Volu 101 Issue 14

PRCA100, the centennial celebration of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America held June 2-6, 2025 on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI, was enjoyed by nearly 2,000 registered attendees. The week was unforgettable, and for many of us one of the most enjoyable and spiritually enriching weeks of our lives. God has been humbling us through challenging times approaching our centennial but also causing us to cherish more deeply the faith, holiness, and unity of Christ’s church. Abundant thanksgiving goes to the Lord for giving us this week and all the reasons to celebrate. We who were...

professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Grandville PRC in Grandville, Michigan INTRODUCTION Grace is God’s attitude of undeserved favor in Jesus Christ toward elect sinners, and His power to make them beautiful like Christ. The topic for this opening article of our centennial is “Teaching Grace.” How do we teach grace? I am interested in the content of that instruction rather than the manner of teaching. Certainly, we must be gracious in our teaching of grace, but what do we teach? The answer to that question is simple for anyone who...

professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of First PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan   INTRODUCTION Holiness is a concern to the Protestant Reformed Churches. The fathers of the PRC saw that Abraham Kuyper’s common grace doctrine theoretically destroyed the spiritual difference between church and world. There were concerns about the effects that Kuyper’s doctrine was clearly having in the lives of the people of God, concerns that many of the leaders of the CRC shared with the fathers of the PRC even if these men did not see the doctrinal root of the problem....

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...

Below you will find responses from various individuals and couples as they reflect on what they enjoyed most about PRCA100 and what was most impactful to them. Names are omitted so that the focus is more on what is said rather than who says it. Each contributor is identified 1. as male or female (or couple), 2. by age if provided (specific ages are given for children, while for adults, categories are used: 20s, 30s, 40s and so on), and 3. home congregation. Thanks to all who submitted responses! Female, 30s, Hudsonville PRC (MI) As a mom of young children,...

INTRODUCTION As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, it is a fitting time to pause and reflect on where we have come from and where we are going. One way to do this is through the lens of data. By examining the annual yearbook statistics and synodical records, we can uncover meaningful trends that reveal not only our growth and challenges but also the Lord’s faithfulness throughout the decades. The PRCA yearbooks record basic statistics for each congregation: church name, minister, number of families, catechism enrollment, number of office-bearers (recently broken out by elders...