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WILLIAM VAN DOODEWAARD, HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY a Transplanted Church: the Netherlandic Roots and Development of the Free Reformed Churches of North America

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WILLIAM VAN DOODEWAARD, HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY a Transplanted Church: the Netherlandic Roots and Development of the Free Reformed Churches of North America WILLIAM VAN DOODEWAARD, HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY A Transplanted Church: the Netherlandic Roots and Development of the Free Reformed Churches of North America Introduction and denominational development only came two hundred years later. These later arriv­ The history of Dutch Reformed denomina­ als reflected the intervening development of tions in North America dates back almost the church in the Netherlands, many now 400 years to the time when The Netherlands having a varied history of secession from was a maJor sea-power with colonial ambi­ the state church and ensuing union with tion. In 1609 the explorer Henry Hudson or separation from other secession groups. was sent out by the Dutch to examine pos­ Most of these immigrants settled into already sibilities for a colony in the New World. established Christian Reformed Church con­ Dutch colonization began soon afterwards gregations, some joined congregations of the with the formation of New Netherland Reformed Church in America, some chose under the banner of the Dutch West India existing Canadian Protestant denominations, Company. The colony at its peak consisted and the remainder established new denomi­ of what today makes up the states of New nations corresponding to other Dutch Re­ York, New Jersey, and parts of Delaware and formed denominations in the Netherlands.4 Connecticut.] With the colony came the establishment of the first Dutch Reformed One of the new presences in the late 1940s church in 1628 in the wilderness village of and early 1950s was a qUickly developing New Amsterdam. This small beginning of a association of independent Dutch Reformed viable Dutch community set in motion cen­ congregations sharing similar theological turies of Dutch migration to North America, convictions and seceder roots. In their for­ forming a transatlantic development of the mation they drew upon both the great Dutch various streams and factions of Dutch Cal­ Reformed influx to Canada of the time and vinism. 2 the earlier Dutch Reformed churches of the United States. Representing an early seceder The Canadian experience of Dutch influx strain of Dutch Reformed theology and would follow at a later time. Aside from a tradition, primarily found in the Christelijke small number of immigrants to the Lunen­ Gereformeerde Kerken (CGK), they were not berg, Nova Scotia area in the 1740s and at home in either the Reformed Church or 1750s,3 the main tide of Dutch immigration the Christian Reformed Church.5 In time 16 Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies these congregations would become the Free vergence. The general belief was that church Reformed Churches of North America. members should strive to promote a return to orthodoxy within the established church. 12 Netherlandic Roots The immediate impetus for secession came as the two diverging streams of the state church In order to accurately grasp the North Ameri­ ( liberal vs. pietistic ( clashed in a local situa­ can history of the Free Reformed churches as tion. 13 a transatlantic development, it is necessary to outline their European origins. The roots are In December of 1833, Hendrik DeCock, found in the Netherlands, where the denomi­ a fiery and popular evangelical preacher in nation began in 1834 as a result of a seceding Ulrum, Groningen was barred from preach­ movement out of the state church - the Neth­ ing for challenging the official enlightenment erlands Reformed Church.6 This was the first ideology of the church. 14 Soon after, the con­ movement of exodus from the state church of gregation was barred from use of the church the Netherlands during the post-Reformation building. This led to a coalition of sympa­ period, though it represented a long line of thetic ministers and church members signing dissent within the state church. 7 the Act of Separation or Return on October 14, 1834,15 outlining the reasons for seces­ During the late 17th century, it was increas­ sion: freedom of conscience in worship and ingly common for small groups of the pious, the need to return to the Reformed confes­ called 'conventicles', to meet for spiritual sional-ism, liturgy, and worship expressed by encouragement and prayer. These meetings the Synod of Dordt. 16 were usually held during the week by those who felt the Dutch state church was becom­ Despite persecution, the secession move­ ingincreasingly nominal and the preaching ment spread quickly across the Netherlands. lifeless and abstract. Central to these groups Seceder delegates meeting in early synods was a focus on themes of human inability and soon realized that the relative isolation of sin, the centrality of the person and work of various churches and regions, and the fact Christ in salvation, and the "vital, personal that there had been no national synod in the realization of such doctrines through heartfelt Netherlands for over 200 years, meant dif­ experience."8 This movement of godly piety, ferent emphases in doctrine and practice had often termed the Dutch Second Reformation,9 developed. These differences would lead to focused not only on heart religion, but also divisions, forming different denominations on the crucial importance of orthodox doc­ from the 1834 secession, the mainstream of trine faithful to Scripture and the heritage of which, known as the Separated Churches, the Reformation. 