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The Reformed Churches are a group of [[Protestant]] Churches, that originated during the 16th century [[Reformation]], led by [[Huldrych Zwingli]] and [[John Calvin]]. Reformed Churches are [[Calvinist]] in doctrine.
[[Image:Geneva_Bible.jpg|right|280px|Geneva Bible]]
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.
== History ==
== History ==
The Reformer, John Calvin was of French decsent, however he wrote and preached mostly in Switzerland. Here he published his "Institutes of the Christian Religion". From here, Calvinism spread throughout Europe, but especially the [[Netherlands]] and [[Scotland]]. Various Confessions were drawn up to distinguish the Reformed faith. English [[Puritans]] and Scottish [[Presbyterian]]s brought the Reformed faith to the United States after the Reformation.
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 [[Presbyterian]]s 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 ==
== Doctrine ==
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 Reformed Doctrine is expressed in various confessions, which they believe to be explanations of the doctrine of the [[Bible]]:
The Confessions:
*Dutch: [[The Belgic Confession]], [[The Heidelberg Cathegism]] and the [[Canons of Dordt]].
*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]].
*Scottish: [[The Westminster Confession]], [[The Westminster Larger Cathegism]] and [[The Westminster Shorter Cathegism]], as well as the [[Scots Confession]].
*Swiss: [[The Second Helvetic Confession]].
*Swiss: [[The Second Helvetic Confession]].
== Form of Governance ==
== Form of Governance ==
Reformed Churches use the [[Presbyterian polity]] for their church government. This emphisizes the autonomy of the local church, which is governed by [[elders]].
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 ==
== Different Traditions ==
Scottish Presbyterian, Dutch and Swiss Reformed churches are merely distinguished by different confessions, and hold to the same set of beliefs.
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 ==
== Summary of Reformed Churches Worldwide ==
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 ===
=== United States and Canada ===
'''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
:*[http://escondidoopc.org/ Escondido Orthodox Presbyterian Church]
[[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
[[Presbyterian Reformed Church]]
[[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
[[American Presbyterian Church]]
[[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 Church|Protestant Reformed Churches in America]] - around 7,000 members
=== The Netherlands ===
'''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 ===
'''Liberal, non Calvinist'''
[[Evangelical Church in Germany]]
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox'''
[[Evangelical Oldreformed Churches]]
[[Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany]]
[[Free Reformed Church]] - Episcopal
=== The UK and Ireland ===
'''Liberal, non-Calvinist'''
[[United Reformed Church]]
[[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]]
[[Church of Scotland]]
'''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]]
[[Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)]]
=== Rest of Europe ===
'''Liberal, non Calvinist'''
[[United Protestant Church in Belgium]]
[[Swiss Reformed Church]]
[[Polish Reformed Church]]
[[Hungarian Reformed Church]] (Episcopal)
[[French Reformed Church]]
[[Reformed Church of Elsance-Lorraine]]
[[Reformed Church in Croatia]]
[[Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren]]
[[Reformed Synod of Denmark]]
[[Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Luthuania]]
[[Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal]]
[[Reformed Church in Portugal]]
[[Reformed Church in Romania]]
[[Reformed Church in Romania - Transylvanian district]]
[[Reformed Christian Church in Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia]]
[[Reformed Church in Slovenia]]
[[Spanish Evangelical Church]]
[[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
[[Reformed Church in Latvia]]
[[Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal]]
[[Reformed Fundamental Church]] - Russia
[[Union of Evangelical Reformed Churches of Russia]]
[[Ukrainian Evangelical Reformed Church]]
=== Australia and New Zealand ===
'''Liberal, non-Calvinist'''
[[Christian Reformed Churches of Australia]]
[[Presbyterian Church of Australia]]
[[Uniting Church in Australia]]
[[Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand]]
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox'''
[[Australian Free Church]]
[[Free Presbyterian Church]] - Reformed Baptist
[[Evangelical Presbyterian Church]]
[[Evangelical Reformed Church]]
[[Presbyterian Reformed Church (Australia)]]
[[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia]]
[[Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia]]
[[Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand]]
Free Presbyterian Church - Orthodox, Presbyterian, Calvinist
[[Free Reformed Churches of Australia]]
Presbyterian Reformed Church - Evangelical, Presbyterian
[[Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia]]
[[Southern Presbyterian Church]]
Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States - Conservative, Presbyterian
[[Reformed Churches of New Zealand]]
=== South Africa ===
'''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==
*[[Cornelius Van Til]]
*[[Vern S. Poythress]]
*[[Infant baptism]]
*[[Essay: Water baptism cannot save, the Church cannot save, Born again by faith alone]]
==External links==
*[http://reformedtheology.org/index.html Institute for Reformed Theology]
[[Category:Protestantism]]
[[Category:Christian Denominations]]
[[Category:Reformation]]