Christianity · Church News - General

Attempt to church unity in the Netherlands

In June of this year, after severing the ties with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, Synod Bunbury of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) decided to maintain contact with two small church federations in the Netherlands. These churches are usually referred to with the acronyms DGK and GKN. DGK stands for De Gereformeerde… Continue reading Attempt to church unity in the Netherlands

Church News - General · Churches

Synod Reflections (3): Inter Church Relations

In my first article with Synod Reflections, I already mentioned a few things about relationships with sister churches and contact churches. There I discussed the argument of geographical distance, which has been used in the past as a reason not to enter in a sister church relationship with church federations in other parts of the… Continue reading Synod Reflections (3): Inter Church Relations

Christianity · Church News - General

The Burning of the Wooden Shoes – Christopher J. Gordon

The attempt by churches to make themselves more acceptable to the world and to attract more members has led to a decline in those churches. We’ve seen a warning example of this in the Netherlands in the RCN (GKv). The following article by Christopher J Gordon [i]shows how this attempt to be more accommodating to… Continue reading The Burning of the Wooden Shoes – Christopher J. Gordon

Church News - General

Are we following the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands?

With sadness we see our Dutch sister churches going into a direction which leads away from the truly Reformed heritage. Last year we remembered that five hundred years ago the church under God’s grace returned to the Bible. One of the important issues in the time of the Reformation was the authority of the Bible.… Continue reading Are we following the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands?

Church News - General · World

The Supreme Court as Reformed Synod?

ARPA Canada lawyer, John Sikkema ARPA lawyer John Sikkema appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada last week, making arguments as an intervener in the so-called “Wall” case. That’s the one where the Supreme Court has been asked whether secular courts have authority to intervene in matters of ecclesiastical discipline. The arguments are being heard… Continue reading The Supreme Court as Reformed Synod?

Christianity · Church News - General · World

Canada: Criminal Law protections for worship services saved

Andre Schutten, Director of Law and Policy of  ARPA Canada, reports on the proceedings at a Justice Committee meeting of the House of Commons in Canada, as the committee debated the amendments to Bill 51 and the clause on s. 176 which gives enhanced protections to worship services in Canada’s Criminal Code. The government of… Continue reading Canada: Criminal Law protections for worship services saved