“I am burned but I am not consumed.” This phrase encapsulates the spirit of the Église Réformée de France. It is inspired by the burning bush where God spoke to Moses. The Église Réformée de France holds a significant place in French Protestant history.
Let’s delve into its story. The Église Réformée de France, or Reformed Church of France, wasn’t always a single entity. It was born from a gathering of Protestant churches in 1938. Before that, Reformed churches existed in France as early as the 16th century. They organized in semi-clandestine ways.
The first national synod occurred in 1559. Later, the Confession of La Rochelle was composed in 1571. The Edict of Nantes in 1598 recognized and limited them. But, their last official synod was in 1659.
The Edict of Fontainebleau in 1685 then revoked the Edict of Nantes. This officially suppressed the churches. However, the Protestants got civil status again by the Edict of Tolerance in 1787. Louis XVI issued it. The edict still forbade public worship. Freedom of worship came with the French Revolution in 1789. It was declared in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
Under Napoléon Bonaparte, the Organic Articles of 1802 organized the Reformed Churches. This created a concordat. Yet, the articles only authorized local organizations. A national organization was not allowed.
During the Second Republic in 1848, Protestants organized a general synod. This was to reform the law of Germinal. The government did not authorize it. Later, Napoléon III re-established parish suffrage. He created a Central Council of Reformed Churches.
In the early Third Republic, the Temple du Saint-Esprit hosted the general synod. It was the first officially authorized synod since 1659. This synod exposed a divide. There were liberal Protestants versus more conservative ones.
The Église Réformée de France’s story continues into the 20th century. In 1905, the separation of church and state occurred. The recognized Église Réformée de France included 101 consistories. These consistories oversaw 534 parishes.
Several groups of Protestant churches united in 1938. This formed the Église Réformée de France. In 2013, the Église Réformée de France united with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of France. Together, they formed the United Protestant Church of France.
The Église Réformée de France played a vital role in various organizations. It was part of the Protestant Federation of France. Also, it was affiliated with the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The church followed a Presbyterian synodal system. A national synod, with representatives from eight regions, governed it. Laurent Schlumberger was the last president of its national council.
The Église Réformée de France trained its pastors. They attended the Institut Protestant de Théologie. This institute includes the Protestant theology faculties of Paris and Montpellier. The Église Réformée de France also supported missions. The Service Protestant de Mission connected them with other churches.
Until recently, the Huguenot cross was not an official symbol. The official logo featured the burning bush. This symbolizes God’s revelation to Moses. The Église Réformée de France’s legacy lives on. It helped shape the United Protestant Church of France. Its history reflects resilience. It shows a commitment to faith. Remember its symbol. “I am burned but I am not consumed”.