Protestantism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Protestantism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 

Protestantism 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 

(Redirected from Protestant Church) 

Protestantism is one of the major groupings within 

Christianity, and has been defined as "any Western 

Christian who is not an adherent of a Catholic, Anglican, or 

Eastern Church," [1] though some consider Anglicanism to 

be Protestant as well [2] . It is a movement that began in 

Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against 

medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, 

especially in regards to salvation, justification, and 

ecclesiology. The doctrines of the various Protestant 

denominations vary, but most include justification by grace 

through faith alone, known as Sola Gratia and Sola Fide 

respectively, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as 

the supreme authority in matters of faith and morals, known 

as Sola Scriptura, which is Latin for "by scripture alone". 

In the 16th century, the followers of Martin Luther 

established the evangelical (Lutheran) churches of Germany 

and Scandinavia. Reformed churches in Hungary, Scotland, 

Switzerland and France were established by John Calvin 

and other reformers such as Huldrych Zwingli. In addition, 

John Knox established a Calvinist communion in the 

Church of Scotland and also the Reformed Church in 

Hungary. Reforms in England led to The Church of 

England. There were also reformation movements 

throughout continental Europe known as the Radical 

Reformation which gave rise to the Anabaptist, Moravian, 

and other pietistic movements. 

Contents 

1 Etymology 

2 Luther's 95 theses 

3 Protestant doctrines 

3.1 Conservative and liberal 

3.2 Dissension and separations 

4 History 

5 Fundamental principles 

6 Major groupings 

7 Other groups rejecting Protestant label 

8 Denominations 

8.1 Anglicans and Episcopalians 

8.2 Main denominations 

9 Theological Tenets of the Reformation 

10 Christ's presence in the Lord's Supper 

11 Catholicism 

12 Radical Reformation 

13 Movements 

13.1 Pietism and Methodism 

13.2 Evangelicalism 

13.3 Adventism 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Church 

Part of a series on 

Christianity 

Jesus · Christ 

Virgin birth · Crucifixion · Resurrection · Easter · 

Jesus in Christianity 

Foundations 

Apostles · Church · Creeds · Gospel · Kingdom · 

New Covenant 

Bible 

Old Testament · New Testament · 

Books · Canon (Christian canons) · Apocrypha 

Theology 

Apologetics · Baptism · Christology · Father · 

Son · Holy Spirit · 

History of theology · Salvation · Trinity · Ten 

Commandments 

History and traditions 

Timeline · Mary · Peter · Paul · 

Fathers · Early · Constantine the Great · 

Ecumenical councils · Missions · 

East–West Schism · Crusades · 

Protestant Reformation 

Denominations and movements 

Western 

Adventist · Anabaptist · Anglican · Baptist · 

Calvinism · Evangelicalism · Holiness · 

Independent Catholic · Lutheran · Methodist · 

Old Catholic · Protestant · Pentecostal · Roman 

Catholic 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 1 of 24


13.4 Modernism and Liberalism 

13.5 Pentecostalism 

13.6 Fundamentalism 

13.7 Neo-orthodoxy 

13.8 New Evangelicalism 

13.9 Paleo-orthodoxy 

13.10 Ecumenism 

14 Founders: the first major reformers and 

theologians 

14.1 Proto-Reformation 

14.2 Reformation Proper 

15 See also 

16 References 

17 External links 

Etymology 

The exact origin of the term protestant is unsure, and may 

come either from French: protestant or German: protestant. 

However, it is certain that both languages derived their word from 

the Latin: protestantem, meaning "one who publicly 

declares/protests", [3] which refers to the letter of protestation by 

Lutheran princes against the decision of the Diet of Speyer in 1529, 

which reaffirmed the edict of the Diet of Worms in 1521, banning 

Martin Luther's 95 theses of protest against some beliefs and 

practices of the early 16th century Catholic Church. 

The term Protestant was not initially applied to the Reformers, but 

later was used to describe all groups protesting Roman Catholic 

orthodoxy. Since that time, the term Protestant has been used in 

many different senses, often as a general term merely to signify 

Christians who belong to neither the Roman Catholic, Eastern 

Orthodoxy, or Oriental Orthodoxy Churches. 

Luther's 95 theses 


Catholic 

Eastern 

Eastern Orthodox · Eastern Catholic · Oriental 

Orthodox (Miaphysite) · Assyrian 

Nontrinitarian 

Jehovah's Witness · Latter Day Saint · Unitarian 

· Christadelphian · Oneness Pentecostal 

General topics 

Art · Criticism · Ecumenism · Liturgical year · 

Liturgy · Music · Other religions · Prayer · 

Sermon · Symbolism 

Christianity Portal 

Protestant iconoclasm: the 

Beeldenstorm during the Dutch 

reformation. 

In 1517, Martin Luther, a German Augustinian friar, published the 95 theses. Popular history holds that 

these were nailed to a church door in the university town of Wittenberg by Luther himself, but this claim 

has recently come under scrutiny (see article on Martin Luther for discussion). Luther's propositions 

challenged some portions of Roman Catholic doctrine and a number of specific practices. 

Luther was particularly criticizing a common church practice of the day, the selling of indulgences. In 

Catholic theology, an indulgence was the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins 

which have already been forgiven. However, Pope Leo X had declared that indulgences were not only for 

the remission of temporal punishment, but also for guilt itself. To Luther, it appeared that selling 

indulgences was tantamount to selling salvation, something that he felt was against both biblical teaching 

and Roman Catholic doctrine. At the time, Rome was using the sale of indulgences as a means to raise 

money for a massive church project, the construction of St. Peter's Basilica. 

The Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences (commonly known as 

the 95 theses) [4] was a request for a formal disputation that criticized the practice of selling indulgences. 

This kind of disputation was a common academic exercise during this era. Luther maintained that 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 2 of 24


justification (salvation) was granted by faith alone, saying that good works and the sacraments were not 

necessary in order to be saved. A copy of the disputation eventually made it to the hands of the regional 

bishop, who in turn forwarded the disputation to Rome. [5] 

Protestant doctrines 

Although the doctrines of Protestant denominations are far from 

uniform, some beliefs extending across Protestantism are the 

doctrines ofsola scriptura and sola fide. 

Sola scriptura maintains that the Bible (rather than church 

tradition or ecclesiastical interpretations of the Bible) [6] is the 

primary and supreme source of binding authority for all 

Christians. This does not exclude other sources of binding 

authority, rather it places other forms of authority in 

subordination to the authority of Scripture. 

Sola fide holds that salvation comes by grace through faith 

alone in Jesus as the Christ, rather than through good works. 


Destruction of icons in Zurich, 1524. 

Protestant churches generally reject the Catholic and Orthodox doctrines of papal supremacy and 

magisterial authority, including both papal infallibility and the general infallibility of the Church. Because 

of this, protestant ministers and church leaders have somewhat different roles and authority in their 

communities than do Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox priests and bishops. 

Conservative and liberal 

Protestantism has both conservative and liberal theological strands within it. Protestant styles of public 

worship tend to be simpler and less elaborate than those of Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Eastern 

Christians, sometimes radically so, though there are exceptions to this tendency. 

