Difference between revisions of "Reformed Churches"
| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
'''Liberal, Non-Calvinist''' | '''Liberal, Non-Calvinist''' | ||
| − | Presbyterian Church (USA) - around 3,600,000 members | + | [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]] - around 3,600,000 members |
| − | United Church of Canada - around 2,800,000 members - Presbyterian & Congregational & Methodist | + | [[United Church of Canada]] - around 2,800,000 members - Presbyterian & Congregational & Methodist |
| − | Evangelical Presbyterian Church - around 68,000 members | + | [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church]] - around 68,000 members |
| − | Korean Presbyterian Church in America - around 29,000 members | + | [[Korean Presbyterian Church in America]] - around 29,000 members |
| − | Presbyterian Church in Canada - around 225,000 members | + | [[Presbyterian Church in Canada]] - around 225,000 members |
| − | Reformed Church in America - around 300,000 members | + | [[Reformed Church in America]] - around 300,000 members |
| Line 76: | Line 76: | ||
[[Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly]] | [[Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly]] | ||
| − | Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church - less than 1000 members - Four-Point Calvinist | + | [[Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church]] - less than 1000 members - Four-Point Calvinist |
| − | Reformed Episcopal Church - around 13,000 members - Episcopal | + | [[Reformed Episcopal Church]] - around 13,000 members - Episcopal |
| − | Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church - Episcopal | + | [[Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church]] - Episcopal |
[[Christian Reformed Church]] - around 270,000 members | [[Christian Reformed Church]] - around 270,000 members | ||
| Line 88: | Line 88: | ||
[[Canadian and American Reformed Churches]] - around 16,000 members | [[Canadian and American Reformed Churches]] - around 16,000 members | ||
| − | Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches - around 15,000 members - Reformed Baptist | + | [Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches]] - around 15,000 members - Reformed Baptist |
| − | Reformed Church in the United States | + | [[Reformed Church in the United States]] |
| − | Orthodox Christian Reformed Church - around 1,500 members | + | [[Orthodox Christian Reformed Church]] - around 1,500 members |
[[Bible Presbyterian Church]] - around 3,500 members | [[Bible Presbyterian Church]] - around 3,500 members | ||
| Line 98: | Line 98: | ||
[[American Presbyterian Church]] | [[American Presbyterian Church]] | ||
| − | Christian Presbyterian Church - Korean | + | [[Christian Presbyterian Church]] - Korean |
[[Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church]] | [[Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church]] | ||
| − | Reformed Presbytery in North America | + | [[Reformed Presbytery in North America]] |
[[Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States]] | [[Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States]] | ||
| Line 108: | Line 108: | ||
[[Netherlands Reformed Congregations]] - around 9,500 members - Dutch | [[Netherlands Reformed Congregations]] - around 9,500 members - Dutch | ||
| − | Free Reformed Churches in North America - around 4,500 members | + | [[Free Reformed Churches in North America]] - around 4,500 members |
[[Heritage Reformed Congregations]] - around 2,000 members | [[Heritage Reformed Congregations]] - around 2,000 members | ||
| Line 114: | Line 114: | ||
'''Hyper Calvinist''' | '''Hyper Calvinist''' | ||
| − | Protestant Reformed Churches in America - around 7,000 members | + | [Protestant Reformed Churches in America]] - around 7,000 members |
=== The Netherlands === | === The Netherlands === | ||
| Line 120: | Line 120: | ||
'''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | '''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | ||
| − | Protestant Church in the Netherlands - 2 million members | + | [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]] - 2 million members |
| − | Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands - 5,000 members | + | [[Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands]] - 5,000 members |
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | ||
| − | Christian Reformed Churches of the Netherlands - 75,000 members | + | [[Christian Reformed Churches of the Netherlands]] - 75,000 members |
| − | Reformed Congregrations in the Netherlands - 31,000 members | + | [[Reformed Congregrations in the Netherlands]] - 31,000 members |
| − | Netherlands Reformed Churches - 19,000 members | + | [[Netherlands Reformed Churches]] - 19,000 members |
| − | Restored Reformed Church - 70,000 members | + | [[Restored Reformed Church]] - 70,000 members |
| − | Old-Reformed Church in the Netherlands | + | [[Old-Reformed Church in the Netherlands]] |
[[Netherlands Reformed Congregations]] - 105,000 members | [[Netherlands Reformed Congregations]] - 105,000 members | ||
| − | Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated) - 130,000 members | + | [[Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated)]] - 130,000 members |
| − | New Liberated Reformed Church - 3,000 members | + | [[New Liberated Reformed Church]] - 3,000 members |
=== Germany === | === Germany === | ||
| Line 146: | Line 146: | ||
'''Liberal, non Calvinist''' | '''Liberal, non Calvinist''' | ||
| − | Evangelical Church in Germany | + | [[Evangelical Church in Germany]] |
