CORRESPONDENCE WITH FOREIGN CHURCHES

This is the tenth of a series of NRC committee reports.

You have read in the past some reports of the work of our various committees and deputies. We will try now to give you some insight into the task of those commissioned to handle correspondence with churches outside the United States and Canada.

As Netherlands Reformed Congregations we carry on correspondence with our sister denomination in Holland, the Gereformeerde Gemeenten.

According to our Church Order correspondence should consist of:

A. A giving heed to one another, that in doctrine and worship we do not depart from God’s Word;

B. Sending deputies with advisory vote to each other’s major assemblies;

C. Exchange of the minutes and reports of Synods.

As you probably know, ecclesiastical life in Holland is a bit different from ours. The congregations there come together in Classical meetings, in Particular Synods each year, and a General Synod every three years. Here we have only Classical meetings, usually in the spring and in the fall of each year, and our Synod meets every other year.

Although we are actually two separate denominations, each having its own ecclesiastical meetings, both denominations send deputies to each other’s Synod and have correspondence with each other concerning important denominational matters. In this way we express our close relationship. That is a good thing since we both come from the same root: congregations founded by those who left the church wherein they could no longer hear the truth and find food for their soul. It was for that reason that Churches under the Cross and Ledeboerian Congregations in Holland were established.

There is also another aspect to being closely united. Deputies from one denomination must give permission for a minister from the other denomination to preach in a congregation belonging to their denomination. The same rule is accepted at the Synod in Holland; for instance, if a minister from North America wants to visit the Netherlands and to preach there, he must send an announcement of his coming with a request for permission to preach. This is officially the rule adopted by both denominations, and in practice this usually does not cause any difficulty.

Deputies have supervision over a minister from the other denomination, and over his labors during his visit. Deputies of Foreign Churches must also give advice, if asked to the deputies from the other denomination in case of internal problems or difficulties. They also report to the Synod on their activities and experiences, and so both denominations are aware of the most important events and decisions made by each one. In those reports we read of visiting ministers, important synodical decisions, admission to the Theological Schools, or the passing away of God’s servants. These reports also contain advice, given in difficult cases, as well as an impression of the spiritual condition of those congregations of which the Synod was composed.

In the report to our Synod of 1986 we read “our work has been mostly concerning our schools. From the Netherlands we have again received welcome help for which we are very grateful.”

Thus you see that the brotherly tie between the denominations is also expressed in financial support for the schools. It is also the task of the deputies to distribute the money received from Holland, according to the needs of the various schools. Another important issue was the concern for people in other countries, who are longing to hear our doctrine. So we read: “According to your mandate, Rev. Den Boer has visited Australia and New Zealand.” There the word of free grace was proclaimed, and sacraments administered.

For many years Rev. W.C. Lamain, Rev. A.M. Den Boer, and Rev. M. Heerschap represented our congregation as deputies of Correspondence with Foreign Churches. Since it pleased the Lord to take Rev. Lamain out of our midst into the church triumphant, and Rev Den Boer accepted the call to Lisse, Holland, our Synod of 1986 appointed Rev. J. Den Hoed and Rev. C. Vogelaar as deputies, and Rev. M. Heerschap as an alternate.

In 1986 Rev. A. Moerkerken represented the churches of Holland at our Synod. And in September, 1986 and January, 1987, Rev. M. Heerschap and Rev. C. Vogelaar attended the Dutch Synod as deputees of our churches which was experienced as being instructive and useful.

May the Lord also bless these activities to the strengthening of these ties and, above all, to the glory of His Name and to the benefit of our churches.

Members: 2

Rev. J. Den Hoed • 824 18th Ave, Rock Valley, IA 51247

Rev. C. Vogelaar • 1152 Lakeshore Rd. W, St. Catharines, Ont L2R 6P9

Mandate:

To handle correspondence with churches outside the United States and Canada with which ecclesiastical communication has been established.

Recent Tasks:

Disbursement of funds received from our congregations in the Netherlands to assist North American Christian schools.

Communication with small groups in Australia and New Zealand in conjunction with the Netherlands. Respective synods will work together in providing one minister to serve both localities for several Sundays per year. First appointment from North American churches is 1988, D.V.

Rev. C. Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of St. Catharines, Ontario.

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