History of Christianity 04

THE REFORMATION PERIOD

1516	Zwingli Preaches a Reformed Gospel Huldrych (or Ulrich) Zwingli becomes the pastor of the church at Einsiedeln, Switzerland, where he begins preaching a reformist gospel. The reforms included pacifism and the separation of church and state. His followers became known as the Swiss Brethren, which later gave rise to the Anabaptists, Mennonites, and Quakers.
1517 Oct. 31	Martin Luther Begins the Reformation Martin Luther, in a letter to certain bishops, proposes a debate on indulgences, including the Ninety-Five Theses, to be the core of that debate. This event sparks extensive discussion over Roman Catholic practices and doctrines, which leads large groups to break away from the Church, forming their own religious bodies. The movement comes to be called the Protestant Reformation. Their goal is the reformation of Roman Catholicism: returning the Church to biblically supported practices.
1521 May 25	The Holy Roman Emperor Declares the Lutherans to be Outlaws At the Diet of Worms, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V—having examined Martin Luther and his claims—issues the Edict of Worms. This declares that Luther and his followers or supporters, who called themselves evangelicals, were heretics and criminals. Their property was immediately confiscated, with other punishments to be named later.
1523	Zwingli Publishes the Sixty-Seven Articles Huldrych Zwingli publishes the Sixty-Seven Articles, which form the basis for the Reformation in Switzerland. Among his theses are: (1) The church is born of the Word of God and Christ is its head, (2) Church laws are binding as they agree with Scripture, (3) Christ alone is man’s righteousness, (4) Scripture does not teach transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, (5) The mass is an insult to Jesus’s redemption of the sins of mankind (6) There is no biblical support for the mediation (intercession by saints), purgatory, or icons, and (7) Marriage is lawful to all, including clergy.
1525 Jan. 1	The First Adult Baptisms Begin Dissenters from Zwingli's Swiss Brethren believe that since the Bible mentions only adults being baptized, infant baptism is a human misinterpretation of correct biblical doctrine. They perform the first adult baptisms of the Protestant tradition, beginning the Anabaptist denomination.
1523	Tyndale Translates the New Testament into English William Tyndale publishes his translation of the New Testament from Greek to English. Working and hiding in England and Germany to avoid arrest, he continues his work by publishing sections of the Old Testament, beginning in 1530. Tyndale's Bible was banned as soon as it was published, but it gained wide, unofficial distribution. His translation was used as the basis for most subsequent English Bibles, and many scholars recognize the quality of his translations.
1527	Henry VIII begins the Church of England English King Henry VIII requests a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon, so he can marry Ann Boleyn and procure a male heir. Pope Clement VII—who had earlier sanctioned Henry's marriage to his brother's widow—refuses. In 1532, Henry formally rejects the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, establishing the Church of England. He appoints himself to be supreme head of the Church and the Archbishop of Canterbury as senior bishop. This church grows into the Anglican denomination of the Protestant tradition.
1529 Apr. 19	Catholics Call Dissenters "Protestants" A letter written by six Lutheran princes and leaders of fourteen cities is presented to the Diet of Speyer. The letter protests the edict of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (a German and Roman Catholic) demanding full enforcement of the Edict of Worms. They declare the decision was not binding on them because they were not party to it; if forced to choose obedience to God or obedience to secular authority, they choose obedience to God. Those who sent the letter became known as Protestants. The name soon became linked to the entire reformative tradition.
1530 Jun. 25	Lutherans Present the Augsburg Confession German rulers present the Augsburg Confession, formally stating their articles of faith, to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
1536	Calvin Begins the Calvinist Denomination John Calvin publishes the first edition of his masterwork Institutes of the Christian Religion. It recognizes the Roman Catholic Church as mother of Christianity, but it is also designed as a statement of reformist doctrine, becoming an influential text in the Protestant tradition. The Reformed churches are most influenced by Calvin's ministry. The Anabaptist and Baptist denominations were also influenced by his teachings.
