Apostolic Succession

The first Apostles-the chosen twelve-were succeeded in the Church by a distinct order in the ministry known as Bishops, upon whom special powers and privileges were conferred. These bishops ordained other bishops, who in turn laid hands upon their successors, and the bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church are in that succession from the apostles. It follows that those alone are true ministers who have been ordained by those apostolical bishops. All others are pretenders and usurpers. This is the claim. It is as false as it is ridiculous, and should deceive no one.https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdigitalresources/1075/thumbnail.jp

Two Items from the Published Report of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Church in America

Two items from the published report of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Church in America, pp. 13 and 67, which give information about mission station in Holland, Michigan, for which Philip Phelps and Giles Vande Wall serve as supply preachers. This small congregation later organized as the Second Reformed Church or Hope Reformed Church.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1076/thumbnail.jp

The Twenty-Eighth Annual Report of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Ref Protestant Dutch Church: Presented to the General Synod at Their Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA., June 6, 1860.

The Twenty-Eighth Annual Report of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Ref Protestant Dutch church: presented to the General Synod at their annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pa., June 6, 1860. Items of interest: p. 27: the First Reformed Church of Holland, A. C. Van Raalte, pastor, contributed $23.94 to the board. The church lists 151 families and 321 members. The Zeeland church has 183 families and 320 members. p. 38: The Reformed Dutch Church, Holland, Mich., Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, pastor, per Wm. Ferris, a contribution of$16.77, in November, 1859. p. 67: A report of the mission at Holland, Michigan, served by Rev. P. Phelps Jr., and Rev. G. Van de Wall. Through the liberality of Dr. Van Raalte, a site has been presented for a 2nd Reformed Dutch Church, to be organized for American services as soon as practicable. p. 76: the Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, D.D., is listed as a life member of the Board of Domestic Missions because he contributed Thirty Dollars or upwards between January 1, 1850, and May 1, 1860. Rev. Philip Phelps and Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen are also on the list.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1077/thumbnail.jp

Annual meeting of the Federal Council of Protestant Evangelical Missions in Korea.

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdigitalresources/1165/thumbnail.jp

The Commission to Philip Phelps from the Board of Missions of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church and a Letter from John Garretson to Philip Phelps

April 5, 1859; The Commission to Philip Phelps from the Board of Missions of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church for the term of 12 months to serve as missionary at Holland. The Board would support him in the amount of $400. April 12, 1859; A letter to Phelps from John Garretson, Corresponding Secretary of the Board, about the call to serve the Academy.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/1096/thumbnail.jp

Climate Justice Charter

The latest news from our planet is threatening: climate change, pollution, forest loss, species extinctions. All these words are frightening and there is no sign of improvement. Simple logic leads to the conclusion that humanity has to react, for its own survival. But at the scale of a human being, it is less obvious. Organizing one’s daily life in order to preserve the environment implies self-questioning, changing habits, sacrificing some comfort. In one word, it is an effort. Then, what justifies such an effort? The personal choice to act in order to preserve our environment is often made by simple altruism. This choice is based on our love for other human beings: our love for the others grounds our effort. Our moral values, our ethical reflections and our religious beliefs are the deep core of these choices. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15.12 NRSV). This Charter shows the moral and religious values that can help us react regarding the current environmental crisis and it should empower us to transcend the ideas of effort and sacrifice in order to consider the respect of the shared house, in a prophetic fulfillment of the being