WORLD 10 July 2009 French Protestant reformer John Calvin born 500 years ago

John Calvin, a founder of the Protestant Reformation, was born in Noyon, France, on 10 Jul 500 years ago. His life and legacy will be celebrated around the world throughout 2009 with events described as international, interdenominational and interdisciplinary. The main events will be in Geneva, where the theologian found sanctury after fleeing from Catholic France. He wrote and preached in that city until his death in 1564.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches and Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches are organizing the main events, which include tours to Calvin historic sites around Geneva and two major international symposia. Two competitions are running on http://www.calvin09.org, which was set up by the Swiss body. The first invites musicians to compose a hymn for the anniversary year. The second challenges people to submit "the most interesting, substantial and catching sermon" that offers "new, surprising perspectives" on Calvin's significance today.

Calvin was a central developer of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism. He rejected papal authority, established a new scheme of civic and ecclesiastical governance, and created a central hub from which Calvinism was propagated. Calvin is credited, along with Martin Luther and John Knox, of helping to revive biblical Christianity.

During his lifetime, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, Calvin published several revisions of "The Institutes," a seminal work in Christian theology that altered the course of Western history as much as any other book and that is still read by theological students today. The book was written as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith for those with some basic learning and covered a broad range of theological topics from the doctrines of church and sacraments to justification by faith alone and Christian liberty. The overarching theme of the book - and Calvin's greatest theological legacy - is the idea of God's total sovereignty, particularly in salvation and election. Aug/08

RELATED READING:

"John Calvin." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 12 Aug. 2008 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/90247/John-Calvin

Calvin worldwide jubilee events:
http://www.calvin09.org/EN/home/home2.html

Calvin events
http://www.calvin.edu/meeter/events/calvin2009.htm

World Alliance of Reformed Churches
http://warc.jalb.de/