When the Reformed Church in the Netherlands came into being and took shape at the end of the sixteenth century, the Netherlands was strongly divided.1 The Dutch Revolt alienated people from one another, and soon doctrinal disputes started to dominate the churches. In this context, the Reformed Church sought unity. This can be illustrated by the regulations on ecclesiastical decision-making at the time, which culminated in the church order established by the national Synod of Dordt in 1619. The synod confirmed a large number of previously introduced provisions, modified some of them and added new ones. No matter how polarization is handled, in the vast majority of cases it ultimately comes down to decision-making. The Church Order of Dort, confirming older regulations for settling disagreements, laid down the basis for decision-making in church assemblies in article 31: “that which is decided by majority vote shall be considered settled and binding unless it is proved to conflict with the Word of God or with the articles adopted in this general synod.”2 In later times, under different circumstances, Reformed churches and theologians have again tried to establish how ecclesiastical decisions should be made.
Thus connecting with one of the sub-themes of this volume, ‘Polarization and the Reformed Tradition,’ we will first pay attention to the developments in church and theology up to and including 1619. The decision-making by a simple majority of votes was disputed, both in the church and theology of
1 The Introduction of the Majority Principle
It should come as no surprise that, from the beginning of the Reformation period, theologians in Dutch-speaking congregations struggled with the relationship between decision-making and the Word of God. As early as 1550, Johannes a Lasco, minister of the Dutch Strangers’ Church in London, reflected on this theme. Though a proposal may acquire the majority of votes, in his opinion, the Word of God should be decisive. Opinions that are not in accordance with the Word of God must be rejected. In any case, when decisions are made, even the appearance of conflict with the Word of God must be avoided.3
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we assume that, from the outset in the sixteenth century, Reformed ecclesiastical assemblies, in principle, decided by majority vote. We could add in line with a Lasco’s approach: unless there was a conflict with the Word of God. However, the question as to whether there is a conflict with the Word of God, is ultimately always decided by a majority. If a majority is convinced that the authority of scripture is at stake, it will compel unanimity. Although this special situation has caused heavy battles in Reformed churches, we will confine ourselves to the simple majority principle, because as such it provides sufficient material for reflection.
1.1 Majority Voting and the Pursuit of Unanimity
There are indications that there has sometimes been a practice other than the above-mentioned majority principle. An appendix to the acts of the Synod of Emden (1571) briefly describes how the chairman of a provincial synod is
The practice of decision-making with ‘advice’ in which each one’s opinion is expressed, and the chairman formulates a decision on the basis of the advice received, is in line with what was customary outside the church in the sixteenth century Netherlands.10 At the local level and in commissions with an advisory character, the majority principle was generally applied. At the regional and national level, as in the Provincial States and the States General, unanimity was required for important decisions, for example, about war and taxes. A delegate to these assemblies was bound by the instructions of his principal. This could complicate negotiations to arrive at a common position. However, in order to avoid an impasse, the States General was allowed to take the decision-making process to a different level and request a binding opinion from the stadholder.11
The successive church orders give rise to the presumption that the practice of decision-making evolved in the course of time. But do other sources support this presumption? Their number is very limited. Minutes of meetings held in the early Reformation period are scarce and, almost without exception, they are brief about the decision-making procedure. At the level of the classis, the oldest acts in the source edition Classicale Acta are from the Classis Dordrecht and date from 1573. The next to follow originates from the Classis Zuid-Beveland and starts with the year 1579. A single mention in the 1573 acts of Classis Dordrecht shows that in this assembly decision-making by unanimity was not always the case at the time.12 In the decades that follow, we have found a few indications of the desire to still achieve this. The editors of the acts of the Classis Delft, which date back to 1581, state: “Although the acta sometimes indicate that decisions were made by a majority of votes, they give the impression even more often that very extensive discussions took place first in order to reach an overall consensus.”13 Anyone who goes through the
As far as availability of sources is concerned, the situation for the provincial synods is comparable to that for the classes.17 In the acts of Noord-Holland, which begin in 1572, a year after the Emden Synod, the word ‘united’ can be found remarkably often in the decision-making process of the first meetings. Ten years later, however, it is explicitly stated that the majority of votes is decisive.18 In the decisions of Zuid-Holland, known from 1574 onwards, no mention is made of the extent to which they are supported. However, it is clear from a few remarks that this synod strives for unity in many cases, a goal that can also be found later and elsewhere. The acts of the first meeting of Zuid-Holland
1.2 The Majority Principle
As indicated, in 1619 the Synod of Dort repeated in its church order (in article 31) the majority principle, which was already widely practiced at that time. However, some relativizing remarks have to be made in this respect. To begin with, the acts of the Synod of Dort itself show a complex decision-making procedure which partly resembles the Emden regulations.20 Probably reflecting the States General practice voting was by delegation and not by delegate. Each delegation discussed the matter at stake and subsequently submitted its advice to the synod. In case of disagreement within a delegation its members could submit their separate advice. After the opinions of the delegations were read on the floor of the synod, the president would formulate a single synodical decision. This proposal could be altered by those present. If unanimity could not be achieved, final approval occurred by a majority vote of the delegations.
