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in the Netherlands (Liberated)
This page is about 'the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)'. Abbreviated as RCN(lib.).
Their Dutch name is: 'Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (vrijgemaakt)'.
It is a Reformed church federation in the Netherlands which is faithful to the Bible and consists of close to 300 congregations with as many ministers. The churches number more than 125,000 souls, of whom 77,000 are confessing members.
The RCN(lib.) maintains and seeks relations with faithful Reformed church federations in the Netherlands and elsewhere in the world.
To this end, they are members of the 'International Conference of
Reformed Churches' (ICRC).
The RCN(lib.) sterns from the Great Reformation of the 16th century. John Calvin in particular has had great influence on the reformation of the church in the Netherlands.
Because of the decline of the church due to all sorts of liberal teachings, in the 19th century separation became necessary. The church of the Reformation had become a national church with the name "Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk." Those who separated took on the "Gereformeerde Kerken" (Reformed Churches).
In the 20th century there was another split. In 1944 the general synod wanted to force the churches to accept certain doctrinal statements about the covenant of grace and the baptism of infants. These doctrinal statements were not in agreement with the Word of God and certain ministers and elders resisted them. When, as a result of this resistance, they were deposed, they liberated themselves from the church federation which was being led by this hierarchical synod. They were called the liberated churches in contrast to the churches which followed the synod.
For a number of years now, the synodical Reformed churches are involved in a process of unification with the "Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk"; this process is called "Together on the way." In both churches, liberal doctrine is officially permitted.
The RCN(lib.) conducts talks with two Reformed church federations, which are faithful to the
Bible and oppose liberal doctrine, in order to come to more unity.
These churches are the "Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken" and to a lesser degree the "Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken." Both churches have the same roots and the same confessions.
The basis of the RCN(lib.) is the Holy Word of God given to us in the Bible.
Following
this link, you will find a list of
all kind of subjects of every day life, for which Bible
verses are given to look up what the Bible says about these.
The confessional forms of unity which we uphold are:
- the Belgic Confession,
- Heidelberg Catechism and
- the Canons of Dordt.
These three forms of unity also include the three ecumenical creeds, namely,
- the Apostles' Creed,
- the Nicene Creed and
- the Athanasian Creed.
Here you find a link to several reformed
confessions.
This is a 'Windows-help file' which will be downloaded. In order to read
it, click 'open' before downloading. The file is approximately 0,5 Mb
large.
(Many thanks to Arjan Grashuis from Delft, who provided me
with these documents!)
Structure of the Churches and Church Federation
The local church is autonomous. Christ is the Head of the Church and under Him the consistory has authority over the congregation. At the same time the churches reject independentism. Ecclesiastical assemblies have the authority to make decisions which are in agreement with the Word of God and the Church Order and these decisions apply to the churches.
In the 84 articles of Church Order, all sorts of regulations are stated in order that everything may proceed in good order in the congregation of Christ. The churches have agreed to act in accordance with the Church Order. A number of churches in a region form a classis; a number of classes form a regional synod. Four delegates from the nine regional synods come together once every three years and form a general synod.
During the last few years there has been a discussion going on in the RCN(lib.) concerning the liturgy. Is it necessary that the church of today retains the same liturgy, liturgical forms, and hymns as were used in the churches of former centuries? Or is it possible and necessary to adapt them to the current cultural situation?
Custom and tradition often have an important place in the RCN(lib.). But, unlike the Word of God and the confession based thereupon, they are not unchangeable.
With respect to the regulations of the Church Order, the Church Order itself in Article 84 says that they can be changed by the general synod when that would be for the good of the
churches.
And so because of requests from the churches, several successive synods have dealt with liturgical questions. Thus new
liturgies and liturgical forms have been made and the number of hymns has been increased.
Reflection, discussion and decision-making upon liturgical issues still continues.
There is a growing variety of liturgical practice.
Each Sunday, two church services are held. In one of them the Word of God is explained as it is confessed in the Heidelberg Catechism. The children of confessing members are baptized in a church service as soon as possible. The lord's Supper is celebrated at least four times a year. Only the confessing members may participate.
