FAQs

Which denominations are in scope?

The Reconquista movement is specifically dedicated to reviving the Mainline Protestant denominations 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 (ACANZ)

  • Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ)

  • Methodist Church of New Zealand (MCNZ)

*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 Mainline Methodists, Congregationalists, and liberal Presbyterians.
The Mainline Congregationalists in New Zealand, however, 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?

Identify a local conservative congregation of your denomination to regularly attend and to serve. The Reconquista Australasia church map offers a selection of congregations identified as being relatively conservative for their respective denominations. The map is not complete. If there are no congregations indicated in your area, we encourage you to seek out local conservative congregations yourself. When you identify one, please contact us with details of your endorsed church for it to be added onto the church map.

The Reconquista Australasia church map: a selection of congregations identified as being relatively conservative for their respective denominations in Australia and New Zealand (Mainline Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Lutheran churches).

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

Logo of the Anglican Community of Saint Mark, a fellowship of conservative congregations in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia (ACANZP).
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).

Finally, keep monitoring this website and follow our social media accounts as we will continue to build this movement. We will establish a Reconquista Australasia discord server shortly to allow us to network, have discussions and better organise ourselves.