> My understanding is that the "Reformed Church" was a version of > Protestantism that was influenced by John Calvin. That ist correct. "Reformed" is one branch of protestantism, influenced by the reformers Ulrich Zwingli (he wrote Huldrych Zwingli) and Johannes Calvin. The reformed church exists mainly in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Scotland and Germany. In Hesse mainly in the northern part: Landgrafschaft Hessen-Kassel (later: Kurhessen). The main difference between "Reformed" and "Lutheran" is the nature of Eucharist (Lord's supper): Lutheran believe in "real presence" of Christ "in, with and under" the bread and wine, a kind of transformation or materialisation during the ceremony. Luther let ministers go, who did not distinguish clearly between transformed and not transformed altar bread. Reformed do not believe that bread and wine are transformed during the ceremony. For them bread and wine are for symbolic commemoration in Christ. The Hessian Landgraf Philipp der Grossmuetige (1504-1567) invited Luther and Zwingli in 1529 at Marburg in Hesse to find a consensus. It failed, the differences between Luther and Zwingli could not overcome. In some German parts in 19th century reformed and lutheran churches are united. From this time on there were three branches of protestantism: reformiert (reformed), lutherisch (lutheran) and uniert (united). In 1973 the consensus between the branches was found, the document is known as "Leuenberger Konkordie", which overcomes the theologic differences in baptism and Eucharist. Sincerely, mario, Hesse, Germany