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Othodox''' | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Othodox''' | ||
| − | Evangelical Oldreformed Churches | + | [[Evangelical Oldreformed Churches]] |
| − | Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany | + | [[Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany]] |
| − | Free Reformed Church - Episcopal | + | [[Free Reformed Church]] - Episcopal |
=== The UK and Ireland === | === The UK and Ireland === | ||
| Line 160: | Line 160: | ||
'''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | '''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | ||
| − | United Reformed Church | + | [[United Reformed Church]] |
| − | Presbyterian Church in Ireland | + | [[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]] |
| − | Church of Scotland | + | [[Church of Scotland]] |
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | ||
| − | Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Engand and Wales | + | [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Engand and Wales]] |
[[Free Presbyterian Church]] - Reformed Baptist | [[Free Presbyterian Church]] - Reformed Baptist | ||
| − | Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland | + | [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] |
| − | Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland | + | [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland]] |
| − | Free Church of Scotland | + | [[Free Church of Scotland]] |
| − | Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) | + | [[Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)]] |
| Line 185: | Line 185: | ||
'''Liberal, non Calvinist''' | '''Liberal, non Calvinist''' | ||
| − | United Protestant Church in Belgium | + | [[United Protestant Church in Belgium]] |
| − | Swiss Reformed Church | + | [[Swiss Reformed Church]] |
| − | Polish Reformed Church | + | [[Polish Reformed Church]] |
| − | Hungarian Reformed Church (Episcopal) | + | [[Hungarian Reformed Church]] (Episcopal) |
| − | French Reformed Church | + | [[French Reformed Church]] |
| − | Reformed Church of Elsance-Lorraine | + | [[Reformed Church of Elsance-Lorraine]] |
| − | Reformed Church in Croatia | + | [[Reformed Church in Croatia]] |
| − | Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren | + | [[Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren]] |
| − | Reformed Synod of Denmark | + | [[Reformed Synod of Denmark]] |
| − | Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Luthuania | + | [[Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Luthuania]] |
| − | Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal | + | [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal]] |
| − | Reformed Church in Portugal | + | [[Reformed Church in Portugal]] |
| − | Reformed Church in Romania | + | [[Reformed Church in Romania]] |
| − | Reformed Church in Romania - Transylvanian district | + | [[Reformed Church in Romania - Transylvanian district]] |
| − | Reformed Christian Church in Serbia and Montenegro | + | [[Reformed Christian Church in Serbia and Montenegro]] |
| − | Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia | + | [[Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia]] |
| − | Reformed Church in Slovenia | + | [[Reformed Church in Slovenia]] |
| − | Spanish Evangelical Church | + | [[Spanish Evangelical Church]] |
| − | Reformed Church in Transcarpathia - Ukraine | + | [[Reformed Church in Transcarpathia]] - Ukraine |
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Othodox''' | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Othodox''' | ||
| − | Reformed Churches of the Westminster Confession (Austria and Switzerland) | + | [[Reformed Churches of the Westminster Confession]] (Austria and Switzerland) |
| − | National Union of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches of France | + | [[National Union of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches of France]] |
| − | Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine) | + | [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe]] (Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine) |
| − | Belarussian Evangelical Reformed Church | + | [[Belarussian Evangelical Reformed Church]] |
| − | Evangelical Brethren Church - Czech Republic and Slovakia | + | [[Evangelical Brethren Church]] - Czech Republic and Slovakia |
| − | Reformed Congregation in Fredericia - Denmark | + | [[Reformed Congregation in Fredericia]] - Denmark |
| − | German Reformed Church of Copenhagen - Denmark | + | [[German Reformed Church of Copenhagen]] - Denmark |
| − | Reformed Church in Latvia | + | [[Reformed Church in Latvia]] |
| − | Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal | + | [[Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal]] |
| − | Reformed Fundamental Church - Russia | + | [[Reformed Fundamental Church]] - Russia |
| − | Union of Evangelical Reformed Churches of Russia | + | [[Union of Evangelical Reformed Churches of Russia]] |
| − | Ukrainian Evangelical Reformed Church | + | [[Ukrainian Evangelical Reformed Church]] |
=== Australia and New Zealand === | === Australia and New Zealand === | ||
| Line 253: | Line 253: | ||
'''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | '''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | ||
| − | Australian Free Church | + | [[Australian Free Church]] |
| − | Christian Reformed Churches of Australia | + | [[Christian Reformed Churches of Australia]] |
| − | Presbyterian Church of Australia | + | [[Presbyterian Church of Australia]] |
