cms@gatech.edu (03/11/91)
I recently had a discussion with a Presbyterian who claimed that the
Presbyterian Church had a profound impact on the development of the
American system of government and that, indeed, the Presbyterian
system is the one adopted by the Constitutional Convention as their
model for the American system. I've always heard two things:
1. The model for the American system was largely based on the
Iroquois Confederacy.
2. The Episcopal Church system of government is based on the American
system of government. In other words, immediately following the
Constitutional Convention, prominent Episcopalians went to another
Convention for the Episcopal Church (separated from the Church of
England by the Revolutionary War, but keeping ties to the Mother
Church with as little animosity as possible). At this Convention,
a charter was drawn up based on the American Constitution.
Query: If correct, this would mean that the Episcopal system of
government is based, indirectly, on the Presbyterian model.
Or, indirectly, it is based on the Iroquois Confederacy model.
Are both right?
Note: I'm not talking Apostolic Succession here, but, rather, the
House of Bishops and the lower house comprised of priests and laity,
and one Presiding Bishop (the President).
Just curious.
Yours in Christ,
Cindy Smith
SPAWN OF A JEWISH CARPENTER
A Real Live Catholic in Georgia
cms@dragon.uucp