Difference between revisions of "Reformed Churches"
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== Summary of Reformed Churches Worldwide == | == Summary of Reformed Churches Worldwide == | ||
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| + | 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 === | === United States and Canada === | ||
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| − | '''Conservative | + | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' |
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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| − | |||
| − | |||
Bible Presbyterian Church - around 3,500 members | Bible Presbyterian Church - around 3,500 members | ||
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Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregations - around 2,000 members | Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregations - around 2,000 members | ||
| − | |||
'''Hyper Calvinist''' | '''Hyper Calvinist''' | ||
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Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands - 5,000 members | Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands - 5,000 members | ||
| − | '''Conservative | + | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' |
Christian Reformed Churches of the Netherlands - 75,000 members | Christian Reformed Churches of the Netherlands - 75,000 members | ||
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Old-Reformed Church in the Netherlands | Old-Reformed Church in the Netherlands | ||
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Netherlands Reformed Congregations - 105,000 members | Netherlands Reformed Congregations - 105,000 members | ||
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Church of Scotland | Church of Scotland | ||
| − | '''Conservative- | + | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' |
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Engand and Wales | Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Engand and Wales | ||
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Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland | Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland | ||
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Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland | Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland | ||
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United Protestant Church in Belgium | United Protestant Church in Belgium | ||
| − | '''Conservative | + | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Othodox''' |
Evangelical Oldreformed Churches - Germany | Evangelical Oldreformed Churches - Germany | ||
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Hungarian Reformed Church | Hungarian Reformed Church | ||
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Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany | Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany | ||
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Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand | Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand | ||
| − | '''Conservative- | + | '''Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox''' |
Free Presbyterian Church (Australia) | Free Presbyterian Church (Australia) | ||
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Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand | Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand | ||
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Free Reformed Churches of Australia | Free Reformed Churches of Australia | ||
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Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa - 80,000 members | Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa - 80,000 members | ||
| − | '''Conservative- | + | '''Conservative-Fundanentalist and Orthodox''' |
Afrikaans Reformation Church (Pretoria) - just over 100 members | Afrikaans Reformation Church (Pretoria) - just over 100 members | ||
Revision as of 19:59, March 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 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
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 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
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
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
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 Engand and Wales
Free Presbyterian Church
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
Evangelical Church in Germany
United Protestant Church in Belgium
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Othodox
Evangelical Oldreformed Churches - Germany
Swiss Reformed Church
French Reformed Church
Hungarian Reformed Church
Evangelical Reformed Churches of Middle Germany
Free Reformed Church (Germany) - Episcopal
Reformed Churches of the Westminster Confession (Austria and Switzerland)
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe
Australia and New Zealand
Liberal, non-Calvinist
Australian Free Church
Christian Reformed Churches of Australia
Presbyterian Church of Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Conservative-Fundamentalist and Orthodox
Free Presbyterian Church (Australia)
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 Reformed Churches of Australia
Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
Southern Presbyterian Church
Reformed Churches of New Zealand
South Africa
Liberal, non-Calvinist
Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) - about 1 million members
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa - 80,000 members
Conservative-Fundanentalist and Orthodox
Afrikaans Reformation Church (Pretoria) - just over 100 members
Afrikaans Protestant Church - 46,000 members
Free Reformed Churches in South Africa - less than 1,000 members
Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) Church (NH Kerk) - 100,000 members
Reformed Churches in South Africa - 90,000 members