The second relativization is the acceptance of the Church Order of Dort. It was introduced in full only in Utrecht, and with some changes (which, however, do not affect article 31) in Gelderland and Overijssel.21 But even then, the rules of the church order were not always followed.22 Other provinces maintained older regulations, which were in the application of the majority principle similar to the Church Order of Dort. This changed when new regulations were introduced for the Netherlands as a whole in 1816. New churches of the Reformed type reestablished the Church Order of Dort from 1834 onwards.
A third relativizing remark concerns the fact that many more provisions in the Church Order of Dort influence the outcome of a vote. For example, in article 42, the Church Order of Dort opens up the possibility that also ministers who were not delegated to the classis had the right to vote at classis meetings.23 Despite the fact that this had been explicitly rejected in the past, and despite the ban on hierarchy in the Church Order of Dort, as a consequence of this, the
1.3 Interim Conclusion
By adopting the majority principle at all levels and almost everywhere, the Dutch Reformed Church opted for a relatively flexible decision-making process. Church assemblies could give their delegates binding instructions for the meetings of major assemblies.27 Yet, in the case of a majority, these did not stand in the way of binding decision-making. After all, an appeal was possible against decisions of the church council and classis (and in principle, according to the Church Order of Dort, also of the provincial synod). In this way, the majority of a minor assembly could still be nullified.
2 The Majority Principle under Pressure
In 1816 the Reformed Church was renamed and called the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (NHK, Eng.: Netherlands Reformed Church). A new set of regulations was introduced at the same time.28 Under this regime, small boards operated on a classical, provincial and national level, each with their own responsibilities.29 In this new model of ecclesiastical government, there
In 1852 the General Regulations of 1816 were thoroughly revised.30 The organization was extensively democratized by the introduction of proportional representation. This revision has to be seen against the background of two developments. On the one hand, there was the constitutional reform of 1848, which gave an enormous impulse to the democratization of the Netherlands. On the other hand, parties with opposing views had emerged within the NHK. Yet, it was not until 1867 that proportional representation was put into practice in the NHK.31 From then on, male members were allowed to go to the ballot box to express their opinion on the application of a form of equal representation in the board of their congregation. Orthodox parties in particular tried to exert their influence. This development has been described as an ‘orthodox Protestant mobilization’ which led to great contention in the church.32 The primary objective was to obtain the majority of votes on the issue, whether the congregation should influence the composition of its church council or not. As a result, certain groups in this council could obtain the majority and could thus impose their views on the council. These two aspects of majority-composition and decision-making-were sometimes confused in the discussion and the reflection we will present hereafter on the basis of four theologians.
we should turn to the church council to request that the distribution of the ballot papers be accompanied by an explicit call of the council … hoping and praying that no one may make use of this right, other than those who in good conscience share the Faith of the congregation. This should not give rise to pointless disputes about the nature and content of the Faith of the Congregation, for its determination is left to everyone’s conscience in this matter.36
Gunning came back to the issue a few years later, in 1869. He reproachfully wrote: “No majority vote in matters of faith. Listen, please listen, Reformed congregation, which has warmly welcomed the principle of majority voting, taken over from state institutions and the worldly atmosphere that surrounds you.”38 According to his son, J.H. Gunning J.H.zn. (1858–1940), he wrote this “… with a direct application that left nothing to be desired in terms of clarity for the ‘orthodox’, happy with their victories obtained by a majority of votes.”39
Gunning accepted the validity of the majority vote again later on, but he shamefully considered it to be a humiliation of the church.40 Elsewhere, in state affairs as well as in associations, he was convinced of the principal validity of a majority vote, but in the church he accepted it as a starting point only. “If one wants to climb from a lower state to a higher level, it is necessary to take this state as a starting point, set foot on it and rise higher with the other foot.”41 At this time, Gunning also looked beyond the boundaries of his own church,
2.2 Ph.J. Hoedemaker
The second theologian we want to put into the spotlight is Ph.J. Hoedemaker (1839–1910). He was of the conviction that the church is the body of Christ, not an association, nor a society or an institution.43 “It is not based on the will of people.”44 Hoedemaker, therefore, had great difficulty with the 1816 organization of the NHK. He found the General Regulations illegal in origin, unbiblical in essence and pernicious in spirit. He also held the church government responsible for the growing dissent, which he abhorred.45 This was partly prompted and reinforced by a number of personal experiences, in which he was confronted with the consequences of the revision of 1852.46 The orthodox won, for example in his first congregation of Veenendaal and in the classis to which the congregation belonged, but he realized all too well that for liberals
In this context, it should be emphasized that Hoedemaker’s thinking about ecclesiastical conflicts changed somewhat over the years.48 In his early days he took struggles for granted, at least vis-à-vis the modernists. In his earliest writings he referred to them as enemies. Later he never did so again. The older he got, the more he considered the battles to be a sin. At that time he found every party formation, including those of a confessional nature, to be pernicious.49 Here and there it could work as a corrective, but in his opinion it murdered any healthy concept of church. In 1897 he wrote in the well-known brochure, The Church as a Whole and the People as a Whole, with the telling subtitle, A protest against the actions of the Reformed as a party and a word of farewell to the Confessional Association: “The law of God is also the law of truth, and is NOT the law of the majority.”50
which removes the outstanding issues from a legal settlement by the church itself and leaves them to the endless and fruitless dispute of the parties, and thus raises the lever of the ‘orthodox’ or ‘modern’ majority, half plus one. The spirit of little faith, questions the power of the Word where it is useful and orderly, and therefore, by fear of a crooked orthodoxy (as if it could overcome this power), offers itself a humiliating ‘proof of poverty.’52
The third theologian we would like to discuss is A. Kuyper (1837–1920). In 1867 he took a view similar to Gunning, albeit with a slightly different accent. In the brochure, Wat moeten wij doen?, he argues that democracy is not contrary to the nature of the church.53 However, it should not be accepted because it is foreign to the Reformed Church and its tradition; it comes from outside the church. Still, the deplorable situation of the church makes it necessary for orthodox believers to make use of their right to vote. Kuyper’s activist reaction to the increasing struggle following the innovations of 1852/1867 differs fundamentally from that of Gunning and Hoedemaker, although he would be friends with the latter for a long time to come. In 1869 Kuyper analyzed the situation in the brochure De werking van artikel 23, and he noted that the goal of an orthodox majority in the synod would not be achieved quickly.54 In Tractaat der Reformatie (1883), he chose a new approach. In his opinion, it is not the majority of votes that are decisive, but “the present royal power of Christ.”55 In the spirit of prayer, office bearers must convince each other “until unity of insight is born.”56 However, when Kuyper was confronted with the fact that majorities in ecclesiastical meetings would certainly not lead to the desired goal and several major assemblies even had chosen an opposite direction, he and his ‘Doleantie’ movement forced a rift in 1886. Following on from this break, the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (GKN) (Reformed Churches in the Netherlands) came into existence in 1892.
Kuyper’s friend and kindred spirit F.L. Rutgers (1836–1917) incorporated Kuyper’s ecclesiology into ecclesiastical law. The movement of the ‘Doleantie’ returned to the Church Order of Dort. Because the majority principle in article 31 of this church order is within the framework of the right of appeal to a major assembly, it concerns the heart of Kuyper’s and Rutgers’s ecclesiology, in which the local church was in itself a complete church, in principle having an almost full autonomy. Major assemblies consist by the grace of local churches wanting to gather on the basis of the same confession. All principal decisions of those assemblies have to be confirmed by the local churches. Only when a local church considers a decision to be in conflict with God’s Word, is
2.4 Interim Conclusion
Against the background of democratization trends, theologians started to reconsider the long-standing majority principle from the middle of the 19th century onwards. Gunning and Hoedemaker were of the opinion votes should be avoided in ecclesiastical assemblies anyway. Kuyper, however, initially wanted to make use of votes to realize essential changes in the church of his day. Once having broken with the NHK, other than Gunning and Hoedemaker, he and Rutgers devalued the meaning of ecclesiastical votes by stressing the principle that unity had to be found on a confessional basis. People of the same confession gathered in congregations and congregations of the same confession gathered in major assemblies.
3 The Majority Principle Reworded
On May 1, 2004, the NHK, the GKN and the Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk (Evangelical Lutheran Church) merged into the PKN.57 The structure of both the church and its church order have predominantly been derived from the NHK. Elements of the practices in the two other denominations can be found in the elaboration of the structure. In this section we will first discuss the developments within the NHK, then the developments in the GKN, and conclude with the design of the church order of the PKN.
3.1 A New Church Order for the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (1951)
The basic rule of every church law (of all confessions and denominations) is that Christ is the only ruler of the church. In a church, democracy is never considered to be the highest good. The truth of God is not established by majority vote. In the church, the Christocracy applies: Christ rules.64
And elsewhere in his book: “It is, of course, advisable to strive for unity in the church, or at least for broader agreement.”65
3.2 A New Church Order for the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (1959)
In the 1950s, the GKN developed a new church order in which the structure of the Church Order of Dort and the most important articles of that order can be clearly identified. Article 31 was given a completely new wording, in which the decision-making rules were placed in a subparagraph: “The decisions of the assemblies will always be made after joint consultation and, as far as possible, by unanimous vote. If unanimity is not achieved, the minority will comply with the conviction of the majority. The decisions of the assemblies are binding.”68 This change has to be seen against the background of two rifts in the GKN, in 1926 and 1944. The new text calls, as it were, for unity to
3.3 The Church Order of the Protestantse Kerk in Nederland (2004)
When the three denominations merged into the PKN, a new church order came into effect. The majority principle in this church order is very similar to that of the GKN, though the line in the Church Order of Dort and the 1959 Church Order about the impossibility of decisions contrary God’s Word is lacking: “In all church meetings, decisions should always be made after joint consultation and, if possible, by unanimous vote. If unanimity turns out to be impossible, the decision is made by a majority of the votes cast, in which case blank votes do not count.”72 The fact that the regulation applies to all ecclesiastical meetings and not only to meetings of office bearers is taken from the church order of the NHK. The dependence on the later NHK Church Order also applies to certain provisions according to which a qualified two-thirds majority is required.73 Still, the GKN church order can be recognized in the basic rule for voting. Only the wording ‘as far as possible’ has been exchanged for ‘if possible.’ This seems
4 Conclusions
The decision-making in the Reformed Church in the Netherlands initially followed secular practice, although with the general application of the majority principle as it takes shape in the Church Order of Dort, it seems to be ahead of its time, at least in the major assemblies. Nevertheless, the Dutch Reformed Church has realized from the beginning that, due to the special character of the church, decision-making is not a case of a simple majority. Other values are at stake, such as the obedience to (the Word of) God.