Dissension and separations 

The reformers soon disagreed among themselves and divided their movement according to doctrinal 

differences—first between Luther and Zwingli, later between Martin Luther and John Calvin— 

consequently resulting in the establishment of diverse Protestant denominations such as the Lutheran, 

Reformed, Anabaptist, and others. 

However, while the first half-dozen mainline denominations came about through sectarianism and dissent in 

Europe, most of the subsequent denominations came about in a non-sectarian manner in America. This 

initial explosion of denominations largely came about in the first two Great Awakenings, and the birth of 

these denominations was of an entirely different character than that of the Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, 

etc. 

History 

Main article: History of Protestantism 

Further information: Protestant Reformation, English Reformation, Reformation in Switzerland, Scottish 

Reformation, and European Wars of Religion 

The Protestant Reformation of the early 16th century began as 

an attempt to reform the Catholic Church. German theologian 

Martin Luther wrote his Ninety-Five Theses on the sale of 

indulgences in 1517. Parallel to events in Germany, a movement 

began in Switzerland under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli. 

The political separation of the Church of England from Rome 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 3 of 24


under Henry VIII, beginning in 1529 and completed in 1536, 

brought England alongside this broad Reformed movement. The 

Scottish Reformation of 1560 decisively shaped the Church of 

Scotland [7] and, through it, all other Presbyterian churches 

worldwide. 

Following the excommunication of Luther and condemnation of 

the Reformation by the Pope, the work and writings of John 

Calvin were influential in establishing a loose consensus among 

various groups in Switzerland, Scotland, Hungary, Germany and 

elsewhere. In the course of this religious upheaval, the German 

Peasants' War of 1524–1525 swept through the Bavarian, 


Distribution of Protestantism (red) and 

Catholicism (blue) in Central Europe on 

the eve of the Thirty Years' War. 

Thuringian and Swabian principalities. After the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) in the Low Countries and 

the French Wars of Religion (1562–1598), the confessional division of the states of the Holy Roman 

Empire eventually erupted in the Thirty Years' War of 1618–1648. This left Germany weakened and 

fragmented for more than two centuries, until the unification of Germany under the German Empire of 

1871. 

The success of the Counter-Reformation on the Continent and the growth of a Puritan party dedicated to 

further Protestant reform polarized the Elizabethan Age, although it was not until the Civil War of the 

1640s that England underwent religious strife comparable to that which its neighbours had suffered some 

generations before. 

The "Great Awakenings" were periods of rapid and dramatic religious revival in Anglo-American religious 

history, generally recognized as beginning in the 1730s. They have also been described as periodic 

revolutions in colonial religious thought. 

In the 20th century, Protestantism, especially in the United States, was characterized by accelerating 

fragmentation. The century saw the rise of both liberal and conservative splinter groups, as well as a 

general secularization of Western society. Notable developments in the 20th century of US Protestantism 

was the rise of Pentecostalism, Christian fundamentalism and Evangelicalism. While these movements have 

spilled over to Europe to a limited degree, the development of Protestantism in Europe was more 

dominated by secularization, leading to an increasingly "post-Christian Europe". 

Fundamental principles 

The three fundamental principles of traditional Protestantism are the following: 

Scripture Alone 

The belief in the Bible as the supreme source of authority for the church. The early churches of the 

Reformation believed in a critical, yet serious, reading of Scripture and holding the Bible as a source 

of authority higher than that of Church Tradition. The many abuses that had occurred in the Western 

Church prior to the Protestant Reformation led the Reformers to reject much of the Tradition of the 

Western Church, though some would maintain Tradition has been maintained and reorganized in the 

liturgy and in the confessions of the Protestant Churches of the Reformation. In the early 20th century 

there developed a less critical reading of the Bible in the United States that has led to a 

"fundamentalist" reading of Scripture. Christian Fundamentalists read the Bible as the "inerrant, 

infallible" Word of God, as do the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican churches, to name a 

few, but interpret it in a more literal way. 

Justification by Faith Alone 

The subjective principle of the Reformation is justification by faith alone, or, rather, by free grace 

through faith. It has reference to the personal appropriation of the Christian salvation, and aims to 

give all glory to Christ, by declaring that the sinner is justified before God (i.e., is acquitted of guilt, 

and declared righteous) solely on the ground of the all-sufficient merits of Christ as apprehended by a 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 4 of 24


living faith, in opposition to the theory —then prevalent, and substantially sanctioned by "the Council 

of Trent— which makes faith and good works co-ordinate sources of justification, laying the chief 

stress upon works. Protestantism does not depreciate good works; but it denies their value as sources 

or conditions of justification, and insists on them as the necessary fruits of faith, and evidence of 

justification." [8] 

Universal Priesthood of Believers 

The universal priesthood of believers implies the right and duty of the Christian laity not only to read 

the Bible in the vernacular, but also to take part in the government and all the public affairs of the 

Church. It is opposed to the hierarchical system which puts the essence and authority of the Church 

in an exclusive priesthood, and makes ordained priests the necessary mediators between God and the 

people. [8] 

Major groupings 

The term Protestant is often used loosely to denote all non-Roman Catholic varieties of Western 

Christianity, rather than to refer to those churches adhering to the principles described below. Trinitarian 

Protestant denominations are divided according to the position taken on baptism: 

"Mainline Protestants," a North American phrase, are Christians who trace their tradition's lineage to 

Lutheranism, or Calvinism. These groups are often considered to be part of the Magisterial 

Reformation and traditionally have adhered to the central doctrines and principles of the 

Reformation. Lutheranism, Calvinism, and a Zwinglian theology are typically mainline, and as 

denominations, "mainline" is typically seen as referring to Methodists, Presbyterians, Moravians, and 

Lutherans, all large denominations with significant liberal and conservative wings. 

Anabaptists (lit. "baptized twice") were so named from the fact that they re-baptised converts. While 

not all agree, today's scholars believe that Anabaptists, by name, began with the Radical Reformers in 

the 16th century. A minority of other people and groups may still legitimately claim that there were 

earlier forerunners. A full discussion of the origins of the Anabaptists is available at the article on 

their origins. 

Baptists was a name used to refer to any English Separatists that did not practice Infant Baptism. 

There were two main groups in England during the 17th century: General Baptists and Particular 

Baptists. "General" and "Particular" refer to the belief in either General Atonement or Particular 

Atonement respectively. The General Baptists rose from a Separatist congregation headed by an ex- 

Anglican priest, John Smyth, who fled to the Netherlands to escape persecution in England. While in 

the Netherlands, the group came under the influence of the Mennonites, and adopted their views on 

baptism. The Particular Baptists grew out of the Brownist movement, in particular the congregation 

headed by Henry Jessey, Henry Jacob, and John Lothropp. Eventually, in 1633, a large number of 

this congregation believed that scripture taught that only confessor's baptism was acceptable. Under 

the leadership of John Spilsbury they began a new congregation. Though these groups were 

historically unrelated, they held in common the practice of Confessor's Baptism. At first neither group 

practiced immersion. In 1640, a Particular Baptist named Richard Blunt discussed his belief that 

immersion was both the scriptural and ancient mode of the ordinance. This view was eventually 

adopted by all Particular Baptists. It is unknown when General Baptists began to practice immersion, 

but it was given as the approved mode in their Standard Confession of 1660. Regarding the 

sacramental view of baptism, the groups both had their own traditions. The Particular Baptist 

Confession of Faith teaches a Calvinistic view of sacraments. The catechism approved by the 

National Assembly in 1677 also makes use of the word "sacrament". Though General Baptist 

confessions clearly state their opposition to infant baptism, the sacramental aspect is not explained. 