1531	Servetus Publishes the Foundation of Unitarian Denomination Spanish physician and theologian Miguel Servetus publishes In De Trinitatis Erroribus (On the Errors of the Trinity). Christianismi Restitutio (The Restitution of Christianity) follows in 1553, declaring the belief that the God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity) are, in fact, a single, indivisible entity.
1536	Simons Consolidates Anabaptist Thought A priest since 1524, Menno Simons collects and consolidates the distinct doctrines outlined by the first generation of Anabaptist leaders: the Trinity, scripture as final authority for faith, public profession of faith, and pacifism. His followers come to be called Mennonites.
1538	Calvin Visits French Protestants John Calvin travels to Strasborg, Germany, to visit French Protestants in exile. The Protestant Reformation entered France shortly after its beginning in Germany.
1546	The Vulgate Becomes the Official Version of the Bible Used by the Roman Catholic Church The Council of Trent decrees the Vulgate to be the exclusive Latin authority for the Bible. The Clementine Vulgate is issued by Pope Clement VIII in 1592.
1546-55	The First Religious War Between Catholics and Protestants Holy Roman Emperor Charles V takes military action against German principalities that have adopted Lutheranism. Charles is militarily victorious, but he cannot force the Lutherans to return to Catholicism. This war later called the War of Schmalkaldic.
1549	The First Anglican Book of Common Prayer is Published Anglican Archbishop Thomas Cranmer publishes the first Book of Common Prayer. Revising traditional Roman forms of English worship to incorporate Reformation ideas, this was one of the documents that moved the Church of England away from the Catholic tradition and into the Protestant tradition.
1555 Sep. 25	Holy Roman Empire Formally Sanctions State Religions The Diet of the Holy Roman Empire issues the Peace of Augsburg. Under its terms, each prince in the Empire is to choose an official religion for his territory—Catholicism or Lutheranism. Those who do not follow the state religion may peaceably sell their property and emigrate.
1557-1560	The Geneva Bible is Published The Geneva Bible was the primary translation used during the Protestant Reformation. It is known to history as the first study Bible, as it included study aids, maps, illustrations, and indexes. It was published 51 years prior to the King James Version.
1559	French Protestants Publish a Confession of Faith More influenced by Calvin than Luther, the Huguenots, as French Protestants become known, establish their confession of faith during the first nation-wide synod, at Paris. As the denomination grew, several civil wars between Catholic and Reformed Frenchmen were fought from 1562 to 1643, when the Edict of Nantes confirmed their right to worship.
1560	Knox Lays the Foundations of Presbyterianism John Knox, a student of John Calvin, is the principal author of the Scots Confession, which is adopted by the Scottish Parliament. Knox also heads a committee which creates the First Book of Discipline, which proposed rules for the Church: Congregations were to be governed by elders elected annually by the people, and the ablest of these appointed were to supervise areas similar to Catholic dioceses, with the help of a provincial synod of ministers and elders. This presbytery gives rise to the denomination formally called Presbyterianism.
c. 16th century	The Beginning of Evangelism Martin Luther and his followers are considered to be some of the first Evangelicals; they stressed the concept of justification by faith in Jesus and based all of their doctrines and beliefs on the Bible alone. Their mission was to spread the gospel to the rest of the world.
1576	The Lutherans Codify Their Beliefs Following Luther's death in 1546, disputes over specific doctrines developed. Over time, Lutheran political authorities forged several compromises. In 1576, German Lutheran leaders approve a draft document of the Formula of Concord. The Formula of Concord, along with the Apostolic, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Luther’s tract on papal power, the Schmalkaldic Articles, and Luther's Small and Large Catechisms form theBook of Concord.
1580	Brown and Harrison Separate From the Church of England Robert Browne and Robert Harrison found a Separatist or Free Church within the Church of England at Norwich. They emphasize that (1) the foundation of the church is neither man nor the state, but God’s Spirit, (2) the separation of church and state, and (3) the autonomy of each congregation. In 1608, some move to Holland to escape persecution. Their theology becomes the basis for Congregationalism.
