Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin - Party like it’s 1509!!

Now if you are asking "Who is this John Calvin and why are we celebrating him?" you are not alone! Opposing the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century were 3 different Protestant sects: Lutheran, Anabaptist and Reformed. The 'Father' of the Reformed tradition is considered John Calvin. John Calvin wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion which systematically spelled out the tenets of the Reformed Protestant faith and provided answers against what was seen as the unorthodox teachings at the time of the Roman Catholic Church.

Central in all Calvin wrote was the idea of God's total sovereignty. Our Book of Order reflects this in section G-2.0500:

"Central to this tradition is the affirmation of the majesty, holiness, and providence of God who creates, sustains, rules, and redeems the world in the freedom of sovereign righteousness and love. Related to this central affirmation of God's sovereignty are other great themes of the Reformed tradition: The election of the people of God for service as well as for salvation; Covenant life marked by a disciplined concern for order in the church according to the Word of God; A faithful stewardship that shuns ostentation and seeks proper use of the gifts of God's creation; The recognition of the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny, which calls the people of God to work for the transformation of society by seeking justice and living in obedience to the Word of God."

For more information on John Calvin, please visit http://www.calvin500.com.