Netherlands Reformed Churches
Encyclopedia
The Netherlands Reformed Churches are a conservative Reformed Protestant Christian denomination in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
. The denomination came into existence in 1967 out of a schism within the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated).
over the covenant
and the power of the general synod. After that schism, referred to as the Liberation (Dutch Vrijmaking), the Liberated churches became a very conservative, orthodox denomination. Wary of the liberal tendencies within various Reformed denominations, they started to develop a number of cultural and political structures and institutes, membership in which was restricted to church members. Some within the church held the view that the Liberated church was the only true church in the Netherlands, implying that all other Christians were in violation of God's command to be joined to God's covenant people. A sizeable group disagreed with this view. In 1964 the disagreement came to a head, when Rev. Van der Ziel was accused of errors in his teaching and found guilty by the synod of the Reformed Churches (Liberated), which defrocked him. Many members protested against this measure and in 1966 they drew up an open letter with a petition to voice their protest. However, local church councils responded by excommunicating members who signed the petition. Those members, and many who followed them voluntarily, formed a new group. This federation of Reformed Churches was referred to as buitenverbanders (literally, "those outside the denomination") until 1979, when the current name Netherlands Reformed Churches was adopted.
, the Apostles' Creed
, and the Athanasian Creed
), as well as the Three Forms of Unity
. As a Calvinist church, they practice infant baptism.
However, the denomination is very loosely organised. As a result of the bad experiences with synodical authority, the local congregations have much more power, and the general synod much less, than in most other Reformed churches. Thus there are many variations and differences between local congregations. Some are very traditional; others are more heavily influenced by contemporary evangelical
practices, having replaced traditional Dutch organ music with praise bands. Also, the Netherlands Reformed Churches have allowed women to serve as deacons, elders and pastors. These variations have made contacts with other churches somewhat more complicated. Though there have been close contacts with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated), the widespread desire to be reunited to each other has been hampered by deep-running disagreements over both doctrine and practice. The Netherlands Reformed Churches are also close to the Christian Reformed Churches
. After the formation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands
, two protesting congregations from the former Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
joined the Netherlands Reformed Church.
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
. The denomination came into existence in 1967 out of a schism within the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated).
History
The history of the Netherlands Reformed Churches (Dutch Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken) coincides to a great extent with that of the Reformed Churches (Liberated), of which it was a part until the early 1960s. That denomination arose out of a conflict within the Reformed Churches in the NetherlandsReformed Churches in the Netherlands
The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands was the second largest Protestant church in the Netherlands until it merged into the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in 2004.-History:...
over the covenant
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
and the power of the general synod. After that schism, referred to as the Liberation (Dutch Vrijmaking), the Liberated churches became a very conservative, orthodox denomination. Wary of the liberal tendencies within various Reformed denominations, they started to develop a number of cultural and political structures and institutes, membership in which was restricted to church members. Some within the church held the view that the Liberated church was the only true church in the Netherlands, implying that all other Christians were in violation of God's command to be joined to God's covenant people. A sizeable group disagreed with this view. In 1964 the disagreement came to a head, when Rev. Van der Ziel was accused of errors in his teaching and found guilty by the synod of the Reformed Churches (Liberated), which defrocked him. Many members protested against this measure and in 1966 they drew up an open letter with a petition to voice their protest. However, local church councils responded by excommunicating members who signed the petition. Those members, and many who followed them voluntarily, formed a new group. This federation of Reformed Churches was referred to as buitenverbanders (literally, "those outside the denomination") until 1979, when the current name Netherlands Reformed Churches was adopted.
Doctrine and Practice
In teaching, the Netherlands Reformed Churches are in many ways an orthodox Reformed Church. They hold to the traditional confessions of the ancient church (the Nicene CreedNicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
, the Apostles' Creed
Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed , sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or "symbol"...
, and the Athanasian Creed
Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of belief, focusing on Trinitarian doctrine and Christology. The Latin name of the creed, Quicumque vult, is taken from the opening words, "Whosoever wishes." The Athanasian Creed has been used by Christian churches since the sixth century...
), as well as the Three Forms of Unity
Three Forms of Unity
The Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of Continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches.-History:From 1618 to 1619...
. As a Calvinist church, they practice infant baptism.
However, the denomination is very loosely organised. As a result of the bad experiences with synodical authority, the local congregations have much more power, and the general synod much less, than in most other Reformed churches. Thus there are many variations and differences between local congregations. Some are very traditional; others are more heavily influenced by contemporary evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
practices, having replaced traditional Dutch organ music with praise bands. Also, the Netherlands Reformed Churches have allowed women to serve as deacons, elders and pastors. These variations have made contacts with other churches somewhat more complicated. Though there have been close contacts with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated), the widespread desire to be reunited to each other has been hampered by deep-running disagreements over both doctrine and practice. The Netherlands Reformed Churches are also close to the Christian Reformed Churches
Christian Reformed Churches
The Christian Reformed Churches are a Protestant church in the Netherlands with about 75,000 members.The original name of the church was Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands . The church was formed in 1869 by the merger of two churches, both separated from the Dutch Reformed Church in 1834...
. After the formation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands
Protestant Church in the Netherlands
The Protestant Church in the Netherlands is the largest Protestant Christian denomination in the Netherlands. With 2,000 congregations and a membership of some 1.8 million , it is the second largest church in the Netherlands after the Roman Catholic Church.It was founded 1 May 2004 as a merger of...
, two protesting congregations from the former Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands was the second largest Protestant church in the Netherlands until it merged into the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in 2004.-History:...
joined the Netherlands Reformed Church.