The Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands ( Dutch : Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland ) is a Protestant church in the Netherlands .
59-911: The original name of the church was Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands ( Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk in Nederland , CGKN). The church was formed in 1869 by the merger of two churches, the Reformed Churches under the Cross and the Separated Christian Congregations, both separated from the Dutch Reformed Church in 1834; an event known as the Afscheiding . Most of the CGKN merged into
118-610: A member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches , until their membership was suspended in 2017 for having adopted women’s ordination. They maintained strong relations with many foreign Reformed and Presbyterian churches, and sister church relations existed with dozens of churches around the world. Their relationships with the Canadian Reformed Churches and Free Reformed Churches of Australia have been particularly strong in
177-587: A piano and music group. In almost all churches the Ten Commandments are read in the morning service and the faith is confessed with the Apostles' Creed in the afternoon service. In January 2012, the church has 74,286 members in 181 churches. In recent years membership was steady. In the next year in early 2013 membership grew by more than 30. The various tasks of the churches are dealt with by several committees and deputies, appointed and mandated by
236-436: A pivotal role in the resulting coalition government . Former GPV politician Eimert van Middelkoop became Minister of Defence. The church ran 129 schools: 124 elementary schools, four comprehensive high schools, and one college. These private schools enjoyed special protection by Royal Decree, which means that they could not be forced to accept pupils from backgrounds that were incompatible with their Reformed views. Partly as
295-714: A result of this Royal Decree, they could only employ staff who are members of the Reformed Churches (Liberated), although they would enroll pupils from families willing to comply with the Reformed doctrines. It had a theological institute in Kampen , the Theological University of the Reformed Churches . It offered the Bachelor of Theology and the Master of Divinity . The Reformed Churches (Liberated) has been
354-542: A small number of members separated from the Reformed Churches (Liberated) to form the New Reformed Churches out of protest against recent rulings by the general synod. This schism was instigated largely by the Reformanda movement, a continuing element of the radical wing of the church, which still held to the "only true church" view. This movement objected to what it saw as liberalising tendencies within
413-581: Is called a particular synod , of which there are four in the Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands. Once every three years, the churches meet in a General Synod. The Synod is made up of 52 office bearers who are delegated by the four particular synods. The professors of the Theological University of Apeldoorn are present as advisers. Liturgically there are major differences within the CGK. In conservative congregations, only psalms from
472-871: Is designed for men who want to become a minister, the other has a broader design. The church subscribe to the infallibility of the Bible , to the Nicene Creed , the Apostles' Creed , the Athanasian Creed and the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism , the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort ). All the office bearers have signed a document that they promise not to teach anything that contradicts this basis. There
531-734: Is officially (in terms of church law ) no room for female ministers , elders and deacons. However, there are some female elders and deacons locally. They are mainly found in churches that work (intensively) with churches that belong to the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) or the Netherlands Reformed Churches . Within the church there is a heated discussion about this, as well as about hermeneutics . Churches that are situated in close proximity usually meet twice per year by way of classis meetings. Three or four classes meet together annually in what
590-732: Is one of the oldest Dutch Reformed Church built in America. The largest Dutch Reformed body in North America, the Christian Reformed Church in North America , split off from Reformed Church in America in 1857 under the leadership of Gijsbert Haan . Smaller related denominations and federations include the Canadian and American Reformed Churches , the Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRC),
649-872: Is strongly influenced under the Dutch reformed church, the first known church established in the country is "De Oude kerk" in Batavia in 1640. Christianity in Indonesia, like Sri Lanka, has been nationalised into different branches of Protestantism while retaining many of the reformed church elements, such as Protestant Church in Indonesia . The Dutch Reformed Church went with migrants to the Americas , beginning in 1628 in New Amsterdam . St. Thomas Reformed Church, founded in 1660 in St. Thomas , Danish West Indies , became
