 Farel and Calvin then went to Bern and Zurich to plead their case . The resulting synod in Zurich placed most of the blame on Calvin for not being sympathetic enough toward the people of Geneva . However , it asked Bern to mediate with the aim of restoring the two ministers . The Geneva council refused to readmit the two men , who then took refuge in Basel . Subsequently , Farel received an invitation to lead the church in Neuchâtel . Calvin was invited to lead a church of French refugees in Strasbourg by that city 's leading reformers , Martin Bucer and Wolfgang Capito . Initially , Calvin refused because Farel was not included in the invitation , but relented when Bucer appealed to him . By September 1538 Calvin had taken up his new position in Strasbourg , fully expecting that this time it would be permanent ; a few months later , he applied for and was granted citizenship of the city . 
