Within the Protestant Christian family tree, there are two main branches of the Reformed Churches: the Dutch Reformed and German Reformed churches.
The Dutch Reformed branch of the Reformed Churches began with the Dutch settlers who gathered in New Amsterdam in 1628, while the German Reformed branch can be traced to German immigrants who settled around Philadelphia in the early 1700s.
The German Reformed churches became the Presbyterians in America. While the Presbyterian churches share common ground with the Reformed, originating in the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, they are treated separately here, as their development was more closely related to the 17th-century Puritan movement. Given the number of denominations that identify as Presbyterian and the unique development of the Presbyterian churches, we have elected to categorize them separately, under Presbyterianism, as the two branches have much in common, yet have remained distinct throughout their histories.
Congregational churches are also of the Reformed tradition but they developed in England and, like the Presbyterians, their history can be traced back to the Puritans who came to North America in the 17th century. They are also categorized separately, under Congregational.
Many other denominations use the word Reformed in their denominational name, adopting the word as an indication that they had reformed the doctrines and practices of whatever denomination they split from.
Thus, this category deals largely with the Protestant Christian bodies that developed from the Dutch Reformed churches, although other denominations may be placed here if they identify as Reformed and couldn't be more appropriately placed elsewhere.
Originating in the Swiss Reformation, especially in Zurich, under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli, and in Geneva, where John Calvin served as pastor and teacher. Reformed churches are sometimes referred to as Calvinist, due to the influence of John Calvin, but not all of them agree on the application of Calvin's theology. Calvin taught that people were wholly dependent upon God for their lives and salvation. The most controversial of his teachings is what has come to be known as double predestination, which implies that eternal salvation and damnation are predetermined by God.
The Dutch Reformed Church maintained its ties to Holland until 1819 when they became the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, and the Reformed Church in America in 1867.
Since all of the Protestant denominations originated from the Protestant Reformation to one degree or another, Reformed teachings are shared by several other denominations, the difference being in the emphasis that the denomination places on these teachings.
More than a hundred and twenty denominations belong to the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Reformed could be a broad-based category but, for our purposes, several of them will be categorized elsewhere. Historically, Lutherans tend to lump all non-Lutheran Protestant denominations together, as Reformed. Conversely, some Reformed Christians will narrowly limit the label to a few churches that regard, as especially authoritative, the Heidelberg Confession of Faith, the Belgic Confession of Faith, and the Canons of Dort, together known as the three symbols of unity.
Admittedly, Reformed Churches is a contested category, even among those who consider themselves to be Reformed, but most will agree that it is a part of the Protestant family tree that is rooted in the Swiss Reformation that coincided with the German Lutheran Reformation. When a denomination could reasonably fit into more than one category, we will place it in whichever category seems to be the better fit, recognizing that not everyone will agree.
Categories
Recommended Resources
Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals
FIRE is a network of independent Reformed baptistic churches who come together for mutual edification, fellowship, cooperation, and support in ministries and missions. FIRE is a network of churches and not an independent organization, there are no membership fees, and each project is initiated and overseen by a local church. A membership directory is featured and member churches are also shown on a map, FIRE regions are displayed, and its ministries are outlined.
https://www.firefellowship.org/
Foundation for Reformed Theology
The Foundation offers annual, week-long study seminars covering more than thirty topics, including the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, election, providence, and revelation, as well as the creeds, preaching, prayer, worship, Christian life, and the hope of eternal life. Its site discusses its work and resources, including bibliographies, translations of John Calvin’s works, sermons, and various Foundation publications, events, and contacts.
https://foundationrt.org/
Presented by Third Millennium Ministries, the online curriculum is available for free, and its lessons and courses may be implemented by schools, teachers, students, and groups in any order or manner, although a recommended order is provided. Alternatively, a 27-credit master’s curriculum, with video lectures, study guides, readings, quizzes, tests, grading, and registrar administration is also available. The seminary curriculum and course catalog are provided.
http://www.reformedseminary.org/
Created and maintained by a group of people who adhere to the principles of the Reformation, such as the Five Solas, the doctrines of grace, monergistic regeneration, and the redemptive-historical approach to interpreting the Scriptures, the site features categorized informational articles on a wide variety of issues relating to Reformed theology, including archives going back to 2005, and links to other online Reformed sources and community websites.
