Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 1, LRCA

Liberated Reformed Church Abbotsford
At the last general synod of DGK, the sister-church relationship with the Liberated Reformed Church of Abbotsford (LRCA) was discussed for the fourth time. At the General Synod Emmen 2009-2010, the decision was made to enter into this sister-church relationship (https://www.dgkh.nl/148-2/). Two reports from deputies served for this purpose (both are included in the Acts of this synod). A thorough investigation was conducted into the grounds for the secession from the Canadian Reformed Churches in 2007.

At the GS Groningen 2014-2015, a request for revision was submitted by DGK Dalfsen to object against the sister church relationship. In a report by the synod committee, extensive answers were provided to the objections raised by Dalfsen. This report was accepted by the General Synod, rejecting the revision request (https://www.dgkh.nl/groningen-2014/).

At GS Lansingerland 2017, DGK Dalfsen again brought a request, namely, to discuss with LRCA the catholicity of the church concerning the view of churches adhering to the Westminster Confession, the ecclesiastical path they had followed, and the condition of the CanRC (https://www.dgkh.nl/lansingerland-2018/). The mandate given to the deputies did not include any questions regarding the grounds for their separation.

However, GS Lutten 2021 stated in its decision that LRCA had no grounds for its secession. Therefore, according to the synod, this sister-church should rejoin the CanRC. It is noteworthy that no arguments were used to support this statement. There was also no confrontation regarding the grounds with previous synod decisions that had identified and accepted these grounds.

It is of great importance for the churches of Christ that truth is upheld without compromise. Also, it is crucial for the churches of Christ that justice is administered fairly, especially concerning our own brothers and sisters. The relationship with the GKN, who have applied for a sister-church relationship with the CanRC, recently became members of the ICRC (International Conference of Reformed Churches), and recently established a relationship with the OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Churches), should not influence the upholding of truth and justice.

The grounds formulated by LRCA in their letter of separation to the CanRC in 2007 and accepted by GS Emmen (2009-2010) and GS Groningen (2014-2015) are: The CanRC allowed errors in doctrine and church life within the church federation. The errors concerning open Lord’s Supper without binding to the confession and the pluriformity of church all concern the purity of the Word, the pure administration of Lord’s Supper, and the exercise of church discipline, which are the three core characteristics of the true church.

Additionally, GS Groningen noted that the ecclesiastical path, involving the submission of appeals and revision requests to the synods until 2004, had completely exhausted itself; the fact that in theory, a certain ecclesiastical path could still be followed after 2004 does not change this.

It is extremely sad that the 2021 deputies’ report (https://www.dgkh.nl/download-hier-de-acta-van-de-synode-gs-lutten/) contains very extensive material presented by LRC Abbotsford regarding their grounds in their contact with the deputies, while this has received little or no response from the deputies and GS Lutten 2021.

To serve truth and justice, we will discuss in several articles the grounds for the secession of LRCA, as assessed by our previous general synods, and the evidence that supports this. Afterward, we will focus on the ecclesiastical path that preceded their secession.

                                                                                                               (to be continued)