The coming of Christ 1978
"REFORMED CHURCH ROOTS"
by: Arie R. Rrouwer
(Reforned church press 1977) first edition printed in USA pp 9,10
The Common Confession "At the Great Synod of Dort in 1618-1619,
the text was revised and approved in Dutch, Latin. and French. The delegates
from outside the Netherlands unanimously exported their hosts �to preserve
the confession unadulterated until the coming of the our Lord Jesus Christ.�
The Reformed Church in the Netherlands was not even to meet again in general
synod for over three centuries!...
From time to time there have been efforts to revise the Confession.
The need for revision has been most strongly felt in connection with Article
36, which calls for the civil authorities to �protect the sacred ministry
and thus. remove and prevent all idolatry and false worship.�...
In 1970 the project was committed to the Rev. Eugene Heidenam. After
widespread consultation, he presented his draft entitled �Our Song of Hope�
to the Synod of 1974 with the recommendation that the General Synod designate
It as a provisional standard for four years ending in 1978, the 350 anniversary
of the denomination. Meanwhile this new confession. written to be read
aloud in unison or sung, is in experimental use across the church."
Philoposphy: the revision of the Confession is a sign of the coming
of Christ in fact by the statement make by of the founding counsel the
revision is the Christ.