North American Church History

Dr. William VanDoodewaard (Ph.D. Aberdeen) serves as Associate Professor of Church History at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Previously he served as Assistant Professor of European History at Patrick Henry College, near Washington, D.C., and as Visiting Professor of History at Huntington University. Dr. VanDoodewaard is the author of The Marrow Controversy and Seceder Tradition: Atonement, Saving Faith and the Gospel Offer in Scotland (1718-1799) (RHB), and a contributing editor for the recent reprint of the 17th century Puritan work, Edward Fisher’s The Marrow of Modern Divinity (Christian Focus). He has also written for numerous academic journals and other periodicals. An ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churches, he has served as a guest speaker and preacher for churches in the United States, Canada, and Scotland. He blogs at The Christian Pundit.

A study of the establishment, expansion, internal development, and societal impact of the Protestant churches on the North American continent from the colonial period until today, with particular focus on the major leaders and controversies in the development of Reformed and Presbyterian theology in the United States and Canada. This will be taught with the understanding that the history of the church in North America reveals both the gracious continuation of the expansion of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), and at times, and in places, also reveals a church going “contrary to the doctrine which you have learned” (Romans 16:17) or even having “gone in the way of Cain.” (Jude 11)

1. The student will become acquainted with the broad historical development of the Protestant churches in North America from the point of European contact to the present day, with a particular focus on the development of confessional Reformed and Presbyterian denominations.
2. The student will become acquainted with, and evaluate, the major theological developments, movements, and trends within the Protestant churches in North America from the point of European contact to the present day, and also gain particular understanding of the theological developments which have impacted Reformed and Presbyterian denominations found in North America.
3. The student will be able to analyze and evaluate both ecclesiastical and theological developments, events, and key figures and writings in North American church history, in the light of Scripture and the summaries of biblical doctrine expressed by the Reformed confessions. The student will also be able to articulate and communicate this analysis and evaluation with a view to practical ministry application. The student will also be able to provide assessment and analysis of more recent ecclesiastical and theological trends in comparison to the past. (Ecclesiastes 1:10)

• Noll, Mark. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003), 1-500.
• Handout readings of primary sources, focusing on Reformed theologians and developments/issues in Reformed theology in North American church history (will be photocopied or online materials, made available at class sessions).

Please read this.

The following assignments and examinations are given in Medieval Church History and are weighted as follows. Course grading will follow the scale in the PRTS catalog.

– Research paper (15-20 pages) 40%
– Class readings and discussion 20%
– Final examination 40%

Late assignments will receive the standard PRTS deduction of 5% per day, unless special exemption (ie. for medical/family emergencies) is granted by the professor.

If you a current student of PRTS, and wish to enroll in this course, please contact the registrar. If you are not a current student, please fill out this form to request enrollment.