The "De Wolf" group of Protestant Reformed Churches formed after Rev. Hubert De Wolf was deposed by the consistory of First Protestant Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The reason for the rift? Two statements made in a sermon in 1953: "The statements were, first, God promises to every one of you that, if you believe, you shall be saved,' and the second, 'Our act of conversion is a prerequisite to enter into the kingdom of heaven.'" Rev. Hoeksema considered these heresy, deposing De Wolf and half the church council members who agreed with De Wolf.
Secession[]
This led to a denomination-wide secession resulting in two denominations of equal size, each called Protestant Reformed Churches. The DeWolf faction eventually took the name Orthodox Protestant Reformed Churches (OPRC).
Over time, the OPRC decided to unite with the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), the denomination from which the Protestant Reformed Churches had originally seceded in the 1920s.
Congregations[]
Churches listed by year of organization as Protestant Reformed congregation.
|
1925 |
First, Grand Rapids, MI |
organized 1879 as Eastern Ave. CRC, dissolved 1961 |
| Hull, IA | became Hope CRC, 1961 | |
| Second, Grand Rapids, MI | became Beverly CRC, 1953 | |
| 1926 | Sioux Center, IA | |
| 1927 | Kalamazoo, MI | became Alamo Avenue CRC, 1961 |
|
1928 |
Oskaloosa, IA | dissolved 1961 |
| Pella, IA | dissolved 1961 | |
| Rock Valley, IA | ||
| 1929 | Holland, MI | dissolved 1961 |
|
1932 |
Creston, Grand Rapids, MI | dissolved 1962 |
| Hope, Redlands, CA | became Bethel CRC, 1961 | |
| 1934 | Orange City, IA | |
| 1935 | Bellflower, CA | dissolved 1961 |
| 1938 | Edgerton, MN | |
| 1940 | Manhattan, MT | |
| 1944 | Fourth, Grand Rapids, MI | became Faith CRC, 1961 |
| 1951 | Lynden, WA | |
| 1955 | South Holland, IL | |
| 1956 | Chino, CA | dissolved 1961 |
Resources[]
Introducing "The First Orthodox Protestant Reformed Church", The Standard Bearer, Oct. 15, 1958.
The 1953 Protestant Reformed Church Split Revisited, Ted De Wolf.