Presbyterianism

In Canada, the largest Presbyterian Church is the Presbyterian Church in Canada; in 1925, about seventy percent of which, merged with the Methodist Church, Canada, and the Congregational Union of Canada to form the United Church of Canada. Many fans hope that replacement J.P Losman can lead the Bills to the playoffs in the 2005-2006 season. Other Presbyterian bodies in the United States include the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC (http://www.epc.org)), the Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC), the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP Synod), the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States (RPCUS). In the offseason, the Bills released quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who was then signed by the Dallas Cowboys. The largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States is the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA). Though they would lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the season, costing them a playoff berth, the late season surge gave the team a positive direction to approach 2005. In North America, because of past doctrinal differences, Presbyterian churches often overlap, with congregations of many different Presbyterian groups in any one city. This, along with the emergence of Willis McGahee taking over the starting running back role from the injured Travis Henry, and emergence of Lee Evans to give the Bills a second deep threat, sparked the Bills to go 7-2 in their next nine games. This string of victories allowed the Bills to be in the hunt for a final AFC wildcard playoff spot.

Even before the Presbyterians left Scotland there were divisions in the larger Presbyterian family. The team finally managed to turn things around with a victory at home against the also winless Miami Dolphins. However, most Presbyterians generally exhibit their faith in action as well as words, including generosity, hospitality, and the constant pursuit of social justice and reform as well as proclaiming the gospel of Christ. Additionally, each loss was heartbreakingly close. References to the adoption of Calvin's theology of predestination and the typical member's predisposition to conduct themselves "decently and in order" have earned them the moniker of the "frozen chosen". The Bills started the 2004 season 0-4, with Bledsoe and his offense struggling in their run-first offense, averaging only 13 points per game. Presbyterians place great importance upon education and continuous study of the scriptures, theological writings, and understanding and interpretation of church doctrine embodied in several statements of faith and catechisms formally adopted by various branches of the church. And indeed, Bledsoe did continue to struggle in 2004.

The Church of Scotland has now abolished the Synod. Losman, to be used if Bledsoe continued to struggle in 2004. This congregation / presbytery / synod / general assembly schema is based on the historical structure of the larger Presbyterian churches, like the Church of Scotland; some of the smaller bodies, like the Presbyterian Church in America or the Presbyterian Church in Ireland skip one of the steps between congregation and General Assembly, and usually the step skipped is the Synod. The Bills also drafted another quarterback, J.P. The Presbytery sends representatives to a broader regional assembly, generally known as the General Assembly, although an intermediate level of a synod sometimes exists. Gregg Williams was fired as head coach after the 2003 season and replaced with Mike Mularkey. These are composed of ministers and elders from each of the constituent congregations. In one game, however, the Bills' fans gained a small measure of satisfaction when the defense sacked Rob Johnson multilpe times in his relief effort for Washington.

Above the Kirk Sessions exist Presbyteries, which have area responsibilities. After beating eventual champions New England 31-0 in the first game, and crushing the Jaguars in their second game, the Bills stumbled through the rest of the season, finishing 6-10. A congregation issues a call for the minister's service, but this call must be ratified by the Presbytery. Another Patriot castoff, safety Lawyer Milloy, joined the Bills days before the 2003 season began and gave the team an immediate boost on defense. Ministers are called by individual congregations. However, in a tough division with all other teams finishing 9-7, they were still in last place. Teaching elders (ministers) have responsibility for teaching, worship and performing sacraments. Bledsoe revived the Bills for the 2002 season, leading them to an 8-8 record, setting 10 team passing records in the process.

Sometimes the practicalities of buildings and finance in the congregation are delegated to a distinct group (known variosly as a 'Board' or 'Deacons' Court'. After the season they traded for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, deemed expendable by the Patriots after Tom Brady led them to a Super Bowl victory. Teaching and ruling elders, sitting as a 'Kirk Session', (commonly refered to as simply 'session') are responsible for the discipline, the nurture and the mission of the local congregation. The Bills even lost a much-hyped mid-season matchup with "Bills West" (the Flutie-led Chargers). Presbyterian government is based on Elders. Buffalo finished 3-13. While these conservative Presbyterians are not in the majority, their numbers are significant. Rob Johnson went down in mid-season with an injury and Alex Van Pelt took over.

