Reformed Churches in the Netherlands

(Liberated)
The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
(Dutch: Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (vrijgemaakt)) was Reformed Churches in the
an orthodox Calvinist federation of churches. This church body Netherlands (Liberated)
arose in 1944 out of the so-called Liberation (Vrijmaking) from the
Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, when many pastors and
members refused to go along with the General Synod's demand to
hold to "presumed regeneration of infants" at their baptism. Klaas
Schilder played an important role in the Liberation. There are
currently 270 affiliated local congregations with a total of about
120,000 members in 2016.

Since 2017, the denomination has been in the process of merging

with the Netherlands Reformed Churches, which together hope to
form, on March 1, 2023, the Dutch Reformed Churches, a new Classification Protestant
denomination.[4]
Orientation Neo-Calvinist
Polity Presbyterian
Name
Associations International
After the Liberation the church maintained that they were the Conference of
legitimate continuation of the Reformed Churches in the Reformed
Netherlands and thus adopted that name (Dutch Gereformeerde Churches
Kerken in Nederland). However, because the denomination from Origin 1944
which they had separated continued using that name, the addition Netherlands
"liberated" was used colloquially, although never officially, to
distinguish the new denomination. Members of the Liberated Separated from Reformed
church referred to the denomination from which they separated as Churches in the
the synodical church, which signified the remaining members' Netherlands (now
adherence to the rulings by the National Synod against which the part of the
Liberated churches protested. An older name for the Reformed Protestant
Churches (Liberated) was Article 31 Churches in reference to one Church in the
of the articles in the Church Order at the centre of the dispute Netherlands)
between the two groups.[5]
Separations 1967 Netherlands
Reformed
Organisation and government Churches; 2003
New Reformed
The Reformed Churches (Liberated) have a structure which Churches
combines congregational and presbyterian polity, with strong
emphasis on the authority vested in each congregation. Local Merged into Dutch Reformed
congregations are ruled by a church council or consistory, made up Churches (2023)
of the pastor(s) and the elders. The church council rules and Congregations 270[1]
organises the congregation. Most meetings of the church council
Members 120,000[2]
are open to the members, except when matters of church discipline
members
are discussed. All congregations also have a number of deacons Ministers 288 [3]
who assist the church council with more practical matters. Elders
and deacons are elected for limited terms.

Nationwide the Reformed Churches (Liberated) are organised as

follows.[6] A group of local congregations are organised in a
classis. There are currently 31 classes in the denomination.[7]
Decisions by the local church council can be appealed to classis. A
number of classes are grouped together in a regional synod (Dutch
particuliere synode). The highest body is the national or general
synod, which convenes every three years.[8] Schildwolde Reformed Church

Doctrine and practice

The Reformed Churches (Liberated) are an orthodox Neo-Calvinist
Protestant denomination. They subscribe to the infallibity of the
Bible, to the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, the Athanasian
Creed and the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism,
the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort).[9]

As Calvinists, the Reformed Churches (Liberated) practise infant

baptism for the children of believers (as well as adult baptism for Katwijk Reformed Church (Liberated)
adult converts). Children are taught the tenets of the faith and
encouraged to publicly profess their faith (usually in late teens), by
which they become professing (and voting) members of the church. The Lord's Supper is typically
"closed", meaning that only professing members are permitted to participate, although many congregations
will allow guests to participate if prior notice (through the use of so-called communion letters
[avondmaalsbriefjes]) or satisfactory proof of a living faith is given. Children who have not professed their
faith are excluded from participation in the Lord's Supper.

