Editorials
why new church education?
One of the most momentous decisions in the history of the Church occurred
around a lunch table in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, restaurant on January 14,
1874. There was mounting concern that the New Church (Convention) was
becoming “more liberal and ecumenically minded.” So William Henry Benade,
Frank Ballou, Walter Childs and John Pitcairn sat down to lunch and began
formalizing plans to reform the church. Two of their guiding principles were
the authority of the Writings and a commitment to New Church education.
Out of this meeting – celebrated for years afterwards as “Founders Day” –
grew the Academy movement. And out of the guiding vision of the Academy
movement came the split with Convention that created the General Church.
This was a courageous stand by t