John Calvin, the chief reformer in Geneva, believed in the separation of church and state and rejected the theory that bishops possessed both a religious and a secular sword. When he arrived in Geneva he found most pastors rude and ignorant. He established a Company of Pastors that examined all new applicants for the ministry in terms of their lives and doctrines. Pastors were expected to have advanced training at a university level and be fluent in Greek and Hebrew. Such high qualifications meant that the Geneva ministry attracted an international group of outstanding pastors.