According to Ad de Bruijne, the denomination regards homosexuality as sin, but "hardly any local church
really disciplines it when a couple comes to the church and wants to partake in the Holy Supper."[10]

History
The Reformed Churches (Liberated) came out of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. By the early
20th century, disputes were starting to arise within this denomination, especially about Abraham Kuyper's
view of the covenant. These came to a head during World War II, when the general synod ruled in favour
of Kuyper's view that essentially questioned the inclusion of children of believers into the covenant. A
number of theologians and pastors disagreed with this ruling, arguing that it contradicted the plain facts of
Scripture, and attempted to appeal the decision. The general synod enforced this view strictly, demanding
among others that new licentiates (recent graduates from the theological seminary seeking a call) subscribe
to the Kuyperian view. The protesters also objected that the general synod was abusing its authority by
remaining functional for longer than the three years allowed under the rules of the Church Order. In 1944,
when a number of protesting pastors and theologians were defrocked by the general synod, a large number
of local congregations separated from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, led by Klaas Schilder
among others, to form their own denomination, an event referred to as the Liberation (Vrijmaking). No
serious attempts at reconciliation were ever made by either side.
The first decades after the Liberation were marked by a considerable
inward turn. The Reformed Churches (Liberated) shunned outside
contacts. They formed their own cultural, societal and political
organisations. In these early years, there was a powerful radical wing
that supported the view that the Liberated churches were the "only true
Church" in the Netherlands. This view led in part to the schism of
1967, when a group that formed the Netherlands Reformed Churches
broke away. The "only true Church" movement soon waned in
influence, though it remained in existence until the start of the 21st
century. By the 1990s, serious attempts to connect with like-minded
orthodox churches were being made. Currently there are close contacts
with the Christian Reformed Churches and the Netherlands Reformed
Churches, at the local level even including a few complete mergers
and many close collaborations.

In 2003, a small number of members separated from the Reformed Liberated church in Hoek,
Churches (Liberated) to form the New Reformed Churches out of Zeeland
protest against recent rulings by the general synod. This schism was
instigated largely by the Reformanda movement, a continuing element
of the radical wing of the church, which still held to the "only true church" view. This movement objected
to what it saw as liberalising tendencies within the denomination, in particular to the introduction of hymns
(Reformanda approves only the Psalter) and the synod's decisions regarding the Fourth Commandment
(keeping of the Sabbath) and remarriage after divorce. Reformanda alleged that in these areas the Liberated
churches were violating Scripture and the movement urged local congregations to refuse to confirm the
synod's Acts. The objectors decided to secede. They formed the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
(restored), with 10 congegrations and 1.475 members (2022).

Until 2004, the Reformed Churches (Liberated) enjoyed slow but steady growth. However, in the years
since, the denomination has seen a reversal. In 2004, nearly 800 members left, in 2005, the church lost 340
members. Most departing members of 2007 joined the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, while others
left for the Netherlands Reformed Churches, the Christian Reformed Churches and Evangelical
churches.[11]

In 2015, there were 120,688 members in 277 congregations.[2]

Societal organisations
After the Liberation, a number of church-related political and cultural institutions were founded. The daily
newspaper Nederlands Dagblad originated within the Reformed Churches (Liberated) and, although it
now serves a wider Christian and Reformed audience, still has strong ties to the denomination.

A political party, the Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond (GPV) was organised as well. Traditionally, this party
was always a small conservative party with roughly 2 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives. In
the 1980s and 1990s, the party became more progressive. This party often collaborated with the RPF and
the SGP, two similar political parties of comparable size, organised by other orthodox Reformed
denominations. In 2001, GPV merged with RPF to form the ChristenUnie. In the 2006 elections this party
gained 6 seats in parliament as well as a pivotal role in the resulting coalition government. Former GPV
politician Eimert van Middelkoop became Minister of Defence.

Educational institutes
The church runs 129 schools: 124 elementary schools, four comprehensive high schools, and one
college.[12] These private schools enjoy special protection by Royal Decree, which means that they cannot
be forced to accept pupils from backgrounds that are incompatible with their Reformed views. Partly as a
result of this Royal Decree, they can only employ staff who are members of the Reformed Churches
(Liberated), although they will enroll pupils from families willing to comply with the Reformed doctrines.

