Geneva

Geneva. The foundation of a Christian community in Geneva dates from c.350; by the end of the 4th cent. it was the centre of a diocese. In 1162 the Emp. Frederick I conferred secular authority on the Bp. of Geneva. Increasing prosperity led the merchants to press for Geneva to be constituted a city-state; in 1387 Bp. Adhémar Fabri granted the city its franchise, while retaining the basic powers of the prince-bishop. The beginnings of the Reformation in Geneva are linked with a political rebellion against the remaining powers of the prince-bishop from 1513 onwards. The preaching of G. Farel, P. Viret, and Antoine Froment gave a confessional basis to the movement and led to the abolition of the Mass in 1535. In 1536 the Reformation was officially adopted by edict and the city-state was separated from the RC diocese. J. Calvin introduced the Presbyterian system of Church government, carrying out most of his reforms in 1541/2. In 1559 he founded the Genevan Academy, primarily to train clergy. After a period of stagnation and rigidity in the 17th cent., more liberal tendencies appeared in the 18th cent. and Lutherans were granted freedom of worship in 1707. The annexation of the city by Napoleon in 1799 led to the official recognition of RC worship for the first time since 1535. After the withdrawal of French troops in 1815, the city and its dependencies became a canton of the Swiss confederation. In 1907 the Calvinist Church was separated from the State.

Geneva is the seat of several international ecclesiastical organizations, including the World Council of Churches. In a historical context, Geneva is regarded as the centre of Presbyterianism and is used to denote the system in the same way as Rome is used to designate the RC Church.