in relation to First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS; Belhaven College (now University); and Reformed Theological Seminary (as well as the OPC and ARP, and RUF)
The Presbyterian Church in America turns 50 years old today. We are very young and relatively small in the family of theologically conservative Protestant denominations, but, by God’s grace, the PCA has had an outsized influence in the larger evangelical world from its beginning. Indeed, today the PCA is the largest Bible-believing confessional Reformed denomination in the US and Canada. Many of our members and ministers are unfamiliar with the history and networks that led to the formation of the PCA, or the many and important connections between the PCA and RTS, so this timeline will (I hope!) be interesting and helpful. I hereby acknowledge my indebtedness to and the good work of Wayne Sparkman and the PCA Historical Center on their historic timeline of the PCA (which you can find here: https://www.pcahistory.org/pca/50th/index.html).
1942 – The Southern Presbyterian Journal founded
The Southern Presbyterian Journal (later, The Presbyterian Journal) is founded in May 1942 by Dr. L. Nelson Bell (father-in-law of Billy Graham), Henry Dendy, and others concerned over the rise of theological modernism in the Presbyterian Church, U.S. (“PCUS,” or commonly “The Southern Presbyterian Church”). The Journal brought to the attention of the wider denomination the theological drift in the PCUS. The RTS Biblical Studies building on the original RTS campus was named for Bell in the 1970s, and one of the large classrooms at the new RTS Jackson campus is named for him as well. PCA founders, and founding RTS board members and faculty, were a part of the network that the Journal represented.
1948 – “Evangelical Fellowship” explores the idea of a new seminary
Southern Presbyterian conservatives consider the idea of a new seminary that will be committed to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, and to Reformed theology (because of the modernist drift of all the PCUS seminaries), but are stymied by the potential cost. Among the leaders advocating the idea is John R. Richardson of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. Many of these leaders will be a part of the network that brings the PCA into being. There will one day be a John R. Richardson Chair at RTS held successively by R.C. Sproul, John R. de Witt, Douglas F. Kelly, Ligon Duncan, Harold O.J. Brown, Chuck Hill, and others.
1954 – Belhaven College (now University) becomes co-educational, emphasizes Bible & theology
Dr. R.M. Crowe becomes President of Belhaven, and Belhaven admits male students with a view to becoming a “Reformed Bible College.” O. Palmer Robertson is one of the young men who enrolls at Belhaven in those days (and becomes President of the Student Government). Morton H. Smith (University of Michigan, 1947; Columbia Seminary, 1952; who later attains his PhD on a Fulbright Fellowship to the Free University of Amsterdam, 1962, under the tutelage of Professor G.C. Berkouwer) moves to Mississippi to become Professor of Bible at the school. There is even a desire to see Belhaven start a seminary but the idea does not come to pass. There will be more Belhaven graduates at the first General Assembly of the PCA in 1973 than any other institution. Smith will become the first faculty member of RTS.
1955 – Failed Union of the PCUSA, UPCNA & PCUS
Southern Presbyterian (PCUS) Presbyteries reject efforts to enter a three-way merger of the Presbyterian Church in the USA, the United Presbyterian Church of North America, and the Presbyterian Church, U.S. John Reed Miller of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, played a significant role in opposing the merger, as did The Southern Presbyterian Journal and its readership. Theological conservatives feared being overwhelmed by the dominant neo-orthodoxy and liberalism of the Northern Church if the merger went through. The PCUSA did eventually join the UPCNA in 1958 to form the UPCUSA, colloquially still referred to as the “Northern Pres.” The UPCUSA (Northern Pres) and PCUS (Southern Pres) later joined in 1983 to form the PC(USA). Interestingly, many Northern Presbyterian conservatives would later have connections with RTS and the PCA, among them, John Gerstner, R.C. Sproul, James Montgomery Boice, Wynn Kenyon, et al.
1958 – Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship founded by William “Bill” E. Hill, Jr.
The Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship (PEF) is started by Bill Hill in April of 1958 (its Board of Directors was established in 1964). The PEF is designed to promote and train people for biblical evangelism (an animating issue for theological conservatives). RTS Founder Sam Patterson will become an evangelist with the PEF (1967). Early PCA founding fathers were all concerned to be evangelistic Calvinists. They were “Gospel men.”
1958 – John Reed Miller of First Presbyterian Jackson, MS explores the idea of a new seminary
In 1958-1959, Dr. John Reed Miller, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS and a leading evangelical in the PCUS engaged in planning, with Morton H. Smith, Al Freundt, Julius Scott, and Bob Kennington, for a new seminary. The plan was tabled while First Presbyterian’s ongoing discussions with Columbia Seminary played out. The movement(s) that eventually formed the PCA realized that sound and substantial theological education was vital, indeed indispensable, to a healthy Reformed church.
1959 – G. Aiken Taylor becomes the new editor of The Presbyterian Journal.
The Presbyterian Journal continues to serve as a “watchdog” on matters of theology and ethics in the PCUS, but also more broadly in American Presbyterianism. Future RTS faculty and leadership would be represented in its pages before and after the formation of the PCA. After the PCA is founded, the Journal will inform the larger conservative public of the activities of the church in the early days of the denomination.
1960 – The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS responds to Columbia Seminary
First Presbyterian Church offers to make a significant capital campaign contribution to Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA, contingent upon evidence of fidelity to the “high view of inspiration of Scripture” and commitment to the Westminster Standards. The Seminary board declined. The money pledged will become part of the seed money for RTS. Again, the leadership of what would become the PCA placed a high priority on solid, orthodox theological education.
1962 – The first Winter Theological Institute is sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, Jackson
Similar to the Pensacola Theological Institute, sponsored by McIlwain Presbyterian Church in Pensacola, FL (which was regularly attended by many eventual PCA and RTS founders and supporters), the session of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson begins a Winter Theological Institute. Carl Henry, Aiken Taylor, and Addison Leitch speak at the first WTI in January of 1962. Later John Gerstner, Roger Nicole, E.J. Young, Kenneth Kantzer, and others would speak at the WTI.
1962 – The Presbyterian Outlook publishes “Do We Need an Infallible Bible?”
On December 24, 1962, the independent liberal Presbyterian church magazine, that had been founded by Dr. E. T. Thompson of Union Seminary, Richmond, VA, and that was then edited by the Rev. Aubrey Brown, publishes an article denying biblical infallibility. Sam Patterson, head of French Camp Academy in French Camp, MS, is deeply provoked and aroused to action, especially in light of the fact that professors from all four PCUS (Columbia, Union, Louisville, and Austin) seminaries joined in this denial. Within four years of those articles, there would be a new seminary educating Southern Presbyterian evangelicals, and ten years later there would be a new Bible-believing Presbyterian denomination.
1963 – Reformed Biblical Institute is established
Sam Patterson writes several trusted fellow Mississippi ministers, including John Reed Miller, which Sam viewed as “the initial letter that got RTS rolling.” These ministers gather for prayer in Memphis, June 13, 1963. Present were: Sam Patterson, John Reed Miller, Erskine Jackson, William Stanway, and James Spencer. Patterson has the now famous “How Big is Your God?” meeting with Erskine Wells thereafter. December 20, 1963, RBI (later RTI, then RTS) is born, approved by the Board of French Camp Academy. Flyers announcing RBI went out on Christmas day that year.
1964 – Reformed Theological Institute Board is formed
Beginning in January of 1964, Sam Patterson begins to meet with men who will be part of the original RTI (later RTS) Board. On January 25, 1964, Patterson, Robert Cannada, Erskine Wells, Robert Kennington, and others meet in Jackson at Wells’ Law Office. The first minuted meeting was held on February 17, 1964, and Erskine Jackson (First Pres., Kosciusko, MS) and William Stanway (First Pres., Hattiesburg, MS) were elected as Ministerial Advisors. The seminary will play a key role in the formation of the PCA.