Today, the majority of Baptists deny that baptism is a sacrament, but merely an ordinance 

symbolizing but unattached to spiritual rebirth. Reformed Baptists however still hold a belief in the 

ordinance as a sacrament in accordance with the Confession and Catechism of 1689. 

Today, denominations such as the Schwarzenau Brethren/German Baptists, Mennonites, Hutterites, 

and Amish eschew infant baptism and have historically been Peace churches. Typically, independent 

Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations, and the house church movement belong in this category, 

too. 

Certain Protestant denominations including the Quakers and the Shakers, do not practice baptism 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 5 of 24


Certain Protestant denominations including the Quakers and the Shakers, do not practice baptism 

sacramentally. [9] These denominations view baptism as part of a process on ongoing renewal. 

Antecedents of these beliefs may be found in Strigolniki theology. Normatively, the Salvation Army 

does not practice baptism. 

There are many independent, non-aligned or non-denominational Trinitarian congregations that may take 

any one of these or no particular position on baptism. 

Other groups rejecting Protestant label 

Some religious movements, such as the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nontrinitarian 

movements, and New Religious Movements are often included in lists of Protestants by some outsiders. 

However, neither mainline Protestants nor the groups themselves would consider the designation 

appropriate. Some groups associated with the Restoration Movement also do not consider themselves to be 

Protestant. In addition, many groups within the Emerging church do not cleanly fit the moniker and would 

not consider themselves part of this movement (or rather, would consider themselves to have transcended 

or fulfilled the movement). 

Denominations 

Main article: Protestants by country 

Protestants refer to specific groupings of churches that share in 

common foundational doctrines and the name of their groups as 

"denominations". They are differently named parts of the whole 

"church"; Protestants reject the Roman Catholic doctrine that it is the 

one true church. Some Protestant denominations are less accepting 

of other denominations, and the basic orthodoxy of some is 

questioned by most of the others. Individual denominations also 

have formed over very subtle theological differences. Other 

denominations are simply regional or ethnic expressions of the same 

beliefs. Because the five solas are the main tenets of the Protestant 

faith, Non-denominational groups and organizations are also 

considered Protestant. 

Various ecumenical movements have attempted cooperation or 

reorganization of the various divided Protestant denominations, 

according to various models of union, but divisions continue to 

outpace unions, as there is no overarching authority to which any of 

the churches owe allegiance, which can authoritatively define the 

faith. Most denominations share common beliefs in the major 

aspects of the Christian faith, while differing in many secondary 

doctrines, although what is major and what is secondary is a matter 

of idiosyncratic belief. 


Passional Christi und Antichristi, by 

Lucas Cranach the Elder, from 

Luther's 1521 Passionary of the 

Christ and Antichrist. The Pope as 

the Antichrist, signing and selling 

indulgences. 

There are about 800 million Protestants worldwide, [10] among approximately 2.1 billion Christians. [11][12] 

These include 170 million in North America, 160 million in Africa, 120 million in Europe, 70 million in 

Latin America, 60 million in Asia, and 10 million in Oceania. 

Protestants can be differentiated according to how they have been influenced by important movements 

since the magisterial Reformation and the Puritan Reformation in England. Some of these movements have 

a common lineage, sometimes directly spawning later movements in the same groups. Only general families 

are listed here (due to the above-stated multitude of denominations); some of these groups do not consider 

themselves as part of the Protestant movement, but are generally viewed as such by the public at 

large. [citation needed] 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 6 of 24


Since the term "Protestant" often refers to those Christians not of the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Oriental 

or Eastern Orthodox faiths, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are occasionally 

called Protestant, but they do not adhere to most Protestant principles. Neither do they follow Catholic 

traditions or creeds. Contrary to traditional Christian practice, Mormons believe in a Priesthood 

organization consisting of Prophets, Apostles, Seventy, Patriarchs, High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers, 

and Deacons. [citation needed] Latter-day Saints do not hold to the sola scriptura principle of the Bible being 

the authority of God but in a literal Priesthood authority given to worthy male members to teach the Gospel 

and administer its ordinances. [citation needed] Neither do they hold to the sola fide concept of faith in Jesus 

Christ alone, but believe in the combined efforts of deity and man to achieve salvation, that salvation is 

through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel, and that 

covenants are made to establish the standards necessary for salvation. Latter-day Saints have fervant 

convictions in Jesus Christ but due to the radical differences of their belief structure they are sometimes not 

listed as Christians. [citation needed] 

Anglicans and Episcopalians 

The original separation of the Church of England (then including the Church in Wales) and the Church of 

Ireland from Rome under King Henry VIII largely took a Catholic form. Through the efforts of Thomas 

Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Thomas Cromwell, both with Lutheran sympathies, [13] the 

churches later assumed a reformed character. 

In the 19th century some of the Tractarians proposed that the Church of England and the other Anglican 

churches were not Protestant but a "Reformed Catholic" or middle path (via media) between Rome and 

Protestantism. This assertion was attacked by, among others, the Church Association. [14] Today, the 

Anglican Communion continues to be composed of theologically diverse traditions, from Reformed Sydney 

Anglicanism to High-Church Anglo-Catholicism. 

Main denominations 

(Alphabetical) 

Anglican 

Baptist 

Congregational 

Lutheranism 


Christian Denominations 

in English-speaking countries 

Australia 

Australian Christian bodies 

Methodism Australian Interchurch 

Australian Evangelical Alliance • site (http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/) 

National Council of Churches 

Catholic & Anglican 

Anglican Church of Australia 

Roman Catholic Church 

Holiness & Pietist 

Christian and Missionary Alliance 

Christian Outreach Centre 

Church of the Nazarene 

Salvation Army 

Seventh-day Adventist Church 

Historical Protestantism 

Australian Friends 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 7 of 24



Baptist Union of Australia 

Open Brethren 

Christian Reformed Churches of Australia 

Churches of Christ 

Fellowship of Congregational Churches 

Lutheran Church of Australia 

Presbyterian Church of Australia 

Uniting Church in Australia 

Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia 

Antiochian Orthodox of Australia & New Z. 

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia 

Serbian Orthodox of Australia & New Z. 

Non-Chalcedonic 

Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia 

Australian Christian Churches (AOG) 

Christian City Church Intl. 

