
Download as PDF …
Rev. John Witherspoon (1723-1794) was a Scottish Presbyterian pastor and President of Princeton who was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the Declaration of Independence.
Rev. John Peter Muhlenberg (1746-1807) was a Lutheran pastor in Virginia who became a major general during the Revolutionary War, a U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Senator.
Rev. Abraham Baldwin (1754-1807) served as a minister at Yale, a chaplain in the Revolutionary War, a delegate from Georgia to the Continental Congress, a U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Senator.
Rev. Joseph Montgomery (1733-1794) was a Presbyterian pastor in New Castle, Delaware, married to the sister of Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration.
John Joachim Zubly (1724-1781) was a Presbyterian pastor in Georgia who was a delegate to the Continental Congress.
The Charity School was formed, teaching writing, arithmetic, and the general principles of Christianity.
A student who enrolled in the College’s first class was Hugh Williamson. Born December 5, 1735, he was in the first graduating class, May 17, 1757.
Hugh Williamson was one of 21 members of the Continental Congress who graduated from the College of Philadelphia.
Thomson helped design the Great Seal of the United States, and signed Congress’ authorization for Robert Aitken to print the first English Language Bible in America.
He studied theology with Rev. Samuel Finley, who later became President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton).
Williamson visited and prayed for the sick, and gave sermons, until a chronic chest weakness convinced him he had to pursue a career that did not involve public speaking.
“Old Lights” were older church leaders who were rigid in orthodox teachings, emphasizing the letter of the law; while “New Lights” were zealous younger church leaders who emphasized evangelism and the Holy Spirit.
Returning to America in 1777, Dr. Hugh Williamson distinguished himself during the Revolutionary War as a Surgeon General caring for wounded North Carolina troops.
Williamson signed the Constitution, then helped convinced North Carolina to ratify it.

“The most important thing is to bring people to Christ, –and the second most important thing is to preserve the freedom to do the most important thing!”
The Declaration of Independence states that America has “government … from the consent of the governed,” but in common law, citizens’ “silence equals consent.”
This became a part of the exchange of vows in a weddings ceremony, documented as early as The Book of Common Prayer, 1549:


Rev. Billy Graham stated:
Pastors were involved in politics from America’s beginning, as President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed at the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia, July 5, 1926:
Resources for engaging and supporting pastors include:
Dran Reese, Salt & Light Council
Dave Welch, U.S. Pastors Council
Rick Scarborough, Recover America
Who is the King in America? And Who are the Counselors to the King? An Overview of 6,000 Years of History & Why America is Unique
This post originally appeared at https://americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/pastors-in-politics-during-american-revolution-hugh-williamson-other-preachers-american-minute-with-bill-federer