The Netherlands Reformed Congregations is a conservative Reformed denomination with congregations in Canada, the United States and Bolivia. It is affiliated with the Reformed Congregations in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands Reformed Congregations aim to remain true to inerrant Scripture (the Bible) and its Calvinist heritage as expounded in the denomination’s doctrinal standards: Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort. They are also in agreement with the Westminster Standards.

Basic beliefs and doctrines

Baptism The Netherlands Reformed Congregations hold to infant baptism but believe that although being baptized, each child still carries the personal necessity of being born again by the inward work of the Holy Spirit. Baptism places a child into an external (or outward) relationship to the covenant of grace, just as the Israelites who passed through the Red Sea were outwardly part of God's covenant people. Like the Israelites, baptized children have many of the outward benefits of the children of God. Until they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, however, they remain outside of the saving benefits of covenant of grace.

Bible version The church services are conducted using exclusively the Authorised Version (King James) of the Bible, but personal use of other Bible translations for comparison is permitted. Almost all of the songs sung during the worship service are based on the book of Psalms.

Worship and liturgical forms In keeping with the Dutch Calvinist traditions, most of the liturgical forms used are translations of the Dutch forms edited by Petrus Dathenus (1531–1588) and used during Reformation times. Most of the member churches have services two or three times per Sunday. The topic for one service per week is based on one of the 52 Lord's Days from the Heidelberg Catechism. The worship starts with a prayer, followed by singing of a Psalm. In addition to reading a part of the Scripture, the 10 Commandments are read during the Sunday morning service and the Apostles' Creed is read during the Sunday evening service. The pastor or an elder then prays with, and on behalf of the congregation. Following the prayer and the singing of a song adapted from the Psalms, the pastor delivers (preaches) the sermon. After the sermon, there is a closing prayer and more singing from the Psalter. The worship service ends with the pastor pronouncing the prayer for divine blessing from God upon the congregation, usually in the words of Numbers 6:24–26. During worship the congregation remains silent and respectful. Women wear headcoverings in accordance with 1 Corinthians 11. The intention of preaching a topical sermon guided by the Heidelberg Catechism is so that each of the various doctrines taught within Scripture will be covered at least once every year. The Netherlands Reformed Church recognizes two Sacraments: Holy Baptism and Lord's Supper. Children of members are usually baptized in the weeks or months following birth. The Lord's Supper, on the other hand, is usually held about four or five times per year although this may vary among individual churches. Only members who are (1) truly repentant for their sins, (2) have fled to Jesus Christ for salvation, and (3) are purposed from the heart to live in true thankfulness to God, are welcome to participate.

Creeds and confessions 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) The church adheres to the five Solae of the Protestant Reformation. Scripture alone Faith alone Grace alone Christ alone Glory to God alonewww.netherlandsreformed.org/statement.html

History

Before emigration to North America

This church originated in the 1834 Dutch Reformed Church split, when a small group in the Netherlands called the Reformed Congregations (Gereformeerde Gemeenten) broke away from the state church.:nl:Gereformeerde Gemeenten in Nederland en Noord-Amerika#Ontstaan

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 named the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregations (renamed the Heritage Reformed Congregations in 2003).“Church News: Announcement,” Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth 11, no. 10 (December 2003): 276.

Current status In 2001, there were 26 churches and 9,395 members in Canada and the United States. In 2016, the church has 27 congregations and 11,172 members. Currently, there are three Classis. In Bolivia, there are congregations in Rincon, Santa Cruz and Loma Alta.

Statistics The NRC consists of these congregations: List of Netherlands Reformed Congregations Congregation Name of the Classis Membership 2014 Membership 2015 Membership 2016 Pastor Artesia, California Far West 22 22 20 vacant Brant County, Ontario East 166 195 258 Rev. H. de Leeuw Calgary, Alberta Far West 61 61 47 vacant Chilliwack Far West 915 937 953 vacant Choteau, Montana Far West 24 24 24 vacant Clifton East 133 120 131 vacant Corsica Mid West 241 235 238 vacant Fort Macleod, Alberta Far West 408 431 438 Rev. H.D. den Hollander Franklin Lakes East 631 635 611 vacant Grand Rapids (Beckwith) Mid West 825 850 859 Rev. H. Hofman Jr. Grand Rapids (Covell Avenue) Mid West 222 229 225 vacant Kalamazoo, Michigan Mid West 318 308 311 vacant Lansing Mid West 33 35 35 vacant Lethbridge Far West 1,261 1,291 1,118 vacant Lynden Far West 146 149 128 Rev J. Den Hoed Markham East 63 59 60 vacant Nobleford Far West 0 0 412 Rev. G.M. de Leeuw Norwich East 2,106 2,111 2,106 Rev. E. Hakvoort Picture Butte Far West 1,103 1,131 965 Rev E.C. Adams Rock Valley Mid West 1,492 1,485 1,453 Rev J. Witvoet Rogersville, Missouri Mid West 21 23 23 vacant Sheboygan, Wisconsin Mid West 81 75 67 vacant St. Catharines, Ontario East 182 191 202 Rev. A.H. Verhoef Sioux Center, Iowa Mid West 300 313 328 vacant Sioux Falls Mid West 53 56 61 vacant Sunnyside Far West 69 69 62 vacant Waupun, Wisconsin Mid West 93 110 106 vacant 10,968 11,097 11,172

Recent status The Netherlands Reformed Congregations in North America continue to have close relations with their sister churches (the Reformed Congregations) 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, Santa Cruz, and Tarija areas 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 3,358 students as of the 2016–2017 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

See also Reformed Congregations Nigeria Reformed Church Gereja Jemaat Protestan di Indonesia Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

External links Website Netherlands Reformed Congregations

References