Reformed Churches
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The Reformed Churches are a group of Protestant Churches that originated during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. This Protestant movement was led first by Ulrich Zwingli and then by John Calvin. "Reformed" churches are said to be Calvinist in doctrine.
Contents
History[edit]
The Reformer, John Calvin, was French by birth; however he wrote and preached mostly in Switzerland. Here he published his "Institutes of the Christian Religion". From Geneva, Calvinism spread throughout Europe, but especially into the Netherlands and Scotland. Various Confessions were drawn up to distinguish the Reformed faith from other Protestant viewpoints. English Puritans and Scottish Presbyterians brought the Reformed faith to the United States and Australasia after the Reformation. So did the Reformed Dutch and Germans and the French Huguenots bring their faith to South Africa.
Doctrine[edit]
In Reformed Churches, the Bible is the sole and supreme authority in all matters of faith. The various Confessions are merely accepted explanations of Biblical doctrine.
The Confessions:
- Dutch: The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Cathegism and the Canons of Dordt.
- Scottish: The Westminster Confession, The Westminster Larger Cathegism and The Westminster Shorter Cathegism, as well as the Scots Confession.
- Swiss: The Second Helvetic Confession.
Form of Governance[edit]
Reformed Churches use the Presbyterian polity for their church government. This emphasizes the autonomy of the local church, which is governed by elders.
Different Traditions[edit]
Scottish Presbyterian, and Dutch and Swiss Reformed churches are distinguished by different confessions, but hold to the same set of beliefs.
Another tradition has developed also--"Reformed Baptist." It shares some of the same Calvinist beliefs as the general Reformed Churches, but Reformed Baptists baptize adults and not infants as other Reformed Churches do. They adhere to the London Baptist Confession.
Summary of Reformed Churches Worldwide[edit]
Here is a brief summary of the Reformed Churches in the Western world. Liberal denominations are distinguished from the more Conservative ones. "Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox" denominations include a wide spectrum, however, and may range from moderately conservative to very Orthodox.
United States and Canada[edit]
Liberal, Non-Calvinist
Presbyterian Church (USA) - around 3,600,000 members
United Church of Canada - around 2,800,000 members - Presbyterian & Congregational & Methodist
Evangelical Presbyterian Church - around 68,000 members
Korean Presbyterian Church in America - around 29,000 members
Presbyterian Church in Canada - around 225,000 members
Reformed Church in America - around 300,000 members
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Presbyterian Church in America - around 350,000 members
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church - around 40,000 members
Korean American Presbyterian Church - around 33,000 members
Orthodox Presbyterian Church - around 30,000 members
Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches - around 15,000 members, Reformed and Reformed Baptist
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America - around 7,000 members
Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church
Free Presbyterian Church - Reformed Baptist
Reformed Presbyterian Church - Hanover Presbytery
Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States
Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly
Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church - less than 1000 members - Four-Point Calvinist
Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church - less than 100 members - Episcopal
Christian Reformed Church - around 270,000 members
United Reformed Churches in North America - around 20,700 members
Canadian and American Reformed Churches - around 16,000 members
Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches - around 15,000 members - Reformed Baptist
Reformed Church in the United States
Orthodox Christian Reformed Church - around 1,500 members
Bible Presbyterian Church - around 3,500 members
Christian Presbyterian Church - Korean
Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church
Reformed Presbytery in North America
Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States
Netherlands Reformed Congregations - around 9,500 members - Dutch
Free Reformed Churches in North America - around 4,500 members
Heritage Reformed Congregations - around 2,000 members
Hyper Calvinist
Protestant Reformed Churches in America - around 7,000 members
The Netherlands[edit]
Liberal, non-Calvinist
Protestant Church in the Netherlands - 2 million members
Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands - 5,000 members
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Christian Reformed Churches of the Netherlands - 75,000 members
Reformed Congregations in the Netherlands - 31,000 members
Netherlands Reformed Churches - 19,000 members
Restored Reformed Church - 70,000 members
Old-Reformed Church in the Netherlands
Netherlands Reformed Congregations - 105,000 members
Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated) - 130,000 members
New Liberated Reformed Church - 3,000 members
Germany[edit]
Liberal, non Calvinist
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Evangelical Oldreformed Churches
Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany
Free Reformed Church - Episcopal
The UK and Ireland[edit]
Liberal, non-Calvinist
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales
Free Presbyterian Church - Reformed Baptist
Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland
Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
Rest of Europe[edit]
Liberal, non Calvinist
United Protestant Church in Belgium
Hungarian Reformed Church (Episcopal)
Reformed Church of Elsance-Lorraine
Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren
Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Luthuania
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal
Reformed Church in Romania - Transylvanian district
Reformed Christian Church in Serbia and Montenegro
Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia
Reformed Church in Transcarpathia - Ukraine
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Reformed Churches of the Westminster Confession (Austria and Switzerland)
National Union of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches of France
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine)
Belarussian Evangelical Reformed Church
Evangelical Brethren Church - Czech Republic and Slovakia
Reformed Congregation in Fredericia - Denmark
German Reformed Church of Copenhagen - Denmark
Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal
Reformed Fundamental Church - Russia
Union of Evangelical Reformed Churches of Russia
Ukrainian Evangelical Reformed Church
Australia and New Zealand[edit]
Liberal, non-Calvinist
Christian Reformed Churches of Australia
Presbyterian Church of Australia
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Free Presbyterian Church - Reformed Baptist
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Reformed Church (Australia)
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia
Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia
Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
Free Reformed Churches of Australia
Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
Reformed Churches of New Zealand
South Africa[edit]
Liberal, non-Calvinist
Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) - about 1 million members
Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) Church (NH Kerk) - 100,000 members
Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa - 80,000 members
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Afrikaans Reformation Church - just over 100 members
Afrikaans Protestant Church - 46,000 members
Free Reformed Churches in South Africa - less than 1,000 members
Reformed Churches in South Africa - 90,000 members
Church of England in South Africa - 120,000 members - Episcopal
See also[edit]
- Cornelius Van Til
- Vern S. Poythress
- Infant baptism
- Essay: Water baptism cannot save, the Church cannot save, Born again by faith alone
External links[edit]
Categories: [Protestantism] [Christian Denominations] [Reformation]
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