Reformed Churches in Brazil

The Reformed Churches in Brazil (Igrejas Reformadas do Brazil in Portuguese) is a federation of confessional Reformed churches in northestern Brazil, started by Canadian and Dutch missionaries in the 1970s.

Origin

The Canadian and American Reformed Churches began missionary work in the villages between Recife and Maceio in 1970. In the same year Dutch Reformed Churches began missions in Paraná. This efforts led the formation of 2 churches in Alagoas and Pernambuco. The American missionaries are supported by two Brazilian Presbyterian students. The Canadian Reformed Church in Surrey, British Columbia was responsible for this work in Brazil. A school in Maceio was organised by the Reformed Church.^[1]

Other churches joined the federation from Dutch Reformed (in Colombo), baptist (Esperanca Church was formerly baptist) and Pentecostal origin ( the church in Cabro Frio was Pentecostal).^[2] The denomination has an official theological seminary, the John Calvin Institution (Institutio Joao Calvino) and offers Bachelor of Divinity to train national pastors, elders and deacons. From its beginning from a few congregations the denomination has congregations in several Brazilian cities and states.

Doctrine

Creeds

• Apostles Creed
• Nicene creed
• Apostles Creed

Confessions

• Heidelberg Catechism
• Belgic Confession
• Canons of Dort^[3][4]

Churches

Congregations are in:

• Alagoas:
  • Reformed Church in Maceio
  • Reformed Church in Maragogni

• Ceará:
  • Reformed Church in Fortaleza

• Minas:
  • Reformed Church in Unai

• Paraiba:
  • Reformed Church in Esperanca

• Paraná:
  • Reformed Church in Colombo

• Pernambuco:
  • Reformed Church in San Jose
  • Reformed Church in Recife
  • Reformed Church in Caruaru
  • Reformed Church in Prazeres
  • Reformed Church in Veracruz
  • Reformed Church in Paulista

• Rio de Janeiro:
  • Reformed Church in Cabro Frio

Interchurch organisations

Igrejas Reformadas do Brasil has sisterchurch relationshipp with the Canadian and American Reformed Churches and the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated), it is also a mermber of the International Conference of Reformed Churches.^[5][6]

References

1. ↑ http://www.reformiert-online.net/adressen/detail.php?id=1293&lg=enghttp://igrejasreformadasdobrasil.org/confederacao/nossahistoria
2. ↑ http://mission.maranatha-canrc.org/about02-map.html
3. ↑ http://www.reformiert-online.net/adressen/detail.php?id=1293&lg=eng
4. ↑ http://igrejasreformadasdobrasil.org/index.php/doutrina
5. ↑ http://igrejasreformadasdobrasil.org/confederacao/relacoes-inter-eclesiasticas
6. ↑ http://www.icrconline.com/members.html

External links

• Official website Igrejas Reformadas do Brasil
• Maranatha Mission Blog