Guidelines for Writing

Writing for Reformed Dogmatika is a shared labor undertaken for the glory of God and the good of His church. We regard this work as both a privilege and a responsibility, and that holds for returning contributors and first-time writers alike.

Our purpose and confessional identity are set forth in our Mission Statement and About page, which together guide and govern all that we publish. Reformed Dogmatika exists to articulate the historic Reformed faith as confessed in the Westminster Standards and the Three Forms of Unity, for elders and lay people in Reformed churches, readers new to the Reformed tradition, and any who suspect the modern evangelical landscape is thinner than it should be.

Who Writes Here

Every regular contributor is a communicant member in good standing of a NAPARC-affiliated church and affirms, without reservation, either the Westminster Standards or the Three Forms of Unity. Ordained officers do so by their vows of subscription; lay contributors, by personal conviction. We occasionally welcome guest writers from adjacent Protestant traditions provided their contributions align with our Reformed theological convictions and reflect grace in both tone and substance.

Our Commitments

We joyfully affirm the Three Forms of Unity, the Westminster Standards, and the Ecumenical Creeds as faithful summaries of Scriptural truth.

To preserve clarity, unity, and confessional integrity for our readers, we refrain from promoting or endorsing the following positions:

Christian Nationalism and related contemporary political theologies
Theonomy and Christian Reconstructionism, which press the civil authority of Israel’s judicial law beyond the general equity our confessions affirm (WCF 19.4)
Side B theology (the “gay Christian” identity position)
The ordination of women to church office
Continuationism or modern speaking in tongues, since we believe the extraordinary sign gifts ceased with the close of the Apostolic Age (WCF 1.6; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10)
Other positions outside historic Reformed confessional standards that tend to generate unnecessary controversy or division

This list describes positions we do not promote or endorse. Confessional engagement with these questions, including responses to denominational reports, critical analysis, and pastoral guidance, is always welcome.

If you write primarily to promote or advocate for any of the above positions, Reformed Dogmatika will likely not be the best platform for your writing. We say this with respect and pastoral care, seeking to maintain the doctrinal clarity and unity that serve both our readers and our contributors.

Our Topical Scope

Readers will find articles on Reformed theology, the covenants, Christology, the doctrines of grace, the sacraments, worship, ecclesiology, and Amillennial eschatology, as well as the kind of confessional thinking that shapes how a Reformed Christian reads Scripture, raises a family, and lives in the church. Our published work falls within thirteen standing categories:

Our Audience

Our readers come from across the spectrum. Pastors and elders will find writing pitched to their level. Seasoned lay people will find material that respects their reading. Readers new to the Reformed tradition will find a doorway into the Confessions themselves, and every reason to walk through it.

Many newcomers arrive carrying misconceptions about Calvin and Geneva. Others are wrestling with covenant theology or the validity of infant baptism. Some are facing relational strain at home because embracing the doctrines of grace has reshaped how they speak about God, the church, and parenting. Write with both conviction and care, knowing that many who visit are taking brave steps toward these truths.

Writing Guidelines

Write in a clear, accessible style that welcomes readers into the conversation while respecting the seriousness of the subject.
Support your points with Scripture, the Confessions, and respected Reformed theologians.
Quote primary sources (Calvin, Turretin, Bavinck, Berkhof, Sproul, and others) verbatim. Do not paraphrase. If you can’t verify a quotation, do not include it.
The Bible reference widget on our blog renders verses in the English Standard Version.
Do not append the translation abbreviation (ESV, NASB, etc.) after the citation.
Always connect theological truth to everyday life. Ask, “Why does this matter?”
Be pastoral, patient, and charitable, especially knowing many readers come from Baptist, charismatic, or broader evangelical backgrounds.
Avoid unnecessary jargon; define theological terms the first time you use them.

Citations

Reformed Dogmatika uses end-of-article numbered citations, with the section heading labeled “Footnotes,” following Reformed blog convention. Please format citations using full name and translator or edition on first reference; the theologian’s last name is sufficient thereafter. Examples:

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion 3.2.7 (Battles or Beveridge)
Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology 2.9.5 (Dennison)
Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics vol. 3, 235 (Bolt, ed.)
Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 421
R. C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, 87

Convert any in-text or bottom-of-page footnotes to numbered citations under a “Footnotes” heading at the end of the article before sending your document. WordPress does not handle bottom-of-page footnotes well.

Submission & Editorial Process

Before writing for us, please read these guidelines together with our Mission Statement and About page. Once you have affirmed that you are on board with all three and have been approved as a guest writer, we’ll provide full details about the submission method.

Please also read our Authorship and Artificial Intelligence policy, which states what these tools may and may not do in work published here.

Please submit your article at least five to seven days before its intended publication date so we have time to properly edit and format your work.

After submission, we will review your draft for theological clarity, style, and tone. Our aim is to preserve your unique voice while ensuring your work aligns with our confessional commitments and communicates clearly to our audience.

We may provide feedback or request revisions. Once finalized, your piece will be scheduled for publication and shared through our social media channels.

We ask every contributor to subscribe to the blog by email; it’s the best way to stay connected to everything we publish. Follow us on X and Facebook, connect with fellow writers, and feel free to include “Writer for @RefDogmatika” and “www.ReformedDogmatika.com” in your profile.

Final Encouragement

You are not merely writing an article. You are helping someone draw nearer to the God of Scripture. That is both an honor and a stewardship.

Let us write with clarity, humility, and joy, trusting that the Lord will use our words for the strengthening of His people.

In His grace,
Anthony Faggiano
@SolaDogmatika

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Meet the Voices

See the contributors who write within these standards: many voices, one confession.

View Contributors

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