It has a theological institute in Kampen, the Theological University of the Reformed Churches.[13] It offers
the Bachelor of Theology,[14] the Master of Divinity.[15]

International relations
The Reformed Churches (Liberated) has been a member of the International Conference of Reformed
Churches,[16] until their membership was suspended in 2017 for having adopted women’s ordination.[17]
They maintain strong relations with many foreign Reformed and Presbyterian churches, and sister church
relations exist with dozens of churches around the world.[18]

Their relationships with the Canadian Reformed Churches and Free Reformed Churches of Australia have
been particularly strong in the past, seeing as these federations were founded shortly after World War II by
Dutch immigrants who had come out of the Liberation. However, in 2012 the FRCA expressed concern at
what they perceived to be a "liberal way of interpreting Scripture" present in the RCN, and in June 2015
decided to suspend the sister-church relationship,[19] The Canadian Reformed Churches decided at Synod
Dunnville 2016 that accepting RCN attestations and allowing RCN ministers on the pulpit would no longer
be automatic.[20] The FRCA completely terminated their relationship with the Reformed Churches
(Liberated) at their Synod Bunbury 2018,[21] and the Canadian Reformed Churches did the same at their
Synod Edmonton 2019.[22] The Reformed Church of the United States had made a similar decision in May
2018.[23]

The Liberated Churches are active on the mission field and collaborate closely with other Calvinist
churches.

See also
Calvinism portal

Seakle Greijdanus
Kampen Theological University of the Reformed Churches (Liberated)