CRC Churches International 

Revival Centres International 

Vineyard Churches Australia 

Worldwide Church of God 

Canada 

Orthodox 

Pentecostal & Related 

Other 

LDS Church 

Canadian Christian bodies 

Canadian Interchurch 

Canadian Council of Churches 

S. Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America 

North Am. Presbyterian & Reformed Council 

Anabaptist & Friends 

Canadian Mennonite Brethren Churches 

Canadian Yearly Meeting (Quakers) 

Mennonite Church Canada 

Baptist & Stone-Campbell 

Baptist 

Association of Regular Baptist Churches 

Baptist General Conference of Canada 

Canadian Baptist Ministries 

Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists 

Fellowship of Evgcl. Baptist Churches, Canada 

North American Baptist Conference 

Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement 

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 

Evangelical Christian Church in Canada 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 8 of 24



Catholic & Anglican 

Anglican Church of Canada 

Anglican Church in North America 

Polish National Catholic Church 



Christian and Missionary Alliance, Canada 


Evangelical Free Church of Canada 


Wesleyan Church 

Lutheran 

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 

Lutheran Church–Canada 

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 

Methodist 

British Methodist Episcopal Church 

Free Methodist Church in Canada 

United Church of Canada 

Orthodox 

Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, N.Am. 

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 

Orthodox Church in America 

American-Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese 

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia 

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada 


Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Am. 

Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada 

Pentecostal 

Apostolic Church of Pentecost 

Canadian Assemblies of God 

Church of God of Prophecy 

Intl. Foursquare Gospel, Canada 

Intl. Pentecostal Holiness Church 

Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada 

Pentecostal Church of God 

Oneness Pentecostal 

United Pentecostal Church Intl. 

Presbyterian & Reformed 

Canadian and American Reformed Churches 

Christian Reformed Church in North America 

L'Église réformée du Québec 

Presbyterian Church in Canada 

Presbyterian Church in America 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 9 of 24



Reformed Church in America 

United Church of Canada 

Messianic Jewish Alliance of America 

Plymouth Brethren 

Seventh-day Adventists, North America 

LDS Church 

Vineyard Canada 

United Kingdom 

Christian denominations in the UK 

UK Interchurch 

Affinity (formerly British Evangelical Council) 

Churches Together in Britain & Ireland 

Evangelical Alliance, UK 

Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches 

Churches Together in England 

Action of Churches Together, Scotland (ACTS) 

Associating Evangelical Churches of Wales • site (http://www.aecw.org.uk/) 

Churches Together in Wales 

Evangelical Movement of Wales 

Anglican 

Church of England 

Free Church of England 

Church of Ireland 

Scottish Episcopal Church 

Church in Wales 

Baptist 

Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland 

Baptist Union of Great Britain 

Baptist Union of Scotland 

Baptist Union of Wales 

Grace Baptist Assembly 

Old Baptist Union 

Catholic 

Roman Catholicism 

England & Wales 

Ireland 

Scotland 

Old Catholicism 

British Old Catholic Church • site (http://www.holygrail-church.fsnet.co.uk/BOCC.htm) 

Old Catholic Church in Europe 

Old Catholic Mariavite Church 

Old Catholic Church of Great Britain 


Christian Outreach Centre 



29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 10 of 24



British Moravian Church 



Wesleyan Holiness Church 


Evangelical Lutheran Church of England 

Lutheran Church in Great Britain 

Methodist & Wesleyan 

Free Methodist of the UK 

Methodist Church of Great Britain 

Methodist Church in Ireland 

Wesleyan Reform Union 

New Church Movement 

Vineyard Churches UK 

Ichthus Christian Fellowship 

Newfrontiers 

Pioneer Church • site (http://www.pioneer.org.uk/) 

Orthodox 

Eastern Orthodox Church 

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of G.B. 

Russian Orthodox Diocese, G.B. & Ire. 

Russian Tradition Vicariate, G.B. & Ire. 

Oriental Orthodox Church 

British Orthodox Church 

Celtic Orthodox Church 

Pentecostal 

Assemblies of God 

Church of God in Christ 

Elim Pentecostal Church 

Foursquare Gospel Church 

Worldwide Church of God 

Presbyterian & Reformed 

Asso. Presbyterian Churches, Scotland 

Church of Scotland 

Congregational Federation 

Evangelical Presbyterian Church 

Free Church of Scotland 

Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) 

Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland 

Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster 

Non-subscribing Presbyterian, Ireland 

Presbyterian Church in Ireland 

Presbyterian Church of Wales 

Reformed Presbyterian Church 

United Free Church of Scotland 

United Reformed Church 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 11 of 24



Brethren in Christ 


Fellowship of Ind. Evangelical Churches 

LDS Church 

Quakers/ Britain Yearly Meeting 

Quakers/ Ireland Yearly Meeting 

United States 

United States Christian bodies 

United States Interchurch 

National Association of Evangelicals 

National Council of Churches 

Churches Uniting in Christ 

S. Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America 

North Am. Presbyterian and Reformed Council 

Anabaptist and Friends 

Brethren Church 

Church of the Brethren 

Evangelical Friends International 

Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches 

Friends General Conference 

Friends United Meeting 

Mennonite Brethren Churches 

Mennonite Church USA 

Amish 

Baptist and Stone-Campbell 

Baptist 

Alliance of Baptists 

American Baptist Association 

American Baptist Churches 

Baptist Bible Fellowship International 

Baptist General Conference 

Baptist Missionary Association of America 

Conservative Baptist Association of America 

General Association of Regular Baptist Churches 

National Association of Free Will Baptists 

National Primitive Baptist Convention 

North American Baptist Conference 

Southern Baptist Convention 

African-American Baptist 

National Baptist Convention of America 

National Baptist Convention, USA 

National Missionary Baptist Convention of America 

Progressive National Baptist Convention 

Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement 

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 

Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 


International Churches of Christ 

Catholic and Anglican 

Anglican Church in North America 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 12 of 24



Episcopal Church 

Old Roman Catholic Church 

Polish National Catholic Church 


Holiness and Pietist 

Christian and Missionary Alliance 

Church of God (Anderson) 

Evangelical Covenant Church 

Evangelical Free Church of America 




Wesleyan Church 


Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 

Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod 

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 

Methodist 

African Methodist Episcopal Church 

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 

Free Methodist Church 

United Methodist Church 

Orthodox 

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese 

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 

Orthodox Church in America 

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia 

Serbian Orthodox Church 


Armenian Apostolic of Am. 

Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Am. 

Coptic Orthodox Church 

Pentecostal 

Assemblies of God 

Church of God (Cleveland, TN) 

Church of God in Christ 

Church of God of Prophecy 

Church on the Rock- International 

Full Gospel Fellowship 

Intl. Church of the Foursquare Gospel 

Intl. Pentecostal Holiness Church 

Pentecostal Church of God 

Oneness Pentecostal 

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 

United Pentecostal Church Intl. 

