Presbyterian Church of Brazil

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Presbyterian Church of Brazil
Ipb logo.png
Classification Protestant
Orientation Conservative Calvinist
Theology Evangelical Reformed
Polity Presbyterian
ModeratorRev. Roberto Brasileiro
President of the Supreme Council
Associations World Reformed Fellowship
RegionBrazil
FounderRev. Ashbel Green Simonton
OriginAugust 12th, 1859
Rio de Janeiro
Branched from Presbyterian Church in the United States
Separations
Congregations5,420 (2021)
Members702,949 (2021)
Ministers 4,915 (2021)
Sculpture in front of the Presbyterian Church of Rio de Janeiro representing the first Protestant eucharist realized in Brazil. Primeira Ceia Protestante.jpg
Sculpture in front of the Presbyterian Church of Rio de Janeiro representing the first Protestant eucharist realized in Brazil.

The Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Portuguese: Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil, or IPB, PCB in English) is an Evangelical Protestant Christian denomination in Brazil. It is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country, having an estimate 702,949 members, 4,915 ordained ministers and 5,420 churches and parishes. [1] [2] It is also the only Presbyterian denomination in Brazil present in all 26 States and the Federal District.[ citation needed ]

Contents

The Church was founded by the American missionary Rev. Ashbel Green Simonton, who also oversaw the formal organization of the first congregation (Presbyterian Church of Rio de Janeiro) and the first Presbytery (Presbytery of Rio de Janeiro). [3]

The original Church in Rio de Janeiro was formally organized in January 1863. The Church then left the jurisdiction of the American church 1888, when the Synod was formed. The denomination considers the date of Simonton's arrival in Brazil, 12 August, 1859, as its foundation date. [4]

History

The beginnings and first decades

Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. Catedral Presbiteriana, Rio de Janeiro.jpg
Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro .

Rev. Ashbel Green Simonton (1833–1867), considered the founder of the Church, was born in West Hanover, Pennsylvania. He studied in New Jersey intending to become a professor or a lawyer. A religious revival in 1855, encouraged him to enter the Princeton Theological Seminary. While there, a sermon preached by Professor Charles Hodge made him consider becoming a missionary, and three years later he volunteered to the Presbyterian Church in the United States' (PCUS) Missions Board, naming Brazil as his preferred destination. Two months after being ordained, he embarked to Brazil, where he arrived on August 12, 1859, at the age of 26. [3]

In January 1862, the first converts professed their faith and the Presbyterian Church of Rio de Janeiro was formally organized. Simonton founded the first Protestant Brazilian newspaper (Imprensa Evangélica, 1864) and oversaw the creation of the first Presbytery (Presbytery of Rio de Janeiro, 1865) and Seminary (1867). Simonton died of yellow fever at age 34, in 1867. [3]

Other missionaries assisted Simonton in the early years of the Brazilian mission:

Other churches created in the denomination's first few decades were in Lorena, Borda da Mata, Pouso Alegre and Sorocaba, most of these credited to Rev. José Manoel da Conceição (1822–1873), a former Roman Catholic priest and the first Brazilian to be ordained a Protestant minister (1865). [3]

In 1869 Revs. George Nash Morton and Edward Lane preached in Campinas, where many American expatriates had immigrated to during the American Civil War. [5] The church in Campinas was founded in 1870.[ citation needed ] PCUS missionaries also preached in the Mogiana region, western Minas Gerais, the Triângulo Mineiro and southern Goiás. [6]

The church of Rio de Janeiro consecrated its first sanctuary in 1874. In the same year, new congregations were also established in the States of São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. In the city of São Paulo, the American School was founded. [7]

In 1865 the Presbytery of Rio de Janeiro was created with 39 pastors. [7]

Synod

In September 1888, the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil was formally created, and thus the Church became autonomous from the American church. The Synod comprised three presbyteries (Rio de Janeiro, Campinas-Oeste de Minas and Pernambuco), 20 missionaries, 12 native ministers and about 60 churches. Rev. A. L. Blackford was its first Moderator. The Synod also created the Presbyterian Seminary, and elected its first two professors. [8]