*April 8, 1964, the Charter for RTI is signed by Sam Patterson, Robert Cannada, Frank Horton, Robert Kennington, Frank Tindall, and Erskine Wells. At the first official meeting of the RTI board (April 30, 1964), Sam Patterson is elected chairman. Dr. Morton H. Smith, who had been teaching at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, becomes the first faculty member June 1, 1964. [*Interesting providence: First Pres. Jackson was organized on April 8, 1837.]
Opposition to RTI immediately rises in the June meeting of the Synod of Mississippi. The Synod asks that the facilities and personnel of French Camp Academy (FCA) not be used for RTI. This forces a decision for Sam Patterson and Leonard Van Horn. Van Horn stays with FCA. Patterson goes with RTI.
1965 – Reformed Theological Institute (RTI) is renamed Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS)
February 1965 the Board decides to locate RTS near Jackson, and in June renames Reformed Theological Institute: Reformed Theological Seminary. H.S. “Coot” Williford becomes the first business administrator of RTS. Al Freundt and James DeYoung become faculty in June 1965. Jack Scott becomes faculty in July. The Howard Byrd property in West Jackson is purchased in 1965.
The same year, under the leadership of Ruling Elder Kenneth Keyes, Concerned Presbyterians is founded. He will start an important newsletter about theological and ethical issues in the PCUS. Col. Roy LeCraw (a founding Board member of RTS) of Atlanta was vice president, and Jack Williamson of Greenville, Alabama, was secretary. Jack was a dear friend and colleague of Bob Cannada, and later became an RTS board member, and also taught church polity for a number of years at RTS Jackson. Jack’s son-in-law, Andrew Grinstead, and his son Warren Williamson both also later became RTS board members. Again, RTS leaders are a part of all the key organizations that eventually brought the PCA into being.
1966 – Reformed Theological Seminary opens its doors in Jackson, MS
In June of 1966, RTS had five full-time professors and no students! By September 6, 1966, 15 students were enrolled in time for the very first Convocation (2 more would join later in the academic year). Dr. C. Darby Fulton (former executive secretary of the PCUS Board of World Missions) spoke on “The Relevancy of the Gospel.” Historical note: RTS began classes seven years before the formation of the PCA. Incidentally, Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, PA opened seven years before the formation of the OPC.
1967 – Sam Patterson declines the Presidency of RTS, but fully resigns from FCA
In September of 1967, the RTS faculty and board ask “Mr. Pat” to become president. He declines but continues as Chairman of the Board. He also declines numerous offers of an honorary doctorate from various other institutions. He becomes an evangelist with PEF on October 1, 1967. RTS and PEF share his salary. O. Palmer Robertson joins the faculty and George Gulley joins the administration.
1968 – The connections with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC)
The PCA and RTS have a number of connections with the OPC. RTS enjoyed friendship and cooperation with the OPC and Westminster Theological Seminary from the beginning. In the Spring of 1968, Cornelius Van Til lectured at RTS, and Dr. Edmund Clowney, President of WTS and a former OPC moderator spoke at RTS’s first commencement in May. Since at least 1976, RTS has had faculty members who held ordination in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). The denomination’s Subcommittee on Ministerial Training has commended RTS to ministerial candidates, and currently, two of our campuses host OPC congregations. Current OPC faculty members include John Muether, Peter Lee, John Fesko, Will Wood, and Chad Van Dixhoorn. For many years, RTS Orlando Professor John Muether was the official historian of the OPC. The PCA discussed merger with the OPC at the same time the “Joining and Receiving” of the RPCES was in play, but it did not come to pass. Nevertheless, the denominations cooperate in NAPARC and through Great Commission Publications.
1969 – Presbyterian Churchmen United is formed
Donald B. Patterson (then Pastor of historic McIlwain Presbyterian Church, Pensacola, FL) founds Presbyterian Churchmen United (PCU), serving as Chairman of the Board. Among other original board members were: Morton H. Smith, Frank M. Barker, Jr., Donald C. Graham, John E. Richards, Kennedy Smartt, and G. Aiken Taylor. Paul G. Settle would later become Executive Secretary of PCU. PCU seeks to rally and support ministers and sessions concerned about theological drift in the PCUS. Many RTS folk were among the leadership of this organization.
