Niagara Bible Conference

Template:Short description Template:Infobox recurring event The Niagara Bible Conference (officially called the "Believers' Meeting for Bible Study") was held annually from 1875 to 1897, with the exception of 1884.

History

The Conference was founded as the Believers' Meeting for Bible Study in 1875 by evangelical pastors in the United States. <ref> David S. New, Christian Fundamentalism in America: A Cultural History, McFarland, USA, 2014, p. 113 </ref> The driving force behind the meeting was James H. Brookes, a Presbyterian minister from St. Louis.<ref> Brenda Brasher, Encyclopedia of Fundamentalism: Volume 3 of Religion & Society, Berkshire Publishing Group, USA, 2001, p. 56-57</ref> Brookes publicized the meeting through his magazine Truth, and devoted substantial space to summaries of the speeches.

Most of the speakers were dispensationalists, and the Niagara Conference introduced many evangelical Protestants to dispensationalist teaching. The messages generally centered on the doctrines of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, missions and prophecy. Premillennialism and dispensationalism were defended and taught.<ref> Donald W. Dayton, The Variety of American Evangelicalism, Univ. of Tennessee Press, USA, 2001, p. 11</ref>

In 1878, 14 fundamental creeds were established by evangelical pastors.<ref> Gary J. Dorrien, The Remaking of Evangelical Theology, Westminster John Knox Press, USA, 1998, p. 15 </ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Niagara Creed does not explicitly affirm dispensationalism, but it refers to several key dispensationalist beliefs, including the reality of the millennium, the restoration of Israel, and the distinction between the judgment of the saved and the damned.

Starting in 1883, it was held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario at the Queen's Royal Hotel and its pavilion.<ref> David S. New, Christian Fundamentalism in America: A Cultural History, McFarland, USA, 2014, p. 113 </ref> In 1890, the Niagara Creed was officially adopted.<ref> Frances FitzGerald, The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America, Simon and Schuster, USA, 2017, p. 82</ref>

Further reading

• In Pursuit of Purity: American Fundamentalism Since 1850, by David O. Beale, BJU Press, 1986 Template:ISBN