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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 Eccles iastical Unity – 15 – Church-orderly Way and Closing Conclusions

No grounds for Liberation LRCA?In the previous 14 articles extensive attention has been paid to the grounds for the Liberation of the Liberated Reformed Church Abbotsford (LRCA). These concern the tolerance and maintenance of practices and teachings that are contrary to the Holy Scripture, the Reformed Confession, and/or the Church Order.These matters include: In these

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Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 14 – Pluriformity (3)

Other examples of pluriformity within the CanRC In addition to Orthodox Presbyterian Churches (OPC), the CanRC also has EF (ecclesiastical fellowship) relationships with an increasing number of other churches, such as: ICRC (International Conference of Reformed Churches)The CanRC is a member of the international interchurch ICRC. Other member churches include Christian Reformed Churches (CGK), OPC,

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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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Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 11, Non-closed Lord’s Supper (8)

5. How is admission to the Holy Supper handled in congregations of the Canadian Reformed Churches (CanRC)? For almost all local churches who have accepted the decision of Neerlandia 2001, confessing members from the OPC can participate in the Lord’s Supper without being bound to any creed, not even their Westminster Confession; they may even

Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 11, Non-closed Lord’s Supper (8) Lees verder »

Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 10, Non-closed Lord’s Supper (7)

In the first 6 articles on “non-closed Lord’s Supper” the focus has been on admission to the Lord’s Supper in the OPC as it was in the past. In this and the following article, I will address the following questions consecutively: 1. What is the practice of admission to the Lord’s Supper in the OPC

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Truth and Justice as the Foundation for Ecclesiastical Unity – 9, Non-closed Lord’s Supper (6)

Below follows the second part of excerpts from the speech by Rev. K.A. Kok on the practice of the Lord’s Supper in the OPC in relation to the vision of the church. From: Rev. K.A. Kok: “Presbyterian or Reformed,” speech in Orangeville, Canada in 1986 (published in Shield & Sword) (see also: https://spindleworks.com/library/kok/presorref.htm) (…)It is

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