Indiana
Baptist History, 1798-1908, by William T. Stott
SILVER
CREEK ASSOCIATION
(COUNTIES
OF CLARK, FLOYD, WASHINGTON, SCOTT, JEFFERSON AND JENNINGS).
This Association was organized in 1812 and named for the
oldest church; besides, the first meeting was. held with this church. The
churches that went into the organization were Silver Creek, Mount Pleasant,
near Madison, Fourteen Mile, Knob Creek, Upper Blue River, Lower Blue River,
Camp Creek and Salem; the ordained ministers were Elders Jesse Vawter, Philemon
Vawter his brother, William McCoy and John Reece. Correspondence was
established with the following Associations: Salem Wabash, Long Run and White Water.
In 1816 part of the churches withdrew to join in forming the Blue River
Association, yet the minutes for 1819 show that the number of churches is
seventeen, the number of ministers nine and the total membership 600.
It was not unusual to have queries as to doctrines or duties
presented at the Association; one for 1819 was: "Can an orderly set of
brethren constitute themselves into a church state!" Answer: "We see
no scripture reason why a number of orderly brethren may not constitute
themselves into a church; yet, for the sake of church union we think it
commendable to obtain the advice of neighboring churches." Another
deliverance at that session is worthy of note: "The Association recommends
to the churches to send up short letters and omit the Articles of Faith unless
they have changed their faith.
The Circular letter of the same year deals with an important
matter, namely, whether the churches should adopt a statement of beliefs. The
answer is in the affirmative, and the reasons are given: First, it does not
ignore nor subordinate the scriptures; second, it lets the world know what we
understand the Bible to teach, and so puts us in a position to refuse
membership to such as might use that privilege to deny our doctrines and
paralyze our best efforts.
The statistics for 1826 give twenty-eight churches, thirteen
ordained ministers, and a total membership of 1,015. In 1827 a considerable
number of members withdrew to join in forming the Coffee Creek Association. The
prosperity was never as great afterwards as it had been hitherto, and yet the
statistics for 1828 show thirteen churches, five ordained ministers and
515 members. The Annual Baptist Register for 1838 gives fifteen
churches and 622 members. We know that the teachings of Alexander Campbell had
already begun to affect some of the churches of the Association. As a result,
four or five churches had withdrawn to join the Lost River Association which
was known to be strongly under the influence of Parkerism.
The "father" of the Association was, without doubt,
Elder Jesse Vawter; he was its first moderator, and indeed the only one till he
withdrew in 1827 to join in forming the Coffee Creek Association.