History

Our History 

Reformed churches trace their origins back to apostolic times (cf. Matthew 16:13–20; Acts 2). Their historical development continued through the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, in which Catholicism was challenged by leaders such as Martin Luther, culminating in their contemporary expression in various parts of the world.

More recently, in the late 1940s, migrants from the Netherlands who settled in New Zealand expected to find continuity with the Reformed tradition in the existing churches. However, they soon observed significant deviations in doctrine and practice, which they considered unacceptable from a biblical and confessional perspective.

Thus, in 1953, the Reformed Churches of New Zealand were officially founded through an assembly (synod) held in Wellington, with the participation of representatives from local churches in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Since then, new congregations have been established in various regions of the country, currently forming a denomination that includes approximately twenty churches committed to the faithful teaching of the Word of God and the practice of a reverent and orderly liturgy.

While many of the founding members came from a Dutch background, the Reformed Churches of New Zealand have sought from their inception to establish themselves as a truly New Zealand church. Their identity is not defined by ethnic origin, but by God's call to be a covenant community, rooted in Scripture and guided by Reformed confessions. In this sense, they strive to live according to the words of the Apostle Paul: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Now, we, as a Spanish-speaking Reformed Christian community, understand the difficulties immigrants face upon arriving in a country like New Zealand, where the official languages ​​are English and Māori. We recognize that adapting to a new linguistic and cultural environment can be a challenging experience, especially in the spiritual and ecclesial realms. However, we also affirm that it is the responsibility of every mature believer to gather together, actively participate, and be part of a local church where Christ is faithfully preached.

For this reason, as a Reformed Christian community, we strive to offer a Spanish-speaking space, providing a welcoming, comforting, and edifying environment. Beyond being a cultural meeting point, we seek to be a community where the Reformed faith is preached and taught with doctrinal clarity and pastoral love. Our desire is to accompany each Spanish-speaking believer in their process of integrating into a local church within the Reformed confessional framework, without abandoning our meetings and Bible studies, which remain a spiritual and fraternal pillar for those who share our language and faith.