United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (1855-1993)

For the current denomination, founded in 1968, dissenting from this, see United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationCalvinist
TheologyReformed
PolityPresbyterian
RegionPakistan
Origin1855
Branched fromUnited Presbyterian Church of North America
Separations1968: United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
Merged intoCouncil of Churches of Lahore to form the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

The United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan was a Presbyterian, Reformed denominations in Pakistan. It was formed from missions of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, in 1855.

In 1993 it joined the Council of Churches of Lahore to form the present Presbyterian Church of Pakistan.[1][2][3] [4]

History

Training

In 1855 the United Presbyterian Mission of the United States opened work in Lahore with Andrew Gordon as a missionary; two years later he established a mission station in Sialkot, where he was joined by other missionaries. Schools and an orphanage were opened by the missionary group. In 1859 the Presbytery of Sialkot was formed.

The "Sialkot Conventions", promoted by the church, have been held since 1904 and are recognized as fundamental to the strengthening and dissemination of the Christian faith in Pakistan. The Psalms used in the Sialkot Hymnbookwith Convention, as well as hymns in Punjabi and Urdu as Indian songs are widely used in all Protestant churches in the country.[5]

The church grew, and other presbyteries were established. In 1893 the Synod of Punjab (SP) was formed as one of the synods of the United Presbyterian Church of North America.

The SP founded the Gujiranwala Seminary, which became a united seminary in 1954, which went on to serve for the training of ministers of various Protestant denominations in Pakistan such as the Church of Pakistan and Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Pakistan.[6]


Separation

In 1968, as a result of the movement opposing McIntire's Liberal Theology, part of the members split off and founded the United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (1968).[7]

Meanwhile, the denomination

Fusion

On November 18, 1993, the first United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (1855-1993) and the Council of Churches of Lahore (which at the time was affiliated with Church of Pakistan) united again and formed the present Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (PCP).[8][1]

References
  1. "History of the merger of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan". Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  2. "World Council of Churches: Presbyterian Church of Pakistan". Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  3. "Mackenzie: Reformed Churches in the Underdeveloped World". Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  4. "Lemuel Baker: Presbyterian Church of Pakistan". Retrieved 11 Aug 2015.
  5. "Unity of Christian Churches in Pakistan". Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  6. "Presbyterian Seminary in Gujiranwala". Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  7. "The Battle of Pasrur". October 3, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  8. "Presbyterian Church (USA): Presbyterian Church of Pakistan". Retrieved 11 Aug 2015.
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