References
1. "Gereformeerd vrijgemaakt" (https://www.gkv.nl/kennismaken/gereformeerd-vrijgemaakt/).
Gkv.nl. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
2. "Cookies op ND.nl" (https://www.nd.nl/cookies-op-nd-nl.1449892.lynkx). Nederlands
Dagblad. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
3. "BBK.GKV » Reformed Churches in the Netherlands" (https://bbk.gkv.nl/english/reformed-ch
urches-in-the-netherlands/731/). Bbk.gkv.nl. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
4. "The Liberated Church and the Dutch Reformed Churches want to be a church again in
2023" (https://www.trouw.nl/religie-filosofie/de-vrijgemaakte-kerk-en-de-nederlands-gereform
eerde-kerken-willen-in-2023-weer-een-kerk-zijn~ba9375f6/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fww
w.google.com%2F). 25 September 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
 5. "Internetkerkdiensten" (https://www.gkv.nl/kennismaken/hoezo-vrijgemaakt/). Gkv.nl.
Retrieved 23 December 2018.
6. "Plaatselijke kerken" (https://www.gkv.nl/organisatie/plaatselijke-kerken/). Gkv.nl. Retrieved
23 December 2018.
7. "Classis" (https://www.gkv.nl/organisatie/classis/). Gkv.nl. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
8. "Bestuur en Organisatie" (https://www.gkv.nl/organisatie/bestuur-en-organisatie/). Gkv.nl.
Retrieved 23 December 2018.
9. "Belijdenissen" (https://www.gkv.nl/geloven/belijdenissen/). Gkv.nl. Retrieved 23 December
2018.
10. "Church can 'bless' gay relations, but different to marriages, says Dutch theologian" (https://c
ne.news/article/1822-church-can-bless-gay-relations-but-different-to-marriages-says-dutch-t
heologian). CNE News. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
11. "Opbouw online - Artikel bekijken" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121219044457/http://ww
w.opbouwonline.nl/artikel.php?id=7336). Opbouwonline.nl. Archived from the original (http://
www.opbouwonline.nl/artikel.php?id=7336) on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December
2018.
12. "Christelijk Onderwijs" (https://www.christelijkonderwijs.nl/richting6/Gereformeerd).
Christelijkonderwijs.nl. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
13. "Over Ons | TU Kampen" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130505035812/http://www.tukampe
n.nl/Over_Ons.aspx?pgeId=240). Archived from the original (http://www.tukampen.nl/Over_O
ns.aspx?pgeId=240) on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
14. "Bachelor Theologie | TU Kampen" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130505055107/http://ww
w.tukampen.nl/Onderwijs/Bachelor_Theologie.aspx?pgeId=248). Archived from the original
(http://www.tukampen.nl/Onderwijs/Bachelor_Theologie.aspx?pgeId=248) on 2013-05-05.
Retrieved 2013-05-24.
15. "Master Predikant | TU Kampen" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130505015403/http://www.t
ukampen.nl/Onderwijs/Master_Predikant.aspx?pgeId=262). Archived from the original (http://
www.tukampen.nl/Onderwijs/Master_Predikant.aspx?pgeId=262) on 2013-05-05. Retrieved
2013-05-24.
16. "The International Conference of Reformed Churches" (https://web.archive.org/web/201207
17064352/http://www.icrconline.com/members.html). Archived from the original (http://www.ic
rconline.com/members.html) on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
17. Wes Bredenhof (July 18, 2017) "Reformed Churches in the Netherlands Suspended by the
International Conference of Reformed Churches for Adopting Women’s Ordination" (https://w
ww.theaquilareport.com/reformed-churches-netherlands-suspended-international-conferenc
e-reformed-churches-adopting-womens-ordination)
18. "BBK.GKV » Ecumenical Contacts" (https://bbk.gkv.nl/english/ecumenical-contacts/732/).
Bbk.gkv.nl. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
19. "Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) suspends relationship with the Reformed
Churches of the Netherlands-Liberated (RCN)" (http://www.reformedperspective.ca/entry/fre
e-reformed-churches-of-australia-frca-suspends-relationship-with-the-reformed-churches-of-t
he-netherlands-liberated-rcn). Reformedperspective.ca. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
20. Bredenhof, Wes (24 May 2016). "Synod Dunnville 2016 (7)" (https://yinkahdinay.wordpress.c
om/2016/05/25/synod-dunnville-2016-7/). Yinkahdinay.wordpress.com. Retrieved
23 December 2018.
21. "Press Release of Synod Bunbury 2018" (http://synod.frca.org.au/2018/acts/PressRelease_
FRCA_SynodBunbury2018.pdf). www.frca.org.au. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
22. "Press Release of Synod Edmonton 2019" (https://canrc.org/documents/8801).
www.canrc.org. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
23. Wes Bredenhof (June 16, 2018) "RCUS to RCN: Farewell" (https://yinkahdinay.wordpress.c
om/2018/06/16/rcus-to-rcn-farewell)

External links
(in Dutch) The official website of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) (htt
p://www.gkv.nl/)
(in Dutch) Church Order, Acts and Official Documents (https://web.archive.org/web/2007102
6175239/http://www.kerkrecht.nl/main.asp?pagetype=tussenscherm&kerk=5&page=414)
Mission page of the denomination (http://bbk.gkv.nl/english/reformed-churches-in-the-netherl
ands/)

Further reading
Het vuur blijft branden : geschiedenis van de Gereformeerde Kerken (vrijgemaakt) in
Nederland, 1944-1979, Kampen 1979, Jongeling, Pieter; Vries, J.P. de; Douma, J.
Vrijmaking - Wederkeer, Barneveld 1994, onder redactie van Detmer Deddens en Melis te
Velde - makkelijk leesbaar boek over ontstaan en geschiedenis van de Gereformeerde
Kerken vrijgemaakt
Vuur en Vlam, Amsterdam 1994, 1998, 2004, onder redactie van Roel Kuiper en Willem
Bouwman - trilogie waarin de geschiedenis van de Gereformeerde Kerken vrijgemaakt
kritisch tegen het licht wordt gehouden
Hoe gaan wij nu verder?, Kampen, 2001, Douma J.

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