The term evangelical has several distinct meanings:

• "Evangelical", in its original sense, means "belonging or related to the Gospel'" (Greek: euangelion).
• In mainland Europe, especially in the German and Scandanavian countries, 'Evangelisch' ('Evangelical') is a general designation for churches adhering to beliefs of the Reformation (otherwise known as Protestantism) e.g. Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Reformed Church, or Evangelical Methodist Church, in contrast to Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. In this sense, it comprises everything from a liberal state church to a conservative free church in the Baptist or Pietist tradition.
  • However, in German there are now two words used which are commonly translated 'evangelical': 'evangelisch' meaning Protestant, and more narrowly the Lutheran and Reformed churches, and 'evangelikal', pertaining to evangelicalism. In Austria, the United Lutheran and Reformed Church (Evangelische Kirche in Oesterreich) claims a monopoly on the former term and has in the past sued independent churches using the designation "evangelisch".
• In Canada, Australia, the UK and the United States, it most often refers to adherents of evangelicalism. However, with certain US churches that descend from mainland Europe, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (or with some congregations of the United Church of Christ that maintain 'evangelical' in their name), the word maintains that European meaning specified above (i.e. 'evangelical' essentially equaling 'Protestant').
• The word evangelical is sometimes mistaken for a synonym of 'Pentecostal'. However, this is a far too narrow use of the term, as many Evangelicals do not agree with Pentecostal practices (such as glossolalia and prophecy) and therefore avoid the title.
• The word evangelical is also sometimes confused with evangelist, or evangelistic, especially when evangelism is practised assertively or aggressively.

See also

• Evangelist
• Televangelism
• Evangelicalism
• Protestantism
• Evangelical Movement of Wales

Evangelisch | 福音派 | Évangélique