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#1732780808593708-519: The Bible , to the Nicene Creed , the Apostles' Creed , the Athanasian Creed and the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism , the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort ). As Calvinists, the Reformed Churches (Liberated) practised infant baptism for the children of believers (as well as adult baptism for adult converts). Children were taught the tenets of the faith and encouraged to publicly profess their faith (usually in late teens), by which they became professing (and voting) members of
767-638: The Canons of Dort to the Confessions. The Canons of Dort, together with the previously adopted Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism, were called the Drie formulieren van Enigheid (Three Forms of Unity). Most conflicts and splits in the Church arose because of disagreement over the substance and interpretation of these doctrinal documents. The government of the Dutch Republic , which had instigated
826-822: The Dutch East India Company and its workers, the Dutch Reformed Church was established in Ceylon in 1642. The Groote Kerk , built in 1755, still stands in Galle . The Dutch Reformed Church of Ceylon officially changed its name in 2007 to the Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka to reflect its Christian identity in the nation, rather than on its Dutch colonial heritage. As of 2007, its membership stands around 5,000, comprising both communicant and baptised members in 29 congregations, preaching stations, and mission outposts. Christianity in Indonesia
885-550: The Dutch Reformed Churches . After the Liberation the church maintained that they were the legitimate continuation of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and thus adopted that name (Dutch Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland ). However, because the denomination from which they had separated continued using that name, the addition "liberated" was used colloquially, although never officially, to distinguish
944-857: The Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC), the Netherlands Reformed Congregations (NRC), the Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRC), and the United Reformed Churches in North America (URC). The Dutch were mainly Protestant and Catholic before arrival to America, but became dominantly Protestant after settling in America. They spread their religion by forming bonds with the natives in The Ohio River Valley. In 1766, ministers of
1003-554: The Liberation , a number of church-related political and cultural institutions were founded. The daily newspaper Nederlands Dagblad originated within the Reformed Churches (Liberated) and, although it now serves a wider Christian and Reformed audience, still has strong ties to the denomination. A political party, the Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond (GPV) was organised as well. Traditionally, this party
1062-699: The Nadere Reformatie , and a number of splits in the 19th century that greatly diversified Dutch Calvinism. The church functioned until 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN), a united church of both Reformed and Evangelical Lutheran theological orientations. At
1121-532: The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands in 1892; a small part remained independent, and carried this name until it was renamed in 1947 to Christian Reformed Churches. At the first Synod eight congregations were represented. A Theological Seminary was opened in The Hague and later was moved to Apeldoorn in 1919. Since then the churches grew steadily till 1985, when membership was 75,000, and today membership fluctuates around this number. It has 13 classes . At
1180-890: The Three Sister Churches of South Africa (the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK) ( Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk ), the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NHK) ( Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk ), the Reformed Churches in South Africa ( Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika )), the Afrikaans Protestant Church ( Afrikaanse Protestantse Kerk ), and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa ( Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika ). Through
1239-474: The covenant . These came to a head during World War II, when the general synod ruled in favour of Kuyper's view that essentially questioned the inclusion of children of believers into the covenant. A number of theologians and pastors disagreed with this ruling, arguing that it contradicted the plain facts of Scripture, and attempted to appeal the decision. The general synod enforced this view strictly, demanding among others that new licentiates (recent graduates from
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#17327808085931298-512: The (general) synod. From the very beginning of the Christian Reformed Churches, there have been differences and people have spoken of a left and right wing, by analogy with the political spectrum. In 1966, a foundation was established to prevent conservative preachers from leaving the CGK. The name of the foundation is: ''Bewaar het Pand''. Within this foundation they wanted to hold on to the preaching that pays attention to
1357-470: The 19th century, theological liberalism led to splits in the Dutch Reformed Church. King William I of the Netherlands imposed a new form of government for the church, in which the civil authorities selected the commissioners to the National Synod in 1816, making it increasingly difficult for ministers to speak out against perceived errors. In 1834, the minister Hendrik de Cock of the town of Ulrum
