Dictionary
of or relating to the body of Protestant Christianity arising during the Reformation used of some Protestant churches especially Calvinist as distinct from Lutheran "Dutch Reformed theology" caused to abandon an evil manner of living and follow a good one "a reformed drunkard"
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Wikipedia
Calvinism The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Christian denomination denominations historically related by a similar Huldrych ZwingliZwinglian or CalvinismCalvinist system of doctrine but organisationally independent. Each nation in which the Reformed movement was originally established had its own church government. Several of these local churches have expanded to worldwide denominations and most have experienced splits into multiple denominations. Commitment to teaching the original Calvinism usually continues to be reflected in their official definitions of doctrine, but in some cases is no longer necessarily typical of these churches. A 1999 survey found 746 Reformed denominations worldwide.
Form of doctrine - Reformed doctrine is expressed in various creeds. A few creeds are shared by many denominations. Different denominations use different creeds, usually based on historical reasons. Some of the common creeds are (with year of writing):Scots Confession (1560), Three forms of Unity*Heidelberg Catechism (1563), *Belgic Confession (1566), *Canons of Dordrecht (1619), Second Helvetic Confession (1566)Westminster Standards *Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)*Westminster Shorter Catechism (1649)*Westminster Larger Catechism (1649)1689 Baptist Confession of FaithLondon Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)(disputed)The ''Three forms of unity'' are common among Reformed churches with origins in the European continent (especially those in the Netherlands). The ''Westminster Standards'' have a similarly common use, among Reformed churches (known commonly as the Presbyterian churches) with origins in the British Isles. More recent confessions and creeds are shared by fewer denominations.
Form of governance - In contrast to the episcopalian church governance of Lutheran, Anglican or Methodist churches, Reformed churches have three main forms of governance:Presbyterian church governance, e.g. PresbyterianismPresbyterian churchesSynodSynodal church governance, e.g. Dutch Reformed Churches, Swiss Reformed churchesCongregationalist church governance, e.g. Congregationalist churches A sub-family of the Reformed churches, called Reformed Baptist churches, adheres to modified Reformed confessions, and have Baptist views of the sacraments and of church government. Many Reformed Christians do not consider Reformed Baptists to be truly Reformed.
Continental Reformed churches - Swiss Reformed Churches:The Reformed branch of Protestantism was started in Zurich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basle (Johannes Oecolampadius), Berne (Berchtold Haller and Niklaus Manuel), St. Gall (Joachim Vadian), to cities in Southern Germany and via Alsace (Martin Bucer) to France. After the early death of Zwingli 1531, his work was continued by Heinrich Bullinger, the author of the Second Helvetic Confession. The French-speaking cities Neuchatel, Geneva and Lausanne changed to the Reformation ten years later under William Farel and John Calvin coming from France. The Zwingli and Calvin branches had each their theological distinctions, but in 1549 under the lead of Bullinger and Calvin they came to a common agreement in the ''Consensus Tigurinus'' (Zurich Consent), and 1566 in the Second Helvetic Confession. Organizationally, the Reformed Churches in Switzerland remained separate units until today (the Reformed Church of the Canton Zurich, the Reformed Church of the Canton Berne, etc.), the German part more in the Zwingli tradition, in the French part more in the Calvin tradition. They are governed synodically and their relation to the respective canton (in Switzerland, there are no church-state regulations on country-level) ranges from independent to close collaboration, depending on historical developments. A distinctive of the Swiss Reformed churches in Zwingli tradition is their historically almost symbiotic link to the state (cantons) which is only loosening gradually in the present.Hungarian Reformed Church:The largest branch of the Reformed movement, and the only one of the national Reformed churches to survive without division since the Reformation to the present time. The Hungarian Reformed Church has adopted the Heidelberg Catechism and the Second Helvetic Confession as a definition of their teaching, together the Ecumenical creeds of the Christian Church: Athanasian Creed, Nicene Creed, Chalcedon, and the common creed ("Apostles' Creed"). Regional churches may also adopt the Canons of Dordt, and in Transylvania Luther's Small Catechism is adopted.Reformed Church of France:In France, the Reformed protestants were called HuguenotHuguenots. The Reformed Church of France survived under persecution from 