Schisms

In March 1902, Rev. Eduardo C. Pereira created a platform outlining his differences with the church on missionary, educational and Masonic matters. On 31 July, 1903, Pereira and his colleagues withdrew from the Synod and founded the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil. [8]

In 1956 the Fundamentalist Presbyterian Church was formed under the influence of Karl McIntosh and the Bible Presbyterian Church USA, which has over 20 congregations and 1800 members.[ citation needed ]

The United Presbyterian Church in Brazil was formed in 1978, has 48 churches and 3,466 members in 8 presbyteries. It is a member church of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[ citation needed ]

Worship

General rules regarding the church's public worship practices are laid in the Principles of Liturgy (PL), which stand as a Directory of Worship. Articles 7 and 8 of the PL read:

Article 7. The Service of Public Worship is a religious act, through which the people of God worships their Lord, comes into communion with Him, making confession of sins and seeking, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, sanctification of life and spiritual growth. It is an appropriate occasion for the proclamation of the redeeming message of Christ's Gospel and the indoctrination and fellowship of the saints.
Article 8. The Service of Public Worship is ordinarily [composed] of the reading of the Word of God, preaching, sacred singing, prayer and offerings. The ministration of the Sacraments, when performed during the Service, is part of it. [9]

The Constitution of the Church [10] states that overseeing the liturgy and worship practices of the local congregation is the responsibility and private prerogative of the Minister of Word and Sacraments, who is free to arrange the elements of the service as he deems more edifying to the congregation, so long as worship practices don't come into conflict with the church's doctrinal standards.

In an essay published in 2006, Rev. Christian S. Bittencourt, former Professor of Theology of Worship at the Rio de Janeiro Presbyterian Theological Seminary, stated that there are at least four distinct liturgical groups in Brazilian Presbyterianism: Old-school Conservatives, Evangelical Charismatics, Ultra-puritans and Neo-orthodox Conservatives. [11]

The IPB has no official liturgy akin to PCUSA's Book of Common Worship. For weddings and funerals, Ministers usually employ one of three resources:[ citation needed ]

  1. Manual do Culto ("Worship Handbook"), a non-official compilation of orders of service done by Rev. Modesto Carvalhosa de Perestrello to serve as a guide to lay leaders in the early 20th century, published by Cultura Cristã, IPB's publishing branch.
  2. Manual Litúrgico ("Liturgical Handbook"), an expansion of Manual do Culto with alternate forms and biblical readings.
  3. The Independent Presbyterian Church's Manual do Culto, which is an abbreviated translation of PC (USA)'s 1993 Book of Common Worship.

Structure

The congregations are governed by ruling elders, teaching elders and deacons. The next level is the presbytery where delegates from local churches can discuss current issues. Synod is the next organisation form, the Presbyterian Church in Brazil has more than 64 synods. [16]

The highest court is the General Assembly. The church is represented out of court by the President of the Supreme Council which elected directly in and anonymous vote. [17] The current President of the Supreme Council is Rev. Roberto Brasileiro Silva. [18]

Church planting

YearChurchesMembers
1906776,500 [19] [20]
191015010,000 [19] [20]
1957489 [21] 161.391 [19] [20]
20044,241473,598
20053,912501,259 [22]
20064,033516,762
20074,078522,679
20084.237542,938
20094,346556,962
20104,488575,124
20114,581587,105
20124,674599,087
20134,770611,313
20144,867623,789
20154,967636,520
20165,068649,510 [1]

The church reported it was supporting newly planted congregations at the rate of one per week. [23]

Interchurch relationships

Presbyterian church in Brazil is a member church of the World Reformed Fellowship. [24]

The PCB does not belong to the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

The PCB suspended its membership of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in 1973, but in 1998 it reactivated its membership. In 2006 the Presbyterian Church in Brazil disaffiliated from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches due to theological differences. [25]