The nineteenth century shows a similar pattern. The Reformed Church followed secular practice, albeit that it only embraced this change with delay and restraint. Several theologians criticized the full implementation of the majority principle. They pointed to the church’s own spiritual character and thus to the dignity of the church, as well as to the unity of the body of Christ, which in their view is endangered by the majority principle. In this context, historical arguments have been exchanged too. We note that in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries unity and unanimity were certainly sought in regulations and in practice, but it goes too far to elevate this to a norm, as was done by Rutgers and, following his example, by others in the GKN.
In the church order of the PKN, the two lines come together. Achieving unanimity is an important goal in the decision-making process. On the one hand, this refers to unity in Christ; this unity should be seriously sought. On the other hand, unity in Christ does not depend on the results of a vote.
The Dutch churches in the Reformed tradition have always been strongly influenced by society as a whole in its decision-making regulations. At the same time, in dealing with differences of opinion and even polarization, the Church has given these rules their own color. It has opted for the majority principle on practical grounds, but has always realized that—especially when decisions are contrary to the Word of God—the majority does not in fact have the last word.
Reflecting on these conclusions, we note that they are ambiguous in their handling of polarization. On the one hand, decision makers are challenged to seek unanimity for the sake of the unity in Christ. However, the idea of unity in
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Lieburg, Fred van, and Johanna Roelevink. Eds. Ramp of redding: 200 jaar Algemeen Reglement voor het Bestuur der Hervormde Kerk in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden 1816–2016 (Disaster or rescue: 200 Years of General Regulations for the governance of the Reformed Church in the kingdom of the Netherlands 1816–2016). Utrecht: Boekencentrum, 2018.
Loon, J.C.A. van. Het Algemeen Reglement van 1816 (The General Regulations of 1816). Wageningen: Zomer & Keuning, 1942.
Nauta, D. Verklaring van de kerkorde van de Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Explanation of the church order of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands). Kampen: Kok, 1971.
Noordmans, O. Verzamelde Werken (Collected Works), Vol. 5. Kampen: Kok, 1984.
Ploeg-Bouwman, Hanna. Bewoonde herinnering: Een learning history van het Samen-op-Weg-proces (Living memory: A learning history of the socalled Samen-op-Weg-process). Utrecht: Eburon, 2019.
Reitsma, J. and S.D. van Veen. Eds. Acta der provinciale en particuliere synoden, gehouden in de noordelijke Nederlanden gedurende de jaren 1572–1620 (Acta of provincial and particular synods, held in the northern Netherlands during the years 1572–1620). Groningen: Wolters, 1892–1899.
Roelevink, Johanna. “De Hervormde Kerk wankelend op eigen benen: de herziening van het Algemeen Reglement in 1852” (The Reformed Church on shaking footing: The revision of the General Regulations in 1852). In Ramp of redding: 200 jaar Algemeen Reglement voor het Bestuur der Hervormde Kerk in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden 1816–2016 (Disaster or rescue: 200 Years of General Regulations for the governance of the Reformed Church in the kingdom of the Netherlands 1816–2016), eds. Fred van Lieburg and Johanna Roelevink, 143–148. Utrecht: Boekencentrum, 2018.
Roelevink, Johanna. “Het Algemeen Reglement van 1816: een hekgolf in de rivier” (The General Regulations of 1816: A sternwave in the river). In Ramp of redding: 200 jaar Algemeen Reglement voor het Bestuur der Hervormde Kerk in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden 1816–2016 (Disaster or rescue: 200 Years of General Regulations for the governance of the Reformed Church in the kingdom of the Netherlands 1816–2016), eds. Fred van Lieburg and Johanna Roelevink, 19–57. Utrecht: Boekencentrum, 2018.
Rutgers, F.L. Ed. Acta van de Nederlandsche synoden der zestiende eeuw (Acta of the Dutch synods of the sixteenth century), Werken der Marnix-Vereeniging, II/3. ’s-Gravenhage: Nijhoff, 1889.
Rutgers, F.L. “Bespreking der hoofdpunten van het Kerkrecht naar aanleiding van de Dordtsche Kerkenorde” (collegedictaat 1892–1895) (Discussion of the main points of church polity in connection with the Church Order of Dort, Lecture Notes 1892–1895), art. 31 (123). Accessed August 8, 2019. http://kerkrecht.nl/node/1310.
Scheers, G.Ph. Philippus Jacobus Hoedemaker. Leiden: Groen, 1939 1, 1989 2.
Semmelink, J.H. Prof. Dr. J.H. Gunning, zijn ontwikkelingsgang en zijne beginselen (Prof. dr. J.H. Gunning, His development and his principles). Zeist: Vonk & Co, 1926.
Vree, W. van. Nederland als vergaderland: Opkomst en verbreiding van een vergaderregime (The Netherlands as a meeting country: Emergence and spread of a meeting regime). Groningen: Wolters Noordhoff, 1994.
Vree, Jasper. “Gunning en Kuyper: Een bewogen vriendschap rond Schrift en kerk in de jaren 1860–1873” (Gunning and Kuyper: An eventful friendship around scripture and church in the years 1860–1873). In Noblesse oblige: Achtergrond en actualiteit van de theologie van J.H. Gunning Jr. (Noblesse oblige: Background and topicality of the theology of J.H. Gunning Jr.), eds. Theo Hettema and Leo Mietus, 62–86. Gorinchem: Ekklesia, 2005.
