Reformed

Reformed is a term used to describe a branch of Protestantism that traces its origins to the 16th-century Reformation and to a theological tradition associated with John Calvin and his successors. Reformed churches emphasize the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the doctrine of justification by faith. They are distinct from Lutheran and Anglican streams in part over church governance and certain doctrinal emphases. The movement developed in and around Geneva, Zurich, and Basel, with influential figures such as Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, and Theodore Beza. Calvin’s Institutes helped articulate a systematic Reformed theology, which spread to Scotland, the Netherlands, France (the Huguenots), and beyond. The name “Reformed” later came to describe a family of churches that include Presbyterian, Congregational, and some Reformed Baptist groups, among others.

Key beliefs include the sovereignty of God in all things, the authority of Scripture as the rule of faith and life, and a doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. Reformed theology is often associated with covenant theology and with the five points of Calvinism (often summarized as TULIP): total depravity, unconditional election, definite or limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are observed, typically with infant baptism in many Reformed communities. Church governance tends to be Presbyterian (rule by elders) or congregational, depending on the denomination.

Today, Reformed churches are global, organized in bodies such as the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and they maintain diverse worship styles and social witness while sharing a common heritage.