1589	The Orthodox Patriarch Confirms the Establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Jeremias II establishes Metropolitan Job as Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. The new patriarchate is later confirmed by the other Patriarchs as fifth in the honorific order of Oriental sees, following Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. This is to say that the local action of 1458 is acknowledged by the Orthodox tradition as a whole.
1609	Smyth Forms a Separatist Church in Holland John Smyth, a separatist from the Church of England living in the Netherlands, publishes his views. They include the idea that baptism should be restricted to believers. Influenced by John Calvin and the Anabaptists, he baptizes himself and thirty-six others. Smyth later recommends that his group unite with the Mennonites.
1611	King James Has an English Bible Published Combining the Scottish and English thrones, King James (VI of Scotland, I of England) rules over an Anglican majority with Catholic, Puritan, Presbyterian, and Calvinist minorities. He dislikes the Geneva Bible and, during a 1604 conference, authorizes a new English translation for all the British. From 1607 to 1611, fifty-four scholars work in teams and as individuals, comparing previous translations to original-language texts.
1612	Helwys Founds the First Baptist church Thomas Helwys and other Separatist members disagree with Smyth's union plan and return to England where they organize the Baptist Church in London. Other congregations with similar doctrines later join the denomination.
1620	Immigrant Separatists Become the “Pilgrims” A group of Separatists, called "the Pilgrims" by historians, immigrate to America in search of religious freedom and found the Plymouth Colony. Ten years later, the Puritans—who sought to purify the Church of England, rather than separate from it—establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony with a similar goal. The colonies combine politically as the Massachusetts Colony in 1691.
1633	Galileo Galilei Recants to the Inquisition Galileo Galilei, inventor of the telescope, is summoned to Rome to appear before the Inquisition. Galileo's book, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Ptolemaic and Copernican, had created a great deal of controversy. It challenged the Roman Catholic-sanctioned geocentric (Ptolemaic) universal view by defending the heliocentric (Copernican) view. The Inquisition convicts Galileo of heresy, forces him to publically state that Earth is the immovable center of the universe, and places him under house arrest for life.
1634	The Passion Play Premiers at Oberammergau According to tradition, the village of Oberammergau (present-day Bavaria, Germany) is spared an epidemic plague, and, as a demonstration of thanksgiving, the villagers vow to present a passion play, which is a religious drama portraying the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is performed every ten years. Switching to decennial years beginning in 1700, it has been performed every decade, with the exception of 1870 and 1940, due to wartime bans. The most famous of medieval passion plays remains a decennial tradition in the 21st century, still performed in the Bavarian Alpine village of its origin.
1642	Fox Founds Quakerism George Fox leaves home and has several experiences convincing him that a God-given inspiration is the source of religious authority. He organizes the Society of Friends denomination, commonly called Quakers. They become centered in Swarthmoor, England, about 1652.
1648	Reformed Churches Obtain Equal Rights The Peace of Westphalia recognizes the right of Reformed churches to exist within the Holy Roman Empire, subject to the local prince's pleasure. In areas where the prince is not pleased, many members emigrate. The treaty also recognizes the independence of the Netherlands, where the Dutch Reformed Church is strongly identified with Holland's nationalist ambitions.
1648	Congregationalists Publish Fundamental Texts Separatists and Puritans jointly issue the Cambridge Platform, which details church governance—principally that each congregation of faithful is independent of all others—and incorporates the Westminster Confession (from the English Presbyterians) as articles of faith. The Westminster Confession becomes the foundation of the Congregationalist denomination in America.
1678	Bunyan Publishes The Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan, son of an English pot maker, follows his father's trade and then serves in the English Civil War. He marries a devout Christian and alters his lifestyle to match her faith, eventually becoming a preacher. He is imprisoned twice, and during his second incarceration, the self-described "painted hypocrite" writes The Pilgrim's Progress. Relying on his own experiences as a sinner who repents but never finds himself free from temptation, he writes an allegory of the Christian life and salvation that becomes a best seller. In print steadily for over three centuries, it is among the greatest works of Christian devotion.
