Notes on Some Denominations

From 12/19/2008 (K. Lai)

PRESBYTERIAN
- mostly Calvinism (John Calvin, predestination)
- Covenant theology
- Presbyterian form of organization (groups reporting to groups)

LUTHERAN
- Martin Luther (old law is no more)
- subscribes to portion of Covenant Theology that promises are fulfilled now
- church structure = ?

METHODIST
- Arminianism (Jacob Arminius) is about personal responsibility to being good
- John Wellesley took a spin on Arminianism in that he emphasized HOW responsibility is implemented, which is by doing good works and working your way to sinlessness
- of course if don't reach sinlessness, it's ok
- church structure = ?
- it's one step away from Roman Catholicism which also subscribes to Arminianism but says you MUST reach that point of sinlessness to earn salvation

ROMAN CATHOLICISM
- subscribes to Arminianism but says you MUST reach that point of sinlessness to earn salvation
- church structure = Episcopalian (all the way reporting to Pope at the Vatican)

ANGLICAN CHURCH
- branched off from Rome
- English people just wanted to be on their own b/c everyone wanted to do their own thing
- exactly same as Roman Catholicism except reporting goes all the way to Archbishop of Canterbury