Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
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The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) (Dutch: Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (vrijgemaakt)) are an orthodox
Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...
federation of churches. This church body arose in 1944 out of the so-called Liberation (') from the
Reformed Churches in the Netherlands {{Infobox Christian denomination , name = Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Dutch ''Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland'') , image = , caption = , main_classification = Protestant , orientation = Calvinist , polity = Presbyterianism , ...
, when many pastors and members refused to go along with the General Synod's demand to hold to "presumed regeneration of infants" at their baptism.
Klaas Schilder Klaas Schilder (19 December 1890 – 23 March 1952) was a Dutch Neo-Calvinist theologian and professor in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Dutch ''Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland'' or GKN) and later in the Reformed Churches in the Ne ...
played an important role in the Liberation. There are currently 270 affiliated local congregations with a total of about 120,000 members in 2016. Since 2017, the denomination has been in the process of merging with the
Netherlands Reformed Churches 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 (Libera ...
, which together hope to form, on March 1, 2023, the Dutch Reformed Churches, a new denomination.


Name

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 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 Church order is the systematically organized set of rules drawn up by a qualified body of a local church. P. Coertzen. ''Church and Order''. Belgium: Peeters. From the point of view of civil law, the ''church order'' can be described as the inter ...
at the centre of the dispute between the two groups.


Organisation and government

The Reformed Churches (Liberated) have a structure which combines congregational and presbyterian polity, with strong emphasis on the authority vested in each congregation. Local congregations are ruled by a church council or
consistory Consistory is the anglicized form of the consistorium, a council of the closest advisors of the Roman emperors. It can also refer to: *A papal consistory, a formal meeting of the Sacred College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church *Consistory ...
, made up of the pastor(s) and the elders. The church council rules and organises the congregation. Most meetings of the church council are open to the members, except when matters of church discipline are discussed. All congregations also have a number of deacons who assist the church council with more practical matters. Elders and deacons are elected for limited terms. Nationwide the Reformed Churches (Liberated) are organised as follows. A group of local congregations are organised in a '' classis''. There are currently 31 classes in the denomination. Decisions by the local church council can be appealed to classis. A number of classes are grouped together in a ''regional synod'' (Dutch ''particuliere synode''). The highest body is the national or ''general synod'', which convenes every three years.


Doctrine and practice

The Reformed Churches (Liberated) are an orthodox
Neo-Calvinist Neo-Calvinism, a form of Dutch Calvinism, is a theological movement initiated by the theologian and former Dutch prime minister Abraham Kuyper. James Bratt has identified a number of different types of Dutch Calvinism: The Seceders, split into ...
Protestant denomination. They subscribe to the infallibity of the
Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
, to the Nicene Creed, the
Apostles' Creed The Apostles' Creed (Latin: ''Symbolum Apostolorum'' or ''Symbolum Apostolicum''), sometimes titled the Apostolic Creed or the Symbol of the Apostles, is a Christian creed or "symbol of faith". The creed most likely originated in 5th-century ...
, the Athanasian Creed and the
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 Ca ...
(the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession and the
Canons of Dort The Canons of Dort, or Canons of Dordrecht, formally titled The Decision of the Synod of Dort on the Five Main Points of Christian doctrine, Doctrine in Dispute in the Netherlands, is the judgment of the National Synod held in the Netherlands, Dut ...
). As Calvinists, the Reformed Churches (Liberated) practise infant baptism for the children of believers (as well as adult baptism for adult converts). Children are taught the tenets of the faith and encouraged to publicly profess their faith (usually in late teens), by which they become professing (and voting) members of the church. The
Lord's Supper The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...
is typically "closed", meaning that only professing members are permitted to participate, although many congregations will allow guests to participate if prior notice (through the use of so-called ''communion letters'' or satisfactory proof of a living faith is given. Children who have not professed their faith are excluded from participation in the Lord's Supper.


History

The Reformed Churches (Liberated) came out of the
Reformed Churches in the Netherlands {{Infobox Christian denomination , name = Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Dutch ''Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland'') , image = , caption = , main_classification = Protestant , orientation = Calvinist , polity = Presbyterianism , ...
. By the early 20th century, disputes were starting to arise within this denomination, especially about Abraham Kuyper's view of the
covenant Covenant may refer to: Religion * Covenant (religion), a formal alliance or agreement made by God with a religious community or with humanity in general ** Covenant (biblical), in the Hebrew Bible ** Covenant in Mormonism, a sacred agreement b ...
. 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 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 the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, led by
Klaas Schilder Klaas Schilder (19 December 1890 – 23 March 1952) was a Dutch Neo-Calvinist theologian and professor in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Dutch ''Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland'' or GKN) and later in the Reformed Churches in the Ne ...
among others, to form their own denomination, an event referred to as the ''Liberation'' ('). 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 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 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 (Libera ...
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. Currently there are close contacts with the
Christian Reformed Churches The Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands ( nl, Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland) is a Protestant church in the Netherlands. History The original name of the church was Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands ('' ...
and the
Netherlands Reformed Churches 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 (Libera ...
, at the local level even including a few complete mergers and many close collaborations. In 2003, 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 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 the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (restored), with 10 congegrations and 1.475 members (2022). Until 2004, the Reformed Churches (Liberated) enjoyed slow but steady growth. However, in 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 The Protestant Church in the Netherlands ( nl, de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland, abbreviated PKN) is the largest Protestant denomination in the Netherlands, being both Calvinist and Lutheran. It was founded on 1 May 2004 as the merger of the ...
, while others left for the
Netherlands Reformed Churches 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 (Libera ...
, the
Christian Reformed Churches The Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands ( nl, Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland) is a Protestant church in the Netherlands. History The original name of the church was Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands ('' ...
and
Evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
churches. In 2015, there were 120,688 members in 277 congregations.


