Confessional speaking about God (12-02-2010)
A great deal has been written about Rev. Hendrikse. Also a lot of comment has been given meanwhile on the decision of the classical assembly of Zierikzee not to start a disciplinary procedure against him because of his conceptions. Therefore secretary Dr. A.J. Plaisier clarifies a number of things. He does this in an article in Reformatorisch Dagblad? (February 11, 2010). Read more
Booklet with 30 promising missionary models
The Missionary Team of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands made a booklet with 30 promising missionary models. It is a condensed version of the file in which these models are presented extensively, with tangible action-plans. The models originate from practise: they are missionary chances which were already put into practise in a religious congregation. This booklet is meant to browse in. Not to do everything at the same time, but to make a choice from it.
For information, literature and examples, go to www.pkn.nl/missionair/MM30
'Faith in progress' - information on the (world) diaconaly and missionary work of KIA (Kerk in Actie = Church in Action)
In the brochure Faith in Progress is information on the programs and projects of KIA. Worldwide KIA supports partner organizations working in the area of among others climate, education, healthcare, peace building, sustainable and just economical development and mission. In the Netherlands this brochure is used by diaconal boards en church committees which are engaged in mission, world poor relief and development cooperation. Therefore some parts of the brochure refer to websites in Dutch or contain information which is especially meant for these groups. Read more
Management church ministries: continue cooperation Kerk in Actie (KIA - Church in Action) and ICCO
The Protestant Church should continue the cooperation between KIA and ICCO, so the management of the church ministries writes the synod in the memorandum “Testimony and Service”. The management pleads for prolongation of the agreement between KIA and ICCO. Read more
Protestant Church: ‘Separation church and state of great importance’ (22-10-2009)
In our country the churches have no seats in parliament. And the Balkenende administration may never interfere with the procedures in the Protestant Church. Before the law everybody is equal and there is separation of Church and State.
But the actual meaning of this principle regularly is subject for discussion. For example there is freedom of religion which may collide with other constitutional fundamental rights, like the freedom of speech. Read more
Synod discusses report evaluation church order (29-10-2009)
‘Because of the shrinking of the Protestant Church it becomes more difficult to meet all demands on organization and quality set by the church order.’
This is the conclusion of the committee evaluation church order which recently investigated the functioning of the rules of the game of the new church order in practice. She made extensive inquiries with consistories and all over-local professional boards and colleges. Further she received reactions from guiding organizations, individual church members and professionals. Read more
Bible, Kor’an and suicide attacks: a seminar on transforming images of the enemy
The role of religion in situations of conflict is very much debated. Certain people legitimize the use of violence, including suicide bombing, based on texts from the Holy Scriptures. Others look to religion as a resource for peace-building. How should we read texts in the Bible and the Kor’an which speak of ‘the others’ as enemies? Is ‘transforming reading’ possible? Read more
Prime Minister Balkenende receives giant ‘glossy’ newspaper “Wij geloven” (= We believe).
Friday afternoon Prime Minister Balkende received the ‘glossy’ newspaper “We believe” from the hands of Dr. A.J. Plaisier, secretary general of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. Read more
500th birthday anniversary: Calvin no saint, but source of inspiration (10-7-2009)
‘Calvin was no saint, but an inspiration. His view on social and public questions is still inspiring in our days.’ According to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) in a declaration on the occasion of the 500th birthday of Calvin, which will be celebrated worldwide on July 10th 2009. Read more; Appendix by Calvin
Protestant Church and Oikocredit are going to cooperate (30-6-2009)
Oikocredit Netherlands and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands have made an affiliation contract. This renewed cooperation means that the Protestant Church and Oikocredit Netherlands together provide information on the Oikocredit loan model to local diaconal boards, congregations and church members. The purpose is to produce as many investments as possible in Oikocredit, one of the largest micro-credit organizations worldwide. Read more
Small synod agrees with selection criteria for suppliers of member administration. (26-6-2009)
Today the small synod approved the selection criteria for suppliers of the new system for the national registration of church members which has to be developed. With the determined criteria possible suppliers will be assessed and this will finally result in a shortlist of three suppliers. In principle this shortlist will become known on July 31. Subsequently in august the final choice will be made for an intended supplier. If everything works out according to plan the new member registration system will be operational in the fall of 2010. Read more
Sexual abuse in pastoral relationships
In connection with the broadcast of Zembla of June 22 2009 on sexual abuse in pastoral relationships the board of the general synod declares:
