Netherlands Reformed Congregations
Encyclopedia
The Netherlands Reformed Congregations, is a highly conservative
denomination
with congregations mostly in Canada
, the United States
, and the Netherlands
.
Almost all of the songs sung during the worship service are based on the book of
Psalms
.
times.
which are as follows:
, when a small group in the Netherlands
called the Gereformeerde Gemeenten broke away from the state church.
of Albertus van Raalte
and his associates Cornelius Vander Meulen and Hendrik Scholte due to doctrinal
disputes, they led their own emigration
first to South Holland
, Illinois
, in 1865 and then to Grand Rapids, Michigan
, in 1870.
, most still conducting their services half in Dutch
and half in English
, with over five thousand members.
. The two denominations, although split, continue to co-operate with the running of Christian schools founded by the NRC.
.
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Conservative Christianity
Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
with congregations mostly in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Baptism
The Netherlands Reformed Congregations hold to infant baptism but believe that although being baptized each child still carries the personal necessity to be born again. Baptism places a child into an external covenant in the church as the Israelites who passed through the Red Sea. Like them they have many of the benefits of the children of God in an outward sense but until they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit they remain outside of the Covenant of Grace.Bible Version
The church services are conducted using exclusively the Authorised Version (King James) of the Bible.Almost all of the songs sung during the worship service are based on the book of
Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
.
Liturgical Forms
In keeping with the Dutch Reformed traditions most of the liturgical forms used are translations of the Dutch forms edited by Petrus Dathenus (1531-1588) and used during the ReformationProtestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
times.
Catechism
Most of the member churches have services two or three times a Sunday. The topic for one service a week is based on one of the 52 Lord's Days from The Heidelberg Catechism. In this way all of the various doctrines will be covered at least once a year.Three Forms of Unity
The church subscribes to the Three Forms of UnityThree 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...
which are as follows:
- Belgic Confession of FaithBelgic ConfessionThe Confession of Faith, popularly known as the Belgic Confession, is a doctrinal standard document to which many of the Reformed churches subscribe. The Confession forms part of the Reformed Three Forms of Unity...
(1561) - Heidelberg CatechismHeidelberg CatechismThe Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine...
(1563) - Canons of DortCanons of DortThe Canons of Dort, or Canons of Dordrecht, formally titled The Decision of the Synod of Dort on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute in the Netherlands, is the judgment of the National Synod held in the Dutch city of Dordrecht in 1618–19...
(1618/19)
Before emigration to North America
This church originated in 1830 before the emigration to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, when a small group in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
called the Gereformeerde Gemeenten broke away from the state church.
Emigration to North America
Distancing themselves from their fellow secessionists1857 Secession
The 1857 Secession of Classis Holland from the Reformed Church in America occurred in January of that year. The classis became the basis for the Christian Reformed Church in North America...
of Albertus van Raalte
Albertus van Raalte
Albertus Christiaan van Raalte was an 19th century pastor in the Reformed Church in America...
and his associates Cornelius Vander Meulen and Hendrik Scholte due to doctrinal
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
disputes, they led their own emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
first to South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, in 1865 and then to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in 1870.
1972 Status
In 1972, there were fourteen Netherlands Reformed Congregations in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, most still conducting their services half in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
and half in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, with over five thousand members.
1993 Church Split
In 1993 there was a split in the Netherlands Reformed Congregations resulting in a new denomination forming called the Heritage Netherlands Reformed CongregationsHeritage Netherlands Reformed Congregations
The Heritage Reformed Congregations are a conservative federation of churches with congregations in the United States and Canada.-History:Formed in 1993 due to a split in the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States....
. The two denominations, although split, continue to co-operate with the running of Christian schools founded by the NRC.
Recent status
The Netherlands Reformed Congregations in North America continue to have close relations with their sister churches (the Gereformeerde Gemeenten) in the Netherlands. The church services in North America are now mostly conducted in the English language, with some services still in the Dutch language.Mission Fields
The Netherlands Reformed Congregations is involved in mission work in the Loma Alta area of BoliviaBolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
Sunday School and Catechism classes
In general the churches hold Sunday School and Catechism classes for the youth of the congregation. These classes may be held after the Sunday morning service.Elementary/High Schools
Netherlands Reformed Christian Educational Association consists of twelve schools throughout the United States and Canada, with approximately 3,100 students as of the 2006-2007 school year.Magazines and articles
- The Banner of Truth - A monthly publication of the denomination
- Insight Into - The official publication for the youth of the denomination
- Paul - Bimonthly magazine published by the denominational Mission Board
- Learning and Living - The official publication of the Netherlands Reformed Christian Educator's Association
Books
- Treasured Meditations - Prints and reprints of sermons, tracts, and other spiritual literature
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