Because of this diversity of belief, more conservative Presbyterians are likely to attend the smaller denominations that have chosen to split from a larger body. Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took over as head coach for the 2001 season, which proved to be the worst in recent memory for the Bills. Those groups that adhere to the document most strictly are typified by baptism of the infant children of believers, the exclusive use of Psalms (modified for metrical singing), singing unaccompanied by instruments, a common communion cup, only men are eligible for ordination to any church office, and a fully Calvinist doctrine of salvation. Smith would be quickly replaced by rookie Travis Henry. These splits have been caused by disagreement concerning the degree to which those ordained to church office should be required to agree with the Calvinist Westminster Confession of Faith, which historically serves as the main constitutional document of Presbyterian churches. Both Flutie and Smith were dominant in their final game as Bills, in a rout of the Seahawks. Many of the branches of Presbyterianism are remnants of previous splits from larger groups. Antowain Smith also left as a free agent for the New England Patriots, where he was the starting running back on their two Super Bowl championship teams.

The origins of the Presbyterian churches were in Calvinism, which is no longer emphasized in some of the contemporary branches. Doug Flutie left the Bills with a .677 winning percentage in 31 starts. Presbyterians distinguish themselves from other denominations by both doctrine and institutional organization, or as they prefer to call it 'church order'. Flutie controversy, general manager John Butler departed for the San Diego Chargers - and took Flutie and Wiley with him. Main article: Presbyterian church governance. Antowain Smith, Eric Moulds and Marcellus Wiley respectively had long since eclipsed them on the depth chart. After a dismal 8-8 season, and the team still caught up in the Johnson vs. Because of an emphasis on equal education for all people, Presbyterians have 'planted' and encouraged schools across the US as the country grew and the missionaries were sent out to the people. The final ties to the Bills' Super Bowl years were cut in 2000 when Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith were all cut.

The Presbyterian church in England and Wales is the United Reformed Church, whilst the tradition also influenced the Methodist church, established in 1736. Others believe it wouldn't be an issue, had Johnson not taken sack in the endzone early on, allowing Tennessee to get 2 points, and good field position, which they used to score a touchdown. All three, very diverse branches of Presbyterianism, as well as independents, and some Dutch, German, and French Reformed denominations, combined in America to form what would eventually become the Presbyterian Church USA (1705). The Titans ended up advancing to the Super Bowl. Presbyterians, as well as Roman Catholics in Ulster and the rest of Ireland suffered under the discriminatory Penal Laws until they were revoked in the early 19th century. Many Bills fans still think that the lateral was actually a forward pass, and the touchdown should not have counted. The Presbytery of Ulster was formed separately from the established church, in 1642. The Bills scored a field goal with 16 seconds left to give them a 16-15 lead, but the Music City Miracle, a lateral from Frank Wycheck to Kevin Dyson that led to a Tennessee touchdown on the ensuing kickoff lost the game for Buffalo.

In Ireland, Presbyterianism was established by Scottish immigrants and missionaries to Ulster. Flutie's popularity continued into the 1999 season, with the Bills finishing 11-5, two games behind the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC East standings. However, Johnson was given the starting job in the first playoff game against the Tennessee Titans (the former Houston Oilers) in Nashville. The re-establishment of the monarchy in 1660 brought the re-establishment of episcopalian government in England (and in Scotland for a short time); but the Presbyterian church in England continued in non-conformity, outside of the established church. They faltered in their first playoff game against the Dolphins, though the game's poor officiating was one of many poorly called games which caused instant replay to be brought back in 1999. In 1647, by an act of the Long Parliament under the control of Puritans, the Church of England embraced Presbyterianism . After Johnson and the Bills stumbled to begin the season, Flutie came in and led the Bills to a playoff spot and 10-6 record. In Ireland the Presbyterian Church was formed from the Church of Scotland and later became The Presbyterian Church In Ireland.In England, Presbyterianism was established in secret in 1572, toward the end of the reign of Elizabeth I of England. Despite many Bills fans wanting Flutie to get the starting job, Phillips named Johnson to the position.

The existing Church of Scotland was thus reformed along Presbyterian lines. This started one of the biggest controversies in the NFL at the time. In Scotland, John Knox (1505-1572), who had studied under Calvin in Geneva, returned to Scotland and led the Parliament of Scotland to embrace the Reformation in 1560. The Bills, under new coach Wade Phillips signed two quarterbacks for the 1998 season, Rob Johnson and former Canadian Football League star Doug Flutie. In England, Scotland and Ireland, the Reformed churches that adopted a presbyterian instead of episcopalian government, became known naturally enough, as the Presbyterian Church. Coach Marv Levy retired after the season. These denominations derive their name from the Greek word presbyteros, which means "elder." Presbyterian church governance is common to the Protestant churches that were most closely modelled after the Reformation in Switzerland. Kelly's loss was felt in 1997, with the Bills stumbling to 6-10.

