re-formed adj : formed again or anew; "the re-formed scout troop has been very active"Reformed adj

1 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"

2 caused to abandon an evil manner of living and follow a good one; "a reformed drunkard"

English

Verb

reformed

1. past of reform

The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine, historically related to the churches which first arose especially in the Swiss Reformation led by Huldrych Zwingli and soon afterward appeared in nations throughout Western and Central Europe. Each nation in which the Reformed movement was originally established had its own church government. Several of these national 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.

History

The first Reformed Churches were established in Europe in the 1500s, in the wake of the Protestant Reformation.

Form of doctrine

Reformed doctrine is expressed in various confessions. A few confessions are shared by many denominations. Different denominations use different confessions, usually based on historical reasons. Some of the confessions still commonly in use are (with year of writing):

• French Confession (1559),
• 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)
• Baptist
  • London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

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 episcopal polity of the Anglican and many Lutheran and Methodist churches, Reformed churches have two main forms of governance:

• Presbyterian polity or Synodal government - rule by assemblies of ordained officers.
• Congregationalist polity, e.g. Congregationalist churches
• The Reformed Church in Hungary, as well as its sister church in Romania and daughter church in the United States (Hungarian Reformed Church in America), and the Polish Reformed Church are the only Churches in the Reformed Tradition to have retained the office of Bishop.

A sub-family of the Reformed churches, called Reformed Baptist churches, adheres to a modified Reformed confession and have Baptist views of the sacraments and of church government.

Reformed Churches worldwide

Around the world many churches of Reformed tradition emerged, both by migration and missionary work. Here is a List of Reformed churches.

See also

• :Category:Reformed church theological colleges and seminaries
• Community of Protestant Churches in Europe
• World Alliance of Reformed Churches

External links

• World Alliance of Reformed Churches
• Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
• Reformed.net - world list of reformed churches.
• Leben, a journal of Reformed Life
• Reformed Online - Comprehensive resource

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