The Protestant Church unconditionally condemns crossing of borders and sexual abuse in pastoral relationships. The board of the general synod underlines once more the statement of the synod in January 1999: ‘Sexual abuse is a sin: evil in God’s eyes and an injustice towards the fellow man. The church is obliged to choose straightforward for the victims.’ Read more
Meeting secretary general Plaisier with Dalai Lama (June 5th 2009)
Human dignity, the possibilities for interreligious dialogue and religious freedom were central in the discussion of religious leaders with the Dalai Lama which took place this morning in The Hague. At the invitation of foreign secretary Drs. M.J.M. Verhagen secretary general Plaisier was present at a meeting with the Dalai Lama. Rabbi A.S. Soetendorp, Drs. L.F.M. van Oers, Episcopal staff member for the interreligious dialogue and the Dean of The Hague, Dr. A.J.M. van der Helm also took part in the conversation. Read more
Annual accounts of the Protestant Church and of the Church Ministries show positive results. (28-5-2009)
Utrecht, May 28th 2009 – The annual accounts 2008 of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands and of the Church Ministries show a positive result for 2008. Mainly by higher income from bequests and the positive result of the Church Ministries the assets of the Protestant Church increased by 2,6 million Euros. The Church Ministries recorded a balance of € 643.000, which could be added to the risk reserve. 4,6 million Euro is added to various destination reserves. Herewith work will be paid, for which obligations have been made or work that can only be started up in the future. Read more
Conference against racism (25-5-2009)
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Program Combating Racism (PCT) of the World Council of Churches an international conference takes place in the conference-centre ‘Kaap Doorn’ from June 14-17, 2009. Read more
Reverend Peter Verhoeff new chairman of the general synod (23-4-2009)
In her assembly of Thursday April 23rd the general synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands has chosen rev. Peter Verhoeff, vicar in Alkmaar, as her moderator.
Further the synod elected elder/steward mister Bert van Bokhoven as new member of the synod board.
Re-elected were three members of the board: Mrs. Rev. Susanne Freytag, Dean Mrs. Ria de Jong LL.M. and Dean Drs. Hans Kapteyn. In 2007 Mrs. Rev. Arenda Haasnoot has been elected vice-moderator till 2011. Further the secretary, dr. Arjan Plaisier, is part of the synod board. Read more
Appendix by article: "Reverend Peter Verhoeff new chairman of the general synod (23-4-2009)"
- Address Reverend P. Verhoeff – general synod 23rd April 2009
- Farewell speech Reverend De Fijter
Proposal Protestant Church: organize pastoral care for students differently.
Category-pastoral care on synod agenda for the second time
Utrecht, March 31st 2009 – In a memorandum on category-pastoral care the Church-ministry of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands proposes changes in pastoral care for students. The intention is to link student vicars to the national church. Aside from that is proposed to finance projects for pastoral care among students. In the assembly of April the synod will discuss category-pastoral care for the second time based on the memorandum. Read more
General Synod reviews Church-ministries-policy
Utrecht, March 31 2009 – At the assembly of the general synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in April the policy for the Church-ministries is reviewed and established. In this policy are the topics of the work that Church- ministries wants to accomplish for the Protestant Church and her congregations. Guiding for that is the vision-document ‘Learning to live out of wonder’. Read more
Five years Protestant Church
Utrecht, April 3 2009 – The board of the general synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands requests the church boards to pay attention ‘in a modest way’ to the forming five years ago of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands during worship of April 26 or May 3. On May 1st 2004 the unification of the Netherlands Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands took place. In a letter sent this week
the church boards are called to do intercession for the (national) church and the work of the church. Read more
IKON and Protestant Church launch unique website for people in their thirties
The Protestant Church in the Netherlands and the inter-religious broadcasting company IKON launched the site ‘Geloofinjeleven.nl’[1], a website for people in their thirties ‘to surf through existential- and faith questions’. It is the first website of its kind in the Netherlands.
[1] geloof in je leven = believe in your life as well as faith in your life
Read more
Psalm singing between Easter and Pentecost
In the scope of the Calvin year the Protestant Church organizes five psalm singing evenings between Easter and Pentecost. In Middelburg, Kampen, Gouda, Groningen en Dordrecht devotees can sing along with the psalms on the tunes of Calvin’s time and in the reciting manner as was done in the convents. But also on modern melodies, like the psalms of Huub Oosterhuis en the more popular ‘Psalms for today’.
Read more
Steering committee “Work in the vineyard” comes with final report
Utrecht, March 31, 2009 – Steering Committee ‘Work in the vineyard” presented the Board of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands with its final report “Hand to the plow”. In the report proposals are being made on nine topics offering guidance to the changing processes which the steering committee considers to be necessary. The proposals concern the mutual support to congregations, the career development of the vicar, the alliances between vicars and religious workers, the guidance of the cooperatives and the position of religious workers. The report will be discussed in April during the assembly of the general synod.
Read more
Final report of the steering committee “Work in the vineyard”
On Friday 24th of April 2009 the final report of the steering committee “Work in the vineyard” will be discussed by the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. In November 2008 the synod discussed key decisions presented to her by the Steering Committee in the report “Past the turn-out, the tracks and the railroad ties”. The synod-discussion was followed by an intensive exchange of views with various levels in the country. Based on all reactions the Steering Committee again presents the synod with key decisions. These decisions will be discussed by the synod.
Read the final report (opens in pdf)
Climate Call
On Saturday March 28 2009 ‘Church and Environment’, the Project Management Group of the Council of Churches, presented the call ‘Vulnerability, responsibility and courage; climate change in the hour of truth’. The Council of Churches in the Netherlands contributes ecumenically with this call up to the rethinking and discussion around climate change and its consequences.
Hans Schravesande, chairman of ‘Church and Environment’ presented this call up to drs. Henk van Hout, chairman of the Council of Churches, ds. Gerrit de Fijter, chairman of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands and Arnold van Heusden, chairman of the Evangelical Alliance. From their reaction to the call up they showed to be united on the threatening consequences of the climate change for churches: this is a challenge and assignment for structural change and change-over.
Read more
Presentation of Easter-greetings to detainees
Saturday reverent Mrs. Arenda Haasnoot, vice-chairman of the General Synod, presented the Easter-greetings to detainees during worship in the .jpg "Worship in the ‘Koepelgevangenis’ (Dome-prision).jpg")
‘Koepelgevangenis’ (Dome-prison) in Breda. In the weeks before Easter about 100.000 Easter-cards were sent from the religious congregations to detainees in Dutch and foreign prisons; as well as cards with unstamped post-stamps. Detainees can send this card on to their family. This way their relations as well are included in the attention of the churches.
Read more
A Protestant vision on the church building
In November 2008 the General Synod spoke about the note: ´A Protestant vision on the church building´. With this note the synod will give the local communities a hand on policymaking. In the next coming 10 years about one third of all church buildings of the Protestant Church in The Netherlands will have a re-destination because the church does not need them anymore for sermons. A local community decides over the future of her own church building. With the note ´A Protestant vision on the church building´ the Protestant Church in The Netherlands will insist the Government to change the possibilities for preservation of monumental church buildings; extended costs will no longer be on churches account.
Read more
CPCE-northwest group together in Utrecht
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Letter
Letter from the Central Jewish Board (CJO), the Council of Churches in the Netherlands (RKN), the Contact Committee Muslims and Government (CMO) to synagogues, churches and mosques in the Netherlands. Read more...
Dutch christians and muslims brought visit to Egypte
From 24th until 27th March a delegation of Dutch christians and muslims visited Egypt. The delegation had meetings with leaders of the Egyptian muslim and christian communities. Goal of the visit was to inform muslims and christians about the religious situation in the Netherlands. The Netherlands have recently been confronted by some political and social tensions through the (announcement of) an anti-Islam movie by Dutch member of parliament Geert Wilders.
The Dutch delegation visiting Egypt was lead by rev. dr. Bas Plaisier, general secretary of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. The delegation of christians was an ecumenical one: former chairperson dr. Ton van Eijk, a roman catholic priest, represented the Dutch Council of Churches in the delegation.
During their visit to Egypt the Dutch delegation met Sjeik Mohammed Sayd Tantaoui, head of the department of the Al-Azhar University dealing with the education of imams, and the chair of the Al Azhar University. On the christian side, the delegation met leaders of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and several protestant churches.
The visit to Egypt followed a joined declaration of christians and muslims to Dutch society, presented on March 17th. In this declaration the two religions emphasize their cooperation, also on the local level. According to the declaration “muslims and christians are convicted that in these complex times, they have the task of building bridges, overcoming distrust and combining our efforts for justice and peace”.
A report on the visit to Egypt is available in English.
World Council of Churches appoints Marloes Keller
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The central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has appointed drs. Marloes Keller as the delegate of the Protestant Church of The Netherlands (PCN). The 150 members of the committee have accepted her nomination in a written election.
Marloes Keller is a graduate of the Vrije Universiteit (Free University) in Amsterdam. She is a master of Religious Studies. She is working with IKON (Netherlands Interdenominational Broadcasting Company). She is responsible for religious internet projects and several IKON websites. For several years Marloes Keller has been involved in ecumenical activities of the PCN. In 2007 she was the PCN delegate to the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu, Romania. She is also a member of an advisory council on ecumenical affairs of the PCN.
