The 2014 Synodical Preview: Blessings and Opportunities
This article by Russell Dykstra introduces the 2014 Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches by reflecting on the rich heritage of ecclesiastical assemblies in the Reformed churches of the Netherlands, particularly their commitment to proper church government despite historical persecution. The author contrasts the hardships faced by 16th-century Dutch Reformed believers with the freedom and blessings enjoyed by the modern PRCA as it convenes its 75th synod, encouraging delegates to recognize God's providential care.
Reformed churches consciously tracing their lineage to the Reformed churches in the Netherlands have a rich heritage of ecclesiastical assemblies. Our forefathers understood the importance of proper church government not only for the wellbeing, but for the very existence of the church. The sixteenth-century Reformed churches in the Netherlands were in their infancy -- small and scattered, but committed to the Reformed faith. Through most of that century they were also fiercely persecuted by the...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org