Netherlands Reformed Congregations

The Netherlands reformed congregations (GG), form an orthodox-protestant denomination with 106.782 members on 1 January 2014. [1]  it is the third in size In Netherlands Protestant denomination (after PKN and Reformed churches in the Netherlands (liberated)). The membership takes (as one of the few churches in Netherlands) as a result of a high birth rate steadily with 200 to 400 persons per year. The members are in the literature classified among the Orthodox Calvinists.

The denomination is also called Reformed municipality (n) in Netherlands and North America, but this is not a formal name and may be confused with the denominationNetherlands reformed congregations in Netherlands, that specializes in 1953 split off of the Netherlands reformed congregations. The name ' Reformed municipality in Netherlands and North America ' was formerly used in the magazine entitled Saambinder that by the denomination in both Netherlands and North America is published. In North America, the Netherlands Reformed Congregations Church Society (NRC) called.



Content
[hide] *1 History  ==History[ Edit] == Appearance of the different currents in NetherlandsGenesis of churches in Netherlands ===Genesis[ Edit] === The National Association of the Netherlands reformed congregations originated in 1907 by a Cross municipalities Association (' Reformed Municipalities under the cross '), created from the secession of 1834, with the "Ledeboerianen" or Ledeboeriaanse municipalities. Some "cross-minded" municipalities with a strong Orthodox character were not called in 1869 with the unification of the Christian Separated Municipalities municipalities with the Cross to the Christian Reformed Church in 1869. The Ledeboerianen thanked their name to ds. L.G.C. Lai.
 * Arise 1.1
 * 1.2 Second World War
 * 1.3 Schism in 1953
 * 1.4 flood disaster
 * 1.5 1953 to present
 * 2 Character
 * 3 Ecclesiastical bodies
 * 4 church building
 * 5 notable members
 * Members number of 6
 * 7 largest municipalities in Netherlands
 * 8 Literature
 * 9 external links

The Association took place on the initiative of the 25-year-old [http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fnl.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FGerrit_Hendrik_Kersten ds. G.H. Kersten], who later became founder of the SGP. K central role was due to his position as Pastor ofmeliskerke, the only municipality in the Ledeboeriaanse Zealand further Cross. On 5 June 1907 kruisgezinden and ledeboerianen each other reached in Middelburg the hand and gave rise to the new church related.

Ds. K brought not only the Association made with the help of others, but also for further structuring of the church related. In 1908 he wrote a brochure in The Disciplinary Daniella Christi in which he treated the misconceptions about church discipline. Furthermore, he devoted much attention to the dogmatic definition of the church related. His book on the Heidelberg Catechism has a strong dogmatic character. Kersten also gave an explanation of the Reformed Dogmatics for which he works of Bavinck, Honig and dogmatic as a Marck used. Already in 1906 unbuttoned with the Armenian missionary preacher he contacts to David Jacob Benjamin because he was convinced that shipment belonged to the Mission of the church related. Important for ds. K was also the creation of a private theological school. Sharp he assigned the opinion that pastors had to study but it especially not by immediate inspiration to expect. It was his intended the theological school to develop to a high level, "given the high level of our Reformed fathers" and searched constantly for skilled people. So he was delighted with the coming of the Christian Reformed pastor ds. J.D. Barth, who had a better education, but for health reasons was not able long to teach. Later, he came into contact with the reformed preacher Dr. c. Stone block in whom K saw his ideal successor.

From the cross ledeboeriaanse-minded and the Association of municipalities not succumbing 1907 arose later the former Netherlands reformed congregations (OGG). The Old Calvinists led by Laurens Boone were frightened of a high degree of organization and also found plenty of practical matters crucial to not going along with the Association such as the Psalter and the robe. Also in the GG would still for a long time cultural contrasts between the former Ledeboerianen and kruisgezinden by works.For example, not all could find themselves in the Foundation of a theological school. Also about the founding of private schools was discussion, nevertheless, knew the Church already in 1926 fourteen private primary schools.

