April 22, 1538 - John Calvin and William Farel Forced to Leave Geneva

As Protestants navigated how to properly integrate church and civil life without an authority like the Roman Pope, many places struggled to find a solution. This was a particularly difficult task in Switzerland. John Calvin arrived in Geneva at the request of William Farel, and the two men were fired by the town council and forced to leave the city on April 22, 1538, because they refused to administer Communion to several townspeople whom Calvin and Farel believed had not sought forgiveness for their sins.