Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (Liberated) - History

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 Prof. Dr. 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 Churches (Liberated) to form the New Reformed Churches out of 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. Only a few congregations followed this call. The objectors decided to secede.

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 many left for the Netherlands Reformed Churches, the Christian Reformed Churches and evangelical churches.