Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions

The first Presbyterian missionaries to Japan arrived in Yokohama in 1859. Despite hostility experienced by the missionaries throughout the closing decades of the 19th century, mission activities continued to expand. After 1906, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church transferred its work in Japan to the PCUSA Board of Foreign Missions. The mission's work was primarily educational and evangelistic. Because of the extensive system of Japanese hospitals and primary schools, the Board made no effort to compete, concentrating instead on Christian secondary and higher education facilities for girls and young women. In addition, it established ten kindergartens, and the Oral School for the Deaf, and cooperated in the operation of two theological seminaries. The beginnings of an indigenous national church date from 1872, when the first local congregation was organized in Yokohama. In 1877, representatives of the PCUSA, the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Scotland established the United Church of Christ in Japan (Nihon Kirisuto Kyodan), and were later joined by the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the Reformed Church in the United States.

Missions to China by the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. began in 1837 and was educational, medical, and evangelical in nature, foundingelementary, secondary, higher education, and technical institutions, as well as over ninety hospitals and dispensaries throughout China. Evangelization was a cooperative effort among various Presbyterian groups working in China. A synod was organized in 1906; in 1918 this became the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in China. In 1927, the Presbyterian Church in China was renamed Church of Christ in China. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, China was largest of the Board of Foreign Missions' operations, with eight missions located in Canton (later South China Mission), Shantung, North China, Hainan, Hunan, Central China, Kiangnan and Yunan, all established between 1845 and 1923. Mission work in China was disrupted by the Kuomintang in 1927 and by the Sino-Japanese War in 1937. The 1949 Communist takeover terminated missionary work on the Chinese mainland, though work continued in conjunction with other denominations in Hong Kong and Taiwan among the refugee populations.

In 1958, merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North America to form the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., The Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations.

In 1829 the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions established a mission to the Nestorian Christians in Urumia in northwest Persia. In 1871, the PCUSA's Board of Foreign Missions assumed responsibility for the American Board's mission station at Urumia, thus formally commencing Presbyterian work in Persia. Within a decade, the Persia Mission had expanded to include new stations at Teheran (1872), Urumia (1873), Tabriz (1873), and Hamadan (1880). Due to the vast distances between the stations, and language differences, the Persia Mission was divided in 1883 into West Persia Mission and East Persia Mission. The East and West Persia Missions were reunited in 1931 and were known simply as the Persia Mission (after 1935 as the Iran Mission). From the outset, Presbyterian work in Persia was three-fold in nature: evangelical, medical and educational.

Presbyterian mission work in India antedates the organization of the Board of Foreign Missions (BFM). In 1834 a station was opened in Ludhiana and in 1836 stations were opened in Saharanpur, Sabathu, and Allahabad. In 1840 the India Mission was subdivided into the Punjab Mission, which encompassed the original four stations, and the North India Mission. Expansion of the Punjab and North India Missions began amd continued throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1870, the work of the American Board of Commissioner for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) was transferred to the BFM; thereafter, that field was known as the West India Mission. Coordination of the three missions' activities in the areas of education, medicine and evangelism was directed by the India Council after 1913, while considerable interdenominational cooperation existed as well. A variety of educational institutions established in the 19th century continued to grow in the 20th. Medical work was carried out through hospitals, dispensaries, clinics, sanitaria, and leper asylums. In 1904, the Presbyterian Church of India was formed. In 1924, the United Church of Northern India was organized from the union of the Presbyterian Church in India and the Congregational Church in West India. This church merged in 1970 with six other churches to become the Church of North India.

Presbyterian mission work in Korea began in 1884, with early efforts centered in Seoul and Pyengyang. Eventually nine stations were established, and the first Protestant Church was organized in 1887 in Seoul. In 1907, all existing Presbyterian groups established the Union Presbyterian Church of Korea. The Church was involved in educational and medical work in Korea.

The Presbyterian Church had an interest in missions from its formation. Their focus was proclaimed at the General Assembly of 1847, to aid in the conversion of the world. They began with ministry to the Indians in the United States, and extended to countries all over the world.

