Paleopresbyterianism Versus Neopresbyterianism, History, Subscriptionism, Westminster

'Among the broad presbyterian movement, a type of fracture has begun to emerge. Some presbyterians are returning to the original presbyterian position of full subscription to the Westminster Standards including obedience to the continuing moral obligations of the National Covenant of Scotland and the Solemn League and Covenant. This group could accurately be labelled 'paleopresbyterians' since they hold to the original conceptions of what presbyterianism means. In contrast, those presbyterians unwilling to accept full subscription to the Standards or the binding nature of the Covenants could be called 'neopresbyterians' since they have effectively watered-down the original presbyterian position. Using these terms will help to clarify the issues at stake in the emerging debate between Covenanters (paleopresbyterians) and all other presbyterians (neopresbyterians). . . . '

'There are those who are generally favourable to the Westminster Standards but who wrongly perceive weaknesses in them or are not willing to accept the binding nature of the Covenants. It is these people that deserve the name 'neopresbyterians.' They are 'new' in the sense of being more recent historically and in the sense of having turned away from the original presbyterian position.'

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http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/paleo.htm

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