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Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation divided the Western or Roman church into several new branches such Lutheran church from Martin Luther Kings influence, another branch influenced by Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin.The churches were called "Presbyterian" in Scotland and "Reformed" in continental Europe and did well in the Netherlands. -
Dutch reform people movement
Some Dutch reformed people moved to the United States. -
Dutch Reformed Church split
A large majority of the congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in Ulrum, in the north of the Dutch province of Groningen signed the Act of Secession and Return and broke away from the State Church. -
Secessionist pastor Albertus Van Raalte
Secessionist pastor Albertus Van Raalte decided to flee from the specter of religious persecution and famine in the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States with his wife, his family, and forty others, Van Raalte. He established a colony in Holland Michigan committed to Calvinist doctrine and living a life of faith in God and faced obstacles of diseases and harsh living conditions. -
Established Christian Reformed Church in North America
Christian Reformed Church of the United States and Canada was founded by Dutch immigrants in 1857 and is theologically Calvinist. Also split from the reformed church in America in secession due to the theological dispute that originated in the Netherlands from Hendrik De Cock being removed because of his Calvinist convictions. -
Leader in Secession: Gijsbert Haan
Gijsbert Haan was the leader in the 1857 Secession of Dutch-Americans from the Reformed Church in America and the creator of the Christian Reformed Church in the United States and Canada. -
Four Churches Secession
Four churches with about 130 families and about 10 percent of the Dutch immigrant church members in West Michigan at the time seceded the union and the Noordeloos church left the Reformed Church in America. -
Holland Reformed Church
Holland Reformed Church was adopted, which was changed to Free Dutch Reformed Church in 1861. -
Synod
First meeting of the denominational general assembly, held at Graafschap, Michigan. Since 1880 this body has been called the synod -
Theological school
The denomination opened a theological school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Preparatory Department of the school became Calvin College, while the Theological Department became Calvin Theological Seminary and the denomination continued to grow. -
True Dutch Reformed Church
True Dutch Reformed Church was approved, which was changed to Holland Christian Reformed Church in 1880 -
Congregations
Congregations also could use Christian Reformed Church in 1894. -
CRC Transition from Dutch to English
The CRC transitioned from Dutch to English, which helped them get out of isolation and become more involved in culture and form relationships with other Christians. -
Period: to
First World War
The young CRC soldiers fought for the United States and were determined to be Americans, since they saw it as their new land. -
Denomination grown to 350 Congregations
An estimated 350,000 Dutch immigrants had come to the United States, some were in the Dutch Reformed tradition that since the 1880s was influenced by Abraham Kuyper, a Dutch Neo-Calvinist theologian, journalist, and statesman. -
Three doctrinal points
The CRC adopted three doctrinal points for common grace. Three ministers, Herman Hoeksema, George Ophoff, and Henry Danhof were removed for rejecting three points as being contrary to the Reformed confessions. -
After World war
The CRC struggled with defining themselves between wanting to be American but also hold on to their Dutch reformed beliefs and practices causing disagreements and secession. -
Depression Years
The CRC members struggled during the depression years and caused them to lose touch with each other and their roots. -
Period: to
Second World War
The second World war Americanized the CRC more and led to new immigration of Dutch Calvinists, mostly to Canada. -
Canadians
The large immigration of Dutch Calvinists to Canada bought significant culture clash into the CRC as both Dutch Canadians and Americans shared a commitment to the Reformed confessions, they differed from their in life experience, mindset, and moral and religious values. -
The Sixties
The flood of changes in values, lifestyles, and social interactions heavily affected the CRC. It created social chaos around them and disagreement on if the church should be involved in significant social issues. The role of women in church leadership also changed to be able to be ordained and become ministers. -
Statement of Faith
The CRC formulated a statement of faith called "Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony" which addresses issues such as secularism, individualism, and relativism. These issues were seen as "unique challenges of faith presented by the times in which we live". -
Candidacy of three women
Synod approved candidacy of three women and the first woman pastor ordained in the CRC (Rev. Ruth Hofman). -
Synod meeting in Canada
Synod met in Canada for the of Redemer college Ancaster Ontario. -
Contemporary Testimony
The "Our World Belongs to God" contemporary testimony was updated and reviewed and was there second contemporary testimony by the CRC in the Belhar confession.