How John Thompson
Relates to the
Heresy of Decisional Regeneration

John Thompson (1772-1859) was one of the five ministers to leave the Presbyterian Church after disagreements over the handling of Presbyterian Sacramental Meetings in Kentucky. On September 10, 1803, John Thompson, along with Barton W. Stone, Richard McNemar, John Dunlevy and Robert Marshall, left the Kentucky Synod of the Presbyterian Church forming the Springfield Presbytery, saying they were going to follow the Bible alone. This was the formal beginning of the Restorationist movement. The Springfield Prebytery was dissolved nine months later on June 28, 1804 with the Document, The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery.

Thompson eventually regretted leaving the Presbyterian Church, and in 1811, with Robert Marshall, he wrote A Brief Historical Account of Sundry Things In the Doctrines and State of the Christian, or as it is Commonly Called the New Light Church. This was a formal renunciation of the doctrines espoused by Barton Stone in his Letters on Atonement.

He was restored to the Presbyterian Church and served honerably as a Presbyterian pastor and evangelist.

It was shortly after his ordination as a Presbyterian minister he became identified with the New Light schism. Within 10 years, he returned to the Presbyterian Church; and for the rest of his life served as a pastor and pioneer missionary in Indiana and Ohio. He was an earnest revival preacher, and organized many churches. Many people were hopefully converted under his labours. He had eight children, including four that became ministers.