1681	Philadelphian Society Organizes, a Precursor to Universalism Jane Leade, following what he believed were revelatory experiences and inspired by German mystic Jakob Böhme, founds the Philadelphian Society in London, England. Johann Wilhelm Petersen, who leads a similar group in Germany, publishes the Mystery of the Restitution of All Things, which supports Leade's views with scripture. They declare a universal salvation.
1685 Oct. 18	French Persecution Causes Huguenot Emigration Louis XIV revokes the Edict of Nantes, seeking to end all Protestantism in France. This act begins a wave of emigration that takes almost half a million Protestants to other countries. Though Louis announces the end of the Reformed denomination in his kingdom as of 1715, small groups survive and remain quietly active. In 1938, several Protestant groups formally organize the Reformed Church of France.
1693	Ammann Founds the Amish Denomination Jakob Amman causes a schism within the Mennonite denomination by declaring that excommunicated members should be shunned socially. He introduces foot washing and dress and grooming standards among his followers, and preaches against state religions. Adherents develop into the Amish denomination. The denomination divides as adherents immigrate to America: "Old Order" Amish in America retain Ordnung, the lifestyle of the founding generation, while "New Order" Amish in America accept some social changes. Adherents in Europe eventually re-integrate into the Mennonite denomination.
c. 18th century	Revivals Within the Evangelical Movement Take Place The "Pietist Movement" in most of Europe, the "Methodist Revival" in Great Britain and the "Great Awakening" in North America were the names of the widespread revivals of this time, considered to be a part of the Evangelical movement. As opposed to the sacraments of liturgical churches, these movements focused on a reliance on the Bible alone, a personal conversion experience, and a devotion to missionary work. During this time, an Evangelical party also developed within the Church of England, and the Evangelical Alliance formed in London in 1846, which was made up of people from many countries and denominations.
1738 May 24	John Wesley Begins Methodism John Wesley claims to have a revelatory experience in which he feels a personal assurance that his sins are forgiven. A few days later, his brother, Charles, claims to have a similar experience. Later that year, John preaches to miners in Bristol, England. The Society of Methodists forms within the Church of England to reestablish biblical doctrines.
1755	The Final Schism Between the Roman and Orthodox Traditions Occurs The Synod of Constantinople issues a decree stating that Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions have invalid sacraments. Christians of those churches cannot be admitted into an Orthodox Church without first being baptized by a recognized Orthodox authority.
1784	Americans Establish the Episcopal Denomination Samuel Seabury is consecrated in Scotland as the first Anglican bishop for America. With the end of the Revolution, American Anglicans break from the Church of England by organizing the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA). The separation is completed five years later. In succeeding decades, adherents in other countries would also organize autonomous national associations within the Anglican denomination.
1784	Methodists Break from the Church of England John Wesley ordains a superintending minister and two presbyters for service in America and publishes his Deed of Declaration, establishing rules of government for the Society of Methodists after his death. The break from Church of England is completed in 1795.
1789	The French National Assembly Ends the State Religion The National Assembly, which replaces the monarchy during the French Revolution, affirms religion as one of its liberties.

THE MODERN PERIOD

1831	William Miller Preaches Adventism Based on his interpretation of the Book of Daniel, William Miller predicts the second coming of Jesus Christ to be between March 1843 and March 1844. The event does not occur as predicted, and Miller's followers must revise their interpretation, but the group continues. Miller dies in 1849, leaving believers who call themselves "Evangelical Adventists," but have no formal organization.
1833	The Greek Government Establishes the Greek Orthodox Church G. L. Maurer, a Protestant acting as regent for Greek King Otto I, declares the Greek church autocephalous.