Wallet, Barend. Samen op Weg naar de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland: Het verhaal achter de vereniging (Together towards the Protestant Church in the Netherlands: The story behind the merge). Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 2005.
Wassenaar, J.D.Th. “‘… dat God het winnen zal in de kerk …’: Een beschouwing over ‘meerderheid van stemmen’ in de kerk” (…that God will prevail in the church: A reflection on ‘majority of votes’ in the church), Ecclesia 95:4 (2004): 26–29.
Wijziging der gedragslijn op Kerkelijk gebied: Brief aan Dr. A. Kuyper door G. Doedes, predikant der hervormde gemeente te Velsen (Modification of the line of conduct in ecclesial matters: Letter to Dr. A. Kuyper by G. Doedes, minister of the Reformed congregation in Velsen). Utrecht: Kemink, 1875.
This article is a thoroughly edited, modified and elaborated version of two previous publications, K.W. de Jong, “Zo mogelijk met eenparige stemmen” (If possible unanimously), NTKR Tijdschrift voor Recht en Religie 10:2 (2016), 107–119, and J.D.Th. Wassenaar, “‘… dat God het winnen zal in de kerk …’: Een beschouwing over ‘meerderheid van stemmen’ in de kerk” (…that God will prevail in the church: A reflection on ‘majority of votes’ in the church), Ecclesia 95:4 (2004), 26–29. We want to thank Don and Carla Sinnema for their critical review of a draft of this article, especially regarding the English language.
Richard DeRidder, Peter H. Jonker and Leonard Verduin, The Church Orders of the Sixteenth Century Reformed Churches of the Netherlands: Together with Their Social, Political, and Ecclesiastical Context (Grand Rapids: Calvin Theological Seminary, 1987), 550.
F.L. Bos, De orde der kerk (The order of the church) (’s-Gravenhage: Guido de Bres, 1950), 116. Cf. for the Latin original, Joh. a Lasco, Forma ac Ratio … [1555], 512.
F.L. Rutgers (ed.), Acta van de Nederlandsche synoden der zestiende eeuw (Acta of the Dutch synods of the sixteenth century), Werken der Marnix-Vereeniging, II/3 (’s-Gravenhage: Nijhoff, 1889), 111. The quotes in the following sentences have been translated from this source. Later quotations in this article are also translated.
F.L. Rutgers, “Bespreking der hoofdpunten van het Kerkrecht naar aanleiding van de Dordtsche Kerkenorde” (collegedictaat 1892–1895) (Discussion of the main points of church polity in connection with the Church Order of Dort, Lecture Notes 1892–1895), art. 31 (123), http://kerkrecht.nl/node/1310 (accessed August 8, 2019).
Rutgers, Acta, 148 (Dordrecht 1578), art. 23.
Rutgers, “Bespreking,” 123 (art. 31). De Jong followed Rutgers’s approach in a publication from 2016 (“Zo mogelijk,” 110). However, he came to a different conclusion in the present article.
Cf. the digital dictionary http://wnt.inl.nls.v. ‘Daarna’, sub 1 and 2.
Cf. the Classis Dordrecht in 1581 (“ende het advys een yegelicx omvragen ende besluyten,” Classicale Acta 1573–1620 (‘s-Gravenhage 1980–2011), I, 107)). Cf. the sometimes decisive role of the officers (‘moderamen’) of the Synod of Dort 1618–19, H.H. Kuyper, De Post-Acta of nahandelingen … (The Post-Acta or after-actions) (Amsterdam-Pretoria: Höveker & Wormser, 1899), 104ff.
Cf. W. van Vree, Nederland als vergaderland: Opkomst en verbreiding van een vergaderregime (The Netherlands as a meeting country: Emergence and spread of a meeting regime) (Groningen: Wolters Noordhoff, 1994), 142–144, 147–150.
Van Vree, Nederland, 148.
Classicale Acta, I, 7.
Classicale Acta, VII, XXX.
E.g., Classicale Acta, V, 279.
H.H. Kuyper, Post-Acta of Nahandelingen van de Nationale Synode van Dordrecht in 1618 en 1619 gehouden naar den authentieken tekst in het Latijn en Nederlandsch uitgegeven en met toelichtingen voorzien. Voorafgegaan door de geschiedenis van de Acta, de Autographa en de Post-Acta dier synode en gevolgd door de geschiedenis van de revisie der belijdenisgeschriften en der Liturgie, benevens de volledige lijst der gravamina op de Dordtsche synode ingediend (Amsterdam-Pretoria: Höveker & Wormser), 446. Cf. J. Reitsma and S.D. van Veen (eds.), Acta der provinciale en particuliere synoden, gehouden in de noordelijke Nederlanden gedurende de jaren 1572–1620 (Acta of provincial and particular synods, held in the northern Netherlands during the years 1572–1620) (Groningen: Wolters, 1892–1899), VI, 308; Classicale Acta, VI, 47 (Deventer), 123 (Kampen).
Erik A. de Boer, De macht van de minderheid: Het remonstrantisme in Kampen in de spiegel van de nationale synode te Dordrecht (1618–1619) (The power of the minority: Remonstrantism in Kampen in the mirror of the National Synod in Dordrecht (1618–1619)) (Kampen: Summum Academic Publications, 2019), 113–116.
Reitsma and Van Veen (eds.), Acta. The oldest acta are from the provincial synod of Noord-Holland (1572), followed by those of Zuid-Holland (1574) and Gelderland (1579).