In 1909, the reformed churches in the Netherlands a request to the Netherlands reformed congregations to come to Church Association. By differences in theological views be the GG this request. With the Christian Reformed Church, which was formed in the 1930s had sought a violent fight over the Grace Covenantpens, which fight resulted in a further removal. In 1928 started ds. G. h. K are nine years long polemic with the Christian reformed ds. J. Jagne and Prof. j. j. van der barge. It was also in 1928 that the Christian Reformed churches because of lack of support a point up the talks with the Netherlands reformed congregations about religious coexistence. In 1930 left the Overduin brothers because of a profound dispute, that very serious is the Netherlands reformed congregations.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1931, the so-called doctrines of ' 31 drawn up. These gave a solutions of the teachings of the church related to be saved by the man. In later years, these doctrinescause for discussion within the Church regard. In the years before the second world war, especially the city of Rotterdam a centre of gravity of the Netherlands reformed congregations. Here is the theological school (1926), in addition to the Bosom singel Church, the largest church in those days of the church related. Rotterdam-Centre was in 1930 with approximately 3,100 members and baptismal members the largest municipality of the church related, mainly due to growth of workers coming from the islands of Zuid-Holland and Zeeland. In the 1930s and 1940s, the church related rapid growth. By Alphens ' New Church Handbook from 1930 reports that there were 67 municipalities in 1929 with baptism 26.380 members and members. Twenty years later-in 1949-was the number of municipalities increased to 140 according to the Church year book and the number of members and baptismal members to 61.883. That was more than double the number of municipalities and the number of members with an average growth of 6.7% per year. The growth is explained by the pull of the Netherlands reformed congregations on especially the Dutch Reformed Church, by, among other things, her obvious theological vision and the bevindelijke preaching, which lost in the rural church on site. ===Second World War<span class="mw-editsection" len="349" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">When the Germans invaded on 10 may 1940, the Netherlands people along the Grebbe line and in the Eastern South-Beveland evacuated, because there would be probably fought in their region. Ds j. Fraanje from Barneveld came in Nunspeet rightly, [http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fnl.wikipedia.org%2Fw%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3DReinier_Kok%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1 ds. R. Cook] from Veenendaal in Ammerstol, ds. J. van den Berg from Krabbendijke stayed in Zaamslag, ds. B. vile from Rilland-Bath in Axel and ds. A. van Stuijvenberg from Yerseke was in Nieuwdorp.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Could in several places during the Pentecost, the 12th and 13th of may, no services be held. In Wageningen was damage to the church building. The Church of Rhenen remained almost unscathed; There were only what roof tiles off. The church buildings of Rotterdam-Centre, Rotterdam-South and Middelburg were spared when the Germans bombed these places. In Alblasserdam burned the Church, however, all off by an incendiary bomb. On Tuesday 7 May had ds. W.C. Lachapelle in Alblasserdam preached. It may well happen that there is no service more by war violence here Sunday said the pastor during his sermon. Narrowly escaped the House of prayer In Middelburg on the destruction: right next to the provincial library went up in flames. the municipality had that building recently sold to the County. More than 78,000 people were homeless, among whom nearly 80 families from the Bosom singel Church. The municipality had, however, not a single person, and that while there are hundreds of locals were killed. Also in Middelburg municipality was no one from the life. The Centre of the city lay in ruins. In the churches of Aagtekerke and meliskerke refugees were taken care of.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">During the occupation came criticism of the Netherlands reformed congregations because of the attitude of ds. Kersten, who stated that one had to be obedient to the legal Government. There were also other sounds. Ds. Lachapelle and ds. Verhagen in 1942 got a reprimand because they had prayers for the Royal family. Ds. call was a day and a night trapped in Middelharnis, because he had prayed or allied forces were allowed to achieve victory. The later pastors Bregman and Karens SR. sat together in the resistance team of Zoetermeer and ds. Cook hid in the Church of Veenendaal some English aviators whose unit shot was.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Despite ds. K generally law-abiding, resigned attitude towards the German occupiers, he tapped on a joint protest of the Dutch churches against the persecution of the Jews. After the German Commissioner-General Fritz Schmidt the coming end of June 1942 deportations of the Jews had announced, the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches on 11 July a joint protest telegram to the highest German rulers: not only the Reichskommissar Arthur Seyss-Inquart (reichskommissar), also Hanns Rauter, Schmidt and the General Christiansen. It was stated: ''the below-mentioned Dutch churches, already deeply shocked by the measures against the Jews in the Netherlands, whereby they are excluded from participating in the normal public life, have noted with dismay of the new measures, whereby men, women, children and entire families will be whisked away to the German National area and dependencies. The suffering that this is brought across tens of thousands of, knowing that these measures against the deepest moral sense of the Dutch people compete, above all the clash of these measures against which our righteousness and mercy of God is stated as a requirement of, require the churches to address the urgent entreaty to you, not to give effect to these measures. For the Chris toes among the Jews is also us this urgent entreaty to dictated by the consideration, that their by these measures participating in the church life is cut off.'' Ten denominations had signed the protest telegram, the highest number ever signed to the occupying forces targeted a piece, one of the signatories was ds. G.H. Kersten, on behalf of the Netherlands reformed congregations.