First Presbyterian Church (Jackson, Mississippi)
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (February 2019) |
| First Presbyterian Church of Jackson | |
|---|---|
| The First Presbyterian Church of Jackson | |
  First Presbyterian Church of Jackson | |
| 32°19′05″N 90°10′41″W / 32.318°N 90.178°W | |
| Location | 1390 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Presbyterian Church in America |
| Previous denomination | Presbyterian Church in the United States |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical, Reformed |
| Website | www.fpcjackson.org/ |
| History | |
| Founded | 8 April 1837 |
| Administration | |
| Presbytery | Mississippi Valley |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Rev. David Strain |
The First Presbyterian Church is a historic congregation currently housed at 1390 North State Street in Jackson, Mississippi. It was founded in 1837.[1]
Description[edit]
First Presbyterian Church is the largest Presbyterian church in Mississippi and a flagship and founding congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America. Its communicant membership is over 2,500.[2]
With 3,100 members, it has become the largest Presbyterian congregation in Mississippi and one of the largest in the United States. It has played a significant role in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), and the congregation has remained one of the flagship congregations of that denomination.[3] Its pastor at the time, Rev Donald Patterson, was Chairman of the Steering Committee for a Continuing Presbyterian Church and preached at the inaugural PCA General Assembly.[4]
The church played a significant role of establishing the Winter Theological Institution in 1962, which became Reformed Theological Seminary.[5]
In the 1950s and 1960s, FPC excluded black people from the sanctuary.[6] The church published a statement of repentance over this in 2016.[7] The minister and some members of FPC were very influential in the 1992 formation of Mission Mississippi, an ecumenical racial reconciliation initiative. Soon afterwards, however, there was a backlash against the organization within this congregation, dues to the church's historic resistance to the civil rights movement.[8][9]
Ligon Duncan served as Senior Pastor from 1996 to 2013.
Doctrine[edit]
The congregation adheres to the Westminster Confession of Faith.[10]
The church describes itself " A steadfast witness to historic Reformed Christianity for over 175 years".
It is a member of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ "Our History". First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Database of Megachurches in the U.S." Hartford Institute for Religion Research. 2006. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ "A Brief History of First Presbyterian Church". First Presbyterian Church. 13 September 2007. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ "Rev. Donald Patterson: December 11, 2023". PCA50. Presbyterian Church in America. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Our History". First Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff (5 December 2023). "Why Ligon Duncan Is Still Building Institutions". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Strain, David (18 May 2016). "Session Statement on Racial Reconciliation". First Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Slade, Peter Gordon (2006). "Open Friendship in a Closed Society: Mission Mississippi and a Theology of Friendship". University of Virginia. p. 4. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Slade, Peter (2009). "Open Friendship and Justice". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Our Beliefs". First Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ "The Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley :: Churches". Msvalley.org. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2017.