Christian Reformed Churches of Australia
Encyclopedia
The Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (CRCA) is a Christian denomination established in Australia belonging to the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition.
of the 15th and 16th centuries, affirming the beliefs that God grants salvation by grace alone, in Christ alone and through faith alone.
The denomination is part of the worldwide family of reformed churches
which came into being at the time of the Reformation, and declared themselves reformed from the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church
at that time. Whereas Martin Luther
was the champion of the Reformation in Germany
, John Calvin
was the champion of the Reformation in Switzerland
, Holland and northern Europe. It is John Calvin's understanding of the Bible
, as spelled out in his Institutes of the Christian Religion
, that forms the doctrinal basis of the various reformed churches.
This doctrinal basis is further summarized in the three Confessions to which the continental reformed churches adhere:
And by the Confession to which the Presbyterian churches adhere:
Dutch
migrants in 1951. Many of the migrants had been members of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
. They had no desire to start new congregations in their new home, and had been advised to seek the pastoral care of the Scottish Free Presbyterians
upon their arrival in Australia. The differences between the culture of the Australian-Scottish Presbyterians and the Reformed Netherlanders was a hindrance, but the real problem was the liturgical restrictions where no instrumental accompaniment was allowed and only psalms were sung. The Dutch migrants struggled to find churches in Australia which embraced and upheld Biblical and Reformed theology, with a national profile that could enfold these new settlers, and was governed according to reformed tradition.. For these reasons, in December 1951, they to organise a separate denomination
, initially composed of Reformed Churches in Sydney
, Penguin
and Melbourne
. The new denomination held their first Synod
in June 1952. By 1955, some dozen congregations were formed in all Australian states, and the denomination, then named the Reformed Churches of Australia, grew to around 10,500 by the early 1990s, when it was renamed the Christian Reformed Churches Of Australia.
Currently there is an active membership of around 9000 in over fifty churches spread throughout Australia
. This steady decline is due to the desire to assimilate to their new country, welcome changes in the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches in some states bringing these denominations theologically closer, and certain aspects of generational change. Numerous South African immigrants in the last decade have slowed this trend, as have converts from other denominations. From exclusively Dutch beginnings, the CRCA is now a culturally diverse group, reflecting the character of Australian society, and is seeking to proclaim the Christian message in a contemporary and relevant way.
The denomination has been instrumental in the establishment of many Christian school
s, including the Illawarra Christian School
, Sutherland Shire Christian School
, Tyndale Christian School (New South Wales) and Covenant College situated in Gordon (ACT)
. It is actively engaged in Christian missions both within Australia and abroad. One of these is The NSW THING. They have established their own theological college, the Reformed Theological College
in Geelong, Victoria
. They also own Wedderburn Christian Campsite, a Christian campsite in the outskirts of Sydney
. They also support SWIM Solomon Islands, which is a missionary outreach in the Solomon Islands.. The CRCA also produces a denominational magazine titled "Trowel And Sword"
Since 2000, the CRCA has adopted a fourfold mission statement to remind and empower its member churches to set and focus on their primary goal of equipping God's people for the service of God both within and beyond itself. The four tasks are headed: Pray, Multiply, Train and Align.
as elected by the congregation. All sessions within a geographical area (typically on a state-basis) meet every three months as a classis.
Nationally, delegates meet every three years as a Synod
. The synod deals only with issues raised by a classis. Therefore, all synodical issues were originally raised by a session, brought to a classis, before coming to the synod. At synod, policies for the church are formulated, directions considered, and new ways forward explored. In between synodical meetings the financial commitments of the member churches are administered by a Synodical Board of Management, while all other matters affecting the church as a whole are looked after by the Synodical Interim Committee.
Permanent committees of synod include:
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Background
This denomination has its roots in the European ReformationProtestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
of the 15th and 16th centuries, affirming the beliefs that God grants salvation by grace alone, in Christ alone and through faith alone.
The denomination is part of the worldwide family of reformed churches
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
which came into being at the time of the Reformation, and declared themselves reformed from the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
at that time. Whereas Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
was the champion of the Reformation in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
was the champion of the Reformation in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Holland and northern Europe. It is John Calvin's understanding of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, as spelled out in his Institutes of the Christian Religion
Institutes of the Christian Religion
The Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvin's seminal work on Protestant systematic theology...
