In this episode, Danny Olinger and Camden Bucey explore a pivotal moment in the history of American Presbyterianism: the Special Commission of 1925 and its investigation into the doctrinal unrest within the Presbyterian Church (USA). Appointed to address the growing tension between modernists and conservatives, the Commission aimed to preserve the church’s “purity, peace, unity, and progress.” However, for J. Gresham Machen, the Commission’s recommendations represented a profound failure to uphold biblical orthodoxy.
We explore how the Special Commission, composed of fifteen prominent ministers and ruling elders with deep ties to denominational institutions, prioritized unity over doctrinal clarity. Its influential members—such as Robert Speer, Mark Matthews, and Stated Clerk Lewis Mudge—were largely institutional loyalists who sought to preserve the church’s structural integrity and foster reconciliation rather than enforcing confessional standards. Despite Machen’s compelling plea for doctrinal faithfulness, the Commission framed the controversy as a misunderstanding of tolerance and authority rather than a fundamental theological crisis.
We’ll examine how Machen’s uncompromising opposition to modernism ultimately led to his suspension from the PCUSA and the formation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936. Along the way, we’ll discuss the broader implications of this controversy for American Presbyterianism, and how the decisions made during this period continue to influence Reformed denominations today.
Join us as we unpack the significance of the Special Commission of 1925 and consider what lessons it holds for maintaining orthodoxy in the midst of institutional pressure and theological compromise.
Links
- Report of the Special Commission of 1925
- Weston, Presbyterian Pluralism: Competition in a Protestant House
Chapters
- 00:00:07 Introduction
- 00:06:36 Setting the Stage: Presbyterian History and Tensions
- 00:16:32 The Five Fundamentals and the Auburn Affirmation
- 00:35:40 Erdman’s Motion at the 1925 General Assembly
- 00:40:02 The Makeup of the Commission of 1925
- 00:51:49 The Work of the Commission
- 01:00:58 The Sine Qua Non of Presbyterianism
- 01:07:38 The Aftermath
- 01:20:52 Conclusion
Participants: Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger
Christ the Center focuses on Reformed Christian theology. In each episode a group of informed panelists discusses important issues in order to encourage critical thinking and a better understanding of Reformed doctrine with a view toward godly living. Browse more episodes from this program or subscribe to the podcast feed.