1416-823: The Arminians' expulsion, subsequently prohibited the Reformed Church from assembling synodically. No Synod was held in the Netherlands until after the end of the Republic in 1795. The 17th and early 18th centuries were the age of the Dutch Nadere Reformatie (best translated in English as the Further Reformation ), led primarily by Gisbertus Voetius and Wilhelmus à Brakel , which was greatly influenced by English Puritanism . In
1475-688: The Dutch Reformed Church founded Queen's College , which would later become Rutgers College , in the Province of New Jersey . Today, Rutgers University is a major public research institution in the state of New Jersey . As one of nine colonial colleges clustered in the eastern United States, Rutgers serves as a reminder of early Dutch cultural influence in the North American colonies. Former U.S. Presidents Martin Van Buren and Theodore Roosevelt , both of Dutch descent, were affiliated with
1534-446: The Dutch Reformed Church. Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) ( Dutch : Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (vrijgemaakt) ) was an orthodox Calvinist federation of churches. This church body arose in 1944 out of the so-called Liberation ( Vrijmaking ) from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands , when many pastors and members refused to go along with
1593-481: The General Synod's demand to hold to "presumed regeneration of infants" at their baptism. Klaas Schilder played an important role in the Liberation. There were 270 affiliated local congregations with a total of about 120,000 members in 2016. From 2017 onwards the denomination had been in the process of merging with the Netherlands Reformed Churches . On May 1, 2023 the two denominations officially merged into
1652-556: The Lord's Supper. According to Ad de Bruijne, the denomination regarded homosexuality as sin, but "hardly any local church really disciplines it when a couple comes to the church and wants to partake in the Holy Supper." The Reformed Churches (Liberated) came out of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands . By the early 20th century, disputes were starting to arise within this denomination, especially about Abraham Kuyper 's view of
1711-809: The Netherlands seek (locally) cooperation with the Dutch Reformed Churches , the merger of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) and the Dutch Reformed Churches . It supports missions in Thailand , and Sulawesi , Indonesia , the Toraja Mamasa Church was founded by missionaries of the Christian Reformed denomination. Complete correspondence: Limited Correspondence: Dutch Reformed Church The Dutch Reformed Church ( Dutch : Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk , pronounced [ˈneːdərlɑntsə ɦɛrˈvɔr(ə)mdə ˈkɛr(ə)k] , abbreviated NHK [ˌɛnɦaːˈkaː] )
1770-543: The Netherlands). It was the larger of the two major Reformed denominations, after the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands ( Gereformeerde kerk ) was founded in 1892. It spread to the United States , South Africa , Indonesia , Sri Lanka , Brazil , and various other world regions through Dutch colonization . Allegiance to the Dutch Reformed Church was a common feature among Dutch immigrant communities around
1829-571: The Protestant movement. Two years later, in 1568, following an attack on the Netherlands by the forces of the Duke of Alba, many Netherlanders fled to the German city of Wesel , where a Synod was convened at which the Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism were adopted, and provisions were made for the offices of pastor, elder, teacher and deacon. The first Synod of 23 Dutch Reformed leaders
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1888-570: The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (restored), with 10 congegrations and 1,475 members (2022). In 2009 yet another group of people separated from the Reformed Churches (Liberated). They formed the Reformed Churches Netherlands . In 2024 this group merged with the New Reformed Churches into the Reformed Churches. Until 2004, the Reformed Churches (Liberated) enjoyed slow but steady growth. However, in
1947-484: The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, led by Klaas Schilder among others, to form their own denomination, an event referred to as the Liberation ( Vrijmaking ). No serious attempts at reconciliation were ever made by either side. The first decades after the Liberation were marked by a considerable inward turn. The Reformed Churches (Liberated) shunned outside contacts. They formed their own cultural, societal and political organisations. In these early years, there
2006-441: The Republic. Although it remained endorsed by the royal family, the Netherlands never had any public church afterwards. The Reformation was a time of religious violence between the established Catholic Church, Protestants and governments, in some cases. Efforts to form a Reformed church in the southern provinces stemmed from a secret meeting of Protestant leaders at Antwerp in 1566, and despite Spanish repression, many nobles joined
2065-545: The beginning of 2022, there were 181 local congregations. The church withdrew from the Reformed Ecumenical Council in 1989, and joined the International Conference of Reformed Churches in 1995. It has a theological institute in Apeldoorn , the Theological University of Apeldoorn . It offers the Bachelor of Theology and the Master of Divinity . There are two masters. One of the master's programs
