Protestantism Overview and Branches

Overview

This lecture covers the origins and developments of three major branches of Protestantism—Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and the Reformed tradition—arising during the Reformation, and briefly discusses Proto-Protestant groups and denominational changes over time.

Corrections from Previous Episodes

• Maronite Catholics became affiliated with Rome in the 1100s, not breaking away from Eastern Orthodoxy.
• Coptic and Syak Catholics broke from Oriental Orthodox Patriarchs, not Eastern Orthodox.
• The Georgian Orthodox Church has roots dating back to 1010, not solely from the Russian Orthodox Church.
• Added the Old Believers, who split from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1666.

Proto-Protestants and Early Reformers

• The Waldensians (12th century) advocated for poverty and lay preaching; now considered part of the Reformed tradition.
• The Hussites (followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia) led to the Moravian Church, which later adopted some Lutheran practices.

Protestant Reformation: Overview

• The Reformation began in 1517 with Martin Luther’s 95 Theses.
• Protestantism initially split into three main branches: Lutheran, Anglican, and Reformed.
• Anabaptists formed a separate fourth branch, to be discussed in a future lecture.

Lutheranism

• Founded on Martin Luther’s principles: Sola Fide (by faith alone) and Sola Scriptura (by scripture alone).
• Gained support from German princes and spread to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
• Prussian Union (1817) merged Lutheran and Calvinist churches, later influencing church migrations to the U.S.
• Major U.S. Lutheran denominations: ELCA (liberal), Missouri Synod (conservative), Wisconsin Synod (most conservative).
• In Germany, the Evangelical Church (EKD) is now the largest Protestant body, containing Lutherans and Calvinists.

Anglicanism

• Originated with King Henry VIII’s split from Rome in 1534, creating the Church of England.
• The monarch remains head of the Church, with the Archbishop of Canterbury as spiritual leader.
• Anglicanism spread globally, leading to 42 autonomous churches forming the Anglican Communion.
• Current disagreements over same-sex blessings may cause a split in the Anglican Communion.

Reformed Tradition (Calvinism and related)

• Associated with John Calvin and predestination theology.
• Major areas of influence: Netherlands (Dutch Reformed Church) and Scotland (Presbyterianism led by John Knox).
• Presbyterianism spread to Ireland and the U.S., leading to multiple splits and eventual mergers.
• Congregationalism emphasized independent local churches, especially in early New England colonies.
• The United Church of Christ formed in 1957 from a merger of Congregationalist and other Protestant groups.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Sola Fide — Salvation by faith alone.
• Sola Scriptura — Authority by scripture alone.
• Lutheranism — Protestant branch based on Luther’s teachings.
• Anglicanism — Protestant tradition stemming from the Church of England.
• Reformed/Calvinism — Protestant movement emphasizing predestination, influenced by John Calvin.
• Presbyterianism — Reformed tradition with governance by elders (presbyters).
• Congregationalism — Church governance by independent local congregations.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Watch the complementary video by Ready to Harvest for deeper comparison of Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, and Moravian traditions.
• Prepare for the next episode covering Anabaptists and Baptists.