W99-1241. Michigan, Grand Rapids. Central Reformed Church. Records, 1848-1994. 34.50 linear ft.

Founded in 1840 as First Reformed Church of Grand Rapids and later merged with the Second Reformed Church in 1921 to form the Central Reformed Church of Grand Rapids. The churches were served by many ministers of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and included Rev. Taylor, Rev. H. S. Klyn, Rev. Philip, Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen, Rev. Dosker, Rev. Christian Vander Veen, Rev. J. Vander Meulen, Rev. Peter Moerdyke, Rev. M. Kolyn, Dr. John A Dykstra, Rev. Marcus, Rev. Marion de Velder, Dr. Cyril E. Barker, Dr. Frederick H. Olert, and Rev. Marlin Vander Wilt. The collection includes records from all three churches: First Reformed Church, Second Reformed Church, and Central Reformed Church

A Letter of Hendrik G. Klijn and K. Van De Bosch to the Christelijke Afgescheidenen in Nederland

A letter of Hendrik G. Klijn and K. van de Bosch to the Christelijke Afgescheidenen in Nederland shortly after these two Reformed Church in America ministers separated themselves along with their congregations from the Reformed Church in America and leading to the formation of the Christian Reformed Church.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/1371/thumbnail.jp

W89-1019. Bruggink, Donald J. (1929- ). Papers, 1911-[ongoing]. 21.00 linear ft.

Received his A.B. from Central College, Pella, Iowa, in 1951 and his B.D. from Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan, in 1954, and Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh in 1956. Licensed and ordained by the RCA Classis of Wisconsin in 1954 and served as pastor of the Fordham Manor Reformed Church, Bronx, New York, from 1957-1962, after which he joined the faculty of Western Seminary in 1962. He spent most of his professional career as James A. H. Cornell Professor of Historical Theology at Western Seminary from 1966 until his retirement in 1999. Sat on the jury for the prestigious Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards of the American Institute of Architects in 1995. Consultant for many church building projects, both in the Reformed Church in America and beyond. Books and publications include Guilt, Grace and Gratitude: A Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism (1963), Christ and Architecture: Building Presbyterian/Reformed Churches (1965), When Faith Takes Form: Contemporary Churches of Architectural Integrity in America (1971) and Worship the Lord (1987). Collection includes his papers and correspondence on church architecture, his role as an editor of the Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America, and his lengthy career as an influential member of the Western Theological Seminary faculty and of the Reformed Church in America denomination as a whole

W02-1277. Hoffman, James E. (1893-1954). Papers, 1942-2000. 0.50 linear ft.

James Edward Hoffman was a native of Overisel, Michigan. He received an A.B. degree from Hope College in 1917. He graduated from New Brunswick Theological Seminary before being licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick and ordained by the Classis of Bergen in 1920. Later in life, he received a B.D. degree from Rutgers University in 1924 and an honorary D.D. degree from Hope College in 1948. After being ordained, Hoffman served as a pastor in the Reformed Church in America (RCA) for the congregation at First Reformed Church of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, from 1920-1944. He also served as the stated clerk of the RCA from 1943-1961, as well as the director of the department of audio-visual aids of the Reformed Church and director of the Reformed Church Emergency Fund. The collection includes biographical information, an undated slide presentation script titled “This Is Your Life: James E. Hoffman,” and a bound volume of letters from 1961 titled “With Appreciation to James E. Hoffman, D.D. from His Friends in the Reformed Church in America.

The Doctrine and History of Worship in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America

As the smaller, conservative Presbyterian churches have moved towards merger, one doctrinal problem has emerged. It is the position of the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) Church of North America (RPC) on worship. The Reformed Presbyterian Church holds to the traditional Reformed positions of a capella singing and the exclusive use of the Psalms for singing in worship. This thesis was written to explain Reformed Presbyterian worship. The questions that it attempts to answer are: What is the historical basis for Reformed Presbyterian worship? What is the doctrinal basis for Reformed Presbyterian worship? What, if any, have been the changes in Reformed Presbyterian worship? What kind of changes were made? What explanations are there for the refusal of the Reformed Presbyterian Church to depart from traditional Reformed worship

W88-0013. Braak, Peter (1871-1924). Papers, n.d., 1902-2001. 0.75 linear ft.

Peter Braak was born in Ferwerd, the Netherlands, on October 15, 1871. After immigrating to the United States, he graduated from Hope College in 1899. In 1901, he graduated from Western Theological Seminary. The next year he was licensed by the Classis of Grand River (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and ordained by the Classis of Dakota. During his time as a pastor in the Reformed Church in America, he served several congregations and they included Hope Reformed Church of Westfield, North Dakota, 1902-1905; Grace Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1905-1908; West Side Reformed Church of Chicago, Illinois, 1912-1916; Third Reformed Church of Pella, Iowa, 1916-1920; and First Reformed Church of Lansing, Illinois, 1920-1924. The collection contains sermons, an essay in Dutch, a pamphlet by Peter Braak, and his 1902 Professorial Certificate from Western Theological Seminary

H97-1301. Michigan, Holland. Pillar Church. Records, 1847-2003. 12.75 linear ft. PARTIALLY RESTRICTED

Holland’s first church congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church. Served by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte (1849-1867). Affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA) (1849-1884) and later the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) (1884-2012, and now shared by both denominations). Records include consistory, Deacons, Ladies Aid Society, Ladies Auxiliary, Men’s Society and Philathea Society minutes; Accounting, administrative, baptismal, dismission, transfer, and other membership information; Fynaart congregation of East Saugatuck minutes; and the historical publication The Pillar Church: A Book of Remembrance published in 1984

Christian Missions and Islam: The Reformed Church in America and the Origins of the Moslem World

This thesis examines the historical background of missionary attitudes toward Islam within the framework of the mission emphasis of the Reformed Church in America between the 1880s and 1911. It argues that the historical experience of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Netherlands produced a sense of pride and destiny that was transplanted by Dutch emigration to North America and maintained in the relationships of the Reformed Church in America with other nationalities and missions. That sense of pride ad destiny prepared the church to stand on its convictions in the face of opposition, which it drew upon itself when it began mission work among Muslims previously neglected by the modern missionary movement. Finally, this thesis shows that Dutch American missionaries sought to change western perceptions of Islam by creating an awareness of the advance of Islam that may pose a threat to Christianity

W10-1376. Maassen, Pierce E. (1926-1967). Papers, 1948-1966. 0.50 linear ft.

Personal papers of Pierce E. Maassen, minister of the Reformed Church in America, pastor of Reformed Church congregations and director of Temple Time, 1959-1963. Contains student papers written at Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, radio messages, correspondence, and articles he authored

Church Herald Index

An index to The Church Herald, a publication of the Reformed Church in America. The index covers 1951-2009