, that forms the doctrinal basis of the various reformed churches.
This doctrinal basis is further summarized in the three Confessions to which the continental reformed churches adhere:
- Belgic ConfessionBelgic ConfessionThe Confession of Faith, popularly known as the Belgic Confession, is a doctrinal standard document to which many of the Reformed churches subscribe. The Confession forms part of the Reformed Three Forms of Unity...
. - Heidelberg CatechismHeidelberg CatechismThe Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine...
. - Canons of Dordt.
And by the Confession to which the Presbyterian churches adhere:
- Westminster Confession.
History
This denomination was established by post-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
migrants in 1951. Many of the migrants had been members of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands was the second largest Protestant church in the Netherlands until it merged into the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in 2004.-History:...
. They had no desire to start new congregations in their new home, and had been advised to seek the pastoral care of the Scottish Free Presbyterians
Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia is a Presbyterian denomination which was formed in Sydney on 10 October 1846 by three ministers and a ruling elder...
upon their arrival in Australia. The differences between the culture of the Australian-Scottish Presbyterians and the Reformed Netherlanders was a hindrance, but the real problem was the liturgical restrictions where no instrumental accompaniment was allowed and only psalms were sung. The Dutch migrants struggled to find churches in Australia which embraced and upheld Biblical and Reformed theology, with a national profile that could enfold these new settlers, and was governed according to reformed tradition.. For these reasons, in December 1951, they to organise a separate denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
, initially composed of Reformed Churches in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. The new denomination held their first Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in June 1952. By 1955, some dozen congregations were formed in all Australian states, and the denomination, then named the Reformed Churches of Australia, grew to around 10,500 by the early 1990s, when it was renamed the Christian Reformed Churches Of Australia.
Currently there is an active membership of around 9000 in over fifty churches spread throughout Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. This steady decline is due to the desire to assimilate to their new country, welcome changes in the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches in some states bringing these denominations theologically closer, and certain aspects of generational change. Numerous South African immigrants in the last decade have slowed this trend, as have converts from other denominations. From exclusively Dutch beginnings, the CRCA is now a culturally diverse group, reflecting the character of Australian society, and is seeking to proclaim the Christian message in a contemporary and relevant way.
The denomination has been instrumental in the establishment of many Christian school
Christian school
A Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization.The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures...
s, including the Illawarra Christian School
Illawarra Christian School
Illawarra Christian School is a Christian Parent Controlled School located in Wollongong. It was founded in 1982.It is composed of two campuses: Cordeaux Campus in Cordeaux Heights, and Tongarra Campus in Albion Park. Both campuses currently offer Prep to Year 12 education...
, Sutherland Shire Christian School
Sutherland Shire Christian School
Sutherland Shire Christian School is a non-denominational, Protestant, parent-controlled private school for co-educational students located in Sydney, Australia. It was founded in 1977 by a group of people who felt a calling to provide their children with an environment in which to gain an...
, Tyndale Christian School (New South Wales) and Covenant College situated in Gordon (ACT)
Gordon, Australian Capital Territory
Gordon is a suburb in the Canberra, Australia district of Tuggeranong. The postcode is 2906. The suburb is named after the poet Adam Lindsay Gordon . It was gazetted on 12 March 1987...
. It is actively engaged in Christian missions both within Australia and abroad. One of these is The NSW THING. They have established their own theological college, the Reformed Theological College
Reformed Theological College
The Reformed Theological College is the theological college supported by the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, the Reformed Churches of New Zealand and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia...
in Geelong, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. They also own Wedderburn Christian Campsite, a Christian campsite in the outskirts of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. They also support SWIM Solomon Islands, which is a missionary outreach in the Solomon Islands.. The CRCA also produces a denominational magazine titled "Trowel And Sword"
Since 2000, the CRCA has adopted a fourfold mission statement to remind and empower its member churches to set and focus on their primary goal of equipping God's people for the service of God both within and beyond itself. The four tasks are headed: Pray, Multiply, Train and Align.
