On Tuesday, June 17, the PCA Historical Center will host a pre-General Assembly conference on Presbyterian history. The first panel will take a broad look at Presbyterian history, with presentations on such topics as theological impact of J. Oliver Buswell and Cornelius Van Til, the sources of the 1801 “Plan of Union,” and the origin of the communion of the church courts. A second panel will explore “Presbyterians and Race,” with papers presented by Dr. Otis Pickett, TE Bobby Griffith and TE Sean Michael Lucas. TE Ligon Duncan and TE Carl Ellis will offer comments at the second panel.

The first panel will take place from 1 to 3 pm.; the second from 3 to 5 p.m. Both will take place in Ballroom J of the Hilton Americas (Houston).

Full panel details are as follows:

Panel 1 – American Presbyterian History: A Little Something for Everyone
1 – 3 p.m.

TE David Filson, Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN
“A Fountainhead of Misunderstanding: Apologetic and Theological Method in J. Oliver Buswell and Cornelius Van Til”

TE Caleb Cangelosi, Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS
“Congre-terians and Presby-gationals: Seeking the Sources of the 1801 Plan of Union”

RE Wayne Sparkman, Director, PCA Historical Center, St. Louis, MO
“Communion in the Courts of the Church: The Surprising Origin of the Practice”

Comments: TE Nick Willborn, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge, TN

Panel 2 – Presbyterians and Race: A Historical Conversation
3 – 5 p.m.

Dr. Otis Pickett, assistant professor of history, Mississippi College
“Multiethnic worship in southern Presbyterian mission churches, 1865-1874″

TE Bobby Griffith, City Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City, OK
“Protesting the Struggle: Carl McIntire and the Conservative Case Against the Civil Rights Movement”

TE Sean Michael Lucas, First Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, MS
“Race, Civil Rights, and the Southern (Presbyterian) Way of Life.”

Comments:
TE Carl Ellis, independent scholar
TE Ligon Duncan, Chancellor/CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary