Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

The Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
Operation Office 6 Empress road, Lahore
is the largest Presbyterian, Reformed Classification Reformed
denominations is the second largest Orientation Mainline Protestant
Protestants in Pakistan. It was formed in
1993 by the merger of United Polity Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (1855- Moderator General Assembly Rev. Reuben Qamar
1993) and Council of Churches of Associations Christian Conference of
Lahore.
Asia
As of 2016, the church has around World Council of
300,000 members, 220 congregations, Churches[1]
208 pastors, and 80 presbyteries, making
World Communion of
it the largest Presbyterian denomination in
Reformed Churches[2]
the country and second largest Protestant
denomination, behind Church of Region Pakistan
Pakistan.[3][1][4][5] Headquarters Lahore, Punjab
Origin 1993
History Branched from United Presbyterian Church
of North America

Lahore Council of Churches Merger of United Presbyterian Church

of Pakistan (1855-1993)
The United Presbyterian Church of North and the Council of
America began missionary work in Churches of Lahore
Pakistan in 1834 in the Ludhina region. A
Separations 1968: United Presbyterian
year after JC Lowrie, the first Presbyterian
missionary in the country, moved from Church of Pakistan
Ludhiana to Lahore. In 1849 John Congregations 220 (2016)[3]
Newton and Charles Forman went to the Members 300,000 (2016)[3]
same region to work as missionaries. Soon
they extended their work to Rawalpindi. Official website presbyterianchurchpakistan
His efforts resulted in the founding of the .org (http://presbyterianchu
Council of Churches of Lahore.[6] rchpakistan.org/)

In 1904, long before other Presbyterian communities, the Council of Churches of Lahore, formerly part of
the United Presbyterian Church, was absorbed into the United Church of North India.

United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

In 1855 the United Presbyterian Mission of the United States opened work in Lahore with Andrew Gordon
as a missionary; two years later he established a mission station in Sialkot, where he was joined by other
missionaries. Schools and an orphanage were opened by the missionary group. In 1859 the Presbytery of
Sialkot was formed.
The "Sialkot Conventions", promoted by the church, have been held since 1904 and are recognized as
fundamental to the strengthening and dissemination of the Christian faith in Pakistan. The Psalms used in
the Sialkot Hymnbookwith Convention, as well as hymns in Punjabi and Urdu as Indian songs are widely
used in all Protestant churches in the country.[7]

The church grew, and other presbyteries were established. In 1893 the Synod of Punjab (SP) was formed
as one of the synods of the United Presbyterian Church of North America.

The SP founded the Gujiranwala Seminary, which became a merged seminary in 1954, which went on to
serve for the training of ministers of various Protestant denominations in Pakistan such as the Church of
Pakistan and Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Pakistan.[8]

The same synod became autonomous in 1961 forming the United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (1855-
1993). In 1968, as a result of the movement opposing McIntire's Liberal Theology, part of the members
split off and founded the United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan.[9]

In contrast the United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (1855-1993) became administratively independent
of the North American church.

Fusion

On November 18, 1993, and the Council of Churches of Lahore (which at the time was affiliated with
Church of Pakistan) merged again and formed the present Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (PCP).[10][3]

21st century
The Presbyterian Church of Pakistan is known for its work in evangelism, education, health care, literacy,
agriculture and social welfare. Evangelism is done by pastors, evangelists and lay workers and includes
training church members, planting new churches for growth and building churches and pastoral houses.
The Church's educational work suffered from the nationalization of schools in 1972, but the church
established new primary, middle, and high schools for boys and girls, and pensions for
students.[11][12][13][14]

The church maintains two hospitals and provides education and healthcare for the people. The
denomination began literacy work in Pakistan, which is now carried out by an NGO, and continues to
cooperate with the government to promote literacy.[15] The Presbyterian Church is also the initiator of
theological education in Pakistan, through a seminar for candidates for the ministry and lay extension
classes.[8] In addition, the church has agricultural services focused on helping peasants with production
techniques, seed conservation and fertilizers.[16]

As of 2016, the church has around 300,000 members, 220 congregations, 208 pastors, and 80 presbyteries,
making it the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country and second largest Protestant denomination,
behind Church of Pakistan.[3][1]

Pakistanis report the existence of religious persecution by the population of the country of Christians who
form a minority in Pakistan. As the Presbyterians form one of the largest Christian groups in the country,
there are many reports of religious persecution against them in the region.[17]

Doctrine
The church subscribes to: the Apostles' Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Heidelberg
Catechism and the Westminster Confession.[6]

Inter-Church Relations
The church is a member of the World Council of Churches,[1] of the Christian Conference of Asia,[18] from
National Council of Churches in Pakistan and World Communion of Reformed Churches.[2] In addition, it
has fraternal relations with the Presbyterian Church (USA).[16]

See also
Protestantism in Pakistan

References
1. "World Council of Churches: Presbyterian Church of Pakistan" (https://www.oikoumene.org/
member-churches/presbyterian-church-of-pakistan). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
2. "World Communion of Churches: Members in Asia" (http://wcrc.ch/members#asia).
Retrieved August 11, 2015.
3. "History of the merger of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan" (https://www.peb.edu.pk/abou
t-us/). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
4. "Mackenzie: Reformed Churches in the Underdeveloped World" (https://cpaj.mackenzie.br/h
istoria-da-igreja/movimento-reformado-calvinismo/historia-of-the-reformed-movement/the-ref
ormed-tradition-in-the-third-world/). Retrieved 11 Aug 2015.
5. "Lemuel Baker: Presbyterian Church of Pakistan" (http://lemuelbaker.com/pakistan_presbyte
rian_church). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
6. "Reformed Online: Presbyterian Church of Pakistan" (http://www.reformiert-online.net/adress
en/detail.php?id=1441&lg=eng). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
7. "Unity of Christian Churches in Pakistan" (http://www.fides.org/en/news/35292-ASIA_PAQUI
STAO_Pentecostes_para_os_cristaos_no_Paquistao_Unidos_na_diversidade#.Vcz9xPlVi
ko). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
8. "Presbyterian Seminary in Gujranwala" (http://gtspk.org/). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
9. "The Battle of Pasrur" (https://www.history.pcusa.org/blog/2017/10/battle-pasrur). October 3,
2017. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
10. "Presbyterian Church (USA): Presbyterian Church of Pakistan" (http://www.pcimissionovers
eas.org/partners/item/71/presbyterian-church-of-pakistan-pcp/). Retrieved 11 Aug 2015.
11. "Pasrur Pakistan" (http://www.firstpresbyterianchurchcr.com/pasrur-pakistan/). Retrieved
August 11, 2015.
12. "Presbyterian Education Board, Pakistan" (http://www.secondchurch.org/story.aspx?storyid=
145). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
13. "Forman Christian College in Lahore" (http://www.columbusfpc.org/pakistan/). Retrieved
11 August 2015.
14. "Pakistan Partnership" (http://www.opmh.org/global). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
15. "Kingston Presbyterian: Pakistan Presbyterian Church and Education" (http://kingstonpresby
terian.org/ministries/missions/south-asia-pakistan/). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
16. "Presbyterian Mission: Pakistan" (https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/global/paki
stan/). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
17. "CACP: Apologetics Ministry: Persecution of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan" (http://ww
w.cacp.org.br/evangelicos-sao-atacados-cowardly-by-Muslim-militias/). Retrieved
August 11, 2015.
18. "Christian Conference of Asia: Members" (http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/a
sia/cca). Retrieved August 11, 2015.

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