Societal organisations

After the ''Liberation'', a number of church-related political and cultural institutions were founded. The daily newspaper ''
Nederlands Dagblad ''Nederlands Dagblad'' (; "Dutch Daily") is a Dutch daily newspaper, available nationwide, with a daily circulation of 23,800 issues (in 2020). History The paper was founded in 1944 as a semi- resistance paper during World War II called ''Refor ...
'' 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 The Reformed Political LeagueTranslation used by Andeweg and Irwin in ''Governance and Politics of the Netherlands'' (2002: 45) ( nl, Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond, GPV) was an orthodox Protestant list of political parties in the Netherlands, po ...
(GPV) was organised as well. Traditionally, this party was always a small conservative party with roughly 2 out of 150 seats in the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
. 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 a pivotal role in the resulting coalition government. Former GPV politician
Eimert van Middelkoop Eimert van Middelkoop (; born 14 February 1949) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Union (CU) party and teacher. He is the chairman of the Institute for Multiparty Democracy since 20 January 2018. Early life After high school, van ...
became Minister of Defence.


Educational institutes

The church runs 129 schools: 124 elementary schools, four comprehensive high schools, and one college. These private schools enjoy special protection by Royal Decree, which means that they cannot be forced to accept pupils from backgrounds that are incompatible with their Reformed views. Partly as a result of this Royal Decree, they can only employ staff who are members of the Reformed Churches (Liberated), although they will enroll pupils from families willing to comply with the Reformed doctrines. It has a theological institute in Kampen, the
Theological University of the Reformed Churches Theological University of the Reformed Churches ( nl, Theologische Universiteit Kampen van de Gereformeerde Kerken) is an academic theological seminary in the Dutch city of Kampen. It was founded on 6 December 1854 in Kampen. The university prima ...
. It offers the
Bachelor of Theology The Bachelor of Theology degree (BTh, ThB, or BTheol) is a three- to five-year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines and is typically pursued by those seeking ordination for ministry in a church, denomination, or parachurch organization. ...
, the
Master of Divinity For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and divi ...
.


International relations

The Reformed Churches (Liberated) has been a member of the
International Conference of Reformed Churches The International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC) is a federation of Reformed or Calvinist churches around the world. The ICRC was founded in 1981. The ICRC convenes international meetings every four years. Its theology is more conservative ...
, until their membership was suspended in 2017 for having adopted women’s ordination. They maintain strong relations with many foreign Reformed and
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
churches, and sister church relations exist with dozens of churches around the world. Their relationships with the
Canadian Reformed Churches The 'Canadian and American Reformed Churches'' (CanRC) is a federation of Protestant churches in Canada and the United States, with historical roots in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands. It emphasizes the importance of adherence to Biblica ...
and
Free Reformed Churches of Australia The Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) are a federation of 16 congregations, 14 in Western Australia, two in Tasmania and a home-congregation in Cairns. At the start of 2016 the total membership was 4663. Their historical roots are in t ...
have been particularly strong in 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 the pulpit would no longer be automatic. The FRCA completely terminated their relationship with the Reformed Churches (Liberated) at their Synod Bunbury 2018, and the Canadian Reformed Churches did the same at their Synod Edmonton 2019. The Reformed Church of the United States had made a similar decision in May 2018.Wes Bredenhof (June 16, 2018
"RCUS to RCN: Farewell"
/ref> The Liberated Churches are active on the mission field and collaborate closely with other Calvinist churches.


See also

*
Seakle Greijdanus Seakle Greijdanus (1 May 1871 – 19 May 1948) was a Reformed theologian in the Netherlands, who first served in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and later in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated). Greijdanus was born ...
*
Kampen Theological University of the Reformed Churches (Liberated) Theological University of the Reformed Churches ( nl, Theologische Universiteit Kampen van de Gereformeerde Kerken) is an academic theological seminary in the Dutch city of Kampen. It was founded on 6 December 1854 in Kampen. The university prima ...


References


External links

*
The official website of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
*
Church Order, Acts and Official DocumentsMission page of the denomination


Further reading

*Het vuur blijft branden : geschiedenis van de Gereformeerde Kerken (vrijgemaakt) in Nederland, 1944-1979, Kampen 1979, Jongeling, Pieter; Vries, J.P. de; Douma, J. *Vrijmaking - Wederkeer, Barneveld 1994, onder redactie van Detmer Deddens en Melis te Velde - makkelijk leesbaar boek over ontstaan en geschiedenis van de Gereformeerde Kerken vrijgemaakt *Vuur en Vlam, Amsterdam 1994, 1998, 2004, onder redactie van Roel Kuiper en Willem Bouwman - trilogie waarin de geschiedenis van de Gereformeerde Kerken vrijgemaakt kritisch tegen het licht wordt gehouden *Hoe gaan wij nu verder?, Kampen, 2001, Douma J. {{Christianity in the Netherlands Christian organizations established in 1944 Calvinist denominations established in the 20th century Reformed denominations in the Netherlands 1944 establishments in the Netherlands