Secession of 1834
Encyclopedia
The Secession of 1834 refers to a split that occurred from out of the Dutch Reformed Church
in the year 1834. The federation of churches resulting from this Secession, the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken (CGK), still exists in the Netherlands
today. The Free Reformed Churches
are the North American counterpart.
, was forbidden by the government to preach and ordered not to warn people against what he believed to be the erroneous teachings of some of his colleagues.
He was also forbidden to baptize the children of believers who refused to have their children baptized by their own ministers who they believed not sound in the faith.
Therefore, on 14 December 1834, a large majority of the congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in Ulrum, signed The Act of Secession and Return, breaking away from the State Church.
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
in the year 1834. The federation of churches resulting from this Secession, the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken (CGK), still exists in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
today. The Free Reformed Churches
Free Reformed Churches of North America
The Free Reformed Churches of North America is a theologically conservative federation of churches in the Dutch Calvinist tradition with congregations in the United States and Canada. It officially adopted its current name in 1974...
are the North American counterpart.
History
The Secession of 1834 began in Ulrum, a town in the north of the Dutch province of Groningen. Leading up to this Secession, their pastor, the Rev. Hendrik de CockHendrik de Cock
Hendrik de Cock was a Dutch minister.Hendrik de Cock protested against the perceived theological liberalism in the Netherlands government controlled Dutch Reformed Church in the 18th century. This protest led to the Secession of 1834...
, was forbidden by the government to preach and ordered not to warn people against what he believed to be the erroneous teachings of some of his colleagues.
He was also forbidden to baptize the children of believers who refused to have their children baptized by their own ministers who they believed not sound in the faith.
Therefore, on 14 December 1834, a large majority of the congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in Ulrum, signed The Act of Secession and Return, breaking away from the State Church.