Consensus Tigurinus or Dissensus Tigurinus? : International Ecclesiastical Politics in Switzerland in the mid-16th Century

Zurich and Geneva, both belonging to the Reformed camp, were leading Reformation cities in Switzerland and exerted a considerable influence upon Reformation movements in other countries.But the two cities differed significantly when we look at their modes and methods of engagement in ecumenical diplomacy, especially when they were confronted with increasingly vibrant ecumenical activities of the Lutheran princes and theologians.An attempt will be made here to trace the history of the contacts between these two differing confessional camps and see how the two Swiss cities diverged in approach despite the recently agreed Consensus of Zurich (Consensus Tigurinus).The year 1549 was the height of optimism at least among the Reformed churches in Switzerland. 1)A detailed examination of the relationship between Zurich and Geneva in the mid-16 th century, however, shows that the two cities were not in total agreement on policy issues in spite of their basic concurrence on doctrines. 2)Zurich's averseness toward ecumenical diplomacy could already be witnessed when Zurich failed to accept Philipp Melanchthon's Wittenberg Concord of 1536, which was the result of the Strasbourgers' effort to unite the Reformed churches of Switzerland with the Lutherans.On the other hand, it was probably during the period of John Calvin's sojourn in Strasbourg that he became more ecumenically-minded, which may have been a result of his closer acquaintance with Martin Bucer, Melanchthon, and then Peter Martyr.Calvin's Petit trait sur la Cne published in 1540, as well as his attendance at Religionsgesprche in Frankfurt (1539), Hagenau-Worms (1540) and Regensburg (1541), are a testimony to his ecumenicity.Calvin was also determined not to alienate Heinrich Bullinger of Zurich in his 1) It was the year when a mutual consent on the sacraments between the ministers of the Church of Zurich and John Calvin, minister of the Church of Geneva, was formulated.The consent was named Zurich Consensus (Consensus Tigurinus).2) The problem is briefly treated by Gottfried W. Locher in 'Bullinger und Calvin -Probleme des