Calvinism

Calvinism (also called the Reformed tradition, Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism or the Reformed faith) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice of John Calvin and other Reformation-era theologians.

Calvinists broke with the Roman Catholic Church but differed with Lutherans on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, theories of worship, and the use of God's law for believers, among other things. Calvinism can be a misleading term because the religious tradition it denotes is and has always been diverse, with a wide range of influences rather than a single founder. The movement was first called Calvinism by Lutherans who opposed it, and many within the tradition would prefer to use the word Reformed. Since the Arminian controversy, the Reformed tradition — as a branch of Protestantism distinguished from Lutheranism — divided into separate groups, Arminians and Calvinists.

Reformed churches may exercise several forms of ecclesiastical polity, but most are presbyterian or congregationalist with some being episcopalian.

Christian Reformed Church in North America

The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA or CRC) is an Evangelical Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. Having roots in the Dutch Reformed churches of the Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church was founded by Gijsbert Haan and Dutch immigrants who left the Reformed Church in America in 1857 and is theologically Calvinist.

History

The Christian Reformed Church split from the Reformed Church in America in an 1857 Secession, which was in part the result of a theological dispute that originated in the Netherlands. In 1857 four churches and about 130 families separated from what was at the time called the Dutch Reformed Church in America, and the Christian Reformed Church was organised. In March, Noordeloos church of Classis Holland left the Reformed Church in America. Later on March 19 some members of Second Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, organized an independent church that became First CRC, Grand Rapids. On April 8 Graafschap and Polkton churches seceded from Classis Holland of the Reformed Church, and two ministers resigned as ministers of Classis Holland of the Reformed Church in America. On February 8, 1857 the name Ware Hollandsche Gereformeerde Kerk (True Dutch Reformed Church) was chosen for the new denomination. On April 17, Vriesland church left the Reformed Church in America to join Ware Hollandsche Gereformeerde Kerk.