Group 3 2012-2013Church History

What’s the Difference?Canadian Reformed Churches in relation

to the Christian Reformed ChurchRead: I Timothy 3Sing: Hy. 52:1,3

The purpose of this lesson is to teach the difference between the Christian Reformed Church and the Canadian Reformed Churches. By the end of this lesson you will know Why the Canadian Reformed Churches were established When the Canadian Reformed Churches were

established About the growing gap with the Christian Reformed

Churches About the growing unity with the United Reformed

Churches

Purpose of this lesson

1618/19: Synod Dort firmly established Reformed Churches in the Netherlands Reformed Doctrine (in Three Forms of Unity) Reformed church government (Church Order of

Dort) – church free from the government 1816: Undid 1618

Doctrine: Three Forms of Unity no longer functioned as confessional basis

Church government: Government took over rule of the church

Summary of Background

19th Century saw two reformations, return to the Reformed Confessions and Reformed church government 1834 Secession (= separation) led by Rev. H. de Cock

People from the Secession churches immigrated to the US, which became the beginning of the Christian Reformed Church

1886 Doleantie (=mourning – the sad situation in the church) – led by Rev. Abraham Kuyper

Most of the churches from these two groups united in 1892 – known as Union of 1892

Two Reformation and a Union

The Churches that United in 1892 initially flourished

Tensions began to arise in the 1930s especially over the doctrine of infant baptism Key figure: Dr. K. Schilder

Developments in the 20th century

The issue: On what basis do we baptize the children of believers?

Synods of 1942/43

Baptism is a sign and seal of regeneration/faith.

We baptize children presuming they are regenerated Presumptive regeneration If they grow up not to

believe, their baptism was not real

Concerned Reformed People

Baptism is a sign and seal of God’s covenant promises

Baptism is based on the command and promise of God

All children receive the same promise, and are called to faith.

Synods held in 1942 and 1943 Demanded that all ministers and members

accept the view of presumptive regeneration as basis for baptism

Deposed ministers and elders who did not accept it

This led to many churches liberating (freeing) themselves from the judgments of the Synods and form a new church federation. Known as “Liberated Reformed Churches” This took place in 1944: Hence, the Liberation of

1944.

Summary of key issues: Doctrine: unscriptural doctrine of baptism was

forced on people Church government: synods took it upon

themselves to depose ministers and elders – only consistories have that authority.

Reformed Church scene in the Netherlands around 1945 Those who obeyed the Synod: approx. 900,000

people Called “Synodical”

Those who Liberated: approx. 100,000 people Called “Liberated”

After Second World War (WW II), many people immigrated to Canada, including people from the Synodical and Liberated churches

Canada had about 14 Christian Reformed Churches (CRC)

There were also some Protestant Reformed Churches, which had separated from the CRC in 1926.

From the Netherlands to Canada

Liberated immigrants tried to join these churches Protestant Reformed Churches demanded people

basically accept view of baptism they had argued over in the Netherlands.

CRC’s informed Liberated people that they could join CRC, but they should not talk about Dutch Church problems

When the CRC had to decide which side they were on, Synodical or Liberated, they sided with the Synodical side.

Liberated Dutch immigrants could not in good conscience join any of the existing Reformed churches and so instituted new churches First in Western Canada:

1950 April 16: Coaldale First in Eastern Canada

1950 August 13: Orangeville.

Institution of Canadian Reformed Churches

Location of Churches: Southern Ontario; Manitoba, Alberta, British

Columbia (with some in US) Growth of Churches

From initial group of about 3000 immigrants, has grown to about 18,000 members over 55 congregations.

Issue of baptism has faded into the background

CRC has drifted away from the Scriptures. This is evident in Tolerating views that deny Genesis 1 is actual.

Compromise with evolution Have opened all the offices to women

Relation to Christian Reformed Church today

Key point to note: Distance between Canadian Reformed and

Christian Reformed is bigger now than when we first split. CRC has compromised on the authority of the

Word of God.

The deformation in the CRC is the reason many people left the CRC in the 1990s and formed the United Reformed Churches Over 100 congregations, about one third in

Canada Closest: Listowel, Nobleton, Orillia

Currently, we are moving towards unity with URC Cf. Secession of 1834, Doleantie of 1886, and

Union of 1892.

United Reformed Churches

Test: Review notes for this lesson and know Why the Canadian Reformed Churches were established When the Canadian Reformed Churches were established About the growing gap with the Christian Reformed

Churches About the growing unity with the United Reformed

Churches Read this website for review: http://canrc.org/?

page=15 Newsletter!

For next week