Free Reformed Churches of Australia
Encyclopedia
The Free Reformed Churches of Australia is a federation of 15 congregations, 13 in Western Australia
and two in Tasmania
, with over 4000 members. Their historical roots are in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated) as a result of post-World War II immigration, and their doctrinal roots are in the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation
and the Bible.
As a confessional church, the churches subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity: Canons of Dort
, Belgic Confession
and the Heidelberg Catechism
.
The churches submit to the following three creeds as summaries of the faith: The Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed
, and The Athanasian Creed
.
The congregations in Western Australia, in order of institution are:
The congregations in Tasmania are:
The Churches have sister-church relationships with the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated) (Gereformeerde Kerken vrijgemaakt), http://www.gkv.nl, the Canadian and American Reformed Churches
, the Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
(Die Vrye Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika,http://www.vgk.org.za), the Presbyterian Church in Korea, and the Reformed Churches in Indonesia (Gereja Gereja Reformasi di Indonesia, NTT). Their local churches are actively engaged in mission work in several locations in Asia, including Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. They have particularly close ties with the Canadian and American Reformed Churches
, and many of their ministers have received their theological training at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary.
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...
and two in 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...
, with over 4000 members. Their historical roots are in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated) as a result of post-World War II immigration, and their doctrinal roots are in the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation
Protestant 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...
and the Bible.
As a confessional church, the churches subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity: Canons of Dort
Canons of Dort
The Canons of Dort, or Canons of Dordrecht, formally titled The Decision of the Synod of Dort on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute in the Netherlands, is the judgment of the National Synod held in the Dutch city of Dordrecht in 1618–19...
, Belgic Confession
Belgic Confession
The 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...
and the Heidelberg Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine...
.
The churches submit to the following three creeds as summaries of the faith: The Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
, and The Athanasian Creed
Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of belief, focusing on Trinitarian doctrine and Christology. The Latin name of the creed, Quicumque vult, is taken from the opening words, "Whosoever wishes." The Athanasian Creed has been used by Christian churches since the sixth century...
.
The congregations in Western Australia, in order of institution are:
- ArmadaleArmadale, Western AustraliaArmadale is a suburb within the City of Armadale, located on the south-eastern edge of Perth's metropolitan area. The major junction of the South Western and Albany Highways, which connect Perth with the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia respectively, is located within the...
- instituted 24 June 1951 - AlbanyAlbany, Western AustraliaAlbany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
- instituted 14 December 1952 - KelmscottKelmscott, Western AustraliaKelmscott is a southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Armadale, and it is located southeast of Perth along Albany Highway....
(daughter of Armadale) - instituted 1 January 1981 - ByfordByford, Western AustraliaByford is a suburb on the southeastern edge of Perth, Australia, originally founded as the townsite of Beenup in 1906.Beenup took its name from the railway siding there, a corruption of the Aboriginal name of nearby Beenyup Brook...
(daughter of Armadale) - instituted 27 January 1985 - Mount Nasura (formerly called Bedfordale, daughter of Kelmscott) - instituted 1 December 1987
- RockinghamRockingham, Western AustraliaRockingham is a suburb and primary centre in Western Australia south-west of the Perth city centre and south of Fremantle. It has a beachside location at Mangles Bay, the southern extremity of Cockburn Sound. To its north stretches the maritime and resource-industry installations of Kwinana and...
(daughter of Byford) - instituted 6 September 1992 - West AlbanyAlbany, Western AustraliaAlbany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
(daughter of Albany) - instituted 6 August 1994 - Southern RiverSouthern River, Western AustraliaSouthern River is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Gosnells.It was originally a rural area with chicken farms for egg production, horse breeding properties and boarding kennels for cats and dogs...
(formerly known as West Kelmscott, daughter of Kelmscott) - instituted 29 November 1998 - BunburyBunbury, Western AustraliaThe port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
- instituted 25 November 2001, now with regular church services in Busselton - Darling Downs (daughter of Byford and Armadale) - instituted 6 July 2003
- Baldivis (daughter of Rockingham) - instituted 1 July 2007
- Mundijong (daughter of Byford) - instituted 6 December 2009
- There is a home-congregation in AthertonAtherton, QueenslandAtherton is a town on the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Atherton had a population of 7,068.-Roads:...
, QueenslandQueenslandQueensland 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...
, over-seen by Armadale. - Busselton (daughter of Bunbury) - instituted 27 March 2011.
The congregations in Tasmania are:
- LauncestonLaunceston, TasmaniaLaunceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
- instituted 15 February 1953 - Legana (daughter of Launceston) - instituted 4 December 1988
- There is also a home-congregation in HobartHobartHobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
.
The Churches have sister-church relationships with the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated) (Gereformeerde Kerken vrijgemaakt), http://www.gkv.nl, the Canadian and American Reformed Churches
Canadian and American Reformed Churches
The Canadian and American Reformed Churches are a federation of over fifty Protestant Christian churches in Canada and the USA, with historical roots in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands, and doctrinal roots in the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation...
, the Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
The Free Reformed Churches in South Africa is a bond of Protestant Christian churches. It follows Reformed Calvinist theology and has adopted three forms of unity as its doctrinal standards: Canons of Dordt, Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism and subscribes to the three Ecumenical...
(Die Vrye Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika,http://www.vgk.org.za), the Presbyterian Church in Korea, and the Reformed Churches in Indonesia (Gereja Gereja Reformasi di Indonesia, NTT). Their local churches are actively engaged in mission work in several locations in Asia, including Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. They have particularly close ties with the Canadian and American Reformed Churches
Canadian and American Reformed Churches
The Canadian and American Reformed Churches are a federation of over fifty Protestant Christian churches in Canada and the USA, with historical roots in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands, and doctrinal roots in the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation...
, and many of their ministers have received their theological training at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary.