Difference between revisions of "Reformed Churches"
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=== United States and Canada === | === United States and Canada === | ||
| − | '''Liberal, Non-Calvinist | + | '''Liberal, Non-Calvinist''' |
Presbyterian Church (USA) - around 3,600,000 members | Presbyterian Church (USA) - around 3,600,000 members | ||
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Reformed Church in America - around 300,000 members | Reformed Church in America - around 300,000 members | ||
| − | '''Conservative, | + | |
| + | '''Conservative, Evangelical''' | ||
Presbyterian Church in America - around 315,000 members | Presbyterian Church in America - around 315,000 members | ||
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Orthodox Christian Reformed Church - around 1,500 members | Orthodox Christian Reformed Church - around 1,500 members | ||
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'''Orthodox-Calvinist''' | '''Orthodox-Calvinist''' | ||
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Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregations - around 2,000 members | Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregations - around 2,000 members | ||
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'''Hyper Calvinist''' | '''Hyper Calvinist''' | ||
Protestant Reformed Churches in America - around 7,000 members | Protestant Reformed Churches in America - around 7,000 members | ||
Revision as of 21:04, March 27, 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.
Contents
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 Presbyterians brought the Reformed faith to the United States after the Reformation.
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
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, Evangelical
Presbyterian Church in America - around 315,000 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
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
Reformed Episcopal Church - around 13,000 members - Episcopal
Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church - Episcopal
Christian Reformed Church - around 300,000 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
Orthodox Christian Reformed Church - around 1,500 members
Orthodox-Calvinist
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 Netherlands Reformed Congregations - around 2,000 members
Hyper Calvinist
Protestant Reformed Churches in America - around 7,000 members