http://www.reformationtheology.com/
Featuring a topically arranged collection of answers to questions about the Bible, theology, and Christian history that have been received from visitors to its various websites, provided by the staff of Third Millennium Ministries, using the doctrinal standards of the Westminster Confession of Faith, and its shorter and larger Catechisms. Its topics are sorted into the following categories: Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, Practical Theology, and Church History.
http://www.reformedanswers.org/
Created to provide Reformed Christian theological resources to pastors, scholars, and others who want to enhance their understanding of the Bible and the theology that summarizes Scriptural teachings. Besides its website, Reformed Forum includes an audio program, Christ the Center, featuring weekly discussions, and it hosts educational events, publishes books, and operated Fellowship in Reformed Apologetics, an online academic program. An online store is available.
https://reformedforum.org/
Intended as a resource for parents, helping them to teach important gospel truths to their children, and providing encouragement along the way, the site includes children’s catechism resources, with direct links to questions and answers, songs, books, and activities, as well as the Westminster Shorter Catechism resources, with links to questions and answers, songs, books, and other information. Includes are homeschooling resources and theology for kids.
https://www.reformedmama.com/
Reformed Online is the teaching ministry of Christian Perspective Ministries, and particularly the Rev. Allan McQuarrie, the site covers a variety of Reformed topics, including Reformed theology, Reformation history, Reformed evangelism, as well as articles on topics such as election and predestination, Christology, and hermeneutics, audio sermons, a series on the birth of Christ, and videos on the interpreting the Bible. Questions and answers are included.
https://reformed.online/
The online shopping site is maintained by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, suggesting several resources to equip Reformed Christian churches and Reformed Christians, including featured products, free resources, messages of the month, and Alliance literature for registered members. Products offered for sale include books, booklets, DVDs, music, content on USB drives, and branded tote bags, and other gear. Clearance updates are noted.
https://reformedresources.org/
Free sermons from evangelical Christian pastors and lectures from evangelical Christian seminary professors, largely from the Reformed tradition of theology, are presented here, as provided by Third Millennium Ministries. Audio files may be browsed by topic or by the speaker and, alternatively, they may be found through the site’s search engine by author, keyword, Scripture book, subject, or sermon title. Content guidelines and submission format and procedure are stated.
http://www.reformedsermons.org/
Covering the wide variety of topics related to Reformed theology, the site features Christian apologetics, reports, and analysis of books written by Reformed authors, family devotions, sermons, information about Reformed preachers, past and present, as well as sermons from Reformed preachers. Reformed theology books are offered for sale, and an online store offers tee-shirts, sweatshirts, and other apparel, cups, mugs, masks, and other products.
https://reformedtheologyhub.com/
Created by Scott Bushey, a seminary student at the North American Reformed Seminary, the site discusses Christian theology from a Reformed perspective, holding to the 5 Solas of the Reformation and the doctrines of grace, and covering topics such as the Gospel, Biblical manhood, doctrine, Ecclesia, heresy, historic confessions, men of God, Psalmody, regulative principle, prayer, theology, the Puritans, covenant theology, and others, including links to other online resources.
http://www.semperreformanda.com/
The site shows the Psalter revision work of the Protestant, Heritage, and Free Reformed denominations. A summary of the changes that were made are recorded on the site, and Psalms 1-150 may be downloaded from the site. The principles of the revision of the text, music, and format are posted, and Books I-V are featured, including audio and document samples of the proposed changes, and PDF downloads. Magazine articles referencing the revision are included.
https://thepsalter.net/
Available by subscription, the video podcast teaches various lessons on Calvinism, Reformed theology, the Reformation, the Reformed doctrine, Reformed catechism, and the 1689 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith, which codifies the essentials of Reformed doctrine. Also included is a blog, the text of the historic Creeds, videos from the Doctrines of Grace Conference, quotes from Reformed theologians and preachers, and a contact form.
https://reformedrookie.com/
World Communion of Reformed Churches
Representing more than two hundred and twenty member denominations, the WCRC is the largest association of Reformed churches, and the third-largest Christian communion, after the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Its history, governance, mission, and membership are featured, along with staff contacts, organizational structure, and theological positions. Periodicals published by the WCRC are discussed, some of which may be read online.
http://wcrc.ch/
