Vol 66 Issue 20

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Ministerial Calls Rev. C. Haak, pastor of the Lynden PRC in Lynden, WA declined the call he was considering from the congregation of the Randolph PRC in Randolph, WI. Following Rev. Haak’s decline, Randolph’s consistory formed another trio, consisting of the Revs. R. Cammenga, T. Miersma, and R. Moore. And from a trio of pastors that was included here last month, the congregation in our Hope PRC in Isabel, SD has extended a call to Pastor T. Miersma, who serves as undershepherd of the First PRC in...

DOCTRINAL INTEGRITY, by Samuel Miller. Presbyterian Heritage Publications, P.O. Box 180922, Dallas, Texas 75218. 1989. 137 pp. Hardcover. $15.95. (Reviewed by the Editor) This is the kind of book that a reviewer is strongly tempted to review by quoting it in its entirety. It is that good. The subject is that important. Although written originally in the middle 1800s, it is that timely. The author’s insight into what is necessary for the very life of a Presbyterian, or Reformed, church (and what assures her death) is that sound. The creeds are necessary for a Presbyterian, or Reformed, church. Her officebearers...

Rev. Woudenberg is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.  Ephesians 1:5 Many years ago, in 1597, a fascinating debate took place between James Arminius, the father of Arminianism, and Franciscus Junius, hero of the Dutch revolution and professor of theology at the University of Leiden. It began amidst the festivities of a wedding celebration. Arminius’ aunt had married Johannes Cuchlinus, regent of the states college at Leiden; and, following the custom of the day, Arminius visited...

Mr. Lanting, a member of South Holland Protestant Reformed Church, is a practicing attorney. FLSA and Christian Schools Are private and parochial Christian schools subject to federal employment laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Acts (FLSA)? Yes, declared a federal appellate court this spring, and held that the Roanoke Valley Christian Schools in Virginia violated the FLSA by paying their head-of-household male teachers a salary supplement. In addition to condemning this alleged sexual discrimination, the court also found that the schools paid some support personnel less than the minimum wage. Accordingly, the court ordered the schools to pay to...

Rev. Rawson is pastor of the Measbro Dyke Congregation in Barnsley, England. Introduction The church of Jesus Christ is the elect of God out of all nations called and gathered by Christ through the preaching of the gospel and by the power of His Holy Spirit. In Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, Christ’s church is to be found in the Measbro Dyke congregation. Historically our roots as a local church go back to 1875. For the greater part of our history we were a congregation within the Methodist tradition. We were until 1975 affiliated with the Wesleyan Reform Union of Churches....

Mrs. Lubbers is a wife and mother in the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee…” II Tim. 1:5 How easy it is, when writing about women as mothers, so to glamorize their role that the mother-reader would wonder how she ever entertained any doubts as to her calling. One can easily call to mind a Hannah, a Eunice and Lois, a Monica, and all the other famous mothers throughout the history of the church who are instantly remembered for their equally well-known children. One could even include...

Rev. VanBaren is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Read Philippians 2:1-11 The church at Philippi was surely one of the favorites of the apostle Paul. He had labored there under great duress. He had been imprisoned in the city for healing of the demon-possessed fortunetelling slave girl. But here also he had the joy of observing the first converts: Lydia the seller of purple, and the jailor. In the first chapter, and again in the fourth, Paul has fine words in commending the church. In Philippians 1:3, he expresses thanks to God for “every remembrance” of them....

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Are you aware of the fact that the two main sections of our Bible, which are called the Old Testament and the New Testament, can also be called the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? Did you ever notice that even though we call the first 39 books in our Bible the Old Testament, we cannot in the King James Version of our Bibles find the word testament even once? Given the privilege recently of speaking on the subject “Preaching From the Old Testament,” at a conference in our...

The SB on Tape I received this very nice letter and thought you might be able to use it or part of it in a future issue under “Letters.” We are still looking for additional subscribers who have reading problems, and even those who do not find the time to sit down and read each issue and would prefer to use their personal cassette player at home or in their Car. Thanks again for your support.  Ken Rietema  Grand Rapids, MI  Dear Mr. Rietema, 

How deep the division is between the Protestant Reformed Churches and the Christian Reformed Church became painfully evident this June with the decision of the synod of the CRC opening the offices of minister and elder to women. The decision was to “permit churches to use their discretion in utilizing the gifts of women members in all the offices of the church.” It was a major decision. The CRC broke with the long tradition of Reformed churches going back to Calvin that reserved the special offices in the church for qualified men. Indeed, this has been the tradition in the...