1843	Kierkegaard Publishes Either/Or Søren Aabye Kierkegaard—philosopher, theologian, and cultural critic—publishes Either/Or, originally under a pseudonym. It is the first of a long line of books and journals to become major influences on existentialism. He proposes that reason only takes the believer so far and that Christians meet God by taking a leap of faith into the spiritually unknown. He also proposes that this leap requires full commitment to God, rejection of worldly values and, perhaps, even of Church dogma.
1850	The Orthodox Patriarch Confirms the Greek Orthodox Church The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus IV, recognizes the ecclesiastical independence of the Greek Orthodox Church.
1863 May 21	Millerites Organize the Seventh-Day Adventist Denomination Adventists, informal groups within Protestant denominations, formally organize the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination. Ellen G. White, whom followers considered to be a prophet, was one of the leaders of the new denomination. They believed that Christians should worship on the traditional Sabbath, Saturday, and observe the Old Testament dietary laws.
1865	Moldavia and Wallachia Establish the Romanian Orthodox Church Romanian Orthodox churches in Moldavia and Wallachia separate themselves from the Patriarch of Bulgaria. Later, in 1868, the Metropolitan of Transylvania, Andreiu Saguna, authors a constitution that significantly influences the development of this church.
1865	Booth Founds the Salvation Army Methodist minister William Booth founds missions in the East End section of London, England, to preach the gospel and minister to the needs of the poor. Booth preaches basic doctrines common among evangelical Protestants, but he denies that sacraments (or ordinances) are necessary to salvation. Church hierarchy is patterned on military organization, but worship services are designed to be informal. Converts, known as soldiers, must sign articles of faith, called Articles of War. Ministers, called officers, have a two-year resident training program followed by five years of advanced studies. Women have full equality in all church functions. Services are less ritualistic, and are the first to incorporate modern forms of music. This organization is not named the Salvation Army until 1878.
1868-70	The First Vatican Council is Convened The rise of nationalism—the concept that nations should be based on a common language, history, and geography, rather than which conquering army most recently passed through—and the continuing growth of the Protestant tradition causes some priests and bishops to question the role and power of the Pope. The First Vatican Council is convened by Pope Pius IX to address these concerns. Two doctrinal statements are published: (1) Dei Filius, the Constitution of the Roman Catholic Church on God, Revelation, Faith, and Reason. (2) Pastor Aeternus, which reaffirmed the Pope as the highest authority in Christianity. It adds that when the Pope speaks ex cathedra (Latin, "from the chair," meaning in his official capacity as Vicar of Christ), he is infallible. A few liberal bishops disapprove, but most welcome the absolutism of these statements.
1875	Eddy publishes Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy, following a variety of spiritual, familial, and health-related experiences, publishes Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The publication results from nine years of study following a serious injury, in which Eddy became convinced she had made a spiritual discovery of great authority and power.
1885	The Orthodox Patriarchate Recognizes the Romanian Orthodox Church The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Joachin IV, recognizes the ecclesiastical independence of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Later, in 1925, Romanian Orthodox adherents from the disbanded Austro-Hungarian Empire combine with adherents in Moldavia and Wallachia to form the modern Romanian patriarchate.
1898	The First Christian Motion Picture, Passion Play of Oberammergau, Premiers Thomas Alva Edison produces the first motion picture with a Christian theme, the Passion Play of Oberammergau.
1899	The Gideons are Founded John H. Nicholson, Samuel E. Hill, and Will J. Knights decide to organize a group, "to band Christian commercial travelers together for mutual recognition, personal evangelism, and united service for the Lord." At their first meeting, Knights declares, "We shall be called Gideons," based on the story in Judges 6-7. Since many the early members are businessmen who travel extensively, they decide to place a Bible in every American hotel room as their contribution to Christianity. They place their first Bible in a Montana hotel in 1908. The organization grows into a worldwide group, and now operates in 190 countries. They estimate they have placed 1.6 billion sets of scripture throughout the world.