Besides national distinctions, Presbyterians also have divided from one another for doctrinal reasons, especially in the wake of the Enlightenment. Thurman Thomas gave way to new running back Antowain Smith. There are many separate Presbyterian Churches in different nations around the world. Jim Kelly retired after the season, signalling an end to the most successful era in Bills history. Presbyterianism traces its institutional roots back to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. They still made the playoffs, but as a wild card - and the first victim of the cinderella Jacksonville Jaguars. Presbyterianism is a form of church government, practiced by many (although not all) of those Protestant churches (known as Reformed churches), which historically subscribed to the teachings of John Calvin. In 1996 the Bills saw their commanding lead in the AFC East race disappear to a surging New England Patriots team.

John Witherspoon, only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. They would not get a chance to get back to the Super Bowl - the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Buffalo in the divisional playoff and ended up being the AFC's representative there. The Rev. In 1995 Buffalo, with free agent linebacker Bryce Paup anchoring the defense, again made the playoffs with a 10-6 record, and defeated Miami in the wild card round. Woodrow Wilson, 28th President. The 1993 Bills also proved to be the first of twelve different teams to lose the Super Bowl, with no NFL team doing so twice since then. Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey. The outcome of Buffalo's 1994 season has proven to mark the start of what has become known as the "Super Bowl Runner-up Jinx:" Beginning with the 1993 Bills, no Super Bowl loser has since reached the conference championship game the following year in either the AFC or the NFC, and only one has advanced that far in the postseason in either of the next two seasons after losing a Super Bowl (the Steelers, who lost to Denver in the 1997 AFC Championship Game two years after having lost Super Bowl XXX to Dallas); furthermore, only one Super Bowl loser since the 1989 Denver Broncos (who lost the game the year before the first of Buffalo's four defeats) has won a Super Bowl in any season since losing one (the New England Patriots, who lost the game in 1996 but won it in 2001, 2003 and 2004) and starting with the 1998 Atlanta Falcons, five out of six Super Bowl losers have finished with losing records the season after.

Vice-President under Hayes. The team stumbled down the stretch and finished 7-9, fourth in the division and out of the playoffs. Wheeler, U.S. The Bills would not get a chance to make it five straight in 1994. William A. A Thurman Thomas fumble returned for a touchdown by James Washington put Dallas in the lead, however, and the Bills were stunned again, 30-13. Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield, Princeton Seminary professor. The Bills became the only team ever to play in four straight Super Bowls, and looked ready to finally win one when they led at halftime.

Roosevelt. They won the AFC East championship with a 12-4 record, and again won playoff games against the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, setting up a rematch with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII on January 30, 1994 . Vice-President under F.D. They looked to rectify the situation in the 1993 season, but the same result happened. Wallace, U.S. By now the Bills had become laughingstocks, poster children for failure in the eyes of many. Henry A. Lett held the ball out long enough for Tasker, who had made up a considerable distance to get to Lett, to knock it out of his hand.

Mark Twain, American author. One of the sole bright spots for the Bills was Steve Tasker's rundown and strip of Leon Lett after Lett had returned a fumble inside the Bills five and was on his way to scoring. Vice-President under Monroe. Buffalo committed 9 turnovers en route to a 52-17 thrashing. Tompkins, U.S. Super Bowl XXVII, played against the Dallas Cowboys, turned out to be a mismatch. Daniel D. They then handily defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoff and upset the archrival Dolphins in the AFC Championship to advance to their third straight Super Bowl.

Norman Thomas runs for President as the Socialist Party candidate in 1928. Undaunted, the Bills scored touchdowns on several consecutive possessions to tie the game and force overtime. Steve Christie kicked the game-winning field goal in the extra session to cap the biggest comeback in NFL history, 41-38. Jimmy Stewart, actor. Backup quarterback Frank Reich started their wild card playoff game against the Houston Oilers, and they were down 35-3 by the third quarter. Fred Rogers, also known as the famous Mister Rogers, was an ordained Presbyterian Minister up until his death. The Bills lost the 1992 AFC East title to the Miami Dolphins and Jim Kelly was injured in the final game of the regular season. The Rev. The Redskins opened up a 24-0 halftime lead and never looked back, handing the Bills a 37-24 loss (an embarrassing moment occurred as the teams were leaving the field at the end of the first half when Bills center Adam Lingner angrily ordered a cameraman to "Get that f***in' camera out of my face;" the comment was picked up by a nearby microphone and everyone watching or listening to the game on television or radio would have had an opportunity to hear it).

Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State (2005- ). The Bills looked to avenge their heartbreaking Super Bowl loss a year earlier by playing the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI, but it was not to be. President. The Bills steamrolled through the 1991 regular season as well, finishing 13-3 again and with Thurman Thomas winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. They also had an easy time with the Kansas City Chiefs in their first playoff game and beat the Denver Broncos in a defensive struggle in the AFC Championship. Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. Norwood's miss set the stage for future failures by the Bills in the early 1990s. President (converted from Presbyterianism to Methodism). It went wide to the right, and the Giants emerged victorious; however, some criticized Levy for not calling one more offensive play in an effort to make the field goal try shorter.

James Knox Polk, 11th U.S. The game featured many lead changes, and with the score 20-19 in favor of New York with eight seconds left, Bills kicker Scott Norwood attempted a 47-yard field goal. Norman Maclean, author and academic. The Bills were overwhelming favorites to beat the New York Giants, but the defensive plan laid out by coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick kept Buffalo in check (and without the ball) throughout the game. Stonewall Jackson, General in the Confederate Army. The team finished 13-3 and blew out the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders in the playoffs on their way to Super Bowl XXV. President. In 1990 the Bills switched to a no-huddle offense and it started one of the most successful runs in NFL history.

Andrew Jackson, 7th U.S. 1989 was a relative disappointment, with a 9-7 record and a first-round playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns. Charles Hodge, seminary professor. After having an easy time with the Houston Oilers in the divisional playoff, they lost the AFC championship to the Cincinnati Bengals. Hodge, seminary professor. In 1988, the rookie season of running back Thurman Thomas, the Bills went 12-4 and finished atop the AFC East for the first of four consecutive seasons. A. In addition to new coach Marv Levy, a receiving game featuring Andre Reed and a defense led by first-overall draft pick Bruce Smith, the Bills started marching back to the top.

A. After the USFL's demise, Jim Kelly joined the Bills for the 1986 season, and immediately proved to be worth the wait. President. In 1984 and 1985 the Bills went 2-14. Benjamin Harrison, 23rd U.S. Knox left his coaching position to take a job with the Seattle Seahawks, and new coach Kay Stephenson proved to be less than stellar. Katherine Harris, Florida Secretary of State during the 2000 election crisis and current congresswoman (R). In the famous 1983 draft the Bills selected quarterback Jim Kelly as their replacement to an aging Joe Ferguson, but Kelly decided to play in the upstart United States Football League instead.

John Glenn, Astronaut, United States Senator. The following year — the strike-shortened season of 1982 — the Bills slipped to a 4-5 final record. Mel Watt, Congressman from North Carolina and Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. The team's players and fans alike adopted the informal slogan "We're Talkin' Proud" during this period. Jay Rockefeller, junior United States Senator from West Virginia. They lost in the second round to the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. Lamar Alexander, junior United States Senator from Tennessee. The following season they lost their title to the Dolphins, but won their first NFL playoff game (over the New York Jets).

Bill Frist, current Senate Majority Leader. They beat the archrival Miami Dolphins for the first time in 11 years in their season opener, en route to winning their first AFC East title. Eisenhower, 34th President. 1980 marked another breakthrough for the Bills. Dwight D. Chuck Knox was hired as head coach and he would end up leading the Bills back to the top. Secretary of State in the Eisenhower Administration. After the 1977 season Simpson was traded to the San Francisco 49ers (his legal troubles were still years down the road).

John Foster Dulles, U.S. After a mediocre 1975 season the Bills had internal troubles in 1976 as the team dropped to the bottom of the AFC East, where they stayed for the rest of the 1970s. Brian DePalma, film director; raised as a Presbyterian. They made the NFL playoffs for the first time in 1974, but lost in the first round to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers. President. 1973 was a season of change: Joe Ferguson became their new quarterback, they moved into a new stadium, Simpson recorded a 2000-yard season and was voted NFL MVP, and the team had its first winning record since 1966. Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th U.S. Lou Saban, who had coached the Bills' AFL championship teams, was rehired in 1972.

Vice-President under Adams and Jackson. In 1971, not only did the Bills finish in sole possession of the NFL's worst overall record at 1-13, but they also scored the fewest points (184) in the league that year while allowing the most (394); no NFL team has since done all three of those things in the same season in a non-strike year. Calhoun, U.S. The Bills became part of the NFL when the latter absorbed the AFL in a merger in 1970. John C. Simpson, who would become the face of the franchise through the 1970s. Aaron Burr, co-founder of Princeton University. Before the 1969 season, the Bills drafted running back O.J.

