Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil
Encyclopedia
The Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (in Portuguese: Igreja Presbiteriana Independente do Brasil, IPIB) is a Mainline Protestant Christian
denomination
in Brazil
. Part of the Reformed
family of Protestantism
, it is the second oldest Presbyterian
denomination in the country, having an estimate 74.224 members, 693 ordained ministers and 510 churches . It was founded by Brazilian minister Rev. Eduardo Carlos Pereira and a group of six other ministers and their churches, who split from the Presbyterian Church of Brazil
over a number of political and ecclesiastical controversies.
was rising since the foundation of the Seminary, and these native ministers began resenting the influence of the missionaries from both American churches, which was still largely felt even after the Brazilian Synod was constituted in 1888.
In 1893, Rev. Eduardo Carlos Pereira, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of São Paulo, founded a newspaper, O Estandarte, in which he advocated his views for a truly national, independent church. He met opposition in Rev. Álvaro Reis, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Rio de Janeiro, who, in 1899, founded O Puritano, where he often debated Pereira's more exalted views.
In March 1902, Pereira published a five-point Platform, adapted from a speech he delivered in the Seminary in 1900, demanding:
The latter point being a direct reaction to the missionaries' policy of indirect evangelisation of children through Mackenzie College (currently, Mackenzie Presbyterian University) and other non-confessional schools, which was cause for great attrition between Pereira and the American schoolmasters, Horace M. Lane and William A. Waddle .
In July 1903, during the Synod's Ordinary Meeting, when Pereira's overture on Freemasonry was defeated for the second time, and after a heated debate, he, along with another six ministers and eleven ruling elders, left the building and went on foot to the First Church, where a service was being held. Tradition has it that, when his party arrived to the church, during a moment of intercessory prayer, one of them began singing Daniel W. Whittle
's hymn The Banner of the Cross, in which he was enthusiastically joined by his colleagues and then by the entire congregation. The hymn was adopted as IPIB's official hymn.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Part of the Reformed
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
family of Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, it is the second oldest Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
denomination in the country, having an estimate 74.224 members, 693 ordained ministers and 510 churches . It was founded by Brazilian minister Rev. Eduardo Carlos Pereira and a group of six other ministers and their churches, who split from the Presbyterian Church of Brazil
Presbyterian Church of Brazil
The Presbyterian Church of Brazil is an Evangelical Protestant Christian denomination in Brazil. Part of the Reformed family of Protestantism, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country, having an estimate 788.553 members, 3,162 ordained ministers and 4,212 churches...
over a number of political and ecclesiastical controversies.
History
The causes which led to the creation of the Independent Presbyterian Church go back to the final years of the 19th century. The number of Brazilian ministers in activity in the Presbyterian Church of BrazilPresbyterian Church of Brazil
The Presbyterian Church of Brazil is an Evangelical Protestant Christian denomination in Brazil. Part of the Reformed family of Protestantism, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country, having an estimate 788.553 members, 3,162 ordained ministers and 4,212 churches...
was rising since the foundation of the Seminary, and these native ministers began resenting the influence of the missionaries from both American churches, which was still largely felt even after the Brazilian Synod was constituted in 1888.
In 1893, Rev. Eduardo Carlos Pereira, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of São Paulo, founded a newspaper, O Estandarte, in which he advocated his views for a truly national, independent church. He met opposition in Rev. Álvaro Reis, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Rio de Janeiro, who, in 1899, founded O Puritano, where he often debated Pereira's more exalted views.
In March 1902, Pereira published a five-point Platform, adapted from a speech he delivered in the Seminary in 1900, demanding:
- The spiritual independence and absolute sovereignty of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil;
- The withdrawal of all foreign missionaries from Brazilian presbyteries;
- An official declaration of incompatibility between FreemasonryFreemasonryFreemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; - The conversion of all National Missions in Presbyterial Missions or the granting of autonomy to the presbyteries for the evangelisation of their territories;
- Systematised education of the children of the Church, by the Church and for the Church.
The latter point being a direct reaction to the missionaries' policy of indirect evangelisation of children through Mackenzie College (currently, Mackenzie Presbyterian University) and other non-confessional schools, which was cause for great attrition between Pereira and the American schoolmasters, Horace M. Lane and William A. Waddle .
In July 1903, during the Synod's Ordinary Meeting, when Pereira's overture on Freemasonry was defeated for the second time, and after a heated debate, he, along with another six ministers and eleven ruling elders, left the building and went on foot to the First Church, where a service was being held. Tradition has it that, when his party arrived to the church, during a moment of intercessory prayer, one of them began singing Daniel W. Whittle
Daniel Webster Whittle
Daniel Webster Whittle was an American poet, hymn writer, evangelist, and Bible teacher. Influenced by Dwight L. Moody, he entered full-time evangelism and worked with P. P. Bliss and James McGranahan. He wrote the words for about two hundred hymns, including "Moment by Moment", "I Know Whom I...
's hymn The Banner of the Cross, in which he was enthusiastically joined by his colleagues and then by the entire congregation. The hymn was adopted as IPIB's official hymn.
External links
- The Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil's official site http://www.ipib.org
- The First Independent Presbyterian Church of São Paulo (Evangelical Cathedral of São Paulo) http://www.catedralonline.com.br