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Many church buildings were requisitioned by the Germans. One met in barns, houses and warehouses. To complicate a possible Allied invasion, putting the Germans in early 1944, Tholen portions of the Islands Schouwen-Duiveland and Goeree-Overflakkee and the lands at Goudswaard under water. Most of the inhabitants had to shelter elsewhere. The church buildings of Goudswaard and Herkingen came into the water to stand. The salt in the walls of churches and houses often still decades made for problems.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">During the liberation was heavily fought in the Betuwe. On september 17, had to be aborted prematurely Opheusden the church service. Later, the church building badly damaged. After the return, there were in the auction building joint services with the reformed municipalities van Kesteren and Opheusden, whose church buildings also had suffered damage. Ds. Dorresteijn and [http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fnl.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FJacobus_Teunis_Doornenbal ds. Delaney] went in turn in these services for. Also the Church of the reformed Municipality in Ochten for months after the war was unusable. The small municipality came tentatively together in a secret annex.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The liberation in 1944 in Zeeland also demanded a heavy toll. There was fought violently to the narrow isthmus of Brabant to Zuid-Beveland. In Krabbendijke were therefore no services held on 10 september. In Yerseke had to ds. A. van Stuijvenberg a week later the afternoon service aborting because of allied air attacks. On 24 september and 8 October the municipality could not meet. The liberation took eight members of the Congregation in Krabbendijke life and also two evacuees from Sint-Annaland came in Krabbendijke or environment to. In Rilland ran the Church and the school 's-gravenpolder was badly affected by strafing damage. and a bombardment. The church building remained spared.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In an attempt to dislodge the Germans from Walcheren, threw the allies on Sunday 17 september 1944 four hundred bombs on several Biggekerke. Forty-eight inhabitants (including 13 members of the reformed church of meliskerke) and seven Germans were killed. To the Germans on Walcheren faster and with less loss of life in the closely allied to the radical decision to float, names a large part of the island under water. To this end, on 3 October at westkapelle dyke was broken bombed. Via pamphlets and radio messages were admonished the inhabitants to leave. The bombardment took 157 inhabitants life, including some members of the reformed church. By the bombardment, the Church of the reformed municipality in.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Also the Islands North of the Beveland and Walcheren were still not free. In Bruinisse disaster were huge, because the allies the place from Sint-philipsland shot at. Part of the Bruinissenaren was evacuated and halfway through a prayer meeting on december 2, a German officer ordered the remaining inhabitants to leave the village.Especially a bombing on 5 January, extensive damage to. When the population of Bruinisse returned after the liberation, were 158 homes totally destroyed, 109 heavy and 184 slightly damaged. The reformed church building, the churches of the reformed municipality of the Old Reformed congregation were heavily damaged or destroyed. On 6 november 1944 came ds. Hafez from Utrecht with twenty others during a bombardment. The Church of Dordrecht was badly damaged during an air raid on a villa of the Germans. Two members of the Congregation came during this bombardment to. After the hunger winter, Eastern Netherlands between late March and late april the Germans released and laid down their arms on 5 May. Thanks were held were now. The American municipalities raised money and relief supplies for the sister churches in Netherlands. After the battle of 1940 had the American municipalities wanted to help, but when they could not transfer money to Netherlands. After the liberation from England came also help for the affected Dutch municipalities, among others by the Strict Baptists. ===Schism in 1953<span class="mw-editsection" len="347" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The war years gave to see a contrast between the passive attitude of K against the German occupier and the militant attitude of the ds. R. Cook. K became after the war and deprived of his seat in the lower house in the SGP manifested itself an opposition group against him, who found that the central management dubious cases from the war years wanted too much to cover it. To this end, belonged among more the Zeist preacher m. block.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">During this period there were also all kinds of theological differences to above. Kersten, whose health was less, was very pleased with the coming of stone block, who for years was a preacher in the reformed churches.The gap between these churches and the Netherlands reformed congregations was still not as big and the reformed churches here and there a bevindelijke knew undercurrent.