Guide to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Presbytery of Philadelphia Records
Open for research.
In the structure of local governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church, the presbytery lies between the congregation and the synod. It is composed of a minimum of twelve ministers and twelve local churches. Boundaries are along geographical lines, so that ministers and churches have membership in the presbytery within which they are physically located.
Presbyteries have the power to receive and decide appeals, to assume original jurisdiction, to ordain, install, remove and judge ministers, to resolve questions of doctrine or discipline, to unite or divide local churches, and otherwise to oversee and care for the congregations and ministers comprising its membership.
The presbytery of Philadelphia is notable for being the first presbytery in America. It formed in 1706.
Record Group 168 contains records of several special committees and commissions of the presbytery which dealt with legal matters.
Collection processed and Finding Aid prepared: 1983
Jane M. Ramsay
Notes added to finding aid: July 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist
| Box | Folder | Description | |
| 1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 168 | |
| 1 | 2 | Beacon Presbyterian Church, Special Commission to Investigate the Spiritual and Financial Conditions- Minutes, Correspondence, and Miscellaneous Items, 1935 | |
| 1 | 3 | Presbytery , Special Committee to Study Petition and Memorial to the 147th General Assembly re. Conduct, Statement of Committee and Miscellaneous Items, 1935 | |
| 1 | 4 | Deep Run and Doylestown Church -Special Judicial Commission to Reconcile Differences - Complaint, Minutes, Decision, 1935-1936 | |
| 1 | 5 | Central North Broad Street Presbyterian Church -Resolution; Presbytery's Action, 1936 | |
| 1 | 6 | Presbytery's Committee re. Recommendations of General Assembly's Commission of Nine - Report, 1936 | |
| 1 | 7 | Special Judicial Commission - Minutes and Correspondence; Charges and Specifications, 1936 | |
| 1 | 8 | Special Judicial Commission - Matter of Deposition of James Price - Report, Citations, 1937 | |
| 1 | 9 | Berean Church and McDowell Church, Committee on Property - Report to Presbytery, 1937 | |
| 1 | 10 | Susquehanna Avenue Presbyterian Church – Resolution of Withdrawal from Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., 1938 | |
| 1 | 11 | Petition and Counter Petition re Proposal to Establish an Inter-Presbytery Committee on National Missions and Church Extension, 1938 | |
| 1 | 12 | Harper Memorial Presbyterian Church - Petition re. Proposed Dissolution, 1940 | |
| 1 | 13 | Third Presbyterian Church, Petition for Appointment of a Succeeding Trustee, 1941 | |
| 1 | 14 | Central North Broad Street Presbyterian Church -Reports, Petition, Complaint, 1941-1943 | |
| 1 | 15 | Arch Street Presbyterian Church - Complaint to Presbytery, 1942 | |
| 1 | 16 | “Proposal for Construction of a Witherspoon Memorial Presbyterian Church,” undated |