1970 – Sam Patterson transitions to full-time status for RTS
In January 1970, Sam Patterson leaves full-time status with PEF and becomes an affiliate in order to become the full-time RTS Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee’s on-campus representative.
1970 – The PCA’s and RTS’s Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) Connection and Pipeline
In the fall of 1970, at the same time Ric Cannada began his seminary studies, a large group of key ARP ministerial candidates enroll at RTS Jackson, including Jamie Hunt and John Carson. Concerned about neo-orthodoxy in the ARP, many ARP students begin studying at RTS rather than attending their denominational seminary, Erskine (Due West, SC). A number of these graduates become influential pastors and leaders in the ARP Synod. Eventually, Jamie Hunt became the Moderator of the ARP Synod, and Dr. John L. Carson became the President of Erskine College and Theological Seminary. After Ric Cannada became Vice President of the RTS Charlotte campus, many ARP students began attending there (and John Carson taught Church History there). Founding RTS Charlotte Professor Bob Cara later served as Vice Moderator of the ARP Synod. In recent years, RTS Charlotte has become the largest supplier of pastors for the ARP. The PCA has enjoyed cordial relations with the ARP for many years now. Many ministers have happily and fruitfully served in both denominations.
1973 – Reformed University Ministries (now Reformed University Fellowship, or RUF) is established
RUF, now the national and international collegiate ministry of the PCA, is created by RTS Jackson students. The very first Reformed University Fellowship Group was started at the University of the Southern Mississippi by Mark Lowrey (who studied at RTS from 1970-71, 74-77, MDiv and MCE), son-in-law of John Reed Miller (who had been pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS from 1952-1968). Mark had been the leader of the Westminster Fellowship (the PCUS campus ministry) there since 1971. Along with another RTS student, James “Bebo” Elkin (who would become the first RUF Area Coordinator), Ford Williams, and Jimmy Turner, Mark founded RUF and became the first National Coordinator.
Ric Cannada was among the RTS students praying for them and cheering them on. Later, as a PCA church planter in Arkansas, he would give oversight to RUF in Covenant Presbytery, stressing the importance of having a good local church wherever RUF had a campus ministry. The first ever RUF staff training is held at RTS Jackson in 1981. RUF continued to do staff training in Jackson into the 1990s. RTS Jackson graduate Elbert McGowan started the first RUF on an HBCU campus at Jackson State University in 2007. Ligon Duncan served as RUF MidSouth Campus Ministry Committee chairman for many years. The ties between RTS and RUF are old and strong.
1973 – The Presbyterian Church in America is established
On December 4-7, 1973, the first General Assembly (GA) of what is now called the PCA met at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Alabama. National Presbyterian Church is chosen as the name of the new denomination. The second GA changes the name to Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). RTS’s first faculty member, Morton H. Smith, would become the first Stated Clerk of the PCA. More recently, former RTS Jackson faculty member, Roy Taylor, served in this position. RTS students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and board members played a crucial role in the formation of the PCA. RTS board member Jack Williamson would serve as the first moderator of the PCA. Over the years, a number of members of the RTS family have served as moderator of the PCA General Assembly: Erskine Jackson (RTS ministerial advisor), Jim Baird (RTS board member), Dominic Aquila (former RTS Jackson dean of students and lecturer), Paul Kooistra (former RTS Jackson professor), Harry Reeder (RTS alumnus and lecturer), Mike Ross (former RTS Jackson lecturer), Morton Smith (former RTS Jackson professor), Ligon Duncan (RTS Jackson professor and RTS chancellor), Irwyn Ince (RTS Washington grad), Roy Taylor (former RTS Jackson professor), and Fred Greco (RTS Jackson grad and RTS Houston lecturer).
By God’s grace, RTS has educated more PCA pastors than any other seminary. The PCA Historical Committee says: “Many of the PCA’s founding fathers were educated at schools where, at best, there was a mixture of biblically faithful and modernist teaching. When RTS opened its doors, students came in droves.” ~ PCA Archives
Happy 50th anniversary to the PCA from your friends and partners at RTS!