How did Mattie describe the defining characteristic of Cumberland Presbyterians?

• A. They broke away to form a new denomination due to doctrinal disputes about baptism.
• B. They required all preachers to be ordained by seminary.
• C. They aligned with the Catholic Church.
• D. They broke away because they did not believe a preacher needed a lot of formal education.

Answer: (D)

This item tests understanding of why Cumberland Presbyterians formed as a separate group. They emerged in the frontier era and pushed back against the idea that ministers must have extensive formal schooling. They believed a preacher didn’t need a lot of formal education to be effective, emphasizing accessibility, revivalist zeal, and lay leadership. That stance—minimizing the necessity of heavy seminary training for ordination—defines their identity. The other choices don’t fit: the split wasn’t about baptism doctrine, they didn’t require seminary education as a rule (in fact they rejected heavy requirements), and they did not align with the Catholic Church.