Presbyterian and Reformed 

Christian Reformed Church in North America 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 13 of 24



Conservative Congregational Christian Conference 

Cumberland Presbyterian Church 

Evangelical Presbyterian Church 

Korean Presbyterian Church in America 

International Council of Community Churches 

National Asso. of Congregational Christian Churches 

Presbyterian Church (USA) 

Presbyterian Church in America 

Reformed Church in America 

United Church of Christ 

Church of Christ, Scientist 

LDS Church 

Community of Christ 

Grace Gospel Fellowship 

Independent Fundamental Churches of America 

Jehovah's Witnesses 

Messianic Jewish Alliance of America 

Plymouth Brethren 

Vineyard USA 

See also: Non-denominational Christianity 

International Associations 

Interdenominational Associations 

World Council of Churches 

World Evangelical Alliance 

Denominational Associations 

Friends World Committee for Consultation 

Mennonite World Conference 

Anglican Communion 

Baptist World Alliance 

World Convention of Churches of Christ 

Eastern Orthodox Church 

Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference 

International Lutheran Council 

Lutheran World Federation 

World Methodist Council 

Pentecostal World Conference 

International Conference of Reformed Churches 

Reformed Ecumenical Council 

World Communion of Reformed Churches 

World Reformed Fellowship 

Regional Associations 

Africa 

All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) 

Association of Evangelicals of Africa (AEA) 

All Africa Baptist Fellowship 

Africa Lutheran Communion 

Asia 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 14 of 24


Presbyterianism 

Reformed 

Theological Tenets of the Reformation 

Main article: Five solas 


Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) 

Evangelical Fellowship of Asia 

Asia Pacific Baptist Federation 

Asia Lutheran Communion 

Caribbean 

Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) 

Evangelical Association of the Caribbean 

Caribbean Baptist Fellowship 

Europe 

Conference of European Churches (CEC) 

European Evangelical Alliance 

European Baptist Federation 

Pentecostal European Fellowship 

Middle East 

Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) 

Latin America 

Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) 

Latin American Evangelical Fellowship (FIDE) 

Union of Baptists in Latin America 

North America 

North American Baptist Fellowship 

Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America 

North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council 

Pacific 

Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) 

Evangelical Fellowship of the South Pacific (EFSP) 

Asia Pacific Baptist Federation 

The Five Solas are five Latin phrases (or slogans) that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and 

summarize the Reformers' basic differences in theological beliefs in opposition to the teaching of the 

29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 15 of 24


Catholic Church of the day. The Latin word sola means "alone", "only", or "single". 

The use of the phrases as summaries of teaching emerged over time during the reformation, based on the 

over-arching principle of sola scriptura (by scripture alone). This idea contains the four main doctrines on 

the Bible: that its teaching is needed for salvation (necessity); that all the doctrine necessary for salvation 

comes from the Bible alone (sufficiency); that everything taught in the Bible is correct (inerrancy); and that, 

by the Holy Spirit overcoming sin, believers may read and understand truth from the Bible itself, though 

understanding is difficult, so the means used to guide individual believers to the true teaching is often 

mutual discussion within the church (clarity). 

The necessity and inerrancy were well-established ideas, garnering little criticism, though they later came 

under debate from outside during the Enlightenment. The most contentious idea at the time though was the 

notion that anyone could simply pick up the Bible and learn enough to gain salvation. Though the reformers 

were concerned with ecclesiology (the doctrine of how the church as a body works), they had a different 

understanding of the process in which truths in scripture were applied to life of believers, compared to the 

Catholics' idea that certain people within the church, or ideas that were old enough, had a special status in 

giving understanding of the text. 

The second main principle, sola fide (by faith alone), states that faith in Christ is sufficient alone for eternal 

salvation. Though argued from scripture, and hence logically consequent to sola scriptura, this is the 

guiding principle of the work of Luther and the later reformers. As sola scriptura placed the Bible as the 

only source of teaching, sola fide epitomises the main thrust of the teaching the reformers wanted to get 

back to, namely the direct, close, personal connection between Christ and the believer, hence the reformers' 

contention that their work was Christocentric. 

The other solas, as statements, emerged later, but the thinking they represent was also part of the early 

reformation. 

Solus Christus: Christ Alone. 

The Protestants characterize the dogma concerning the Pope as Christ's representative head of the 

Church on earth, the concept of works made meritorious by Christ, and the Catholic idea of a 

treasury of the merits of Christ and his saints, as a denial that Christ is the only mediator between 

God and man. Catholics, on the other hand, maintained the traditional understanding of Judaism on 

these questions, and appealed to the universal consensus of Christian tradition. [15] 

Sola Gratia: Grace Alone. 

Protestants perceived Roman Catholic salvation to be dependent upon the grace of God and the 

merits of one's own works. The Reformers posited that salvation is a gift of God (i.e., God's act of 

free grace), dispensed by the Holy Spirit owing to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone. 

Consequently, they argued that a sinner is not accepted by God on account of the change wrought in 

the believer by God's grace, and that the believer is accepted without regard for the merit of his works 

—for no one deserves salvation. [Matt. 7:21 (http://www.biblegateway.com/bible? 

passage=Matt.%207:21;&version=ESV;) ] 

Soli Deo Gloria: Glory to God Alone 

All glory is due to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through his will and action — 

not only the gift of the all-sufficient atonement of Jesus on the cross but also the gift of faith in that 

atonement, created in the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit. The reformers believed that human 

beings —even saints canonized by the Catholic Church, the popes, and the ecclesiastical hierarchy— 

are not worthy of the glory. 

Christ's presence in the Lord's Supper 

Main articles: Real Presence and Eucharist 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 16 of 24


The Protestant movement began to coalesce into several distinct branches in the mid-to-late 16th century. 

One of the central points of divergence was controversy over the Lord's Supper. Early Protestants rejected 

the Roman Catholic dogma of transubstantiation, which teaches that the bread and wine used in the 

sacrificial rite of the Mass lose their natural substance by being transformed into the Body, Blood, Soul, 

and Divinity of Christ. They disagreed with one another concerning the presence of Christ and his body 

and blood in Holy Communion. 

Lutherans hold that within the Lord's Supper the consecrated elements of bread and wine are the true 

body and blood of Christ "in, with, and under the form" of bread and wine for all those who eat and 

drink it, [1Cor 10:16 (http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=1Cor%2010:16;&version=47;) ] [11:20,27 

(http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=1Cor%2011:20,27;&version=47;) ] [16] a doctrine that the Formula of 

Concord calls the Sacramental union. [17] God earnestly offers to all who receive the 

sacrament, [Lk 22:19-20 (http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Lk%2022:19-20;&version=50;) ][18] 

forgiveness of sins, [Mt 26:28 (http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Mt%2026:28;&version=50;) ][19] and 

eternal salvation. [20] 

The Reformed closest to Calvin emphasize the real presence, or sacramental presence, of Christ, 

saying that the sacrament is a means of saving grace through which only the elect believer actually 

partakes of Christ, but merely with the Bread and Wine rather than in the Elements. Calvinists deny 

the Lutheran assertion that all communicants, both believers and unbelievers, orally receive Christ's 

body and blood in the elements of the sacrament, but instead affirm that Christ is united to the 

believer through faith—toward which the supper is an outward and visible aid. This is often referred 

to as dynamic presence. Why this aid is necessary in addition to faith differs according to the 

believer. Some Protestants (such as the Salvation Army) do not believe it is necessary at all. 

