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Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Anabaptist / Mennonite

A side-by-side comparison of Presbyterian / Reformed and Anabaptist / Mennonite teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.

Presbyterian / Reformed

The Reformed tradition follows the teaching of John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli and their heirs, and Presbyterian churches are its best-known family. It stresses the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and government by elders (presbyters).

More about Presbyterian / Reformed Christianity

Anabaptist / Mennonite

The Anabaptists began in Zurich in 1525 and spread to Germany and the Netherlands as the “radical” wing of the Reformation. Mennonites, the Amish and the Hutterites descend from them. They stress adult baptism, following the Sermon on the Mount, and separation of church and state.

At a glance

Where they differ: Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Style of worship.

Varies within one or both: Clergy and women in ministry; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.

Where they agree: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Day of worship.

Side by side

Question	Presbyterian / Reformed	Anabaptist / Mennonite
Authority: Scripture and traditionAgree	Scripture alone is the supreme authority. Confessions such as the Westminster Confession are subordinate standards that summarize its teaching.	Scripture is the authority, read together by the congregation with special weight on the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount.
Books of the BibleAgree	66 books. The Westminster Confession says the Apocrypha is not inspired and has no authority in the church.	66 books.
The TrinityAgree	One God in three persons, as defined at Nicaea and Constantinople and restated in the Reformed confessions.	One God in three persons. Early Anabaptists were not uniform, but the Mennonite confessions are Trinitarian.
How a person is savedAgree	Justification by grace alone through faith alone, with salvation entirely God’s work from election to glory. Good works are the fruit and evidence of faith.	Saved by grace through faith. Faith is expected to show itself in obedience and discipleship, and baptism marks a conscious commitment to follow Christ.
Can a saved person fall away?Differ	No. The “perseverance of the saints” holds that those whom God has truly chosen will be kept in faith to the end, though they may stumble seriously.	Generally yes. Mennonite teaching holds that faith must be lived out and that a person can turn away, though God is patient with those who return.
Predestination and free willDiffer	God unconditionally chose those he would save before the foundation of the world, which is the classic Calvinist position. Its five points are often summarized by the acronym TULIP.	Emphasizes free will and a personal decision to follow Christ. Anabaptists rejected Calvinist predestination from the start.
BaptismDiffer	A sign and seal of God’s covenant promise. Infants of believers are baptized, generally by sprinkling or pouring, and baptism is not thought to save automatically.	Baptism is given only to those who make a mature confession of faith. The mode varies (pouring or immersion), and infant baptism is rejected. The name “Anabaptist” means “rebaptizer.”
Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Differ	Christ is truly present, but spiritually, through the Holy Spirit, for those who receive by faith. It is a sign and seal, not a change in the elements.	A memorial meal and a sign of the unity of the congregation. Some groups pair it with foot washing.
Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer	Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.	Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Many groups also practice foot washing.
Church governmentDiffer	Governed by elders. Each congregation is led by a session of elders, which belongs to a presbytery, then a regional synod and a national General Assembly.	Local congregations decide matters together and select their own ministers. Some groups have regional conferences and bishops with a limited role.
Clergy and women in ministryVaries	Varies. The PC(USA) ordains women as pastors and elders, while the PCA and other conservative bodies reserve those offices for men.	Varies. Conservative groups reserve ministry for men, and more progressive Mennonite conferences ordain women.
Mary and the saintsAgree	Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus, and saints are remembered as examples. Prayer is directed to God alone.	Mary is respected as Jesus’ mother, and the church emphasizes following Christ. There is no prayer to saints.
Death, purgatory and hellAgree	Purgatory is rejected. Believers pass at once into Christ’s presence and await the resurrection. The unsaved face eternal punishment.	Purgatory is rejected. Believers rest in Christ awaiting the resurrection, and the final judgment decides eternal destiny.
Style of worshipDiffer	Centered on the preaching of the Word. Worship is more sober than in Catholic or Lutheran churches and traditionally uses hymns and psalms, with some congregations now using contemporary music.	Simple worship centered on singing, Scripture and preaching. Many groups sing without instruments.
The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsVaries	The Spirit gives gifts to the church. Traditionally, many Reformed teachers held that miraculous gifts ended with the apostles (cessationism), while others, including charismatic Presbyterians, disagree.	The Spirit is understood to guide the congregation in discernment and daily life. Miraculous gifts are not emphasized.
Day of worshipAgree	Sunday, called the Lord’s Day. Some Reformed churches apply the Sabbath commandment to Sunday strictly.	Sunday.
Best known for	The sovereignty of God, careful doctrine, government by elders and a long history of education and biblical scholarship.	Peace witness and refusal of violence, adult baptism, simple living, mutual aid and service through relief organizations.

“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.

Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Anabaptist / Mennonite