Book of Common Worship

Minutes, General Assembly  | May 25, 1951, p. 51| Committee Reports

The Report of the Special Committee on The Book of Common Worship in the absence of any member of the Special Committee was presented through the Recording Clerk. The Report was received and approved as follows:

During the ecclestical year, your Committee lost the leadership of its Chairman, Rev. Hugh Thomson Kerr, whose death occurred June 27, 1950, at the age of 79.

Dr. Kerr succeeded Dr. William Chalmers Covert in 1943, and under his efficient chairmanship, the Committee undertook the revision of The Book of Common Worship, Revised, and published in 1946. Dr. Kerr was peculiarly fitted for this important undertaking of our Church by his long interest in liturgics, his familiarity with the literature in this field, and his unusual literary gifts.

The 162^nd General Assembly adopted certain Overtures which called for the insertion of a new first question in connection with all ordinations. This required corresponding changes in the forms for Ordination in The Book of Common Worship. These changes were approved by the Office of the Stated Clerk, and for the convenience of those who have the edition of 1946, slips were prepared by the Board of Christian Education, as publishers, for insertion at the proper places in The Book of Common Worship.

The Committee has thus been continuing to render such service as is required of it as a Special Committee appointed “to act in collaboration with the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.”

"He Who Would Valient Be"

McCormick Seminary Course Catalogue 1946-47

B. The Department of Pastoral Theology

Professor Halsey**

The purpose of this department is to prepare the pastor practically for the various spheres of usefulness today claiming his service. It deals with personal piety, his family life, his social manners, his intellectual habits, his pulpit presence, his executive and administrative responsibilities, and his relationships to his congregation, to the community, and to society.

*P 101. Common Worship. The principle of worship; theory and practice. Orders of worship; regular and special days. Writing of collects and prayers. The history of Christian worship. A foundation course with much writing and practice. ½ major, Winter quarter, Junior year.

*P 102. Church Policy. A consideration of the principles of the Presbyterian system of government, administrative and judicial, including the sacraments, ½ major, Spring quarter, Middle year.

*P 103. Functions of the Minister. A study of the minister himself; his habits; his education, cultural, and devotional development; essential qualities; fatal errors; duties in the parish; counseling; evangelism; the minister as “friend at large.” Discussion, lectures, and demonstration. ½ major, Autumn quarter, Senior year.

P 103-105. Practicum in Pastoral Theology. For men serving churches as student pastors or assistants. Orientation toward pastoral responsibilities; discussion of problems; supervision of field work in church activities. ¼ major, Each quarter.

P 113. Liturgical Practice. This course continues the study begun in Course P 101. It includes an intensive study of the church year and of special services which the minister must conduct. The minister’s practice is related to basic liturgical theory and history. ½ major.

P 114. Pastor’s Use of the Bible. Lectures, discussion, demonstration in the minister’s use of the English Bible for devotional and liturgical purposes. Bible passages and quotations for sick calling, for evangelistic and other services. Prayer-meeting talks, biographical studies of great Scripture characters, etc. An effort to relate the student’s knowledge of the Bible to pastoral duties. ¼ major, Spring quarter.

P 118. The Larger Parish. The Seminary has part in two larger parish projects. One in Mattoon Presbytery offers closely supervised work to six students who serve pastorates under the direction of Rev. Harry Bicksler, the Pastor-Director. In the Summer quarter these student pastors meet two hours each week in a Seminar Conference supervised by Mr. Bicksler, Dr. Cummins, and Professor Halsey. Representatives of the State Agricultural College, the Farm Bureau, the State Teachers’ College, the Federal Farm Bureau, the Grange and other organizations take part. 1 major.

P 140. Practicum in Church Management. Discussion of problems in the care of property, the development of organizations, the promotion of campaigns, and finances. Open to Middlers and Seniors. (Professor Halsey, Vice-President Neigh, Mr. Potts.) ¼ major.

P 143. Methods and Types of Evangelism. Reading and discussion of the types of evangelism; personal, parish, pastoral, group. (Professor Halsey and Professor Frank, assisted by local pastors.) ½ major.

* Prescribed for Seminary students.

** On leave Winter and Spring quarters, 1946-47. Prescribed courses in Pastoral Theology were given in the Autumn quarter.

