FAQs

Which denominations are in scope?

The Reconquista movement is dedicated to reviving Christian orthodoxy within the Mainline Protestant denominations, specifically those that are becoming increasingly theologically liberal. For Australia and New Zealand these are:

  • Anglican Church of Australia (ACA)

  • Uniting Church in Australia (UCA)

  • Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA/LCANZ)

  • Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia (ACANZP)

  • Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ)

  • Methodist Church of New Zealand (MCNZ)

Illustration of the Mainline Protestant denominations of Australia and New Zealand: ACA, PCA, UCA, LCA, ACANZP, PCANZ, and MCANZ.

*Presbyterian Church of Australia (PCA) is one of the rare instances of a Mainline Protestant denomination that is firmly theologically conservative.

*UCA was formed as a union of Australian Methodists, Congregationalists, and liberal Presbyterians. New Zealand Congregationalists have simply joined the PCANZ.

Why fight for Mainline denominations?

The Mainline denominations are longstanding institutions which represent the heritage of historic Protestant traditions. The Protestant heritage has gradually become clouded as these institutions drifted into theological liberalism and has caused many conservative Christians to leave to form new Evangelical denominations. As conservatives leave, the Mainline denominations become even more liberal as a result. Reconquista is a long-term attempt to reverse the liberal trends and restore the Mainline Protestant denominations to the beliefs they were founded on.

A diagram illustrating how the Mainline Protestant denominations have become increasingly theologically liberal. It also shows how when conservative Evangelicals leave, it results in even more liberalism in the Mainline denominations.

How can we reverse these trends?

It may seem like an impossible and daunting task, but it is completely plausible with the proper method. Theologically liberal Churches are constantly in decline because they abandon all doctrines that give people a reason to have religious commitment. Our strategy is to form Biblical holdouts within the Mainline denominations and strengthen the existing Biblical churches within the Mainline, knowing that they will outlast the disappearing liberal majority. 

A graph illustrating the long-term strategy of Reconquista Australasia: This is strengthening the minority of conservative congregations so they may outlive the declining liberal congregations.

How can I get involved?

We welcome and encourage all Mainline Protestant Christians who support our mission to join our community server on Discord. Join here. The Discord server allows us to network, organise, socialise, or to serve any other purpose that may support the mission. You can also follow our social media pages to stay up to date as we continue to build this movement.

Identify a relatively conservative congregation of your denomination to regularly attend and serve. Our church map offers a selection of these congregations we have identified. Link here. It is not complete, so if there isn’t anything identified in your area then we encourage you to seek out local conservative congregations yourself. When you identify one, provide us details of the congregation for it to be added to the map.

Finally, check out the Networks page to see if there is a denominational ally group or mission-aligned entity you can also get involved with. If there isn’t an ally group for your denomination, consider establishing one yourself.

Logo of FAYTH (Fellowship of Anglican Youth for Theological Heritage): a group of lay Anglicans in Australia that advocate for tradition and orthodoxy in the Anglican Church of Australia (ACA).
Logo of the Anglican Community of Saint Mark, a fellowship of conservative congregations in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia (ACANZP).