Calvinism

John Calvin

Background Christianity St. Augustine The Reformation Calvinism is a system of Christian theology and an approach to Christian life and thought, articulated by John Calvin, a Protestant Reformer in the 16th century, and subsequently by successors, associates, followers and admirers of Calvin and his interpretation of Scripture. ... From [1], in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... John Calvin (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564) was an important French Christian theologian during the Protestant Reformation and is the namesake of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centred on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... For the first Archbishop of Canterbury, see Saint Augustine of Canterbury Aurelius Augustinus, Augustine of Hippo, or Saint Augustine (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430) was one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. ... The Protestant Reformation, also referred to as the Protestant Revolution or Protestant Revolt, was a movement in the 16th century to reform the Catholic Church in Western Europe. ...

Distinctives Calvin's Institutes Five Solas Five Points (TULIP) Regulative principle Confessions of faith Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvins seminal work on Protestant theology. ... The Five Solas are five Latin phrases (or slogans) that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers basic beliefs and emphasis in contradistinction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church of the day. ... Calvinist theology is often identified in the popular mind as the so-called five points of Calvinism (remembered in the English-speaking world with the mnemonic TULIP), which are a summation of the judgments (or canons) rendered by the Synod of Dordt and which were published in the Quinquarticular Controversy... The regulative principle of worship is a Christian theological doctrine teaching that the public worship of God should include those and only those elements that are instituted, commanded, or appointed by command or example in the Bible; that God institutes in Scripture everything he requires for worship in the Church... The Reformed churches express their consensus of faith in various creeds. ...

Influences Theodore Beza Synod of Dort Puritan theology Jonathan Edwards Princeton theologians Karl Barth To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... xxx cciiiox The Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618/19, by the Dutch Reformed Church, in order to settle a serious controversy in the Dutch churches initiated by the rise of Arminianism. ... The Puritans were members of a group of radical Protestants which developed in England after the Reformation. ... Jonathan Edwards (October 5, 1703- March 22, 1758) was a colonial American Congregational preacher and theologian. ... The Princeton theology is a tradition of conservative, Christian, Reformed and Presbyterian theology at Princeton Seminary, in Princeton, New Jersey. ... Karl Barth (May 10, 1886–December 10, 1968) (pronounced Bart) was an influential Swiss Reformed Christian theologian. ...

Churches Reformed Presbyterian Congregationalist Reformed Baptist The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant denominations historically related by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine, which first arose especially in the Swiss Reformation led by Huldrych Zwingli, but soon afterward appeared in nations throughout Western Europe. ... Presbyterianism is a form of Protestant Christianity, primarily in the Reformed branch of Christendom, as well as a particular form of church government. ... Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs. ... The name Reformed Baptist does not refer to a distinct denomination but instead is a description of the churchs theological leaning. ...

Peoples Afrikaner Calvinists Huguenots Pilgrims Puritans Afrikaner Calvinism is a unique cultural development that combined the Calvinist religion with the political aspirations of the white Afrikaans speaking people of South Africa. ... In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name of Huguenots came to apply to members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, or historically as the French Calvinists. ... Pilgrims Going to Church by George Henry Boughton (1867) The Pilgrims were a group of English religious separatists who sailed from Europe to North America in the early 17th century, in search of a home where they could freely practice their style of religion. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This box: view • talk • edit

Presbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of Assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Elders make decisions for the local church in a body called the Kirk Session or Church Session. Groups of local churches are governed by higher assemblies of elders, called church courts, known as Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assemblies. Specific roles in church services are reserved for an ordained minister or pastor known as a teaching elder, or a minister of the word and sacrament. Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, a synonym of episkopos, which has come to mean bishop. ...

