Reformers Bookshop (Reformers) is a Christian bookstore and book distributor operating in Australia, plus telephone, internet and mail order both in Australasia and world-wide.^[1]

Originally set up in 1984 as a faith-based book ministry by Gabriel and Sue Lacoba of Stanmore Baptist Church^[2] to sell Banner of Truth literature,^[3] Reformers later became a joint venture^[4] with the Theological Education Committee (TEC) of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in New South Wales.^[5] Its stated goal is to make available the best in historic and contemporary Christian literature,^[6] and its range reflects the theological stance of its joint venture partners i.e. evangelical and reformed,^[7] and conservative i.e. with a high view of the Bible as the ultimate authority in all things of which it speaks.^[8] Its senior staff are theologically trained to ministerial level.^[9]

Reformers is the Australian distributor^[10] for The Good Book Company,^[11] with its well-known Christianity Explored and Discipleship Explored range. Reformers also disseminates the imprints of a number of other well-known evangelical and reformed publishing houses, including Banner of Truth, Baker Book House, Christian Focus,^[12] Good News Crossway, Day One,^[13] Eerdmans, Evangelical Press,^[14] Founders Press,^[15] Go Teach,^[16] InterVarsity Press UK, Ligonier Ministries, Matthias Media, P&R and Shepherd Press.^[17]

Reformers supplied the books to the 2008 Banner of Truth Australian Conference,^[18] a significant biennial conference of reformed speakers, with two of its Governing Committee (Rev Peter Hastie,^[19] editor of the Australian Presbyterian Magazine^[20] and Pastor Ian O’Harae^[21] speaking at that conference. Reformers also provides books for students of various reformed theological colleges, including the Presbyterian Theological Centre, as part of the Geneva Foundation grants.^[22] It also supports Christian missions via its sale-or-return arrangements with congregations.^[23] Reformers is a member of the Christian Bookselling Association of Australia.^[24]

[edit] See also

Calvinism portal

Christianity portal

• Presbyterian Church of Australia
• Reformed baptist
• The Good Book Company

[edit] Notes and References

1. ^ See the official Reformers Bookshop Australian website and New Zealand website
2. ^ Congregational website
3. ^ See the Banner of Truth article for the history of the early years of the bookshop.
4. ^ See the Australian Business Register entry. Retrieved on 4 June 2009.
5. ^ The TEC's role is both to govern the PTC and provide representation on the Reformers Governing Committee.
6. ^ As noted on the Presbyterian Church of Queensland website
7. ^ The Presbyterian Church of NSW is strongly evangelical and reformed, in its doctrine, church government and theology of worship.
8. ^ As noted on the Creation Ministries website
9. ^ Reformers website
10. ^ See the article on the Sydney Anglicans website about the distributorship. Retrieved on 28 May 2009.
11. ^ The Good Book Company website.
12. ^ Christian Focus is a large, evangelical, Scottish publisher. Reformers is their sole Australian distributor - see the Christian Focus International Distributor List
13. ^ Reformers is a reseller for Day One Publications.
14. ^ Reformers is a Partnership Bookstore of Evangelical Press, and shares its theological stance.
15. ^ Founders Press has a Southern Baptist perspective.
16. ^ Go Teach website
17. ^ See the Reformers Bookshop About Us webpage.
18. ^ This conference attracts ministry workers from all around Australia and New Zealand, from Presbyterian, Christian Reformed, Anglican, Congregationalist and Reformed Baptist traditions.
19. ^ He is also the Chairman of the Councils of Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney and Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale, as noted in those articles.
20. ^ See the Australian Presbyterian website. This magazine is the National Journal of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, and includes articles by and interviews with leading international evangelical, reformed theologians.
21. ^ See the Southland College Faculty List for a brief curriculum vitae as a Christian educator.
22. ^ See PTC Scholarships and Bursaries and Application for Geneva Bursary for a description of the Geneva bursaries. The Geneva Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that makes grants to eligible bodies, primarily for the advancement of religious education.
23. ^ See the Reformers Bookshop About Us webpage.
24. ^ CBAA Reformers webpage listing