A Protestant holding a popular simplification of the Zwinglian view, without concern for theological 

intricacies as hinted at above, may see the Lord's Supper merely as a symbol of the shared faith of 

the participants, a commemoration of the facts of the crucifixion, and a reminder of their standing 

together as the Body of Christ (a view referred to somewhat derisively as memorialism). 

Catholicism 

The official view of the Catholic Church on the matter is that Protestant denominations cannot be 

considered "churches", but rather that they are ecclesial communities or "specific faith-believing 

communities" because their ordinances, doctrines, are not historically the same as the Catholic sacraments 

and dogmas, and the Protestant communities have no sacramental/ministerial priesthood, and therefore lack 

true apostolic succession. [21][22] 

Contrary to how the Protestant reformers were often characterized, the concept of a catholic or universal 

Church was not brushed aside during the Protestant Reformation. On the contrary, the visible unity of the 

Catholic Church was an important and essential doctrine of the Reformation. The Magisterial Reformers, 

such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli, believed that they were "reforming" the Catholic 

Church, which they viewed as having become corrupted. Each of them took very seriously the charges of 

schism and innovation, denying these charges and maintaining that it was the Catholic Church that had left 

them. [23] In order to justify their departure from the Catholic Church, Protestants often posited a new 

argument, saying that there was no real visible Church with divine authority, only a "spiritual", "invisible", 

and "hidden" church— this notion began in the early days of the Protestant Reformation. 

Wherever the Magisterial Reformation, which received support from the ruling authorities, took place, the 

result was a reformed national Protestant church envisioned to be a part of the whole "invisible church", but 

disagreeing, in certain important points of doctrine and doctrine-linked practice, with what had until then 

been considered the normative reference point on such matters, namely the Papacy and central authority of 

the Catholic Church. The Reformed churches thus believed in some form of Catholicity, founded on their 

doctrines of the five solas and a visible ecclesiastical organization based on the 14th and 15th century 

Conciliar movement, rejecting the Papacy and Papal Infallibility in favor of Ecumenical councils, but 

rejecting the latest ecumenical council, the Council of Trent. Religious unity therefore became not one of 

doctrine and identity, but one of invisible character, wherein the unity was one of faith in Jesus Christ, not 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 17 of 24


common identity, doctrine, belief, and collaborative action. 

Today there is a growing movement of Protestants, especially of the Reformed tradition, that reject the 

designation "Protestant" because of its negative "anti-catholic" connotations, preferring the designation 

"Reformed", "Evangelical" or even "Reformed Catholic" expressive of what they call a "Reformed 

Catholicity" [24] and defending their arguments from the traditional Protestant Confessions. [25] 

Radical Reformation 

Main article: Radical Reformation 

Unlike mainstream Evangelical (Lutheran), Reformed (Zwinglian and Calvinist) Protestant movements, the 

Radical Reformation, which had no state sponsorship, generally abandoned the idea of the "Church Visible" 

as distinct from the "Church Invisible". It was a rational extension of the State-approved Protestant dissent, 

which took the value of independence from constituted authority a step further, arguing the same for the 

civic realm. 

Protestant ecclesial leaders such as Hubmaier and Hofmann preached the invalidity of infant baptism, 

advocating baptism as following conversion, called "believer's baptism", instead. This was not a doctrine 

new to the reformers, but was taught by earlier groups, such the Albigenses in 1147. 

In the view of many associated with the Radical Reformation, the Magisterial Reformation had not gone far 

enough, with radical reformer, Andreas von Bodenstein Karlstadt, for example, referring to the Lutheran 

theologians at Wittenberg as the "new papists". [26] A more political side of the Radical Reformation can be 

seen in the thought and practice of Hans Hut, although typically Anabaptism has been associated with 

pacifism. 

Early Anabaptists were severely persecuted by Lutheran, Reformed, and Roman Catholic civil authorities. 

Movements 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 18 of 24


Evolution of major branches and movements within Protestantism 

Pietism and Methodism 

Main articles: Pietism and Methodism 

The German Pietist movement, together with the influence of the Puritan Reformation in England in the 

17th century, were important influences upon John Wesley and Methodism, as well as new groups such as 

the Religious Society of Friends ("Quakers") and the Moravian Brethren from Herrnhut, Saxony, Germany. 

The practice of a spiritual life, typically combined with social engagement, predominates in classical 

Pietism, which was a protest against the doctrine-centeredness Protestant Orthodoxy of the times, in favor 

of depth of religious experience. Many of the more conservative Methodists went on to form the Holiness 

movement, which emphasized a rigorous experience of holiness in practical, daily life. 

Evangelicalism 

Main article: Evangelicalism 

Beginning at the end of 18th century, several international revivals of Pietism (such as the Great 

Awakening and the Second Great Awakening) took place across denominational lines, largely in the 

English-speaking world. Their teachings and successor groupings are referred to generally as the 

Evangelical movement. The chief emphases of this movement were individual conversion, personal piety 

and Bible study, public morality often including Temperance and Abolitionism, de-emphasis of formalism 

in worship and in doctrine, a broadened role for laity (including women) in worship, evangelism and 

teaching, and cooperation in evangelism across denominational lines. Some of the Major figures in this 

movement include Billy Graham, Harold John Ockenga, John Stott, and Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 19 of 24


Adventism 

Main article: Adventism 

Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great 

Awakeningrevival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming (or 

"Second Advent") of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as 

Millerites. Today, the largest church within the movement is the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

The Adventist family of churches is regarded today as conservative Protestants. [27] Although these churches 

hold much in common, their theology differs on whether the intermediate state is unconscious sleep or 

consciousness, whether the ultimate punishment of the wicked is annihilation or eternal torment, the nature 

of immortality, whether or not the wicked are resurrected after the millennium, and whether the sanctuary 

of Daniel 8 (http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Daniel&verse=8&src=NKJV) refers to the one in 

heaven or one on earth. [27] The movement has encouraged the examination of the New Testament, leading 

them to observe the Sabbath. 

Modernism and Liberalism 

Main article: Liberal Christianity 

Modernism and Liberalism do not constitute rigorous and well-defined schools of theology, but are rather 

an inclination by some writers and teachers to integrate Christian thought into the spirit of the Age of 

Enlightenment. New understandings of history and the natural sciences of the day led directly to new 

approaches to theology. 

Pentecostalism 

Main article: Pentecostalism 

Pentecostalism, as a movement, began in the United States early in the 20th century, starting especially 

within the Holiness movement. Seeking a return to the operation of New Testament gifts of the Holy Spirit, 

speaking in tongues as evidence of the "baptism of the Holy Ghost" or to make the unbeliever believe 

became the leading feature. Divine healing and miracles were also emphasized. Pentecostalism swept 

through much of the Holiness movement, and eventually spawned hundreds of new denominations in the 

United States. A later "charismatic" movement also stressed the gifts of the Spirit, but often operated within 

existing denominations, rather than by coming out of them. 

