Netherlands Reformed Congregations

Netherlands Reformed Congregations
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Dutch Reformed
Polity	Presbyterian
Geographical areas	United States, Canada and Netherlands
Founder	Gerrit Hendrik Kersten
Origin	The Netherlands
Separations	1993 groups from a number of congregations left to form the Heritage Reformed Congregations
Congregations	28 (NA), 158 (Netherlands)
Members	105,371 (Netherlands)), 10,449 (NA),
Source: Church and School Directory of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations, 2008

The Netherlands Reformed Congregations, is a highly conservative denomination with congregations mostly in Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands.

Basic beliefs and doctrines

Church

The church adheres to the five points of Calvinism.

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.

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 Reformation 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.

Creeds and Confessions

Three Forms of Unity

The church subscribes to the Three Forms of Unity which are as follows:

• Belgic Confession of Faith (1561)
• Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
• Canons of Dort (1618/19)

History

Before emigration to North America

Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Barendrecht

This church originated in 1830 before the emigration to the United States, when a small group in the Netherlands called the Gereformeerde Gemeenten broke away from the state church.

Emigration to North America

Distancing themselves from their fellow secessionists 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.

Post Emigration

1972 Status

In 1972, there were fourteen Netherlands Reformed Congregations in the United States, most still conducting their services half in Dutch and half in English, 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 Congregations. The two denominations, although split, continue to co-operate with the running of Christian schools founded by the NRC.

2001 Status

In 2001 there were 26 churches and 9395 members in Canada and the United States.

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 Bolivia.

Education

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.

Publications

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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