1901 Jan. 1	First modern record of speaking-in-tongues sparks the Pentecostal denomination Agnes Oznam, a student of Charles Fox Parham, experiences what is known as the gift of tongues, known as glossolalia, at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas. Parham believes that modern Christianity is becoming too ritualistic and less spiritual. He looks for a return of the spiritual gifts mentioned in connection with the Pentecost. He encourages his students to follow the biblical process of prayer, fasting, and scripture study to bring a return to speaking in tongues, faith healing, and other gifts.
c. 1907	Mason Organizes the Church of God in Christ Charles H. Mason, a preacher in the Holiness Movement, calls together several predominantly African-American churches and proposes that the Church of God in Christ should be a Pentecostal denomination. Mason is elected "overseer" and serves as primate of the denomination. Mason leads as primate until 1933, when he delegates certain authority among four assistant bishops. The church retains a more episcopal structure than most Pentecostal churches.
1910-15	The Fundamentals launches the Fundamentalist Movement Under the direction of Lyman and Milton Stewart, three million sets of twelve short booklets entitled The Fundamentals are distributed worldwide. Written by a variety of scholars, they cover fundamental Christian doctrines and current social issues. Synthesizing the revivalist, holiness, and millenarian movements, the booklets stress that conversion to Christ is more important than debates over fine points of theology in combating social upheaval. This upheaval was on the rise in the wake of rapid advancements of science and industry during the 19th century. The Baptist editor Curtis Lee Laws first uses the term "fundamentalist" in 1920 to describe Christian conservatives. In the 21st century, the term is frequently used but rarely defined—it usually describes Christians who are theologically and politically conservative. There is no formal organization or leadership among fundamentalists.
1914	The Independent Pentecostal Churches form the Assemblies of God A council of 120 evangelist and pastors meet in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and organize the Assemblies of God denomination. They select an Executive Presbytery as an administrative council to carry out the decisions of a General Council. Small groups of Pentecostal churches combine to form this national (later worldwide) organization.
1918 Jan. 20	The Communist Oppression of Religion Begins Russia's Bolshevik/Marxist government publishes a decree depriving the Russian Orthodox Church of all its legal rights, including that of owning property. In the decades following, in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and its satellite states, all religions are suppressed, but cannot be completely exterminated.
1918 Nov. 7	Billy Graham is born William Franklin Graham, Jr., is born in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1934, he has a revelatory experience that propels him to leave his family farm and, ultimately, to become an ordained minister of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1944, he chooses to work as an evangelist through large missionary efforts, later called crusades. He preaches a simple gospel centered on the opposition between colloquial sin and salvation. He also pioneers the use of mass media in proclaiming the message of the gospel. Billy Graham is part of a larger movement called "Evangelicalism" which believed in a personal conversion, a high regard for biblical authority, and an emphasis on spreading and believing in, the gospel of Jesus Christ. This movement, which originally began in England in the 1700s, began gaining momentum during the 18th and 19th century in the Americas. This period is marked by revivals, street preaching, public crusades, and often the charismatic movement is associated with it as well. In Jun. 2005, Graham preaches his last public crusade in Queens, New York City, New York, and retires.
1919	The State Religion of Germany Ends The constitution of the Weimar Republic includes separation of church and state, ending Lutheranism as Germany's state religion, though it continues to allow Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches certain special privileges.
1921 Jan. 2	KDKA Broadcasts a Christian Church Service The broadcasting industry is just two months old, but growing beyond all expectations, causing a shortage of programming. A staff member of the Westinghouse Corporation-owned station, KDKA, is a choir member at Calvary Episcopal Church, and the station arranges to broadcast their service. The engineers run their equipment wearing choir robes so they do not distract the worshipers. Radio stations nationwide are soon hosting religious services.
1924	Poles Establish the Orthodox Church of Poland The government of Poland supports the creation of an independent Polish Orthodox Church to govern Orthodox adherents in newly acquired territories. Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow objects, but secular politics make governance by Moscow challenging. Following World War II, much of this new territory is ceded to the USSR, and again comes under the rule of the Patriarch of Moscow.