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Stone block got all important stations soon entrusted. He was next to K-lecturer at the Theological School, was K helpful in editing are Dogmatics and catechism explanation and soon also became editor of the Saambinder. That rapid advance did not fall anywhere in good soil, especially as stone block itself theological went profiling in a way that not everyone's assent. Cook had right from the start against the coming of stone block resistance and he was not the only one. Just by his doctorate (he was promoted in 1941 to the VU) he fell on in the company that the Netherlands reformed congregations were small luyden. Most pastors had in terms of not more than primary school and for training in the Netherlands reformed congregations traditionally lay more emphasis on finding than on theological reflection. The theology as scientific discipline stood by some even under suspicion.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the 1930s the General Synod had a ruled on the grace Covenant. It was, in the line of the Westminster, the essence of the Covenant denomination who limited to the elect. Kersten, Cook and Fraanje could find there all in. That was not so with Steenbloks views on the General grace that he wanted strictly separating the work of redemption of Christ, which in his opinion had value only for the elect. This position, because in the past had called opposition in the Netherlands reformed congregations less restricted about thought. Nevertheless, the General Synod of 1945 the view of stone block retrieved. Cook, who because of his attitude during the war years, it was opposite K hit thereby increasingly isolated and inn are raised objections to his preaching municipality in Veenendaal. A now formed group of objectors was legalized by the Church connection. After the death of K was a cook in 1950 suspended due to definition of God's promises with the offer of grace.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Stone block was unmistakable the engine of the action against Cook, who had for a long time can count on the support of Fraanje. The relationship between Cook and K for the war was reasonable. Both of them stood at the cradle of the SGP. Kersten was President, Cook was for some time Secretary. Still on the Synod of 1947 were Kersten, stone block, Cook and Verhagen together in the fashion Windows.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The suspension of the final victory of the Cook did not line-stone block. On the General Synod from 1953 there was sharp criticism of Dr. c. Stone block as a teacher of the theological school. The criticism was unilaterally giving education in the doctrine of the faith to the students, especially in regards to the teachings of the ' offer of grace '. Stone block had been critical of a booklet that England had appeared in two parts in 1645 and 1649, called The Marrow of Modern Divinity by Edward Fisher. Scottish theologians like Thomas Boston and the brothers Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine should have influenced by this Book according to stone block while in his view contained an error. These were known as " oudvaders Marrow men" and names in 1742 in their confession that "Although the atonement and satisfaction of Christ only is for the elect, He surely died regarding the access to be saved for all people". They made distinction between the giving love of God in Christ, who is General to all the people went out, and secondly, a love that only the elect were concerned.So did these oudvaders to a wide range of grace to all hearers, without distinction. Dr. Stone block was having trouble with a ' wide range of mercy to all hearers ' because he feared that too easy on the misery would overrule this knowledge. His preaching was characterized not so much by a strong emphasis on the election, but more of a stress that the law, and with it the knowledge of the misery to the preaching of the Gospel precedes. In protest, some pastors left the Synod including the pastors, Balakrishnan a of the heresy and M. Dr. Stone block followed them. Then replaced the Synod Dr. Stone block of its function as a teacher "because of his biased attitude in giving education". This gave rise to the Netherlands reformed congregations in Netherlands (GGiN, in the walk: ' Ger. com. in Ned. '), which take the position "that each hearer of the Gospel now live below the requirement of God of repentance and of faith to all of what God wants to reveal to him. So do the external calling the hearers brings a heavy responsibility, but no right to salvation, then only the elect ".Today, counting the Netherlands reformed congregations in Netherlands almost 24,000 members and baptismal members (01-01-2012). Within the Netherlands reformed congregations is called also called about the uitgetredenen. Within the Netherlands reformed congregations in Netherlands is called reciprocal about the synodalen. Before the schism in 1953 the Netherlands reformed congregations counted 26 pastors on 147 congregations, then only 20 on 133 municipalities. Later, the chaplains become less deficit, but it is never completely disappeared.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">At a symposium to mark the 100 anniversary of the Netherlands reformed congregations on Saturday 6 October 2007 in Dordrecht held ds. M. Galbraith, pastor of the Netherlands reformed congregations a church historical lecture in which he the dismissal procedure by Dr. Stone block careless and even illegal mentioned. The late ds. F. M, then still the only living eyewitness of this history, was pleased with the outcome of the historical research on behalf of the Committee on Church unity and diversity of the Netherlands reformed congregations into the events of 1953 "the rehabilitation of Dr. Stone block '. but saw that there "is no possibility yet to date to come back to reunification '. The predecessors in the GGIN fear especially for a ' rechtzinnigheid without soul experience ' and a higher level of worldliness. ===Flood Disaster<span class="mw-editsection" len="344" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Netherlands reformed congregations were relatively strongly represented in the disaster area. Of the 1836 deaths there were 131 of the Netherlands reformed congregations, about 7 percent of the total. Especially in the places Nieuwerkerk, Kruiningen and oosterland came many members of the church related to life, in Nieuwerkerk even 73.