The congregation is under the guidance of the consistory which consists of ministers, elders and deacons.
In the congregation there are also smaller neighbourhood gatherings and Bible study groups for adults and the youth. Most congregations try to proclaim the Gospel in the place where they live. For missionary projects, churches in a certain region combine forces. Thus missionaries are stationed in South Limburg, North Holland, and Rotterdam and its surroundings (for work among Hindus and Moslems). Missionaries are also sent to Indonesia, South Africa, Congo, Benin, Curaçao and Brazil. In order to coordinate the mission work and mission aid a deputyship has been set up ("Zending en Hulpverlening" - Mission and Mission aid).
The Institute for Reformed Theological Training (IRTT) and "De Verre Naasten" (Faraway Neighbours) are also involved in this regard.
For the training of ministers the churches maintain the Theological University in Kampen. Besides this, the IRTT has also been set up to provide training for missionaries and other mission workers. This institute also organizes shorter courses for leaders from foreign Reformed churches to provide training for missionaries and other mission workers.
Various Activities of Church Members
In many places Reformed schools have been set up for the education of our children at both elementary and secondary school level as well as at the college level.
This education is subsidized by the government.
"De Verre Naasten" has been set up for developmental work in mission areas and for service to foreign churches with whom the RCN(lib.) have relationships.
There are also Reformed social organizations as well as organizations for helping the handicapped, the terminally ill and the
elderly.
The news is provided by the Nederlands Dagblad (The Dutch Daily News), which has the subtitle: "a Reformed newspaper for Christians in the Netherlands". There are also various church magazines and other publications.
In the political arena, Reformed people are active in the "ChristenUnie" (Christian Union)
Broadcasting on radio and TV is done together with other Christians via the "Evangelische Omroep" (Evangelical Broadcasting Association).
Relations with Foreign Churches
The RCN(lib.) have sister-church relationships with 21 Reformed and Presbyterian churches in foreign countries. Thus, for example, attestations of members of those churches are accepted by the RCN(lib.) and ministers of those churches are allowed to preach in the RCN(lib.) congregations.
The RCN(lib.) have relations with 26 other Reformed and Presbyterian churches in foreign countries. With these churches it is not yet possible to have a sister-church relationship. There are differences.
Some churches are not very well known. With others, discussions about the differences are ongoing. Not all the contacts are equally intense. With some churches the contact is growing and with others the contact is dwindling because the differences appear to be quite significant.
Together with 20 other Reformed and Presbyterian churches the RCN(lib.) is a member of the ICRC. In the Netherlands, the "Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken" are also members of the ICRC.
The general synod of the RCN(lib.) has appointed deputies to maintain the relations with the foreign churches. These are called deputies for the "Betrekkingen met Buitenlandse Kerken" (BBK) (Relations with Foreign Churches). They do this work by writing letters, visiting the churches and receiving delegates from those churches.
At the ICRC, they represent the RCN(lib.) in dealing with matters of common interest with other churches.
The overall purpose of maintaining relations with Reformed churches throughout the world is to encourage one another to remain faithful in the doctrine of Christ as we confess it in the Reformed confessions. The magazine Lux Mundi also wants to be of help in this. Lux Mundi appears four times a year and is in English. lts purpose is to inform Reformed churches worldwide of ecclesiastical and theological developments.
From our 'foreign friends', I've received a tract which deals with the question:
"Are you 100% certain that if you died right now you would go to heaven?"
You can freely download this tract here, and use it for your own purposes >>
Where necessary and possible, aid is given to benefit the development of Reformed church life elsewhere in the world. Aid in the form of personnel is given through the education of ministers and office bearers. Financial and material aid is given, among other things, for theological libraries and for the building of churches.
Since 2000, this help is given by coordinating the activities of various deputyships (BBK, "Zending en Hulpverlening", and IRTT) and "De Verre Naasten".
Laatste wijziging: 25-05-2007