History
Independent Presbyterian Church was formed in 1915 in Birmingham, Alabama, after a popular and charismatic preacher at South Highlands Presbyterian Church, Dr. Henry Edmonds, was criticized by members of the Southern Presbyterian Church for having views that varied from the doctrinal standards of that denomination. The controversy was brought to a head when an article appeared in the Birmingham Age-Herald in which Edmonds was quoted as differing from orthodox Presbyterian theology on the subject of the inspiration of the Bible and of the substitionary Atonement of Christ. Before arguments were fully resolved, Dr. Edmonds withdrew from South Highland Presbyterian Church and with a small group of followers formed the Independent Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Alabama. The first worship service was held at Temple Emanu-El, Birmingham, Alabama, a congregation of American Reform Jews and a close friendship between the two congregations has existed ever since. During the early years, the church also held services in downtown Birmingham at local theaters, primarily the historic Lyric Theater which services were attended by both whites and blacks and which ministered to the working class and the poor.
Though initially independent, the church was admitted into the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (the "Northern" Presbyterian body) in 1920. The "Northern" denomination actually already had a number of congregations in and around Birmingham, acquired from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1906, so Independent Church became part of a strong presbytery of fellow churches. The church was a proponent of the Social Gospel and was one of the first to establish programs for public health, child welfare and legal aid. Edmonds' pastorate spanned a difficult and turbulent time in the City of Birmingham. He was Chairman of the Alabama Commission on Inter-Racial Cooperation, a group dedicated to improving relations among the races, and took action to ensure a fair trial for the Scottsboro Boys.
Notable pastorates of the church have included John N. Lukens (1948–1966), and M. Scott McClure (1967–1996). The current Pastor is Dr. Conrad Sharps, whose tenure began in 2006.
Read more about this topic: Independent Presbyterian Church
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