The Board of Foreign Missions was organized by the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in 1837 and incorporated in 1862. Throughout the 19th and first half of the 20th century the Board directed foreign and domestic missionary activities. Missions in the U.S. to Native American and Jewish populations were transferred to the Board of Home Missions in the 1890s, those to Chinese and Japanese populations in 1922.

Presbyterian mission work in India antedates the organization of the Board of Foreign Missions (BFM). In 1834 the Western Foreign Missionary Society opened a station in Ludhiana, and in 1836 the PCUSA opened stations in Saharanpur, Sabathu, and Allahabad. In 1840 the India Mission was subdivided into the Punjab Mission, which encompassed the original four stations, and the North India Mission. In 1870, the work of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) was transferred to the BFM; thereafter, that field was known as the West India Mission.

Coordination of the three missions' activities in the areas of education, medicine and evangelism was directed by the India Council after 1913, while considerable interdenominational cooperation existed as well. A variety of educational institutions established in the 19th century continued to grow in the 20th. Medical work was carried out through hospitals, dispensaries, clinics, sanitaria, and leper asylums. In 1904, the Presbyterian Church of India was formed. In 1924, the United Church of Northern India was organized from the union of the Presbyterian Church in India and the Congregational Church in West India.

Presbyterian mission work in India antedates the organization of the Board of Foreign Missions (BFM). In 1834 the Western Foreign Missionary Society opened a station in Ludhiana, and in 1836 the PCUSA opened stations in Saharanpur, Sabathu, and Allahabad. In 1840 the India Mission was subdivided into the Punjab Mission, which encompassed the original four stations, and the North India Mission. In 1870, the work of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) was transferred to the BFM; thereafter, that field was known as the West India Mission.

Coordination of the three missions' activities in the areas of education, medicine and evangelism was directed by the India Council after 1913, while considerable interdenominational cooperation existed as well. A variety of educational institutions established in the 19th century continued to grow in the 20th. Medical work was carried out through hospitals, dispensaries, clinics, sanitaria, and leper asylums. In 1904, the Presbyterian Church of India was formed. In 1924, the United Church of Northern India was organized from the union of the Presbyterian Church in India and the Congregational Church in West India.

The Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions (PCUSA) was responsible for maintaining contact by mail with missionaries on the field. Missionaries sent in reports at specified intervals and wrote additional letters whenever necessary, detailing their day-to-day work on the fields, discussing plans for their missions for the future, reporting on illnesses and asking for help whenever necessary. The secretaries replied to these letters with comments, counsel and their central perspective on the mission work.

John Cameron Lowrie was elected Assistant Corresponding Secretary to the Board of Foreign Missions in 1838. In 1850, he joined his father Walter Lowrie as Corresponding Secretary; father and son worked together until Walter's death in 1868. John C. Lowrie continued as Secretary for another 23 years, retiring in 1891.

The Board of Foreign Missions (BFM) of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. was formed in 1837 from the Western Foreign Missionary Society. The Corresponding Secretary of the BFM was responsible for maintaining contact with missionaries on the field. Missionaries sent reports at specified intervals and wrote additional letters whenever necessary, detailing their day-to-day work on the fields, discussing future plans for their missions, reporting illnesses, and asking for help whenever necessary. The secretaries responded with comments, counsel, and their central perspective on the mission work.

Walter Lowrie (1784-1868) succeeded Elisha Swift in 1837 as Corresponding Secretary of the WFMS in the year it became the BFM. He served the BFM in that capacity until his death in 1868. During his tenure, the newly formed BFM grew from obscurity into an extensive missionary operation. He solicited contributions for the BFM and maintained close touch with all phases of missionary work. Lowrie had had an active civic career, and had served on a number of congressional committees, including roads and canals, accounts, finance, and Indian affairs, which experience provided a unique and detailed knowledge of the needs of the native Americans. He personally supervised the sending of household provisions and farm implements to native American and frequently visited missionaries in the West. In the area of foreign missions, Lowrie corresponded extensively with those serving in Africa, India, and China and with those ministering to the Native, Chinese, and Jewish Americans.