Fundamentalism 

Main article: Christian fundamentalism 

In reaction to liberal Bible critique, fundamentalism arose in the 20th century, primarily in the United 

States, among those denominations most affected by Evangelicalism. 

Neo-orthodoxy 

Main article: Neo-orthodoxy 

A non-fundamentalist rejection of liberal Christianity, associated primarily with Karl Barth and Jürgen 

Moltmann, neo-orthodoxy sought to counter-act the tendency of liberal theology to make theological 

accommodations to modern scientific perspectives. Sometimes called "Crisis theology", according to the 

influence of philosophical existentialism on some important segments of the movement; also, somewhat 

confusingly, sometimes called neo-evangelicalism. 

New Evangelicalism 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 20 of 24


Main article: Evangelicalism 

Evangelicalism is a movement from the middle of the 20th century, that reacted to perceived excesses of 

Fundamentalism, adding to concern for biblical authority, an emphasis on liberal arts, cooperation among 

churches, Christian Apologetics, and non-denominational evangelization. 

Paleo-orthodoxy 

Main article: Paleo-orthodoxy 

Paleo-orthodoxy is a movement similar in some respects to Neo-evangelicalism but emphasizing the 

ancient Christian consensus of the undivided Church of the first millennium AD, including in particular the 

early Creeds and councils of the Church as a means of properly understanding the Scriptures. This 

movement is cross-denominational and the theological giant of the movement is United Methodist 

theologian Thomas Oden. 

Ecumenism 

Main article: Christian ecumenism 

The ecumenical movement has had an influence on mainline churches, beginning at least in 1910 with the 

Edinburgh Missionary Conference. Its origins lay in the recognition of the need for cooperation on the 

mission field in Africa, Asia and Oceania. Since 1948, the World Council of Churches has been influential, 

but ineffective in creating a united Church. There are also ecumenical bodies at regional, national and local 

levels across the globe; but schisms still far outnumber unifications. One, but not the only expression of the 

ecumenical movement, has been the move to form united churches, such as the Church of South India, the 

Church of North India, The US-based United Church of Christ, The United Church of Canada, Uniting 

Church in Australia and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines which have rapidly declining 

memberships. There has been a strong engagement of Orthodox churches in the ecumenical movement, 

though the reaction of individual Orthodox theologians has ranged from tentative approval of the aim of 

Christian unity to outright condemnation of the perceived effect of watering down Orthodox doctrine. [28] 

A Protestant baptism is held to be valid in a Catholic church because it is a sacrament borrowed from the 

Catholic Church and derives its efficacy from Christ. However, Protestant ministers are not recognized as 

valid Church leaders, due to their lack of apostolic succession and their disunity from the Catholic Church. 

Therefore, laymen who convert are not re-baptized, although Protestant ministers who convert are ordained 

to the Catholic priesthood (cf Apostolicae Curae). 

In 1999, the representatives of Lutheran World Federation and Catholic Church signed The Joint 

Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, apparently resolving the conflict over the nature of Justification 

which was at the root of the Protestant Reformation, although Confessional Lutherans reject this 

statement. [29] This is understandable, since there is no compelling authority within them. 

On July 18, 2006 Delegates to the World Methodist Conference voted unanimously to adopt the Joint 

Declaration. [30][31] 

Founders: the first major reformers and theologians 

Proto-Reformation 

12th century 

Peter Waldo, founder of the Waldensians, a proto-Reformed group that continues to exist to this day 

in Italy. 

14th century 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 21 of 24


John Wycliffe, English reformer, the "Morning Star of the Reformation". 

15th century 

Jan Hus, Catholic Priest and Professor, influenced by John Wycliffe's writings, father of an early 

Protestant church (Moravianism), Czech reformist/dissident; burned to death in Constance, Holy 

Roman Empire in 1415 by Roman Catholic Church authorities for unrepentant and persistent heresy. 

After the devastation of the Hussite Wars some of his followers founded the Unitas Fratrum in 1457, 

"Unity of Brethren", which was renewed under the leadership of Count Zinzendorf in Herrnhut, 

Saxony in 1722 after its almost total destruction in the 30 Years War and Counter Reformation. 

Today it is usually referred to in English as the Moravian Church, in German the Herrnhuter 

Brüdergemeine. 

Reformation Proper 

16th century 

Jacobus Arminius, Dutch theologian, founder of school of thought known as Arminianism. 

Heinrich Bullinger, successor of Zwingli, leading reformed theologian. 

John Calvin, French theologian, Reformer and resident of Geneva, Switzerland, he founded the 

school of theology known as Calvinism. 

Balthasar Hubmaier, influential Anabaptist theologian, author of numerous works during his five 

years of ministry, tortured at Zwingli's behest, and executed in Vienna. 

John Knox, Scottish Calvinist reformer. 

Martin Luther, church reformer, Father of Protestantism, [32][33] theological works guided those now 

known as Lutherans. 

Philipp Melanchthon, early Lutheran leader. 

Menno Simons, founder of Mennonitism. 

John Smyth, early Baptist leader. 

Huldrych Zwingli, founder of Swiss reformed tradition. 

See also 

Anti-Catholicism 

Anti-Protestantism 

Islam and Protestantism 

List of Protestant churches 

Protestant work ethic 

References 

1. ^ "Protestant } Define Protestant" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/protestant?s=t) . 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/protestant?s=t. Retrieved 7 April 2012. 

2. ^ http://www.icm-online.ie/resources/articles/68-anglicanism-a-protestant-and-reformed-confession.html 

3. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary" (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Protestant&allowed_in_frame=0) . 

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Protestant&allowed_in_frame=0. Retrieved 7 April 2012. 

4. ^ Luther, Martin (1517). Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences 

(http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/ninetyfive.txt) . Wittenburg. 

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/ninetyfive.txt. 

5. ^ "The Protestant Reformation" (http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1136.html) . http://www.u-shistory.com/pages/h1136.html. 

Retrieved 9 April 2012. 

6. ^ O'Gorman, Robert T. and Faulkner, Mary. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Catholicism. 2003, 

page 317. 

7. ^ Article 1, of the Articles Declaratory of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland 1921 states 'The Church of 

Scotland adheres to the Scottish Reformation'. 

8. ^ a b Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. 

1911, page 419. http://books.google.com/books?id=AmYAAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA419 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 22 of 24


9. ^ "Religions - Christianity: Quakers" 

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/quakers_2.shtml) . BBC. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/quakers_2.shtml. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 

10. ^ Jay Diamond, Larry. Plattner, Marc F. and Costopoulos, Philip J. World Religions and Democracy. 2005, page 

119.( also in PDF file (http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/bmoraski/Democratization/Woodberry04_JOD.pdf) , p49), 

saying "Not only do Protestants presently constitute 13 percent of the world's population—about 800 million 

people—but since 1900 Protestantism has spread rapidly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America." 

11. ^ "between 1,250 and 1,750 million adherents, depending on the criteria employed": McGrath, Alister E. 