It was developed as a rejection of governance by hierarchies of single bishops (Episcopal polity.) This theory of government developed in Geneva under John Calvin and was introduced to Scotland by John Knox after his period of exile in Geneva. It is strongly associated with Swiss and Scottish Protestant Reformation movements, and with the Reformed and Presbyterian churches. It has been suggested that episcopal be merged into this article or section. ... Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German: //, Italian: Ginevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ... John Calvin (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564) was an important French Christian theologian during the Protestant Reformation and is the namesake of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by... John Knox (1505, 1513 or 1514 – 1572) was a Scottish religious reformer who played the lead part in reforming the Church in Scotland in a Presbyterian manner. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by... The Protestant Reformation, also referred to as the Protestant Revolution or Protestant Revolt, was a movement in the 16th century to reform the Catholic Church in Western Europe. ... The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant denominations historically related by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine, which first arose especially in the Swiss Reformation led by Huldrych Zwingli, but soon afterward appeared in nations throughout Western Europe. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ...

Basis

Presbyterian polity is constructed on specific assumptions about the form of the government intended by the New Testament: John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ...

• A bishop is the highest office of the church (there is no Patriarch or Pope over bishops),
• "Bishop" (Koine Greek "episcopos") and "elder" (Koine Greek "presbyteros") are synonymous terms. Episcopos means literally overseer and describes the function of the elder, rather than the maturity of the officer.
  • Preaching (the ministry of the Word) and the administration of the sacraments is ordinarily entrusted to specially trained elders (known as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, sometimes called a "teaching elder") in each local congregation, approved for these tasks by a governing Presbytery, or Classis, and called by the local congregation.
  • Pastoral care, discipline, leadership and legislation are committed to the care of ruling Assemblies of presbyters among whom the ministers and other elders are equal participants.
• All Christian people together are the priesthood (see Priesthood of all believers), on behalf of whom the elders are called to serve by the consent of the congregation.

Presbyterianism uses a conciliar method of church government (that is, leadership by the group or council.) Thus, the presbyters (elders) govern together as a group, and at all times the office is for the service of the congregation, to pray for them and to encourage them in the faith. The elders together exercise oversight (episcopacy) over the local congregation, with superior groups of elders gathered on a regional basis exercising wider oversight. A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... Koine Greek () is an ancient Greek dialect which marks the third stage in the history of the Greek language. ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy [[Mystery The root meaning of the Latin word sacramentum is making sacred. One example of its use was as the term for the oath of dedication taken by Roman soldiers; but the ecclesiastical use of the word is... A congregation is the group of members who make up a local Christian church or Jewish synagogue (or those who are present at a service thereat), as opposed to the building itself. ... A presbytery can be - * the residence of one or more presbyters, priests, or religious elders; - * an area of a church or cathedral reserved for priests; - * the collective college of priests in a diocese, archdiocese, or prelature; - * the local unit in the polity of a Presbyterian church, consisting of presbyters (i. ... The priesthood of all believers is a Protestant doctrine founded on the First Epistle of Peter, 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into...

Presbyterians typically have viewed this method of government as approximating that of the New Testament and earliest churches. However, sometimes it is admitted that episcopacy was a form of government that was used very early in the church for practical reasons. Some Presbyterians are more adamant, that prelacy is in itself corrupt and rebellious against the Word of God. John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... A prelate is a member of the clergy having a special canonical jurisdiction over a territory or a group of people; usually, a prelate is a bishop. ...

Presbyterianism is also a distinct from Congregationalism, in that individual congregations are not independent, but are answerable to the wider church, through its superior courts (Presbyteries, Synods and Assemblies.) Also, the ordained ministry possesses a distinct responsibility for preaching and sacraments. Congregational churches are sometimes called "Presbyterian" if they are governed by a council of elders; but the difference is that every local congregation is independent, and its elders are accountable to its members, and congregationalism's wider Assemblies are not ordinarily empowered to enforce discipline. Thus these are ruled by elders only at the level of the congregations, which are united with one another by covenants of trust. Reformed Baptist churches are sometimes organized to be governed by elders, on the Congregationalist model. Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation indepedently and autonomously runs its own affairs. ... Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs. ... The name Reformed Baptist does not refer to a distinct denomination but instead is a description of the churchs theological leaning. ...

