Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationEvangelical Reformed
TheologyCalvinist
PolityPresbyterian
AssociationsWorld Reformed Fellowship[1]
RegionBangladesh
FounderRev Edward Ayub[2]
Origin1995[3]
Branched fromPresbyterian Church in America
Congregations26 (2011)[3]

The Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh (PCB) is a Reformed Churches conservative and evangelical in Bangladesh.[4][5] Formed in 1995 by Rev. Edward Ayub, a former Muslim convert to Christianity, with the assistance of Presbyterian Church in America.[6][7]

History

The Presbyterian churches originate from the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. It is the Christian churches Protestant that adhere to Reformed theology and whose ecclesiastical government is characterized by the government of an assembly of elders.[8] Government Presbyterian is common in Protestant churches that were modeled after the Reformation Protestant Switzerland, notably in Switzerland, Scotland, Netherlands, France and portions of Prussia, of Ireland and later in United States.[9]

In 1984, Reverend Edward Ayub, a former Muslim, was converted to Christianity. Later, in 1995, inspired by Asian Christian missionaries, and with the help of Presbyterian Church in America, he founded the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh[3][2][10][11]

Between 1996 and 1997, the denomination received assistance from Korean Presbyterian missionaries.[12]

The Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh today

Today the PCB works on church planting among the country's Muslim communities, so that most of its members are ex-Islamic converts to Christianity.[13]

The church relies on financial and missionary support from Presbyterian Church in America to plant churches in Bangladesh.[14][15][16] In addition, in 2015, greater involvement between the two churches was sought.[17]

The PCB is a member of the World Reformed Fellowship[1] which is a worldwide organization that brings together conservative Reformed churches. However, the church has a conservative rather than ecumenical missionary vision.[18][19]

References

  1. ^ a b "World Reformed Fellowship: Member Churches". Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Christianity in Bangladesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Interview with Rev. Edward Ayub, founder of Bangladesh Presbyterian Church". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Christian Denominations in Bangladesh". Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "Christian Denominations around the world". Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "The Protestant refugee crisis caused by slaughter became the shiny tip of the spear of missions as well. Nothing better embodied the spirit of early church missions than the Reformation" (PDF). Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Basil Grafas helped form the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh" (PDF). Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "Reformed Churches". Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "Presbyterian and Reformed Churches". Britannica. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "History of Rev. Edward Ayub". Retrieved 11 Feb 2022.
  11. ^ "Story of Edward Ayub". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  12. ^ "History of the Presbyterian Church from Bangladesh" (PDF). Retrieved 11 Feb 2022.
  13. ^ "Open Doors Canada: Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh". Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  14. ^ "Presbyterian Church in America in Bangladesh". Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  15. ^ "Missionary Library of the Presbyterian Church in America" (PDF). Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  16. ^ "Bangladesh Presbyterian Church" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  17. ^ "Presbyterian Church of America and Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh". Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  18. ^ "Missions of the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh". Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  19. ^ "Towards A Faithful Witness" (PDF). Retrieved December 23, 2015.
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