1559 until the Edict of Nantes (1598), the effect of which was to establish regions in which Protestants could live unmolested. These areas became centers of political resistance under which the Reformed church was protected until 1628, when La Rochelle, the protestant center of resistance to Louis XIII, was overrun by a French army blockade. After the protestant resistance failed, the Reformed Church of France reorganized, and was guaranteed toleration under the Edict of Nantes until the final revocation of toleration in 1685 (Edict of Fontainebleau). The periods of persecution scattered French Reformed refugees to England, Germany, Switzerland, Africa and The AmericasAmerica. A free (meaning, not state controlled) synod of the Reformed Church emerged in 1848 and survives in small numbers to the present time. The French refugees established French Reformed churches in the Latin countries and in America.:The first Reformed churches in France produced the Gallic Confession and French Reformed confession of faith, which served as models for the Belgic ConfessionBelgic Confession of Faith (1563).German Reformed Church:Tolerance for the Reformed churches in Germany was established under the Peace of Westphalia, in 1648, but political difficulties at the end of the 17th century almost eliminated them. In the 19th century, by state mandate the Reformed churches were combined with the Lutherans to form an Evangelical Union in Prussia.Reformed churches in the Netherlands:The Dutch Reformed churches have suffered numerous splits and unions. Currently existing denominations are::*Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) formed in 2004 from the union of :**the Dutch Reformed Church (NHK), :**the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (GKN) :**and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (ELK) :*Christian Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (CGKN):*Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated):*Reformed Congregations (GG):*Reformed Congregrations in the Netherlands (GGN)Waldensian Church (Italy):Originally founded by Peter Waldo in the 12th century, the Waldensian church adopted the Reformed doctrines under the influence of William Farel.
Reformed churches in Australia and New Zealand (and Old World counterparts) - (see also List of Presbyterian Denominations in Australia)Uniting Church in Australia (Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist)Presbyterian Church of Australia (Presbyterian)Free Reformed Churches of Australia (Dutch Reformed - Liberated)Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (Dutch Reformed - GKN)Reformed Churches of New ZealandPresbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (Presbyterian)Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand (Presbyterian)
Reformed churches in Britain and Ireland - The churches with presbyterian traditions in the United Kingdom have the Westminster Confession of Faith as one of their important Creedconfessional documents.United Reformed Church (URC) in the United Kingdom is the result of the union of Presbyterian and Congregational churches.The Presbyterian churches in Scotland, including:*The Church of Scotland, the State churchestablished, national church in Scotland*Smaller denominations such as the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Presbyterian Church of ScotlandThe Presbyterian Church in Ireland serves the whole of the island.In addition to these, there are also other churches with smaller flocks, notably in Northern Ireland.A group of churches called New Frontiers began in England and also exists elsewhere in the world. This group tends to hold to Reformed theology, but is also Charismatic in its experience.
Reformed churches in the United States of America and Canada (and Old World counterparts) - Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (Scotch-Irish Presbyterians)Canadian and American Reformed Churches (Dutch Reformed - Liberated)Christian Presbyterian ChurchChristian Reformed Church in North America (Dutch Reformed - GKN):The CRC is a !conservative/evangelicalismevangelical denomination founded by Dutch immigrants in the nineteenth century in West Michigan.Free Reformed Churches in North America - (Dutch Reformed - CGKN)Heritage Netherlands Reformed ChurchNetherlands Reformed Church - (Dutch Reformed - CGKN)Orthodox Christian Reformed Church (Dutch Reformed - GKN)Presbyterian Church in AmericaPresbyterian Church in Canada:The Presbyterian Church in Canada, formed in June 1875, as a union of 4 Presbyterian groups in the Dominion of Canada (created in 1867); These "Continuing Presbyterians", did not join the United Church of Canada in 1925, of Presbyterians, along with Methodists, Congregationalists, and Union Churches.Presbyterian Church USAPresbyterian Church (USA)Presbyterian Reformed ChurchProtestant Reformed Church (Dutch Reformed - GKN): One of the most conservative Reformed/Calvinist denominations in the world, the PRC separated from the CRC in the 1920s in a schism over the issue of common grace. Reformed