Structure
The basic unit is the local church, which is governed by the local sessionSession (Presbyterian)
A Session is a body of elected elders governing each local church within the Presbyterian polity....
as elected by the congregation. All sessions within a geographical area (typically on a state-basis) meet every three months as a classis.
Nationally, delegates meet every three years as a Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
. The synod deals only with issues raised by a classis. Therefore, all synodical issues were originally raised by a session, brought to a classis, before coming to the synod. At synod, policies for the church are formulated, directions considered, and new ways forward explored. In between synodical meetings the financial commitments of the member churches are administered by a Synodical Board of Management, while all other matters affecting the church as a whole are looked after by the Synodical Interim Committee.
Permanent committees of synod include:
- World Development & World Relief Relief Work Group (WD&WR): Distributes funds collected for overseas relief work
- Solomons Task Group: Task group supporting the missionary work carried out in the Solomon IslandsSolomon IslandsSolomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
Local congregations
The local congregations of this denomination are found in most states and territories of Australia, of which the following is an exhaustive list (May 2008):Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
- Reformed Church of Canberra - Rivett
New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
- Blacktown Christian Reformed Church - Woodcroft
- Christian Reformed Church of Blaxland - Blaxland
- Christian Reformed Church of Dee Why - Dee Why
- Christian Reformed Church of Hawkesbury - Richmond
- Christian Reformed Church of MacArthur - Oran Park
- Christian Reformed Church of Newcastle - Tanilba Bay and Glendale
- Christian Reformed Church of St Marys - St Marys
- Christian Reformed Church of Sutherland - Barden Ridge
- Christian Reformed Church of Sydney - North Ryde
- Christian Reformed Church of Wamberal - Wamberal
- Christian Reformed Church of Wollongong - Fairy Meadow
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
- Bray Park Community Church - Bray Park
- Christian Reformed Church of Inala - Inala
- Mansfield Christian Reformed Church - Wishart
- Nerang Community Church - Gaven
- Redlands Christian Reformed Church - Redlands
- Christian Reformed Church of Tivoli - Tivoli
- Christian Reformed Church of Toowoomba - Toowoomba
- Westside Christian Church - Westside
South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
- Campbelltown Christian Reformed Church - Campbelltown
- Christian Reformed Church of Elizabeth - Elizabeth Vale
- Christian Reformed Church of Hallett Cove - Hallett Cove
Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
- Christian Reformed Church of Blackmans Bay - Blackmans Bay
- Christian Reformed Church of Devonport - Devonport
- Christian Reformed Church of Hobart - Howrah
- Kingston Christian Reformed Church - Kingston
- Christian Reformed Church of Launceston - Launceston
- One Way Christian Community - Margate
- Sanctuary Hill Christian Fellowship - Penguin
- Christian Reformed Church of Ulverstone - Ulverstone
- Redeemer Christian Church - Huonville
Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
- Reformed Church of Casey - Narre Warren South
- Wantirna Christian Community Church - Wantirna
- Mount Evelyn Christian Reformed Church - Mount Evelyn
- Narre Warren Christian Church - Narre Warren
- Reformed Church of Box Hill - Box Hill
- Reformed Church of Casey - Narre Warren South
- Christian Reformed Church of Cobden - Cobden
- Christian Reformed Church of Dandenong - Dandenong
- Christian Chinese Reformed Church of Dandenong - Dandenong
- Christian Reformed Church of Geelong - Geelong
- Hope in the Hills - Tecoma
- Christian Reformed Church of Langwarrin - Langwarrin
- Narre Warren Christian Church - Narre Warren
- Christian Reformed Church of South Barwon - Waurn Ponds
- Christian Reformed Church of South Gippsland - Leongatha
- Wonga Park Christian Reformed Church - Wonga Park
Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
- Christian Reformed Church of Australind - Australind
- Christian Reformed Church of Gosnells - Gosnells
- Christian Reformed Church of Kalgoorlie - Kalgoorlie
- Christian Reformed Church of Perth - Victoria Park
- Christian Reformed Church of Willetton - Willetton
- Gateway Community Church - Yangebup
- Grace Christian Reformed Church - North Beach