Evangelical Reformed
30-31 Oct 2026

It is sometimes surprising that Christians could simultaneously be “evangelical” and “reformed” in their conviction, considering how the two terms have been caricatured and pitted against each other in recent times.

But that is a false dichotomy, and in fact, in our current climate of doctrinal indifference, it has become increasingly clear that the church must be both “evangelical” and “reformed” if she is to conduct herself in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27).

If the church is evangelical without being reformed, she is at risk of being blown apart by the winds and waves of worldly doctrine, failing to stand firm in the gospel, because the support structure necessary for such firmness – sound doctrine – has not been built.

If the church is reformed without being evangelical, she forgets the whole purpose of the reformed endeavour, which is the defense and proclamation of the gospel as delivered by the apostles to the glory and praise of God.

Holding both “reformed” and “evangelical” together keeps us from two dangers. It keeps us from being inward looking, preoccupied with doctrinal purity, constantly differentiating ourselves from those with different views. Not that doctrinal truthfulness and clarity are unimportant. Without sound doctrine, God’s people suffer with every new wave of human alternatives to God’s truth. Yet doctrinal truthfulness and clarity serve a higher purpose: the faithful proclamation of the gospel so that lost men and women might be saved. Christian discipleship is not self-focused and self-protective. It is exercised in the world God loved so much that he sent his Son (John 3:16) … we don’t have to choose between sound doctrine and evangelistic zeal. The two go hand in hand. Our commitment to evangelism—to personal conversion, a call to repentance and faith, to a spirit-filled life of freedom, joy and humble obedience—arises from our theology.

Rev. Dr. Mark Thompson
Principal, Moore Theological College, Sydney
Speaker, GGF’s Fellow Workers’ Conference 2020, The Gospel and Unity

A church that is evangelical but not reformed loses its anchor; a church that is reformed but not evangelical loses its purpose. It may sound like an exaggeration, but it is true – the gospel and the church of Christ are at stake if we don’t get this right. Therefore, you who love your God and His church, stand up and be counted, and let’s get to work together, because His Ministry Matters.