GS 2025 Article 13 – GK (Reformed Churches [The Netherlands])

1.   Material

• 1.1    Letter from the Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN) confirming request to enter into sister church relationship (Jan. 18, 2024) (8.1.1).
• 1.2    CER Report 19:Reformed Churches [The Netherlands] (GK)(8.2.10.19).
• 1.3    CER Supplementary Report (8.2.10.26).
• 1.4    Letter from Fergus (Maranatha) (8.3.10.26).

2. Admissibility

• 2.1    The reports were declared admissible.
•          Grounds: They were mandated by the previous synod and were received on time.
• 2.2    The letter was declared admissible.
•          Grounds: It interacts with a report to GS 2025 and was received on time.

3.   Observations

• 3.1    GS 2022 (art. 148) observed:
  • [4.1]    The Reformed Churches (DGK) display the marks of the true church of Jesus Christ in their preaching, worship, and governance.
• 3.2    GS 2022 (art. 148) mandated the CER:
  • [3.1]    To maintain contact with The Reformed Churches (DGK);
  • [3.2]    To express gratitude for how the DGK is dealing with the Liberated Reformed Church at Abbotsford (LRCA).
  • [3.3]    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • [3.3.1]         To continue to monitor developments within this federation, paying special attention to:
      • [3.3.1.1]            The relationship between the DGK and the Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN);
      • [3.3.1.2]            The relationship between the DGK and the LRCA;
    • [3.3.2]         To be available for dialogue with the DGK;
    • [3.3.3]         To submit its report to the churches six months prior to the convening of the next general synod.
• 3.3    GS 2022 (art. 149) observed:
  • [4.1]    The Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN) display the marks of the true church of Jesus Christ in their preaching, worship, and governance.
• 3.4    GS 2022 (art. 149) mandated the CER:
  • [3.1]    To maintain contact with the Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN);
  • [3.2]    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • [3.2.1]         To continue to monitor developments within this federation, paying special attention to:
      • [3.2.1.1]            The relationship between the GKN and The Reformed Churches (DGK);
    • [3.2.2]         To be available for dialogue with the GKN;
    • [3.2.2]         To submit its report to the churches six months prior to the convening of the next general synod.
• 3.5    The CER Report observes:
  • 3.5.1    The impediments to entering into sister church relations with The Reformed Churches (DGK) and the Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN) are the continued separation of the DGK and the GKN and the DGK relationship with the Liberated Reformed Church at Abbotsford (LRCA).
  • 3.5.2    The Reformed Churches [The Netherlands] (GK) still had to take decisions regarding ecumenical relations. It is likely that the request for Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) made by the GKN to the CanRC will remain.
  • 3.5.3    Prior to the merger, the DGK decided by a majority vote to discontinue its relationship with the LRCA.
  • 3.5.4    The CER delegated Rev. Janssen to attend the events marking the merger of the DGK and the GKN on October 4, 2024, and the concurrent extraordinary synods the following day.
• 3.6    The CER Report 19 recommends that Synod establish Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category A with the Reformed Churches [The Netherlands] (GK) under the adopted rules;
• 3.7    The Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN) letter says, “on December 2, 2023, synod Kampen 2023 decided to recognize the churches of De Gereformeerde Kerken {DGK} as churches of Christ standing on the foundation of apostles and prophets … As soon as the synod of DGK has made the same decision with regard to the GKN, the churches of DGK and GKN will be in a state of union and will work towards one church body.”

4.   Considerations

• 4.1    All impediments to ecclesiastical fellowship, identified by previous CanRC synods no longer exist. Namely:
  • 4.1.1    The Reformed Churches (DGK) has discontinued the sister church relationship with Liberated Reformed Church at Abbotsford (LRCA);
  • 4.1.2    The desired merger between the DGK and the Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN) to form the Reformed Churches [The Netherlands] (GK) was confirmed on Oct 4, 2024.
• 4.2    The DGK agreed to honor the sister church relationships of the GKN (cf. GS 2024 DGK art. 3 C.7);
• 4.3    The relationship CanRC-GK is in essence a continuation of the relationships CanRC-DGK and CanRC-GKN and, as such, in many ways a continuation of the relationship CanRC-GKv.

5.   Recommendations

That Synod decide:

• 5.1    To express thankfulness to the Lord for the merger of The Reformed Churches (DGK) and the Reformed Churches The Netherlands (GKN) into the Reformed Churches [The Netherlands] (GK).
• 5.2    To establish Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category A with the Reformed Churches [The Netherlands] (GK) under the adopted rules.
• 5.3    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
  • 5.3.1    To convey this decision to the Reformed Churches [The Netherlands] (GK) as soon as possible;
  • 5.3.2    As opportunity arises, to be available for discussions to promote ecclesiastical harmony and unity between faithful Reformed churches in The Netherlands;
  • 5.3.3    To submit its report to the churches no later than six (6) months prior to the convening of the next general synod.

ADOPTED unanimously.