S. de Marie

CATHOLICITY VERSUS PLURIFORMITY 4

Which ecclesiastical developments and forms stand in tension with the catholicity of the church,even though they themselves sometimes do use the term “catholicity”? Sects, false church: false ecumenism with false doctrineFirst there are sects, namely churches or groupings that call themselves church and may even have international connections, but which nevertheless do not meet the […]

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Our Binding to the Confessions – The Importance of Confessional Membership (3)

Binding of Office-Bearers and Professors/LecturersThe binding to the confessions is of utmost importance for the church and its members. This binding, which becomes valid after the “yes-word” (affirmation), holds the same value and significance as an oath, since it is spoken “before God and His holy church”, as the forms indicate. Office-bearers and professors/lecturers of

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Our Binding to the Confessions – The Importance of Confessional Membership (2)

Functions of the Five ConfessionsIn our Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed) and the Three Forms of Unity—the Belgic Confession (BC), the Heidelberg Catechism (HC), and the Canons of Dort (CoD)—we have derived standards with ecclesiastical authority. These confessions serve various functions, all grounded in Scripture. As summaries of the Gospel, they help

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Our Binding to the Confessions – The Importance of Confessional Membership (1)

Our binding to the confessions of the church is a fundamental condition for the identity of the true church and its members. In other words, it is essential for being a true church and for being a member of such a church. Since Scripture is the source of the confessions, I will address this topic

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Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 13, Pluriformity (2)

Below is a continuation of the letter which deputies BBK sent to the Synod Carman 2013 (Acts Synod Groningen 2014, pages 224-232). Grounds for unification with another church federationThe letter points to the first condition for unification for unification is the sharing of the true foundation of Holy Scripture and the Reformed Confessions. This first

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Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 12, Pluriformity (1)

In addition to the issues of the lack of binding to the confession and the practice of an non-closed communion, the doctrine and practice of pluriformity were also grounds for the liberation of LRC Abbotsford. In a series of articles, we focus on this subject. Pluriformity accepted by sister churches (EF) of CanRCTo the best

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