The church has fraternal relations with 17 Presbyterian Churches in the United States, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. [26]

Theology

The Presbyterian Church in Brazil is a socially and theologically conservative denomination. The church teaches that life begins at conception, and abortion is a sin. According to the Scriptures, homosexual lifestyle is sinful and marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman. Officers, teaching elders, ruling elders and deacons in the denominations are men only. The Presbyterian Church in Brazil severed all ties with first the United Presbyterian Church in the USA, and later the Southern Presbyterian Church. [27]

Theological Seminaries

The Rev. Jose Manuel da Conceicao Theological Seminary was founded in 1980, it was an extension of the Presbyterian Seminary in the South and named after Rev. Jose Manoel da Conceicao the first Brazilian Protestant pastor ordained by the presbyterian church. The Seminary recognise the Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter and Larger Catechism.

Missions

Education

Further reading

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References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil of 2021" . Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Primeira Igreja Presbiteriana de Belo Horizonte" (PDF).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-26. Retrieved 2010-04-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "Ipb - Sesquicentenário". Archived from the original on 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  5. ↑ Jacob Philip Wingerter
  6. ↑ pt:Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil
  7. 1 2 ":: Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil ::". Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  8. 1 2 ":: Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil ::". Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  9. ↑ Princípios de Liturgia, Articles 7 and 8. Available at http://www.ipb.org.br/download/manual_presbiteriano.pdf Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Constituição da Igreja, Article 31, item d. Available at http://www.ipb.org.br/download/manual_presbiteriano.pdf Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  11. 1 2 3 4 Bittencourt, Christian S. Tipologia dos grupos ideológicos presentes na Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil. São João de Meriti, 2006.
  12. ↑ "Por que nossa Igreja não tem "louvorzão", nem instrumentos, solos, conjuntos e corais? - Igreja Presbiteriana da Herança Reformada". Archived from the original on 2016-08-08. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  13. ↑ "Por que as mulheres não falam e nem oram em público em nossa igreja? - Igreja Presbiteriana da Herança Reformada". Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  14. ↑ "Por que não comemoramos a Páscoa? - Igreja Presbiteriana da Herança Reformada". Archived from the original on 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  15. ↑ "O Natal - Igreja Presbiteriana da Herança Reformada". Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  16. ↑ pt:Anexo:Lista de sínodos da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil
  17. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2013-06-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ↑ "www.ipb.org.br/application/Index/presidency". Archived from the original on 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  19. 1 2 3 "História da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil". Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 "Mackezie: História da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil". Archived from the original on 2016-07-11. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "Centro Presbiteriano de Pós-graduação Andrew Jumper: História da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil". Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  22. ↑ "Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie: O que é a Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil?". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  23. ↑ http://www.pcahistory.org/GA/1999/27h.pdf%5B%5D
  24. ↑ www.wrfnet.org/web/guest/aboutwrf/membershiplist Archived 2012-07-30 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "Igreja Presbiteriana de Ipanguaçu".
  26. ↑ www.executivaipb.com.br/Atas_CE_SC_/CE/CE 2011/doc11_060.pdf [ permanent dead link ]
  27. ↑ "www.ipb.org.br/portal". Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  28. ↑ "Seminário JMC".
  29. ↑ "www.ipb.org.br/portal/igreja-reformada Official website". Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  30. ↑ "Centro Presbiteriano de Pós-graduação Andrew Jumper".
  31. ↑ "HOME - Junta de Missões Nacionais".
  32. ↑ www.apmt.org.br Official website
  33. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2013-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ↑ www.mackenzie.br official website
  36. ↑ "Instituto Presbiteriano Gammon - Home".
  37. ↑ "IBEL - Instituto Bíblico Eduardo Lane".
  38. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2013-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. ↑ WWW.GSW.NET.BR. "IBAA - INSTITUTO BÍBLICO REV. AUGUSTO ARAÚJO". Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  41. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2013-06-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ↑ "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions".

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