1925 Jul. 10-25th	The Scopes "Monkey Trial" John Thomas Scopes, a high-school teacher Dayton, Tennessee, teaches Darwin’s theory of evolution, a violation of state law, and is arrested. William Jennings Bryan prosecutes and Clarence Darrow defends. The judge overrules attempts to test the law's constitutionality. Scopes is convicted and fined $100. On appeal, the Tennessee Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the law, but acquits Scopes, ruling the fine was excessive. The law remains on the books until 1967. The trial becomes the most famous court action in the ongoing battle between Christianity and secular humanism.
1932	Barth Publishes the First Volume of “Church Dogmatics” Karl Barth draws on fundamental texts inclusive of the scriptures and the texts of the early Christian fathers and Reformers as the basis for college lectures on religion. Barth questions the liberal theology that stems from the Enlightenment, advocates the pure love of God, who gave himself to man unconditionally. Barth eventually publishes four volumes of lectures before his death and is acclaimed to be one of the most influential Protestant theologians of the 20th century. After spending the war in Switzerland, Barth returns to Bonn, delivering an abbreviated course of lectures based on Dogmatics. He later addresses the opening session of the World Council of Churches' 1948 Amsterdam Conference.
1937	The Orthodox Patriarch Creates Albanian Orthodox Church Patriarch Benjamin I grants ecclesiastical independence to the Albanian Orthodox Church.
1942	Local Leaders form a National Association of Evangelicals Nearly 150 evangelical leaders form the National Association of Evangelicals as a fellowship of denominations, independent churches and religious organizations and individuals. Evangelical drives had appeared within denominations of the Protestantism tradition since the early 18th century, but had no formal network to promote their shared beliefs across denominational divides. All members must subscribe to a Statement of Faith that requires belief in the Bible as the authoritative word of God, and commitment to a well-defined category of fundamental Christian doctrines.
1945	Pentecostal Churches form the United Pentecostal Church The United Pentecostal Church forms through the merge of several independent congregations and associations that broke from the Assemblies of God when the Assemblies reaffirm the doctrine of the Trinity in 1916.
1947	The First Pentecostal World Conference Convenes Held in Zürich, Switzerland, the Pentecostal World Conference endeavors to bring some unity to the Pentecostal movement. The following year, an association called the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America (PFNA) is formed toward that same end, but limits itself mostly to larger, European-American churches. In 1994, the PFNA is dissolved and replaced by a new association, the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America, whose member churches include smaller and African-American congregations.
1947	The Dead Sea Scrolls are Discovered A shepherd boy accidentally discovers papyrus scrolls in a cave at Khirbat Qumran in Judea. Other discoveries in caves near the Dead Sea give rise to the collection’s common name: the Dead Sea Scrolls. The collection ultimately includes thousands of scrolls and fragments written on papyrus, leather, and even copper. They include doctrinal, commentary, liturgical, and legal texts. Many are copies of biblical texts, while others are of unknown origin. The contents of complete scrolls are published shortly thereafter; other fragments remain illegible and continue to challenge researchers. Most of the scrolls and fragments were first under the strict control of the Jordanian and Israeli Antiquities Authorities. Presently, they are available through libraries worldwide. The scrolls continue to excite researchers and the public, but remain controversial.
1948	The Patriarch Recognizes the Orthodox Church of Poland Patriarch Alexis grants ecclesiastical independence to the Orthodox Church of Poland.
1948	The World Council of Churches is Formed The World Council of Churches (WCC) is founded as a group of Christian churches that accept Jesus Christ as God, and as the savior of mankind. The WCC is a major part of the ecumenical movement, which seeks unity among Christian denominations. They also seek a forum in which they can work to put aside the animosities of the past, promote tolerance and understanding, and cooperate in efforts of mutual interest. Now headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Council's work is divided into three divisions: church relations, ecumenical study and promotion, and interchurch aid and refugee services.