Reitsma and Van Veen (eds.), Acta, I, 92 (Noord-Holland, 1582). Cf. I, 318 (Noord-Holland, 1602).
Reitsma and Van Veen (eds.), Acta, II, 155 (Zuid-Holland, 1574; copies the 1571 Emden Synod are also referred to). Cf. Rutgers, Acta, 113 (Emden); Van Vree, Nederland, 143ff.
Hendrik Kaajan, De Pro-Acta der Dordtsche Synode (The Pro-Acta of the Synod of Dort) (Rotterdam: De Vries, 1914), 42ff.
J.T. van den Berg, “De synode van Dordrecht en de Dordtse Kerkorde” (The Synod of Dort and the Church Order of Dort), in Handboek gereformeerd kerkrecht (Manual of Reformed church polity), ed. H.J. Selderhuis (Heerenveen: Groen, 2019), 162–170, 167.
Cf. e.g., Classicale Acta, IX, 745 (Arnhem), concerning the application of art. 42.
Cf. the Church Order of Dort, art. 42. See, e.g., De Ridder, Jonker and Verduin, The Church Orders, art. 42.
Cf. K.W. de Jong, “Een verkennend onderzoek naar de receptie van een anti-hiërarchisch beginsel in Nederlandse kerkorden van het gereformeerde type” (An exploratory investigation into the reception of an anti-hierarchical principle in Dutch Reformed church orders), In die Skriflig 52:2 (2018), 1–9 (https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v52i2.2350), 3ff.
Van Vree, Nederland, 148f.
Cf. Church Order of Dort, art. 35 (cf. 37, 41).
Cf. the more nuanced view of Bos, De orde, 134–136.
J.C.A. van Loon, Het Algemeen Reglement van 1816 (The General Regulations of 1816) (Wageningen: Zomer & Keuning, 1942), 223–235. Cf. Fred van Lieburg and Johanna Roelevink (eds.), Ramp of redding: 200 jaar Algemeen Reglement voor het Bestuur der Hervormde Kerk in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden 1816–2016 (Disaster or rescue: 200 Years of General Regulations for the governance of the Reformed Church in the kingdom of the Netherlands 1816–2016) (Utrecht: Boekencentrum, 2018).
Johanna Roelevink, “Het Algemeen Reglement van 1816: een hekgolf in de rivier” (The General Regulations of 1816: A sternwave in the river), in Ramp of redding, eds. Van Lieburg and Roelevink, 19–57, 45; Leon van den Broeke, “Regionale (re)organisatie: classicaal bestuur en provinciaal kerkbestuur rond 1816” (Regional (re)organization: Classical administration and provincial church administration around 1816), in Ramp of redding, eds. Van Lieburg and Roelevink, 59–75.
Johanna Roelevink, “De Hervormde Kerk wankelend op eigen benen: de herziening van het Algemeen Reglement in 1852” (The Reformed Church on shaking footing: The revision of the General Regulations in 1852), in Ramp of redding, eds. Van Lieburg and Roelevink, 143–148.
Cf. K.W. de Jong, “‘Wettiglijk van Gods gemeente, en mitsdien van God zelven geroepen’: De voorgeschiedenis van het reglement van 1867 voor de verkiezing en beroeping van een hervormde predikant” (“Lawfully called by God’s congregation, and therefore by God himself”: The history of the Regulations of 1867 for the election and vocation of a Reformed pastor), Tijdschrift voor Nederlandse Kerkgeschiedenis 20:3 (2017), 109–117.
Jeroen Koch, “Revolutie, restauratie, reformatie: Koning Willem I, Abraham Kuyper en het Algemeen Reglement van 1816” (Revolution, restoration, reformation: King Willem I, Abraham Kuyper and the General Regulations of 1816), in Ramp of redding, eds. Van Lieburg and Roelevink, 162–164; Annemarie Houkes, Christelijke vaderlanders: Godsdienst, burgerschap en de Nederlandse natie (1850–1900) (Christian patriots: Religion, citizenship and the Dutch nation (1850–1900)) (Amsterdam: Wereldbibliotheek, 2009), 181.
J.H. Gunning Jr., Openbare brief aan de ouderlingen der Vrije Evangelische Gemeente te Amsterdam (Public letter to the elders of the Free Evangelical Congregation in Amsterdam) (Utrecht: Van der Post, 1860), 23. Cf. J.H. Semmelink, Prof. Dr. J.H. Gunning, zijn ontwikkelingsgang en zijne beginselen (Prof. dr. J.H. Gunning, His development and his principles) (Zeist: Vonk & Co, 1926), 158ff.
J.H. Gunning Jr., De vrijheid der gemeente: Bezwaren tegen de ordeningen der Nederduitsche Hervormde Kerk in onze dagen (The freedom of the congregation: Objections to the orders of the Dutch Reformed Church in our days) (Utrecht: Van der Post, 1861), 42.
J.H. Gunning Jr., Zestien stellingen betrekkelijk het stemrecht der gemeente, aan de gemeente ter overweging gegeven (Sixteen propositions regarding the voting rights of the congregation, given to the congregation for consideration) (Amsterdam: Höveker, 1867); Aan de Hervormde gemeente: Een woord over haar stemrecht (To the Reformed congregation: A word about her voting rights) (’s-Gravenhage: Gerritsen, 1867).