2124-407: The centre of the dispute between the two groups. The Reformed Churches (Liberated) had a structure which combined congregational and presbyterian polity, with strong emphasis on the authority vested in each congregation. Local congregations were ruled by a church council or consistory , made up of the pastor(s) and the elders. The church council ruled and organised the congregation. Most meetings of
2183-432: The church council were open to the members, except when matters of church discipline were discussed. All congregations also had a number of deacons who assisted the church council with more practical matters. Elders and deacons were elected for limited terms. Nationwide the Reformed Churches (Liberated) were organised as follows. A group of local congregations were organised in a classis . In 2018 there were 31 classes in
2242-410: The church. The Lord's Supper was typically "closed", meaning that only professing members were permitted to participate, although many congregations would allow guests to participate if prior notice (through the use of so-called communion letters [ avondmaalsbriefjes ]) or satisfactory proof of a living faith was given. Children who had not professed their faith were excluded from participation in
2301-667: The denomination, in particular to the introduction of hymns ( Reformanda approves only the Psalter) and the synod's decisions regarding the Fourth Commandment (keeping of the Sabbath) and remarriage after divorce. Reformanda alleged that in these areas the Liberated churches were violating Scripture and the movement urged local congregations to refuse to confirm the synod's Acts. The objectors decided to secede. They formed
2360-402: The denomination. Decisions by the local church council could be appealed to classis. A number of classes were grouped together in a regional synod (Dutch particuliere synode ). The highest body was the national or general synod , which convened every three years. The Reformed Churches (Liberated) were an orthodox Neo-Calvinist Protestant denomination. They subscribed to the infallibity of
2419-709: The first Dutch Reformed Church in the Caribbean . During the period of Dutch settlement in Brazil in the 17th century colonists organised the Reformed Church in Pernambuco . In Canada and the United States , the oldest and second largest body is the Reformed Church in America , which was the American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Netherlands between 1628 and 1819. The Brookville Reformed Church
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2478-431: The largest church body in the Netherlands until the middle of the 20th century, when it was overtaken by the Catholic Church . The rapid secularisation of the Netherlands in the 1960s dramatically reduced participation in the mainstream Protestant church. From the '60s onward, a number of attempts were made to effect a reunion with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands ( Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland ). This led to
2537-405: The law demanded that every public official should be a communicant member. Consequently, the Church had close relations with the Dutch government. A privilege of members of the Dutch Reformed Church was that they could have their businesses open on Sundays, otherwise considered a religious day and not one for business. The Dutch Reformed Church was officially disestablished in 1795 with the end of
2596-410: The new denomination. Members of the Liberated church referred to the denomination from which they separated as the synodical church, which signified the remaining members' adherence to the rulings by the National Synod against which the Liberated churches protested. An older name for the Reformed Churches (Liberated) was Article 31 Churches in reference to one of the articles in the Church Order at
2655-462: The past, seeing as these federations were founded shortly after World War II by Dutch immigrants who had come out of the Liberation. However, in 2012 the FRCA expressed concern at what they perceived to be a "liberal way of interpreting Scripture" present in the RCN, and in June 2015 decided to suspend the sister-church relationship, The Canadian Reformed Churches decided at Synod Dunnville 2016 that accepting RCN attestations and allowing RCN ministers on
2714-518: The personal application of salvation. The conservative CGK churches has never been in favor of unity with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) or the Netherlands Reformed Churches . Locally, churches have merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) or the Netherlands Reformed Churches like the churches in Doesburg , Arnhem and Lelystad . In 2012, many Christian Reformed missions were constituted as full-fledged congregations. Some Christian Reformed Churches in
2773-490: The pluralistic nature of the merged church, which they allege contains partly contradicting Reformed and Lutheran confessions. This conservative group also opposes the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches , which have been adopted as practices by the merged church. Dutch migrants carried the Dutch Reformed Church with them, planting several Reformed denominations in Kenya (The Reformed Church of East Africa), South Africa , including
