Leading from the Center

InLeading from the Center, sociologist William Weston provides an enlightening look at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the tensions that exist between key groups in the denomination. Weston defines the key groups as conservatives, liberals, and loyalists and structures his view of the denomination around the third group. Defining "loyalists" as the largest and those who have no wish to see the denomination split apart, Weston argues that while conservatives may consider splitting the church over doctrinal issues and liberals may consider splitting the church over social issues, the loyalists want to work for peace and unity in an effort to hold the church together. His in-depth analysis examines the "left" and "right" sides of the church and their competition to win the loyalist center to their respective sides. Meticulously researched but engaging and insightful,Leading from the Centeris a concise sketch of the denomination that is often surprising and always revealing.

William (Beau) J. Weston is Associate Professor of Sociology at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

List of Figures

ix

Foreword by Clifton Kirkpatrick

xi

Acknowledgments

xiv

Introduction: The Competitive Constitutional Church

1

(6)

The Competitive Church

2

(1)

The Constitutional Church

3

(2)

The Cooperative Consensual Congregation: Why Can't We All Just Get Along ?

5

(1)

The Competitive Constitutional Church

6

(1)

Part I: How Did We Get Here?

7

(36)

Introduction

9

(2)

1. Too Big: The Inclusive Liberal Church of Charles A. Briggs

11

(8)

Briggs's Liberal Vision of the Inclusive Church

12

(2)

The Trials of Charles Briggs

14

(2)

The Consequences of the Briggs Case

16

(3)

2. Too Small: The Pure Conservative Church of J. Gresham Machen

19

(10)

Machen's Conservative Vision of the Pure Church

20

(2)

Machen's Critique of the Presbyterian Church

22

(1)

Fundamentalists and Modernists Compete for the Presbyterian Church

23

(3)

The General Assembly of 1924

26

(3)

3. Just Right: The Loyalist Constitutional Church of the Special Commission of 1925

29

(14)

The Special Commissions Loyalist Vision of the Constitutional Church

30

(3)

The Loyalist Majority Takes Command

33

(2)

Machen's Schism: A Pure Seminary and a Pure Sect

35

(6)

Consequences of the Special Commission's Compromise

41

(2)

Part II: Where Are We Now?

43

(36)

Introduction

45

(2)

4. The Half-Finished Story of the Fidelity and Chastity Competition

47

(20)

Definitive Guidance

47

(6)

General Assembly, 1996

53

(3)

Mobilizing in the Marketplace of Ideas

56

(3)

What Does This New Competition Tell Us about the Church?

59

(1)

The Aftermath of G-6.0106b

60

(7)

5. What Is Normal in the Presbyterian Church Today?

67

(12)

Members and Elders

70

(1)

Presbyterian Clergy

71

(2)

Very Conservative and Very Liberal

73

(2)

Church Leaders and Church Staff

75

(1)

Pillars of the Church

76

(1)

Conclusion

77

(2)

Part III: Where Can We Go?

79

(38)

Introduction

81

(1)

6. Practical Principles for a Competitive Church

82

(20)

The Good Old Compromise: The Adopting Act of 1729

82

(5)

The Good New Compromise: The Special Commission of 1925

87

(7)

Looking for the Next Good Compromise: The Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of 2001

94

(8)

7. A Modest Proposal: Presbyters Rule!

102

(15)

Make the Constitution Real

102

(6)

Let the Presbyteries Decide

108

(3)

Let the Presbyters Rule

111

(2)

The Dialogue about Competition and Conflict in the Church

113

(4)

Part IV: Appendix

117

(8)

Notes

125

(12)

Index

137

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Leading from the Center

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials