The background and development of 'Evangelical Catholicism' and its expression in the ministry of William Augustus Muhlenberg
Abstract
William Augustus Muhlenberg (1796-1877) is considered by many
historians of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
to have been its most significant leader of the nineteenth century.
During the course of his ministry Muhlenberg expressed an understanding of the Christian faith which he called 'Evangelical Catholicism',
the many expressions of which provided the basis for reforms and
innovations affecting every aspect of the Church's life. Although
many studies have been made of the many aspects of Muhlenberg's evangelical Catholicism they have overlooked a valuable resource in the
background and development of this ideal. This research traces the
origins of Muhlenberg's evangelical Catholicism to this primary source
by examining the various expressions of Muhlenberg's ideal in the
areas of Christian ethics, Church History, Christian Worship, Church
Unity and Biblical Studies. The result of this study has been the
discovery of the origins of Muhlenberg's ideal in the canonically
prescribed theological curriculum known as the 'Course of Ecclesiastical Studies of 1804', or more commonly, the 'Bishops' List'.
The method involved in tracing the background and development of
evangelical Catholicism has been to examine Muhlenberg's innovations
and reforms in the light of the works he read in preparation for
ordination as well as to consider the influence upon him of contemporary movements in nineteenth, century Anglicanism. This research shows
that evangelical Catholicism is expressed by Muhlenberg as a synthesis
of the authors included within the highly eclectic, comprehensive,
and often contradictory, 'Bishops' List', thus identifying the primary
sources of Muhlenberg's concept of evangelical Catholicism and establishing a valuable means for the examination of the ideas which
influenced William Augustus Muhlenberg and have had an enduring effect
upon the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
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