Reformers Bookshop

Reformers Bookshop
Book store
Founded 1983
Website www.reformers.org.au

Reformers (Reformers Bookshop) is a non-profit[1] Christian wholesaler and bookseller operating in Australasia, plus telephone, internet and mail order world-wide.[2]

Originally set up in 1983 as a faith-based book ministry by a married couple of Stanmore Baptist Church[3] to sell Banner of Truth literature,[4] Reformers expanded its range over the years and in 2007 became a Reformed Baptist/Presbyterian joint venture[5] in partnership with the Theological Education Committee[6] of, and (from July 2009) the Trustees[7] of, the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales.[8] Its stated goal is to make available the best in historic and contemporary Christian literature,[9] and its range reflects the theological stance of its various joint venture partners i.e. evangelical, reformed and conservative i.e. with a high view of the Bible as the ultimate authority in all things of which it speaks.[10] Its senior staff are theologically trained to ministerial level.[11]

Since 2007, it has grown to become the largest specialised seller of evangelical, reformed literature in Australasia, with a brochure mailing list stated to be over 20,000 copies.[12] In contrast with the multi-store approach of Koorong and Word, Reformers appears to have adopted a single-distribution-centre-cum-internet strategy for sales and order fulfilment.

Reformers is the sole Australian trade distributor[13] for both The Good Book Company,[14] with its well-known Christianity Explored[15] and Discipleship Explored ranges (by Rico Tice and Barry Cooper), and P&R Publishing (formerly Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing).[16] Reformers is also an Australasian trade distributor or reseller for the imprints of a number of other well-known evangelical and reformed publishing houses, including Christian Focus,[17] Banner of Truth, Baker Book House, Good News Crossway, Day One,[18] Eerdmans,[19] Evangelical Press,[20] Founders Press,[21] Go Teach,[22] Granted Ministries,[23] Inter-Varsity Press UK, Ligonier Ministries, Matthias Media and Shepherd Press. Reformers trades under a number of other names throughout Australasia including Reformers Bookshop, Reformers Christian Bookshop, Great Christian Books and Advantage Plus.[24]

Reformers supplies the books, either directly or via third-party, to a number of significant Australian conferences, including the EQUIP Women's Conferences,[25] Katoomba Christian Convention, Sydney Anglican Conferences and Banner of Truth Conferences,[26] a biennial conference of reformed speakers.

Reformers also provides books for students of various reformed theological colleges,[27] including the Presbyterian Theological Centre Sydney, the Queensland Theological College, the Presbyterian Theological College Melbourne[28] and the Reformed Theological College Geelong, as part of the Geneva Foundation grants.[29] It also supports Christian missions via its sale-or-return arrangements with congregations.[30] Reformers is a member of the Christian Bookselling Association of Australia.[31]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ See the Australian Business Register Page detailing the ownership by three charitable organisations retrieved on 19 August 2011.
  2. ↑ See the official Reformers Bookshop Australian website and New Zealand website
  3. ↑ See both the congregational website and Australian Business Register History Page for Stanmore Baptist Church, both retrieved on 16 August 2011
  4. ↑ See the Banner of Truth article for the history of the early years of the bookshop.
  5. ↑ See the Australian Business Register entry. Retrieved on 4 June 2009.
  6. ↑ The TEC's role was both to govern the PTC and provide representation on the Reformers Governing Committee. See also the Australian Business Register History Page for the Joint Venture from 1 April 2007 retrieved on 16 August 2011.
  7. ↑ Information on the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of NSW
  8. ↑ Australian Business Register History Page for the Joint Venture from 1 July 2009 retrieved on 16 August 2011.
  9. ↑ As noted on the Presbyterian Church of Queensland website
  10. ↑ The Presbyterian Church of NSW is strongly evangelical and reformed, in its doctrine, church government and theology of worship.
  11. ↑ Reformers website
  12. ↑ See the statement on the Reformers Subscribe page. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
  13. ↑ See the article on the Sydney Anglicans website about the distributorship. Retrieved on 28 May 2009.
  14. ↑ The Good Book Company website.
  15. ↑ Christianity Explored Stockist Listing
  16. ↑ The P&R Publishing Contact Us Page lists Reformers as the sole Australian and New Zealand distributor.
  17. ↑ Christian Focus is a large, evangelical, Scottish publisher. Reformers is an Australian distributor - see the Christian Focus International Distributor List
  18. ↑ Reformers is a reseller for Day One Publications.
  19. ↑ See the Eerdmans Australian Distributor listing, retrieved on 16 August 2011.
  20. ↑ Reformers is a Partnership Bookstore of Evangelical Press, and shares its theological stance.
  21. ↑ Founders Press has a Southern Baptist perspective.
  22. ↑ Go Teach website
  23. ↑ See Granted Ministries International Distributor Page
  24. ↑ Australian Business Register Page for the Joint Venture from 1 July 2009 retrieved on 16 August 2011.
  25. ↑ EQUIP website.
  26. ↑ This conference attracts ministry workers from all around Australia and New Zealand, from Presbyterian, Christian Reformed, Anglican, Congregationalist and Reformed Baptist traditions.
  27. ↑ See the listing on the Australian College of Theology Resources Page.
  28. ↑ Presbyterian Theological College, Melbourne website
  29. ↑ See PTC Scholarships and Bursaries 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.
  30. ↑ See the Reformers Bookshop About Us webpage.
  31. ↑ CBAA website
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