congregation, Presbyterian-Reformed FamilyPhotographs
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Ward Evangelical Presbyterian Church, site of the EPC First General Assembly- photo by Dwight Burdette (CC BY 3.0)
Book/Journal Source(s)
Hart, D.G. and John R. Muether, 2007. Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism P & R Publishing, Phillipsburg, NJ.Web Page Contributor
Paul MatzkoAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in History