Church in the United States (German Reformed)Reformed Church in America (Dutch Reformed - NHK):The RCA is an evangelical denomination formed by Dutch immigrants during colonial times.Reformed Congregations of North AmericaReformed Presbyterian Church of North America (Scottish Covenanters)United Reformed Churches in North America (Dutch Reformed - GKN)United Church of Canada (1925 Union of Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Union Churches, and joined by United Evangelical Brethren in 1968)United Church of Christ (Congregationalist and German Evangelical Reformed) a congregational union of various union churchesMost Presbyterian churches adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith, but the Presbyterian Church (USA), in order to embrace the historical expressions of the whole Reformed tradition as found in the United States, has adopted a Book of Confessions. The BOC contains the Nicene Creed, Apostles' Creed, Scots Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Second Helvetic Confession, Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Westminster Larger Catechism, Theological Declaration of Barmen, Confession of 1967, and A Brief Statement of Faith - PCUSA.The Presbyterian Church (USA) has split a number of times in its history. Many of these historic splits have been resolved. From the continuing branch churches, some have split in turn. Only some of the continuing branches from the main bodies are listed here, with the year of their separation.Cumberland Presbyterian Church (1810)Orthodox Presbyterian Church (1936 from the Northern PCUSA)Bible Presbyterian Church (1937 from the OPC)Presbyterian Church in America (1973 from the Southern PCUS)Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States(1983 from the PCA)Evangelical Presbyterian Church (1980 from Northern UPC and Southern PCUS)
Reformed churches in Korea - Presbyterian Church in Korea (Kosin 고신). The PCK is a Reformed denomination in Korea which accepts the Westminster standards as its confession. The church also recognizes "Three Forms of Unity", to be same as the Westminster Standards. Kosin church wants to be a biblical and confessional denomination, pure in doctrine and life. There are about 2,000 local churches, including some churches in North America and Europe.The Korean Presbyterian Church (Hapdong 합동) which formed the primary body of the Presbyterian General Assembly (the Reformed Church in Korea) was established by missionaries of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and Canadian and Australian Presbyterians.
Reformed churches in Nigeria (and founding counterparts) - Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria - (Dutch Reformed)Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria - (Dutch Reformed)Presbyterian Church of Nigeria - (Scottish Presbyterian)Qua Iboe Church - (Northern Irish Presbyterian)Church of Christ in the Sudan among the Tiv - (Dutch Reformed) Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ - (Dutch Reformed)Nigeria Reformed Church - (Dutch Reformed)The various Reformed churches of Nigeria formed the Reformed Ecumenical Council of Nigeria in 1991 to further cooperation.
Reformed churches in India - Bible Presbyterian ChurchPresbyterian Church of IndiaUnited Basel Mission Church
Reformed churches in South Africa - Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
International organizations of Reformed churches - International Conference of Reformed ChurchesReformed Ecumenical CouncilWorld Alliance of Reformed Churches warc.ch
See also - ChristianityJesusChristian apologetics
External links - reformed.net - Reformed.net - world list of reformed churches. gpm.org.my - Presbyterian Church Malaysia (GPM)Category:Christian !denominationsCategory:Protesta ntismca:Església? Reformadade:Reformierte Kircheeo:Reformita Ekleziofr:Églises réforméesnds:Reformeerte !Karknl:Gereformeerdfi:Reformoi tu? kirkkosv:Reformerta kyrkan DEBUG REDIRECT (reformed churches)
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Websites
The American School of Lyon
The American School of Lyon, A Reformed Classical Christian School
http://www.tasol.org/
Servant of the Lord: Online!
Central Virginia's Premier Christian Online Service
http://www.sotl.org/
Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics
A place for people to talk about Calvinism.
http://www.reformed.org/
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Denominational site with links to congregations, beliefs, resources, and agencies.
http://www.crcna.org
Reformed Church in America
Details the history, beliefs, government, partners, and regional synods.
http://www.rca.org/
Reformed Theological Seminary
Features information for prospective students, current students, and alumni. Includes general school information, news, events, detailed tuition fees, full course catalogue, and an online bookstore.
http://www.rts.edu/
Reformed Sermons
Sermons, articles, lectures, meditations and outlines by reformed authors.
http://www.sermon.org
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