J.H. Gunning J.Hzn., Prof. dr. J.H. Gunning: Leven en werken, II (Prof. dr. J.H. Gunning: Life and work) (Rotterdam: Bredeé, 1923), 34f.
J.H. Gunning Jr., Aan de Hervormde gemeente: Een woord over haar stemrecht (To the Reformed congregation: A word about her voting rights), in Gunning, J.H.zn., Prof. dr. J.H. Gunning, 35. Cf. Jasper Vree, “Gunning en Kuyper: Een bewogen vriendschap rond Schrift en kerk in de jaren 1860–1873” (Gunning and Kuyper: An eventful friendship around scripture and church in the years 1860–1873), in Theo Hettema and Leo Mietus, Noblesse oblige: Achtergrond en actualiteit van de theologie van J.H. Gunning Jr. (Noblesse oblige: Background and topicality of the theology of J.H. Gunning Jr.) (Gorinchem: Ekklesia, 2005), 62–86, 66.
J.H. Gunning Jr., Ter nabetrachting van 31 october en ter voorbereiding tot 17 november: Een woord tot de gemeente gesproken (In review of October 31 and in preparation for November 17: A word to the congregation) (’s-Gravenhage: Van Hoogstraten, 1869), 12.
Gunning J.H.zn., 293.
O. Noordmans, Beginselen van kerkorde (Principles of church polity) (Assen: Van Gorcum & Co., 1932), in Verzamelde Werken (Collected Works), 5 (Kampen: Kok, 1984), 184; A. van Ginkel, “Gunnings waardering van de presbyteriale kerkorde” (Gunnings’ appreciation of the presbyterial church order), in Wegen en gestalten in het Gereformeerd Protestantisme: Een bundel studies over de geschiedenis van het Gereformeerd Protestantisme … (Shapes of Reformed Protestantism: A volume of studies about the history of Reformed protestantism), eds. W. Balke, C. Graafland and H. Harkema (Amsterdam: Ton Bolland, 1976), 257–268, 267ff; W. Balke, Gunning en Hoedemaker samen op weg (The mutual relationship between Gunning and Hoedemaker) (’s-Gravenhage: Boekencentrum, 1985), 177ff. Van Ginkel and Balke may both be dependent on Noordmans’ statement.
J.H. Gunning Ir., Verlagen wij onszelve niet! Een woord tot de Hervormde Gemeente (Let us not demean ourselves! A word to the Reformed congregation) (Nijmegen: Ten Hoet, 1902), 7.
M.G.L. den Boer, “J.H. Gunning jr. en de eenheid der kerk” (J.H. Gunning jr. and the unity of the church), in Heel de kerk: Enkele visies op de kerk binnen de ‘Ethische Richting’. Uitgave ter gelegenheid van het vijfentwintigste lustrum van het Theologisch-Litterarisch Studentengezelschap ‘Excelsior Deo Iuvante’, 18 oktober 1995 (The church as a whole: Some visions within the socalled ‘Ethische Richting’ on the church. Publication on the occasion of the 25th five-yearly anniversary of the Theological Student Society ‘Excelsior Deo Iuvante’, October 18, 1995), 97–115, eds. Jaap Vlasblom and Jaap van der Windt (Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 1995).
Ph.J. Hoedemaker, De Kerk en het Moderne Staatsrecht (The church and the modern state law) (Amsterdam-Kaapstad: Hollandsch-Afrikaansche Uitgevers-Maatschappij, 1904), 92–122. Cf. G.Ph. Scheers, Philippus Jacobus Hoedemaker (Leiden: Groen, 19391, 19892), 184–197.
Hoedemaker, De Kerk en het Moderne Staatsrecht, 93.
Ph.J. Hoedemaker, Op het fondament der apostelen en profeten (On the foundation of apostles and prophets) (Utrecht: Van Bentum, 1885), 57, 60; De roeping der Gereformeerden in de Hervormde Kerk: Naar aanleiding van de ‘Nabetrachting op de kerkelijke crisis, door Dr. Ph.S. van Ronkel’ (The call of Reformed members in the (Netherlands) Reformed Church: In response to ‘Review of the ecclesial crisis, by Dr. Ph.S. van Ronkel’) (Amsterdam: J.H. Kruyt, 1888), 19. Cf. P.J. Kromsigt, “Kerkrechtelijke beginselen” (Church polity principles), in J. Schokking c.s., Dr. Ph.J. Hoedemaker 1868–1908: Gedenkboek (Dr. Ph.J. Hoedemaker 1868–1908: Commemorative book) (Leiden: A.L. De Vlieger, 1908), 39–122, 87.
Kromsigt, “Kerkrechtelijke beginselen,” 52; Wijziging der gedragslijn op Kerkelijk gebied: Brief aan Dr. A. Kuyper door G. Doedes, predikant der hervormde gemeente te Velsen (Modification of the line of conduct in ecclesial matters: Letter to Dr. A. Kuyper by G. Doedes, minister of the Reformed congregation in Velsen) (Utrecht: Kemink, 1875); G. Bos, “Hoedemaker en de reorganisatie van de Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk” (Hoedemaker and the reorganization of the Netherlands Reformed Church),” in Hoedemaker herdacht (Hoedemaker commemorated), eds. G. Abma and J. de Bruijn (Baarn: Ten Have, 1989), 33–49, 35.
