Roots Renewed: The URCNA after Thirty Years

In this episode, we welcome Cornelis Venema to discuss Roots Renewed: Perspectives on the United Reformed Churches in North America (After Thirty Years), a collection he edited on the history and identity of the United Reformed Churches in North America. We trace the Dutch and Christian Reformed histories that shaped the URCNA, consider its relationship with the Canadian Reformed Churches, and discuss Scripture, the confessions, and church order in Reformed ecclesial identity.

We also reflect on the reform efforts preceding the URCNA’s formation, the relationship between Mid-America Reformed Seminary and the federation, and the book’s treatment of missions, evangelism, and church planting.

Reformed Fellowship is offering Reformed Forum listeners 30 percent off. Use the code ROOTS30 at checkout. The discount applies to single copies, which are $35, and to cases of sixteen, which are already reduced to $400 and ship free. A case puts the book in the hands of a consistory, session, or study group.

Chapters

• 00:00 Opening and welcome
• 03:22 How the book took shape
• 08:03 Dutch roots and CRC history
• 20:03 The URCNA and the Canadian Reformed Churches
• 35:10 Scripture, confessions, and Reformed identity
• 46:18 Reasons for forming the URCNA
• 51:17 Church history and catholicity across generations
• 56:04 A practical proposal for church unity
• 57:41 Reform efforts before federation
• 1:03:13 Mid-America Reformed Seminary and the URCNA
• 1:12:08 What the book hopes to preserve
• 1:15:00 Missions, evangelism, and church planting
• 1:17:38 Growth and decline in the URC and CRC
• 1:21:48 The book in wider Reformed conversations
• 1:23:01 Reformed Fellowship’s history
• 1:25:54 Closing thoughts and book information

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

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