This week in Christian history: CS Lewis dies, Geneva embraces Calvinism

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, November 20, 2022

Geneva embraces Calvinist rule – Nov. 20, 1541

Jean Calvin's statue at Geneva's Reformation Wall, a 100 meters long monument depicting Protestant figures from across Europe. | AP/File

This week marks the anniversary of when the Geneva City Council passed the Ecclesiastical Ordinances written by theologian Jean (John) Calvin, effectively becoming a Protestant theocracy.

The ordinances outlined the powers of church and civil authorities, as well as created a court system to enforce church discipline among the Genevan populace.

It also created a “company of pastors” which would meet weekly to secure “doctrinal coherence among pastors” and consider applications of new pastors, noted the Musée Protestant.

“It was not a matter of controlling the lives of the ‘free citizens of Geneva,’ as the Libertines later made it out to be,” wrote Pastor Marcus J. Serven of The Genevan Foundation.

“It was bringing the lives of the people of Geneva into conformity with the benefits of the Gospel and the sanctions of biblical law.”