Hoedemaker, Op het fondament der apostelen en profeten, 60f. Cf. for Hoedemaker’s first years: Kromsigt, “Kerkrechtelijke beginselen,” 58; Ph.J. Hoedemaker, De Congresbeweging beoordeeld uit het oogpunt der Gereformeerde Belijdenis (The socalled congress Movement assessed from the point of view of the Reformed confession) (Amsterdam: Wormser, 1887), 65.
Scheers, Philippus Jacobus Hoedemaker, 187.
Hoedemaker, De Congresbeweging, 66.
Ph.J. Hoedemaker, Heel de Kerk en heel het Volk: Een protest tegen het optreden der Gereformeerden als partij, en een woord van afscheid aan de Confessioneele Vereeniging (The church as a whole and the people as a whole: A protest against the actions of the Reformed as a party and a word of farewell to the Confessional Association) (Sneek: J. Campen, 1897), 13.
J.H. Gunning Jr., c.s., Open Brief aan de Synode der Nederlandsche Hervormde Kerk (Open Letter to the Synod of the Netherlands Reformed Church) (Amsterdam: Hollandsch-Afrikaansche Uitgevers-Maatschappij, 1904). Cf. Balke, Gunning en Hoedemaker samen op weg, (’s-Gravenhage: Boekencentrum, 1985), 187–197.
J.H. Gunning Jr., c.s., Open Brief, 13f.
A. Kuyper, Wat moeten wij doen, het stemrecht aan ons zelven houden of den kerkeraad machtigen? (What should we do, keep the Right to vote to ourselves or authorize the church council?) (Culemborg: Blom, 1867).
A. Kuyper, De werking van artikel 23 (The effects of Article 23) (Amsterdam: Höveker, 1869).
A. Kuyper, Tractaat van de Reformatie der kerken … (Tract on the Reformation of the churches) (Amsterdam: Höveker, 1883), 120.
Kuyper, Tractaat, 133.
Barend Wallet, Samen op Weg naar de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland: Het verhaal achter de vereniging (Together towards the Protestant Church in the Netherlands: The story behind the merge) (Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 2005); Hanna Ploeg-Bouwman, Bewoonde herinnering: Een learning history van het Samen-op-Weg-proces (Living memory: A learning history of the socalled Samen-op-Weg-process) (Utrecht: Eburon, 2019).
H.A.M. Fiolet, Een kerk in onrust om haar belijdenis: Een phaenomenologische studie over het ontstaan van de richtingenstrijd in de Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (A church troubled by her confession: A phenomenological study into the genesis of the battle of convictions within the Netherlands Reformed Church) (Nijkerk: Callenbach, 1953); H. Bartels, Tien jaren strijd om een belijdende kerk: De Nederlandsche Hervormde Kerk van 1929 tot 1939 (Ten years of battles for a confessing church: The Netherlands Reformed Church 1929 to 1939) (’s-Gravenhage: W.P. van Stockum & Zoon, 1946).
W. Balke and H. Oostenbrink-Evers (eds.), De Commissie voor de Werkorde (1942–1944), oorspronkelijk ingesteld als de Commissie voor Beginselen van Kerkorde (The Committee for the [Design of a] Workorder, Originally created as the Committee for the [Design of the] Principles of a Church Order) (Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 1995), 109, 169–171.
Kerkorde der Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (Church order of the Netherlands Reformed Church) (’s-Gravenhage: Boekencentrum, januari 1951) (= HKO 1951), art. XXVIII-4,5 and XIII-2. Cf. P. van den Heuvel, De hervormde kerkorde: Een praktische toelichting (Church order of the Netherlands Reformed Church: A practical explanation) (Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 1991), 409.
HKO 1951, ord. 1-21-10.
HKO 1951, ord. 1-24.
Kerkorde der Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (Church order of the Netherlands Reformed Church) (’s-Gravenhage: Boekencentrum, mei 1956), ord. 1-21-10. Cf. for similar changes in later editions Van den Heuvel, De hervormde kerkorde, resp. 409 en 389.
Van den Heuvel, De hervormde kerkorde, 24.
Van den Heuvel, De hervormde kerkorde, 121.
Generale Synode van de Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk, 15–17 juni 1995, “Advies van de Commissie voor kerkordelijke aangelegenheden inzake de procedure, die kerkordelijk gezien gevolgd dient te worden bij vereniging van de Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk met de Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland en de Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden” (Advice of the Committee for church order matters on the procedure to be followed in case of a merge between the Netherlands Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands). Cf. Wallet, Samen op weg, 150; Van den Heuvel, De hervormde kerkorde, 396.
Wallet, Samen op weg, 317–322.
D. Nauta, Verklaring van de kerkorde van de Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Explanation of the church order of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands) (Kampen: Kok, 1971), 135.
E.g., Joh. Jansen, Korte verklaring van de kerkenordening (Brief explanation of the church order) (Kampen: Kok, 1923), 144.
Nauta, Verklaring, 137.
De Jong, “Zo mogelijk,” 113.
Kerkorde en ordinanties van de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland inclusief de overgangsbepalingen (Church order of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands) (Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 2003), ord. 4-5-1 (cf. ord. 4-4-1).
Cf. for a list of these provisions P. van den Heuvel (ed.), Toelichting op de kerkorde van de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland: Herziene uitgave (Explanation of the church order of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands: Revised Edition) (Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 2013), 172.
De Jong, “Zo mogelijk,” 117.
Pieter Vos, “Introduction,” 10.