Pilgrim's Progress: Revised

Then he called to him Mr. GREAT-HEART, who was their guide; and said unto him, "Sir, although it was not my hap to be much in your good company in the days of my pilgrimage, yet, since the time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When I came from home, I left behind me a wife and five small children. Let me entreat you at your return (for I know that you will go, and return to your Master's house, in hopes that you may yet be a conductor to more of the holy pilgrims), that you send to my family; and let them be acquainted with all that hath and shall happen unto me. Tell them, moreover, of my happy arrival at this place; and of the present blessed condition that I am in. Tell them also of CHRISTIAN and CHRISTIANA his wife; and how she and her children came after her husband. Tell them also of what a happy end she made, and whither she is gone. I have little or nothing to send to my family, except it be prayers and tears for them; of which it will suffice if thou acquaint them, if peradventure they may prevail." When Mr. STANDFAST had thus set things in order, and the time being come for him to haste him away, he also went down to the river. Now there was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr. STANDFAST, when he was about half way in, he stood awhile, and talked to his companions that had waited upon him thither. And he said:

"This river has been a terror to many; yea, the thoughts of it also have often frightened me. But now, methinks I stand easy; my foot is fixed upon that upon which the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant stood, while Israel went over this Jordan.

 **REVISED TO**

Then he called to him Mr. GREAT-HEART, who was their guide; and he said, "Sir, although it was not my hap to be much in your good company during the days of my pilgrimage, yet, since the time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When I come from home, I had left behind me wife and small children, and you have brought them on the journey safely to me. Tell those, my friends, of our happy arrival at this blessed place.

And he said: “This river that I now cross has been a terror to many; the thoughts of it often have afrighted me. But now, methinks I stand easy; my foot is fixed upon that on which the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the covenant stood, while Israel went over Jordan.

Vice-Moderator

1939 Minutes of the General Assembly Meeting of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., Stitt Library, Austin Presbyterian Seminary

Moscow

1918 Minutes of the General Assembly Meeting of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., Stitt Library, Austin Presbyterian Seminary

The New Era Movement

from The Messenger | Promoting the Work and Worship of The Seventh Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati | February 23, 1919

EDITORIAL. Chicago Examiner. Jan 15.—While some agencies that have made much more noise about reconstruction have been muddling over their blueprints, demanding legislation or waiting for the other fellow to make the first move, the Presbyterian Church has stepped out boldly and started something. The church does not call what it is doing “reconstruction,” but it is the best sort of reconstruction, nevertheless. Designated “The New Era Movement,” the program calls for the expenditure of $75,000,000 within the next five years in ways that will benefit society. Yesterday, one million was appropriate to increase the salaries of 6,500 pastors in 1919. Just as chaplains were invaluable to the armies of Foch, so will clergymen be needed in the social readjustment upon which the world now is entering and the end of which no man can foretell.

The Presbyterians are to be congratulated on their foresight. Able men will be needed in the ministry in the years ahead, and plenty of them. And you must permit an able man to hold up his head in the corner grocery if you expect to get out of him all that is in him.

Altar and pulpit are bulwarks against that which is most feared by thinking men to-day. When they fell in Russia—dragged down, it is true, by the Czar—Bolshevism rose. The cloth, under any name, represents what is constructive. In the ratio that it is free and respected, a country will prosper.

A PLATFORM FOR COUNTRY CHURCHES.

One church in ever community. To unite the peple in worship and service, with the gospel of friendship for all; with help for every community need, whether good roads, adequate schools, social life, or what not; with Christian leadership for every occasion and co-operation for every moment which contributes to the betterment of mankind. A resident minister in every community church, with the love of the country church and country people in his heart, with accurate and sympathetic knowledge of this task and his community. Every community a permanent home, where no one is poor or strange or dissatisfied; where men are taught how to live and work in the country and to support their homes, their institutions, and their community; where ever generation transmits a richer heritage—in lands and institutions and traditions—than it received; where there is satisfaction in the present and a faith in the future to inspire with confidence of Eternal Life—this is the program of our Board of Home Missions.

AMERICAN business requires foreign representatives. So does American Christianity. The Presbyterian branch is operated in fifteen foreign lands. Educating the ignorant, healing the sick, uplifting the fallen, holding forth the Word of Life to one hundred millions for whom we are responsible. We have 1,366 foreign representatives who conduct this work. A foreign representative costs a home church $1,250.