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" len="175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [2]  To Stavenisse was the Old Dutch Reformed Church that was severely affected. Then Pastor [http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fnl.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFrans_Mallan to Bruinisse ds. M] (also consultant from oosterland and Nieuwerkerk) described the suffering as follows: ''I have quite a few people should be buried. Entire families. Seven from one family, five from one family, fourteen from one family. A history in itself. Unbelievable, what a leed.'' Interestingly, in the same year the municipality detached of the Netherlands reformed congregations and is continued as Reformed municipality in Netherlands. Both events, flood disaster and Church schism pulled deep traces in the village and also in many other (Zeeland) municipalities. The church buildings of the municipalities to Bruinisse, dirksland, Goudswaard, Herkingen, Kortgene, Kruiningen, Middelharnis, Nieuwerkerk, oosterland, Ouddorp, Oude Tonge, poortvliet, Rilland, Sint Annaland, Sint philipsland, Terneuzen, value, Wolphaartsdijk and Zierikzee are damaged to a greater or lesser extent during this disaster. ===1953 to present<span class="mw-editsection" len="344" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The retirement of stone block and others led to a relative openness in the sixties and seventies. In the sixties, started missionary work in Irian Jaya, from which later the Gereja Jemaat Protestan di Indonesia originated.The first preacher that aired was Gerrit Kalluri. Later one is missionary work begun in Albania, Ecuador, Nigeria and South Africa. Also the appreciation of a scientific theology practice grew, although the old attitude that distinction made between godgeleerd (University trained in theology) and "taught of God" (converted) exist. After stone block, which promoted was when he was still a member of the reformed churches in the Netherlands, was the first pastor Arie Vergunst who holds a university degree in theology he completed, al held also large reserves against the scientific theology. Vergunst was several times in the 1960s and 1970s Synod President and taught at the theological school in Rotterdam.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the 1960s and 1970s was the Protestant population part more visible in society, because of, among other things, the rejection of television and the rejection of wearing trousers by women. While in the large denominations traditions like covering the head disappeared, they held by women in the Protestant worship services in the municipalities stand and formed a characteristic of this group. It is worth noting that the very conservative churches as the Netherlands reformed congregations the best resistance to secularisation and showed a steady growth. So this Church grew between 58,000 members in 1953 to 106,000 members in2012. Despite the growth, the church related a relatively large outflow of members, which was compensated through the birth surplus. The Netherlands reformed congregations as the largest church Covenant played a central role in the establishment of different private organisations such as schools and care institutions. In the 90 's did the rusthuizen affair in Zeeland much buzz. The Board of the Foundation Stichting retirement homes of the Netherlands reformed congregations in Zeeland, which two retirement homes and several hundred elderly homes operated, trickery and the talk of the town because of carelessness in 1994 came with finances.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The growth of the population concentrates in the Bible belt for decades. One pulls to places where many private facilities are. A result is that Church municipalities in the major cities and outside the Bible belt become smaller. Figures show that above all the municipalities on the west edge of the Veluwe grow hard. In 1960, the classis 16.543, Barneveld 5.615 members and a tripling in 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" len="175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [3]  the Netherlands reformed congregations in Rotterdam names in members number of 7.494 in 1950 to 1,587 in 2000, the municipalities around Rotterdam names in the same period of 1.533 to 7.272.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" len="175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [4]  the result of this was that, on the one hand, many churches were closed as Haarlem, Akkrum, Rotterdam-West, 's-Gravenhage-South, Zoutelande, Zuid-beijerland, Oudewater and Lemmer. On the other hand, were in Bible belt many new, large church buildings built.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the first decade of the 21st century only unrest after including publications of Klaas van der Zwaag and Bram Bart about the appropriation of salvation. Also the rejection of the Revised King James Bible came the church leadership to stand on (limited) criticism. The Netherlands reformed congregations In 2007 commemorated the centenary of the church related. ==Character<span class="mw-editsection" len="338" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Netherlands reformed congregations are traditionally set. Many members of the Netherlands reformed congregations are socially active SGP and votes on all kinds of terrain. The Netherlands reformed congregations are sticking to the absolute authority of the Bible in all areas of life. Also, the reformed confession. This is enshrined in the so-called three forms of unity from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: theDutch confession of faith, the Heidelberg Catechism and the rules.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Netherlands reformed congregations orient themselves strongly on the theology of the Further Reformation. In doctrine and preaching are the following stresses:

