How Did The Synod Of Philadelphia's 1729 Decision To Establish Standard Rules For Ordination And Church Governance Influence The Development Of Presbyterianism In The Mid-Atlantic Colonies, Particularly In The Context Of The Old Side-New Side Controversy?
The Synod of Philadelphia's 1729 decision to establish standard rules for ordination and church governance played a pivotal role in shaping Presbyterianism in the Mid-Atlantic colonies, particularly by contributing to the Old Side-New Side controversy. Here's a structured summary of the key points:
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Synod's Decision and Its Aims: The Synod of Philadelphia introduced standardized rules to bring consistency to ordination processes and church governance. This move aimed to unify practices across different regions, ensuring that ministers were properly educated and ordained, and that church operations were organized and coherent.
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Old Side-New Side Controversy: The controversy emerged as a division within the Presbyterian Church. The Old Side, valuing tradition and educational rigor, supported the Synod's standardized ordination requirements. They emphasized the importance of a well-educated clergy. In contrast, the New Side, influenced by the evangelical movement and the Great Awakening, advocated for a more flexible approach, allowing ministers with less formal education but strong spiritual fervor.
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Impact on Presbyterianism: The Synod's decision exacerbated tensions between the two sides. The Old Side saw the standards as essential for maintaining church integrity, while the New Side viewed them as restrictive, hindering spiritual enthusiasm. This led to a split, with each side forming its own governing body, affecting the church's structure and growth.
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Long-term Effects: The controversy influenced the development of Presbyterianism by highlighting the balance between tradition and revivalism. The division eventually led to reunification, but not before shaping the church's theological and governance approaches, particularly in regions where revivalism was prominent.
In essence, the Synod's attempt to unify through standardization inadvertently caused division, influencing the trajectory of Presbyterianism in the Mid-Atlantic by fostering distinct approaches within the church.