Reformed Church

The Reformed Church is a branch of Protestantism in the Christian religion.

Founded in the early 1500's by Ulrich Zwingli of Switzerland, it was heavily influenced by the teachings of John Calvin and John Knox. John Wycliffe's teachings from the 1300's are also a significant source of Reformed ideology.

The Reformed Church sought to reform the Christian church from what it saw as the abuses and errors of Roman Catholicism by returning Christianity to teachings based solely on the Bible. It rejects the useage of images in worship, religious traditions not found in the Bible, and the authority of the Roman Pope over the affairs of the Church. It emphasises the Kingship of Christ Jesus over the Church, the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice, and the sovereignty of God over the affairs of mankind.

The Reformed Church grew rapidly in western Europe and the British Isles, but found itself severely persecuted in lands where either the government maintained loyalty to the Pope, or where the Jesuit Order was allowed to operate freely. By the late 1600's, the Reformed Church's growth in Europe had fallen off sharply, mostly due to wars and persecution.

Scotland, Switzerland, Holland, Hungary, England, and France have been known for their thriving Reformed Churches (as well as South Korea in modern times). In Scotland, the Reformed Church became known as the Presbyterians. In France, the Reformed Protestants were given the nick-name Huguenots, and have come under periods of severe persecution, forcing many to flee France for more Reformed-friendly nations and colonies in the Americas and Africa.

Statements of Faith
Statements of Faith that summarize the beliefs of the Reformed Church include:


 * The Scots Confession of 1560
 * The Belgic Confession
 * The Heidelberg Catechism
 * The Synod of Dort
 * The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms

Reformed and Presbyterian Christian Countries
These counries have a Reformed Christian majority or a noticable minority.


 * The Republic of Displaced Calvinists

Reformed Christian Rulers
These rulers are Reformed Christians.


 * Sheldomar Bolak - Governor General of Displaced Calvinists