Sixty years World Council
The central committee is the chief governing body of the World Council of Churches, a fellowship of 347 churches and denominations in more than 110 countries, representing over 560 million Christians. The WCC central committee meets in Geneva 13 – 20 February, 2008. Two of the issues to be discussed are the strengthening of the ecumenical international cooperation and the inter-religious dialogue. The meeting will be an occasion of the WCC to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The WCC was founded in 1948 in Amsterdam.
Church ministry structures under revision
In June 2006 the PCN General Synod decided to enter into a process of re-organization of the structures of the church, especially with regard to its ministries. After the unification of May 2004 the united church basically maintained the regional structures of the former churches. Nine regional service centers remained in place. However, efficiency and financial constraints called for a revision now. Four smaller offices will continue to work on a regional level. Within the next 10 years the total number of staff on a supralocal level is supposed to be reduced with about 40 percent.
138.000 signatures against child imprisonment
On June 21st 2006, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Ineke Bakker, presented a petition with more than 138.000 signatures to MPs in The Hague. The petition points to the fate of children of asylum seekers that are imprisoned together with their parents. The National Council of Churches started the ‘No Child in Prison’ campaign in January, 2006. Many signatures have been collected in local congregations. Amnesty International and Unicef soon afterwards joined the campaign.
DVD on ‘The faces of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands’
A recently presented DVD gives an idea of the multi-coloured reality of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands and its congregations. Texts are only in Dutch, but pictures can of course speak to anybody. The 19 minutes DVD has the title: 'De gezichten van de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland'. It shows inter alia pictures of
- experiences of a young pastor
- an evangelical youth group
- a theater play on poverty, presented by poor women
- diaconal co-operation between a Dutch girl and a Hungarian boy
- in interview with Rev. Jan-Gerd Heetderks, moderator of the General Synod
You can order through e-mail brochureverkoop@pkn.nl, through www.pkn.nl or by phone: +31.30.880.1337. Costs: € 10,- plus transport/mail.
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A History of the Unification Process
On December 12th, 2005, exactly two years after the final synodical votes on the unification, a Dutch history of the unification process was published.
It is written by the Rev. Barend Wallet, who has inter alia been chairing the Church Order Working Group from 1991 until 2004.
The title of the book is: "Samen op weg naar de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland" (Boekencentrum: Zoetermeer, 2005; € 26,90).
Together with this book a collection of recent documents from the unification process was presented: Leo J. Koffeman (ed.), "Samengebracht: Documentatie rond het ontstaan van de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland". It includes a DVD, and it can only be purchased in combination with the other book, in a box (together € 39,90).
How to order? See the website of 'Boekencentrum' for more information.
"Learning to live out of wonder"
In its September 2005 meeting the General Synod of the PCN discussed and received a Vision Statement, entitled "Leren leven van de verwondering" (Learning to live out of wonder). This report is meant to guide groups, committees and individuals on all levels of the church who want to be involved in a process of discussing prioritities for future church life. The main thrust of this booklet is to do away with feelings of pessimism and to live from the power of biblical hope in a changing society, both in the Netherlands and on a global scale.
Introductory paragraphs focus on the church as a community 'around the Word of God', on the issue of unity in diversity, on changes is culture, and on the church as a 'manifestation of expectation'.
In eight specific aspects the question is being answered, what the PCN wants to be for the people. Summarising we mention:
- a strong community of faith
- a community witnessing to the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ
- a community of God's presence in Word, and sacraments
- a community of prayer
- a community of values and spirituality
- a community caring for those in need
- a community of mutual care
- a community of hope
The full Dutch text of this document can be found through our Dutch website www.pkn.nl, (go to 'Synode', and then 'Verslagen / Besluiten', sub 'Generale Synode d.d. 30 september 2005')
The PCN logo explained
The circle symbolizes unity. It also refers to God’s perfection. He is the beginning and the end (Apoc. 22, 13). Some would recognize in the circle also a sign of God’s wonderful creation, our world.
The lighter cross won’t need an explanation. As in the former UPCN logo we chose the simplest form: the Greek cross.
In the nimbus we also see an eight arm cross, a composition of the Greek cross and the Greek letter Chi, referring to Christ Jesus. Another explanation reminds us of the eighth day creation, the new beginning of Eastern.
In the middle we see a dove, sign of peace, and sign of the Holy Spirit. Biblical connotations are abundant. The dove in the story of Noë. The name of Jonah. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus.
Altogether the logo reminds us of the Triune God.