| − | Uniting Church in Australia | + | [[Uniting Church in Australia]] |
| − | Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand | + | [[Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand]] |
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | ||
| Line 267: | Line 267: | ||
[[Free Presbyterian Church]] - Reformed Baptist | [[Free Presbyterian Church]] - Reformed Baptist | ||
| − | Evangelical Presbyterian Church | + | [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church]] |
| − | Evangelical Reformed Church | + | [[Evangelical Reformed Church]] |
| − | Presbyterian Reformed Church (Australia) | + | [[Presbyterian Reformed Church]] (Australia) |
| − | Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia | + | [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia]] |
| − | Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia | + | [[Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia]] |
| − | Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand | + | [[Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand]] |
| − | Free Reformed Churches of Australia | + | [[Free Reformed Churches of Australia]] |
| − | Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia | + | [[Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia]] |
| − | Southern Presbyterian Church | + | [[Southern Presbyterian Church]] |
| − | Reformed Churches of New Zealand | + | [[Reformed Churches of New Zealand]] |
=== South Africa === | === South Africa === | ||
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'''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | '''Liberal, non-Calvinist''' | ||
| − | Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) - about 1 million members | + | [[Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk)]] - about 1 million members |
| − | Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) Church (NH Kerk) - 100,000 members | + | [[Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) Church]] (NH Kerk) - 100,000 members |
| − | Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa | + | [[Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa]] |
| − | Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa - 80,000 members | + | [[Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa]] - 80,000 members |
'''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' | ||
| − | Afrikaans Reformation Church | + | [[Afrikaans Reformation Church]] - just over 100 members |
| − | Afrikaans Protestant Church - 46,000 members | + | [[Afrikaans Protestant Church]] - 46,000 members |
| − | Free Reformed Churches in South Africa - less than 1,000 members | + | [[Free Reformed Churches in South Africa]] - less than 1,000 members |
| − | Reformed Churches in South Africa - 90,000 members | + | [[Reformed Churches in South Africa]] - 90,000 members |
| − | Church of England in South Africa - Episcopal | + | [[Church of England in South Africa]] - Episcopal |
[[category:churches]] | [[category:churches]] | ||
[[category:protestantism]] | [[category:protestantism]] | ||
[[category:Christian Denominations]] | [[category:Christian Denominations]] | ||
Revision as of 14:15, June 28, 2008
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.
History
The Reformer, John Calvin was of French descent, 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 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
For a summary of the Reformed beliefs, see Calvinism.
The Reformed Doctrine is expressed in various confessions, which they believe to be explanations of the doctrine of the Bible:
- 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.
In Reformed Churches, the Bible is, however, the sole and supreme authority in all matters of faith.
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.
Different Traditions
Scottish Presbyterian, Dutch and Swiss Reformed churches are merely distinguished by different confessions, and hold to the same set of beliefs. Two other traditions have developed, however: "Reformed Baptist" and "Reformed Episcopal" denominations. They share the same Calvinist beliefs as the general Reformed Churches, but Reformed Baptists baptize adults and not infants as other Reformed Churches do. They have the London Baptist Confession. Reformed Episcopals hold to an Episcopal form of Church government (by bishops) and holds steadfastly to the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.
Summary of Reformed Churches Worldwide
Here is a brief summary of the Reformed Churches in the Western world. Liberal denominations are distiguished 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
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
Reformed Episcopal Church - around 13,000 members - Episcopal
Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church - 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
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 Congregrations 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
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Othodox
Evangelical Oldreformed Churches
Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany
Free Reformed Church - Episcopal
The UK and Ireland
Liberal, non-Calvinist
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Engand 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
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 Othodox
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
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
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 - Episcopal