2832-403: The rhyming psalter of 1773 are sung to the accompaniment of the organ. In many other congregations psalms are sung from contemporary Psalm rhymes. In addition to the psalms, many churches also sing hymns and songs from collections such as Opwekking, Op Toonhoogte, Weerklank and the Liedboek voor de kerken. The lyrics are often projected by a projector. In many churches these songs are accompanied by
2891-403: The theological seminary seeking a call) subscribe to the Kuyperian view. The protesters also objected that the general synod was abusing its authority by remaining functional for longer than the three years allowed under the rules of the Church Order. In 1944, when a number of protesting pastors and theologians were defrocked by the general synod, a large number of local congregations separated from
2950-419: The time of the merger, the Church had 2 million members organised in 1,350 congregations. A minority of members of the church chose not to participate in the merger and instead formed the Restored Reformed Church (HHK). Before the demise of the Dutch Republic in 1795, the Dutch Reformed Church enjoyed the status of "public" or "privileged" church. Though it was never formally adopted as the state religion ,
3009-582: The two churches uniting with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands ( Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden ) to establish the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in 2004. The 2004 merger led to a separation in which a number of congregations and members of the Dutch Reformed Church separated to form the Restored Reformed Church ( Hersteld Hervormde Kerk ). Estimations of their membership vary from 35,000 up to 70,000 in about 120 local congregations served by 88 ministers. The Restored Reformed Church disapproves of
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#17327808085933068-408: The world and became a crucial part of Afrikaner nationalism in South Africa. The Dutch Reformed Church was founded in 1571 during the Protestant Reformation in the Calvinist tradition, being shaped theologically by John Calvin , but also other major Reformed theologians. The church was influenced by various theological developments and controversies during its history, including Arminianism ,
3127-399: The years since, the denomination has seen a reversal. In 2004, nearly 800 members left, in 2005, the church lost 340 members. Most departing members of 2007 joined the Protestant Church in the Netherlands , while others left for the Netherlands Reformed Churches , the Christian Reformed Churches and Evangelical churches. In 2015, there were 120,688 members in 277 congregations. After
3186-476: Was a powerful radical wing that supported the view that the Liberated churches were the "only true Church" in the Netherlands. This view led in part to the schism of 1967, when a group that formed the Netherlands Reformed Churches broke away. The "only true Church" movement soon waned in influence, though it remained in existence until the start of the 21st century. By the 1990s, serious attempts to connect with like-minded orthodox churches were being made. In 2003,
3245-453: Was always a small conservative party with roughly 2 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives . In the 1980s and 1990s, the party became more progressive. This party often collaborated with the RPF and the SGP, two similar political parties of comparable size, organised by other orthodox Reformed denominations. In 2001, GPV merged with RPF to form the ChristenUnie . In the 2006 elections this party gained 6 seats in parliament as well as
3304-444: Was held in Dordrecht in 1578. This synodical meeting is not to be confused with the better known Second Synod of Dort of 1618. Large groups of Marranos settled in Emden and converted to Christianity . Mostly all Marranos , many Jewish groups converted to Christianity around 1649 to the Nederduitsche , Niederdeutsche church later on Dutch Reformed Church. In the latter meeting, the Church fathers expelled Arminians and added
3363-415: Was held in October 1571 in the German city of Emden . The Synod of Emden is generally considered to be the founding of the Dutch Reformed Church, the oldest of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands. The Synod both affirmed the actions of the earlier Synod of Wesel, as well as established presbyterian church government for the Dutch Reformed Church. The first Synod to be located in the Dutch Republic
3422-410: Was the largest Christian denomination in the Netherlands from the onset of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century until 1930. It was the traditional denomination of the Dutch royal family and the foremost Protestant denomination until 2004, the year it helped found and merged into the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (the largest Protestant and second largest Christian communion in
3481-475: Was told by church leaders that he could not preach against certain colleagues, who he believed held erroneous views. He and his congregation seceded from the Dutch Reformed Church. In time, the Afscheiding (the Separation) led to the departure of 120 congregations from the Dutch Reformed Church. In 1886, another separation, the Doleantie , occurred, led by Dutch Reformed journalist, theologian and politician Abraham Kuyper . The Dutch Reformed Church remained
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