Editing Continental Reformed Protestantism

{{Short description|Reformed church originating in continental Europe}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2024}}
[[File:Continental Reformed.png|thumb|300px|Countries with significant Continental Reformed churches.]]
{{Calvinism}}
'''Continental Reformed Protestantism''' is a part of the [[Reformed tradition]] within [[Protestantism]] that traces its origin to [[continental Europe]]. Prominent subgroups are the [[Dutch Reformed]], the [[Swiss Reformed]], the French [[Huguenots]], the [[Hungarian Reformed]], the [[Waldensians|Waldensian Church]] in Italy, and reformed churches in Germany, which have [[Evangelical Church in Germany|long been united and mixed with Lutheran ones]].

The term is used to distinguish these churches from [[Presbyterian]], [[Congregational church|Congregational]] or other Calvinist churches, which can trace their origin to the [[British Isles]] or elsewhere in the world. Notably, their theology is largely derived from the [[Swiss Reformation]], as Switzerland (specifically [[Geneva]] and [[Zürich]]) was a base for the most influential Reformed theologians of the era. It was inaugurated by [[Huldrych Zwingli]], who formulated the first expression of the Reformed faith. Swiss Reformation was more fully articulated by [[Martin Bucer]], [[Heinrich Bullinger]] and [[John Calvin]]. In the sixteenth century, the movement spread to most of continental Europe, sometimes with the protection of monarchs or members of the nobility, as in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, some German states, and France.

==History==
{{see|Swiss Reformation|History of Calvinism}}
The first Calvinist churches were established in Europe after 1519 and were part of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. 

Calvinist doctrine is expressed in [[Reformed Christian confessions of faith|various confessions]]. A few confessions are shared by many denominations. Different denominations use different confessions, usually based on historical reasons. 

The continental Reformed churches had an impact on [[Anglicanism]] through the [[Puritans]], who wished to reform the [[Church of England]] along continental lines.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Milton |first1=Anthony |title=The Cambridge Companion to Puritanism |date=2008 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |page=125 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGcgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT125 |access-date=3 August 2022 |chapter=Puritanism and the contintental Reformed churches|isbn=9781139827829 }}</ref>

The following is a chronological list of confession and theological doctrines of the Reformed churches:
*[[First Helvetic Confession]] (1536)
*[[Consensus Tigurinus]] (1549)
*[[French Confession]] (1559)
*[[Scots Confession]] (1560)
*[[Three forms of Unity]]
**[[Heidelberg Catechism]] (1563)
**[[Belgic Confession]] (1566)
**[[Canons of Dordrecht]] (1619)
*[[Second Helvetic Confession]] (1566)
*[[Helvetic Consensus]] (1675)
*[[Barmen Declaration]] (1934)

==Forms of government==
In contrast to the [[episcopal polity]] of the [[Anglican]] and many  [[Lutheran]] and [[Methodist]] churches, Continental Reformed churches are ruled by assemblies of "elders" or ordained officers. This is usually called [[Synod|Synodal government]] by the Continental Reformed, but is essentially the same as [[presbyterian polity]], with the elders forming the ''[[Consistory (Protestantism)#Reformed usage|consistory]]'', the regional governing body known as the ''classis'', and the highest court of appeal being the ''general synod''.

The [[Reformed Church in Hungary]], its [[Reformed Church of Romania|sister church in Romania]], the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, and the [[Polish Reformed Church]] are the only continental Reformed churches to have retained the office of [[bishop]].

==Calvinist churches worldwide==
Many churches in the Calvinist tradition spread either by European immigration, or European and North American missionary work.

See also the [[List of Reformed churches#Europe|list of Continental Reformed churches]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Reformed Christianity|Christianity|Religion}}
*[[:Category: Reformed church seminaries and theological colleges]]
*[[Community of Protestant Churches in Europe]]
*[[Congregationalist polity]]
*[[World Alliance of Reformed Churches]]
*[[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]
*[[North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council]]
*[[List of Reformed denominations]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wcrc.ch World Communion of Reformed Churches]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080521163422/http://www.recweb.org/ Reformed Ecumenical Council]
*[http://www.reformiert-online.net/index_eng.php Reformed Online] – Comprehensive resource
*[http://www.icrconline.com International Conference of Reformed Churches] – 25 Reformed member churches from 14 countries
*[http://www.charismaticreformed.org Association Of Reformed Charismatic Churches]
*[https://kpts39.wixsite.com/iurc International Union of Reformed Churches]
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[[Category:Reformed Christianity]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Reformed denominations in Europe|*]]