From a brief explanation of the Church Order by Johannes Jansen* Previous article in this series: July 2025, p. 375. Article 77: “After the suspension from the Lord’s table, and subsequent admonitions, and before proceeding to excommunication, the obstinacy of the sinner shall be publicly made known to the congregation; the offense explained, together with the care bestowed upon him, in reproof, suspension from the Lord’s Supper, and repeated admonition; and the congregation shall be exhorted to speak to him and to pray for him. There shall be three such admonitions. In the first the name of the sinner...
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Meeting March 4, 2026 Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Doon PRC (Doon, IA). The thirteen churches in the Classis were represented by nine ministers and seventeen elders (one of the ministers of the classis was not able to be present as he and his wife had just welcomed a new baby the day before the meeting). After opening devotions by the president of the previous meeting, Rev. A. Brummel assumed the chair by alphabetical rotation. Four elders who were attending classis for the first time signed the Formula of Subscription. The...
Dear editors, I would like to express my appreciation for the editorial by Rev. Josh Engelsma in the November (2025) issue of the Standard Bearer (“A Warning to the PRCA Against Legalism”). His article points us to the very real threat of legalism, manifested by denominational pride and dead orthodoxy, which are among the greatest dangers that conservative Reformed and Presbyterian churches face. In addition to his timely diagnosis of the problem, I also appreciated his prescription for addressing it—a continuous call for members of the church to personal faith in Jesus Christ and a deeper understanding of the beautiful...
It is my conviction that one of the dangers (certainly not the only one) that the Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRCA) must be on guard against is legalism. I do not mean this in the sense that the opponents of our churches falsely accuse us, that there is a theology of works-righteousness being taught and defended in the PRCA. Instead, I am referring to a practical form of legalism that manifests itself in a person subtly relying for salvation upon his own status or achievements, even while he confesses salvation by grace alone. I realize that, while many readers...
Recently there has been discussion among clergy and members of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRCA) about the concept of faith. Among other things, this discussion has been about whether it is necessary and accurate to define faith using the specific terminology of “bond,” that is, as a bond of union with Jesus Christ.1 In an attempt to help shed light on this subject, this article presents a historical survey of how Reformed theologians of the past have addressed the question of faith in relation to union with Christ. The article begins by noting the writings of some of...
CLASSIS EAST REPORT Meeting September 10, 2025 Classis East met September 10 in the sanctuary of First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Rev. Bill Langerak chaired the long meeting that adjourned around 11:30 p.m. Classis began with the routine matters of approving the credentials of the delegates, signing the Formula of Subscription by first-time delegates to classis, asking the questions of Church Order Article 41, receiving reports from the stated clerk and the Classical Committee, and appointing five committees of pre-advice. The Classical Committee, which acts on behalf of Classis East between its meetings, proposed an examination schedule...
The year of our Lord 2025 is a year of significant anniversaries. As readers of the Standard Bearer are well aware, this year the Protestant Reformed Churches observed with thanksgiving to God our 100th anniversary as a separate denomination. But this year is also the celebration of 1700 years since the Council of Nicea met in 325 and drafted the Nicene Creed. This editorial is intended to familiarize readers with the history of the Council and Creed and then lay out why this still matters for the church of Christ 1700 years later. THE HISTORY OF THE COUNCIL OF NICEA...
pastor of Crete PRC in Crete, Illinois INTRODUCTION I was asked to speak on the subject of “Defending Grace.” I understand this to be a reference to the calling of God’s Word that Christ’s church on earth engage in polemics. This subject is related to “Teaching Grace” and “Living Grace” as the necessary defense of them. I think it is fair to say that one of the things that the PRCA is known for is our commitment to polemics. This has been the case for 100 years. Our churches had their origins in 1924 in the polemics of Herman...
pastor of Crete PRC in Crete, Illinois Synod 2025 of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRCA) met over the course of two weeks, beginning on Tuesday, June 10, and concluding on Wednesday, June 18. One of the highlights of synod was the examination and graduation of our senior seminarian, Aaron Van Dyke. By the time this issue appears in print, Cand. Van Dyke will hopefully have received a call to a local congregation, the Lord willing. Another highlight was the presence of a number of international delegates from our sister churches and others with whom we have contact....
From a brief explanation of the Church Order by Johannes Jansen* pastor of Crete PRC in Crete, Illinois Article 76: “Such as obstinately reject the admonition of the consistory, and likewise those who have committed a public or otherwise gross sin, shall be suspended from the Lord’s Supper. And if he, having been suspended, after repeated admonitions, shows no signs of repentance, the consistory shall at last proceed to the extreme remedy, namely, excommunication, agreeably to the form adopted for that purpose according to the Word of God. But no one shall be excommunicated except with advice of the...