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">1931 the General Synod has a further development about the Covenant of grace and the place that occupies the election here. To this end, four official teaching statements:
 * the authority of the Bible: the Bible is God's infallible Word from cover to cover;
 * the inability of man to live to God's honor;
 * as a result the need for repentance and rebirth and personal faith in Christ;
 * the way in which the Holy Spirit this business works, and how the believer this personal experience (also called finding called);
 * life in Christ: the Christian experience herself as void and unworthy, and see from there, more and more glory for God and Christ.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In worship only the KJV of the Bible and the Psalms in the ' old ' composition from 1773 used. There are still some municipalities (in the province of Zeeland) where the Psalms be sung Datheen 's. Everywhere are the Psalms Sung non-rhythmic .
 * the Covenant of grace is under the control of predestination to salvation;
 * the essence of the Covenant applies only the elect;
 * nature and essence of the Covenant of redemption and the Covenant of grace are one;
 * God has established the grace Covenant with Christ as the head of all his friends.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">To a limited extent common the Netherlands reformed congregations wing formation. The difference is in the more or less stress of certain teaching. The formerrector of the Technical University Delft Johan Blauwendraad and the journalist of the Reformatorisch Dagblad Klaas van der Zwaag gave criticism on the preaching that according to them too much obstacles so that the commune Members mistakenly salvation not dare to usurp. Their criticism was rejected by the church leadership and both of them saw themselves forced to leave the denomination. ==Church authorities<span class="mw-editsection" len="351" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Who wants to follow the training as a preacher, should report to the Board of Trustees, which meets once a year. Only male members can sign up there and these must have a certificate of the churches Council of the municipality where they are members. The curatorium asks for mercy and calling to the Ministry. If it is decided, the curatorium positive candidate admitted to following the classes at the Theological School, which for many years at the bosom singel in Rotterdam is situated. This four year program is funded by the Church and pastors from the Netherlands reformed congregations give there class.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Netherlands reformed congregations deputaatschappen, count different foundations and associations. The shipment Netherlands reformed congregations (ZGG) is the missionary organization of the Church, although also some municipality members working for other organizations. The missionary work of the Netherlands reformed congregations began in the 1960s, although rather was urging. In Irian Jaya was initially worked among the people of the Yali, while the work was later expanded to several other peoples. Part of that labor is no longer pioneers shipment, but grows in the direction of support and equipment of the now independent become young church. In Nigeria is worked in two areas. In South Africa there is support work. New fields of action are Albania, Ecuador and Guinea.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Youth League of the Netherlands reformed congregations (JBGG) is the Organisation for youth work. Disabled care is in the hands of Siloah and helping hands. The Board special needs (BN) regulates assistance.In 1953 was to help coordinate water to victims of the disaster Church. Other goals were to Later. People affected by polio; not insured persons for whom the parish a small church like a job did on a larger body within the own church whole. They also wanted help with certain needs abroad like to coordinate Church do, for example with regard to Hungary in 1956.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The official organ of the Netherlands reformed congregations is the religious weekly magazine The Saambinder. Editor-in-Chief is ds. G.J. van Aalst, who is also Professor of the Theological School. ==Church Building<span class="mw-editsection" len="338" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">When in the 19th-century Ledeboeriaanse and cross the first municipalities created one gathered in living rooms, barns, warehouses and workshops, often with no more than 20 people. Only once there is a spacious venue, the outdoor at Sint-Jan ten Lord's, where the roots of the municipality of Middelburg-Centre, instituted in 1836.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1844 to the Window port Avenue in Rotterdam is a stone church in operation. Is a wooden church built In 1850 to Benthuizen. The building was of wood because it was intended that it would be a temporary place to stay. It was hoped still to return to the reformed church. Of the 19th-century church buildings there is not a more about. Shortly after the turn of the century to Rotterdam is the Bosom singel Church built, which was then determined no ordinary Church for the reformed municipalities. The original facade had a classic detailed access portal with beautiful stained glass Windows. Only the oefenaar designed by Segeerstraatkerk N.H. Bagade Middelburg came somewhat near, other churches of the predecessors of the Netherlands reformed congregations were missing this allure. They were also called typified under the name barn churches. Today are some more examples to see, among other things in Wolphaartsdijk and Borssele. The latter church building now belongs to the protected village scene.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Statigere appeared In the 1930s churches like the Salem Church in Lisse and the church building to Krabbendijke. These churches are also called called andreaskruis churches . After 1945 are more widely built churches, because of the growth of the Netherlands reformed congregations. The designs change from very traditional to quite modern. Especially in large city extensions are built modern churches, such as in Apeldoorn (1959), Rotterdam-South District (1964) and Zeist (1972). Imposing church buildings from this period are the noorderkerk (1955) and the zuiderkerk (1968) in Rijssen. The noorderkerk was upon completion the largest Protestant Church building in use after the war as total new construction that was taken and would continue that until 2008. Many church buildings are founded in this period with tent roofs, as Soest (1968), RotterdamIJsselmonde (1969),- Tricht-Geldermalsen (1969), Opheusden (1971), Tholen (1971) and meliskerke (1976).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the last quarter of the 20th century are on the one hand, on the other hand, again more traditional churches built some architecturally notable churches built, such as the Sionkerk (1979) in Goes, Bodegraven (1996), London (1987) and London (1996). Some notable worship are purchased to the Magnalia Deïkerk Groningen, the Westerkerk in Utrecht and the so-called hydrological Church along the A4 to Leiderdorp. The municipality of Westzaan acquired forced a Mennonite admonition from 1695 and the oldest church building of the church related. In the 21st-century new churches built in places like Barneveld, Gouda, Middelharnis, Tholen, dirksland, Ede and Scherpenzeel. Plans are made for new churches In various municipalities, as Yerseke and Hendrik Ido Ambacht.