Christianity: An Introduction (http://books.google.com.hk/books? 

id=ZYN3Rowp8ZYC&pg=PR16&lpg=PR16&source=web&ots=bNVoHZwx6H&sig=D961IonSSKBgItV4v57UCeYhvs0) 

. 2006, page xv1. 

12. ^ "2.1 thousand million Christians": Hinnells, John R. The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. 2005, 

page 441. 

13. ^ Hall(2), Basil (1993), "Cranmer, the Eucharist, and the Foreign Divines in the Reign of Edward VI", in Ayris, 

Paul; Selwyn, David, Thomas Cranmer: Churchman and Scholar, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: The Boydell Press, 

[ISBN 0-85115-549-9] 

14. ^ "Church Association Tract 049" (http://www.churchsociety.org/publications/tracts/CAT049_ProtestantCofE.pdf) 

(PDF). http://www.churchsociety.org/publications/tracts/CAT049_ProtestantCofE.pdf. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 

15. ^ Matt. 16:18 (http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matt.%2016:18;&version=ESV;) , 1 Cor. 3:11 

(http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=1Cor.%203:11;&version=;) , Eph. 2:20 

(http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Eph.%202:20;&version=ESV;) , 1 Pet. 2:5–6 

(http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=1Pet.%202:5–6;&version=;) , Rev. 21:14 

(http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Rev.%2021:14;&version=ESV;) 

16. ^ Engelder, T.E.W., Popular Symbolics (http://www.archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1) . St. Louis: Concordia 

Publishing House, 1934. p. 95, Part XXIV. "The Lord's Supper", paragraph 131. 

17. ^ "The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article 8, The Holy Supper" 

(http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-sd/supper.html) . Bookofconcord.com. http://www.bookofconcord.com/fcsd/supper.html. 

Retrieved 2010-11-19. 

18. ^ Graebner, Augustus Lawrence (1910). Outlines Of Doctrinal Theology 

(http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt) . Saint Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House. p. 162. 

http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt. 

19. ^ Graebner, Augustus Lawrence (1910). Outlines Of Doctrinal Theology 



20. ^ Luther's Small Catechism, Part IV, The Sacrament of the Altar 

(http://www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#sacrament) , "What is the benefit of such eating and drinking? 

That is shown us in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament 

forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, 

there is also life and salvation." Graebner, Augustus Lawrence (1910). Outlines Of Doctrinal Theology 



21. ^ Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church, June 29, 2007, 

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. 

22. ^ Stuard-will, Kelly (2007). Karitas Publishing. ed. A Faraway Ancient Country. (http://books.google.com/books? 

id=q469xc7mbksC&lpg=PA1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false) . United States: Gardners Books. pp. 216. 

ISBN 978-0-615-15801-3. http://books.google.com/books? 

id=q469xc7mbksC&lpg=PA1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false. 

23. ^ The Protestant Reformers formed a new and radically different theological opinion on ecclesiology, that the 

visible Catholic Church is "catholic" (lower-case "c") rather than "Catholic" (upper-case "c"). Accordingly, there 

is not an indefinite number of Parochial, or Congregational, or National churches, constituting, as it were, so many 

ecclesiastical individualities, but one great spiritual republic of which these various organizations form a part, 

although they each have very different opinions. This was markedly far-removed from the traditional and historic 

Catholic Christian understanding that the Catholic Church is the one true Church of Christ. Yet in the Protestant 

understanding, the "visible church" is not a genus, so to speak, with so many species under it. It is thus you may 

think of the State, but the visible church is a totum integrale, it is an empire, with an ethereal emperor, rather than 

a visible one. The churches of the various nationalities constitute the provinces of this empire; and though they 

are so far independent of each other, yet they are so one, that membership in one is membership in all, and 

separation from one is separation from all.... This conception of the church, of which, in at least some aspects, we 

have practically so much lost sight, had a firm hold of the Scottish theologians of the seventeenth century. Dr. 

James Walker in The Theology of Theologians of Scotland. (Edinburgh: Rpt. Knox Press, 1982) Lecture iv. pp.95- 

6. 

24. ^ "reformedcatholicism.com" (http://www.reformedcatholicism.com/?p=424) . reformedcatholicism.com. 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 23 of 24


http://www.reformedcatholicism.com/?p=424. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 

25. ^ The Canadian Reformed Magazine, 18 (September 20–27, October 4–11, 18, November 1, 8, 1969) 

http://spindleworks.com/library/faber/008_theca.htm 

26. ^ The Magisterial Reformation (http://www.reformationhappens.com/movements/magisterial/) . 

27. ^ a b "Adventist and Sabbatarian (Hebraic) Churches" section (p. 256–276) in Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill and 

Craig D. Atwood, Handbook of Denominations in the United States, 12th edn. Nashville: Abingdon Press 

28. ^ "Orthodox Church: text - IntraText CT" (http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0804/__P1T.HTM) . Intratext.com. 

http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0804/__P1T.HTM. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 

29. ^ WELS Topical Q&A: Justification (http://arkiv.lbk.cc/faq/site.pl@1518cutopic_topicid19cuitem_itemid6741.htm) 

, stating: "A document which is aimed at settling differences needs to address those differences unambiguously. 

The Joint Declaration does not do this. At best, it sends confusing mixed signals and should be repudiated by all 

Lutherans." 

30. ^ "News Archives" 

(http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.1863123/k.FF49/World_Methodists_approve_further_ecumenical_dialo 

gue.htm) . UMC.org. 

http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.1863123/k.FF49/World_Methodists_approve_further_ecumenical_dialog 

ue.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 

31. ^ "CNS STORY: Methodists adopt Catholic-Lutheran declaration on justification" 

(http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0604186.htm) . Catholicnews.com. 

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0604186.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 

32. ^ Challenges to Authority: The Renaissance in Europe: A Cultural Enquiry, Volume 3, by Peter Elmer, page 25. 

33. ^ "What ELCA Lutherans Believe." Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 26 July 2008 . 

External links 

Supporting 

Critical 

"Is Sola Scriptura a Protestant Concoction?" 

(http://www.inplainsite.org/html/sola_scriptura.html#Concoction) by Greg Bahnsen 

European Institute of Protestant Studies (http://www.ianpaisley.org) 

Catholic websites on sola scriptura (http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mischedj/ct1_solascript.html) 

"Protestantism" (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12495a.htm) from the 1917 Catholic 

Encyclopedia 

"Why Only Catholicism Can Make Protestantism Work" 

(http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0097.html) by Mark Brumley 

Miscellaneous 

The Future of American Protestantism (http://catalystresources.org/issues/303balmer.html) from 

Catalyst (United Methodist perspective) 

Protestantism—Christianity in View (http://protestant.christianityinview.com/) 

Archive of mainline protestant sermons and preaching (http://day1.org/) 

World Council of Churches (http://www.oikoumene.org) World body for mainline Protestant churches 

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Protestantism&oldid=487590213" 

Categories: Protestantism Christianity in Europe Christian theology by tradition Christian terms 

This page was last modified on 16 April 2012 at 00:40. 

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may 

apply. See Terms of use for details. 

Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. 


29/04/2012 09:25 

Page 24 of 24

Protestantism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?