The Rev. Tragedy struck the Bills in when Bob Kalsu, an offensive lineman, quit the team after his 1968 rookie season to serve in the Vietnam War, where he was killed in action in 1970. Vice-President under Jefferson. In addition to their defensive prowess, the Bills had offensive muscle as well, in stars such as fullback Cookie Gilchrist, quarterbacks Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica, and receivers Elbert Dubenion and Ernie Warlick. Aaron Burr, U.S. The Bills won AFL championships in both 1964 and 1965, were one of only three teams to appear in an AFL championship game for three consecutive years, and the only AFL team to play in the post-season for four straight years, 1963 through 1966. Frederick Buechner, author of fantasy novels and non-fiction religious books. The only player ever inducted to the "pro football" hall of fame, without ever playing in the NFL, was a member of the 1964 Bills; guard Billy Shaw.

President. Three were eventually named to the American Football League's All-Time Team, six to the second team, and sixteen are in the American Football League Hall of Fame. James Buchanan, 15th U.S. Eight members of the 1964 squad were on that year's AFL Eastern Division All-Star Team. Presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. In 1964, the Bills defense allowed only four touchdowns rushing all season, and started a string that would extend into the 1965 season: seventeen straight games without allowing an opponent to score a rushing touchdown. William Jennings Bryan of the famous Scopes "Monkey Trial" in Tennessee 1925 and three times U.S. They were the first American Football League team to win 13 games in a season.

Vice-President under Buchanan. The same defense registered fifty quarterback sacks, a team record that stands today, even though it was established in a 14-game season. Breckinridge, U.S. The 1964 Bills allowed their opponents only 300 rushing attempts and held them to 913 yards rushing during the regular season; a pro football record, just over 65 yards per game. John C. The 1964 Buffalo Bills squad was one of the great teams in professional football history. Representative; conservative Republican from Texas. With a linebacking corps of Harry Jacobs, Mike Stratton and John Tracey; and defensive line stalwarts like Tom Day, Tom Sestak, Jim Dunaway and Ron McDole.

Dick Armey, U.S. In the AFL, a predominantly offensive league, the Buffalo Bills were a great defensive team. After a public contest, the team adopted the same name as the former All-America Football Conference team in Buffalo. The Bufalo Bills were a founding member of the American Football League in 1960. The Buffalo Bills are a Buffalo, New York-based National Football League team which plays its home games in the suburb of Orchard Park.

Drew Bledsoe. Scott Norwood K. Ruben Brown LG. Ernie Warlick.

Ted Washington DT. John Tracey. Thurman Thomas RB. Steve Tasker WR-Special Teams.

Bruce Smith DE. Andre Reed WR. Frank Reich QB. Reggie McKenzie OL.

Ron McDole. Paul Maguire P. Daryle Lamonica QB. Doug Flutie QB.

Phil Hansen DE. Cookie Gilchrist. Booker Edgerson. Jim Dunaway.

Tom Day. Shane Conlan. Wray Carlton. Larry Centers FB.

Butch Byrd. Cornelius Bennett LB. Don Beebe WR. The 12th Man (Fans).

(Founder). Wilson Jr. Ralph C. Marv Levy (Head Coach).

Patrick J. McGroder (Vice President). Eddie Abramowski (Trainer). Darryl Talley. Mike Stratton.

Fred Smerlas. Simpson. J. O.

Billy Shaw. Tom Sestak. George Saimes. Jack Kemp.

Jim Kelly. Bob Kalsu (1945 - 1970, one of only two pro football players to die in the Vietnam War). Robert James. Kent Hull.

Joe Ferguson. Elbert Dubenion. Joe Delamielleure. 12 - Jim Kelly.

Losman QB. J.P. Mike Williams OT. Troy Vincent CB/FS.

Takeo Spikes LB. Aaron Schobel DE. Eric Moulds WR. Lawyer Milloy S.

Willis McGahee RB. Terrence McGee CB. Travis Henry RB. London Fletcher LB.

Lee Evans WR. Nate Clements CB. Sam Adams DT. Rozelle Award winner Van Miller.

McCann Award winner Larry Felser. James Lofton. Simpson. J.

O. Billy Shaw. Marv Levy. Jim Kelly.

Joe Delamielleure.