 * <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The Northern Admonition. Reformed Church at Westzaan.
 * <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The Juliana Church.Reformed Church ofDordrecht.


 * <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The Magnalia Deïkerk.Reformed Municipality in Groningen


 * <p lang="en" len="391" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The meeting Church toEnkhuizen


 * <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The Immanuëlkerk.Reformed Church atWageningen.


 * <p lang="en" len="228" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The Adullamkerk of the reformed church at Barneveld-South

==Well-known members<span class="mw-editsection" len="344" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==Members Number Of<span class="mw-editsection" len="342" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In addition to the 152 municipalities in Netherlands (106.782 members) and the 28 municipalities in North America (10.790 members) are also Netherlands reformed congregations in South Africa (Randburg, 129 members<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kerkelijk_Jaarboek_GG_2010_5-0" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5] ), New Zealand (Carterton, 177 members<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kerkelijk_Jaarboek_GG_2010_5-1" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5] ) and Belgium (born in Merksem, 47 members<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kerkelijk_Jaarboek_GG_2010_5-2" len="202" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5]  ).
 * <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">Church building of the reformed church atGouda.
 * Jan Baan Baan Company, founder
 * Koos van den Berg, politician (SGP)
 * Elbert Dijkgraaf, politician (SGP)
 * Dick van Luttikhuizen, musician
 * Aart moerkerken, rector theological school
 * Henk van Rossum, politician (SGP)

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Furthermore, missionary municipalities in Irian Jaya (Gereja Jemaat Protestan di Indonesia, 68 municipalities with more than 10,000 members<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" len="175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" len="175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7] ), Nigeria (Nigeria Reformed Church, 14 municipalities with approximately 2500 members<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" len="175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8] ) and Bolivia (1 commune with 117 members). The total number of members of the Netherlands reformed congregations is approximately 130,000. The development of the number of members of the Dutch municipalities is shown below:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" len="175" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]

==Largest municipalities in Netherlands<span class="mw-editsection" len="362" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * 1930 -26.380<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" len="177" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]
 * 1949 -61.883
 * 1953 -67.144
 * 1954 -58.760
 * 1966 -69.512
 * 1972 -78.766
 * 1974 -80008
 * 1979 -81.869
 * 1988 -89.908
 * 1996 -95.090
 * 2000 -98.495
 * 2005 -102.797
 * 2010 -105.371
 * 2013 -106.002
 * 2014 -106.782