Mid-20th-century	Evangelical Movement Emerges in the United States In the early 21st century, part of the Protestant community in the United States was divided. The modernists, or "liberals," disagreed with the fundamentalists, or "conservatives," in several mainstream Protestant churches. The fundamentalists thought modernism to be heretical, and a denial of fundamental Christian beliefs. Many former fundamentalists left their churches and joined more modern institutions. By 1930, the conservatives who remained in their denominations joined as a united front. They called themselves Neo-Evangelicals, or Evangelicals for short. One of the Evangelical front-runners was Billy Graham, a Baptist evangelist who became well known for his impressive oratory skills and dedication to preaching the Christian gospel. Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois, and the publication Christianity Today all came out of the Evangelical movement. By 1942, the National Association of Evangelicals was formed.
1951	The Patriarch of Moscow creates the Czech/Slovak Orthodox Church Following a large increase in the number of Orthodox adherents in the area, the Patriarch of Moscow, Alexius I, grants ecclesiastical independence to the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.
1952 Feb 12	"Life Is Worth Living" Premiers Fulton John Sheen is ordained a priest in 1919, and, in 1930, he begins a radio program called "The Catholic Hour." Sheen is named a bishop and moves to television in 1951 with "Life is Worth Living," competing successfully against established Hollywood stars with entertainment shows. "Life is Worth Living" wins a 1952 Emmy award and thirty million weekly viewers before leaving the air in 1957. Sheen then hosts a second series, "The Fulton Sheen Program," from 1961-1968. This most successful early Christian programming eventually gives rise to a new type of ministry called "televangelism." St. Bernard's Seminary, Rochester, New York, later creates The Fulton J. Sheen Co. to make the Bishop's works available to the public.
1962	The Second Vatican Council Redefines Catholicism Shortly after his 1958 election, Pope John XXIII calls for an ecumenical council of the entire Roman Catholic Church. After four years of preparation, over two thousand clerical leaders meet in the Second Vatican Council, the largest council in church history. John's goal is a focus on pastoral care of the faithful, which is called an aggiornamento. John does not dictate to the council, but leads them to monumental decisions. As a result of the council, the Catholic church celebrates mass in local languages rather than in Latin, their clergy and laity have a calling in Christ and should take part in ministering, and their bishops share the Pope's apostolic authority. They also determine that scripture, not tradition, was primary in discovering divine truths and that one need not be a Catholic to be Christian. The church also formally renounces power over the political arena. The changes were met with some debate and objection, but the council is generally viewed by church members as having achieved its goal.
1965 Dec. 7	Actions During the Great Schism are Revoked Pope Paul VI in Rome and Patriarch Athenagoras I in Istanbul revoke the mutual excommunications of 1054.
1970	The Orthodox Patriarchate Proclaims “Self-Rule” for Orthodox Churches in America The Patriarch of Moscow proclaims its diocese in America to be the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. In 2003, the Antiochian Orthodox Church is granted self-rule (not full autocephaly), and incorporates as Evangelical Orthodox Church. The formal union of all Orthodox adherents and churches in North and South America remains incomplete to this day.
1989	The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia declares itself free of its alliance with the USSR. Czechs and Slovaks overthrow their Communist government and peacefully divide the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The "Velvet Revolution," which refers to a peaceful, non-military regime change, spreads to other Soviet satellite states. Communist restrictions in these states against churches and religious practices are reversed. Churches begin to function as public institutions of mainstream society. Denominations other than the traditional state religions also initiate missionary efforts with the permission of the new regimes.
1991 Dec. 8	The USSR collapses; Religion becomes Legal in the Former Soviet Republics Following the 1990 example of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Russia, the Ukraine and Byelorussia (modern-day Belarus) declare independence from, and the dissolution of, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev, resigns effective Dec. 25, and all institutions of the USSR cease function on Dec. 31. The newly independent republics quickly reverse laws against religions and churches begin to function as public institutions of mainstream society. Denominations other than the Russian Orthodox Church also initiate missionary efforts within the new republics. The remaining communist governments in Soviet-satellite states soon fall, replaced by various types of democracy. Source : www.faithology.com