The Elder

There are two types of elder; the teaching elder (see The Minister below) and the ruling elder. The teaching elder is also a ruling elder. An excerpt from Miller (1831) expands this. ^[1]

In every Church completely organized, that is, furnished with all the officers which Christ has instituted and which are necessary for carrying into full effect the laws of his kingdom, there ought to be three classes of officers, viz: at least one Teaching Elder, Bishop, or Pastor — a bench of Ruling Elders — and Deacons. The first to "minister in the Word and Doctrine," and to dispense the sacraments ; — the second to assist in the inspection and government of the Church ; — and the third to "serve tables;" that is, to take care of the Church's funds destined for the support of the poor, and sometimes to manage whatever relates to the temporal support of the gospel and its ministers.

The elders are persons chosen from among the congregation and ordained for this service. Beyond that, practices vary: sometimes elders are elected by the congregation, ^[2] sometimes appointed by the Session, some denominations ordain elders for life, others have fixed terms, and some churches appoint elders on a rotation from among willing members in good standing in the church.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to sitting on the Session and other church courts, ruling elders have duties as individuals. Again, Miller (1831) explains, ^[3]

It is their duty to have an eye of inspection and care over all the members of the congregation; and, for this purpose, to cultivate a universal and intimate acquaintance, as far as may be, with every family in the flock of which they are made "overseers."

The Session

Elders make decisions for the local parish through a ruling body called the Session (Latin. sessio from sedere "to sit"), sometimes the Kirk Session, Church Session or Consistory. The members of the Session are the minister (sometimes called a "teaching elder"), and the other ruling elders (sometimes called "lay elders"). Latin is an ancient Indo-European language. ... In religious organizations, the laity comprises all lay persons collectively. ...

The minister will usually chair or preside over the Session. All elders have an equal vote in the session.^[3] In theory, the minister is not the head of the Session — typically enjoying only a casting vote. In reality though, the minister is often regarded as 'the leader'.

The Presbytery

In Presbyterianism congregations are united in accountability to a regional body called the Presbytery, or sometimes the Classis. Presbyteries are made up of a minister and an elder from each parish, as well as theological college lecturers and retired ministers. When there is a larger number of ordained ministers than elders additional elders are appointed to redress the imbalance. The commissioners of the Presbytery exercise their own judgement and are not required to vote how their congregation would wish them to.

The officers of a Presbytery are a Moderator and a Clerk. The Moderator acts as chairman of Presbytery meetings and has a casting but not deliberative vote. As with the Moderators of Synods and Assemblies, the Moderatorship is a primus inter pares position appointed by the Presbytery itself. The Moderator is addressed as "Moderator" during meetings, but their position has no bearing outside of the Presbytery meeting and affords them no special place in other courts, although typically the Moderator will conduct worship at ordinations and other ordinances which are seen as acts of the Presbytery. Moderator, a Latin word for he who moderates, can refer to: Moderator provinciae was the title of certain Roman provincial governors Moderator is a Scots, and Scottish English, gender-neutral word that approximates chairman or convener. ... The Church of Scotland maintains a presbyterian polity and is thus governed by a hierarchy of Church Courts. ... First among equals is a phrase which indicates that a person is the most senior of a group of people sharing the same rank or office. ...

The Clerk takes minutes and deals with the correspondence of the Presbytery, and is often appointed for an indefinite term.

Presbyteries meet at a regularity between monthly and quarterly.

The Synod

In denominations too large for all the work of the denomination to be done by a single Presbytery, the parishes may be divided into several Presbyteries under Synods and General Assemblies, the Synod being the lower court of the two.

Often all members of the constituent Presbyteries are members of the Synod. Like the commissioners to Presbyteries, the commissioners to Synods do not act on instruction from their congregations or Presbyteries, but exercise their own judgement. A Synod also has a Moderator and Clerk, and generally meet less regularly than the Presbytery.

Some Presbyterian churches have no intermediate court between the Presbytery and the General Assembly.

The General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest court of Presbyterian polity. Each Presbytery selects a number of its members to be commissioners to the General Assembly. The General Assembly is chaired by the Moderator of the General Assembly, who elected to a one year term. They are addressed as Moderator during meetings, but like the other Moderators, their position has not bearing outside of the Assembly meeting and affords them no special place in other courts. He or she presides meeting of the Assembly, and may be called on in a representative function for the remainder of the year. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is an honorary role, held for 12 months. ...

The Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly administer the minutes, correspondence, and business of the Assembly. In some cases a separate business convenor is appointed to deal with the agenda. General Assemblies meet less regularly than their subordinate courts, often annually.

The powers of the General Assembly are usually wide-ranging. However, they may be limited by some form of external review. For example, the rules of the Church of Scotland include the Barrier Act, which requires that certain major changes to the polity of the church be referred to the presbyteries, before being enacted by the General Assembly. The Church of Scotland (CofS, known informally as The Kirk, Eaglais na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the national church of Scotland. ...

The Minister

See also Holy Orders#Presbyterian_churches

Local presbyterian churches appoint and set apart one or more teaching elders, or ministers of the word and sacrament. ^[4] Usually they are known as Pastors or Ministers, and serve as clergy for the church. Roman Catholic deacon candidates prostrate before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles during a 2004 diaconate ordination liturgy Holy Orders in the modern Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Assyrian, Old Catholic, and Independent Catholic Churches, includes... Main article: Minister of religion A pastor is the head minister or priest of a Christian church. ... For other types of minister, see Minister In Christian churches, a minister is a man or woman who serves a congregation or participates in a role in a parachurch ministry; such persons can minister as a Pastor, Preacher, Bishop, Chaplain, Deacon or Elder. ... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ...

Ministers may be considered equal in status with the other elders, but they have a distinct ordination and distinct function. They are the primary preachers and teachers, celebrants of sacraments. There are sometimes further distinctions between the minister and the other elders. Some denominations of Presbyterians enrol the minister as a member of their congregation, where as others enrol the minister as a member of the regional Presbytery.

Until the 20th century, only men had been eligible for the ministry or eldership world-wide. This is widely not the case any longer; although, it is usually considered a demarcation issue, distinguishing "liberal" from "conservative" churches with Presbyterian government. See also: Ordination of women There are a variety of positions on the ordination of women among different religions, sects and denominations within each religion. ...

The General Assembly of a denomination often decides on what grounds a person may be ordained, but the ordination of ministers is the right of the Presbytery, and the right to extend a call to a minister is the privilege of the members of the parish or congregation. ^{[4] [2] [5]}

The Deacon

The office of deacon has different meanings among different Presbyterian churches. In some churches deacons exercise responsibility for practical matters of finance and fabric - either separately or together with the elders. In some cases deacons administer the welfare matters of the congregation, while a separate Board of Management or Trustees administers the other material business of the congregation, such as its endowments, salaries and buildings. Deacon is a role in the Christian Church which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. ... The word trustee is a legal term that refers to a holder of property on behalf of some other beneficiary. ...

Trivia

• Robert Burns published a brief irreverent poem On A Celebrated Ruling Elder as an elegy for a Scottish presbyterian.^[6]

Robert Burns, preeminent Scottish poet Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and songwriter. ...

See also

• Ecclesiastical polity
  • Episcopal polity
  • Congregationalist polity
• Congregational church
• Moderators and clerks in the Church of Scotland
• Federalism
• Presbyterianism
• Reformed churches

• For a full list of individual denominations see List of Christian denominations#Reformed and Presbyterian Churches

It has been suggested that episcopal be merged into this article or section. ... Congregationalist church governance, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local congregation is independent. ... Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs. ... The Church of Scotland maintains a presbyterian polity and is thus governed by a hierarchy of Church Courts. ... Federalism is a political philosophy in which a group or body of members are bound together (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. ... Presbyterianism is a form of Protestant Christianity, primarily in the Reformed branch of Christendom, as well as a particular form of church government. ... The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant denominations historically related by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine, which first arose especially in the Swiss Reformation led by Huldrych Zwingli, but soon afterward appeared in nations throughout Western Europe. ... List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships. ...

References and notes

The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in 1913 by The Encyclopedia Press. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

External links

• World Alliance of Reformed Churches
• Catholic Encyclopedia 1914, Presbyterianism by J. A. MCHUGH. Online edition
• Samuel Miller, 1831. An Essay, on the Warrant, Nature and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder, in the Presbyterian Church (New York). Book in the public domain, available online at Bible Presbyterian Church and CRTA.
• Westminster Assembly, 1645 "The Form of Presbyterial Church-Government" online at reformed.org