10 became the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken (CGK)Y However, these differences would In some congregations the conventicle move­ also remain within both the CGK and their ment soon encompassed the entire church, equivalent, the Free Reformed Churches in in others it remained "a church within a North America, at times creating renewed church."ll Coexistence was maintained within tensions and conflict. the Dutch state church, despite increasing di- A Transplanted Church: the Netherlandic Roots and Development of 17 the Free Reformed Churches of North America Two main streams developed in the CGK dur­ viewed as legitimate two kinds· of church ing the 19th century, the Drenthe party and membership: communicant members, and the Gelderland party. 18 The Drenthe party adult baptized but non~communicant mem­ was steeped in the tradition of the Dutch Sec­ bers.24 Baptized but non-communicant mem­ ond Reformation. 19 Known for stern sobriety bers should have their children baptized. The with ascetic tendencies, it emphasized the Drenthe party, in line with their view of the preaching of the law (the Ten Command­ church as a mixed body of believers and un­ ments, what God requires of mankind) as believers, strongly stressed the requirements preparation for the gospel, distinguished be- for worthy partaking of the sacrament of the t ween the presentation of the gospel and the Lord(s Supper, warning against the dangers offer of grace,20 and stressed the necessity of of "easy believism. "25 the development of conviction (recognition) of prior to conversion. Hand in hand with In contrast, the Gelderland party argued that this clune a strong emphasis on the sover­ the church was to be the body of true believ­ eignty of God in election: the fact that He ers only, and all confessing members should whom He will save. The preaching of partake of the Lord's Supper. There was to be the Dremhe men, of which Hendrik de Cock only one kind of membership in the church, was a l<ey representative, stressed an elabo­ namely those who confessed Christ, and only rate classification of hearers, with separate the children of confessing members could be PPIl\eI~~'~JH'" for the various categories. 21 baptized. Adult baptized members were to be urged to make confession of faith. Confessing party, in contrast, was more members who abstained from the Lord's Sup.., to Calvin(s theology and the heritage per had to be brought under the discipline of Reformation, rather than primarily the the church. The Gelderland party argued that of the Dutch Second Reformation. 22 this was the biblically ordained model of the representatives included H.P New Testament church. 26 The CGK would 'J~<"V"'>W (prior to his move to America), and continue to be characterized by a roughly A Brunlmelkamp, a "moderate Calvinist of equal representation of both factions,27 while chel,'rful and sunny disposition."23 Preachers the Gereformeerde Gemeenten (GG)28 would of this school emphasized the free offer of the follow more definitively in the line of the 1t'.V(,p<y,.lmd numbered the Erskines and Mar­ Drenthe party. mw nlen among their favorite authors. The Gelderland party preachers offered Christ to The final major event of church history in as sinners, without qualifications. No the Netherlands which influenced the de­ ciab(Jr!He classification of hearers was fol­ velopment of the Free Reformed Churches lowed, rather it was seen that there were only in North America was the 1886 secession twO categories: believers and unbelievers. movement out of the Dutch state church led by Abraham Kuyper. 29 This exodus, known differences in theology between the as the Doleantie,30 was once again aconfes­ Drenthe party and the Gelderland party were sional movement, and a rejection of state n;~flective of differing views of church and hierarchy. However, its key leaders, especially coven,mt. De Cock and the Drenthe party Kuyper, viewed the earlier secession of 1834 18 Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies as sinful, arguing that it was premature and neither of which were compatible with their unjustified, as the state church even now was "Drenthe faction" theology. not false, but rather "sick."3l A union move­ ment in 1892 sought to draw the earlier CGK In Michigan, Dutch settlement had begun in seceders into a unified secession church with the Grand Rapids area under the leadership the Doleantie, and succeeded in initially at­ of Albertus Van Raalte in 1846-47.37 Around tracting the majority of the CGK into what the turn of the century several Netherlands became the Gereformeerde Kerken (GK).32 A Reformed Congregations were founded minority continued separately, citing concern there by Dutch immigrants.38 In 1923, the with Kuyper(s theological direction in areas Ottawa Avenue Church of the Netherlands of covenant, common grace, and culture.
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