The annual meeting of Reformed Fellowship was held on October 1, 1987—once again at the convenient facilities of the Kelloggsville Christian Reformed Church and the neighboring Christian School.
The afternoon business meeting was highlighted by the beautifully developed address of Mrs. Frederika Pronk, a Christian homemaker, wife of a Free Reformed Church minister and a recent graduate of Calvin Seminary with a Master of Church Education degree.
Mrs. Prank’s subject was “Being a Biblically Reformed Woman Today.” She emphasized the fact that if we are to know what it means to be a Reformed woman in the world today, we must go to the Scriptures. After developing the historic Reformed position in regard to the inspiration and authority of the Bible, the speaker went on to lay down the following principles: 1) Woman’s place is determined by the creation order; 2) By virtue of the creation order man is the head of the woman; 3) Women are to submit and be in subjection to their husbands; 4) Woman is to be man’s helper; and 5) Church offices are closed to women.
Women are to use their gifts in a biblically ordered way. The speaker pointed out that women were not inhibited in their service in the early church because of lack of ordination, nor did they seek ordination in an attempt to achieve status in the church. Women along with men pray “Thy kingdom come” and therefore have a kingdom task. Woman’s task may vary from age to age and from one place to another. Mores and traditions change, but not biblical principles. One such principle that does not change is that women may not exercise authority over a man.
Following the fellowship banquet which was held at the Kelloggsville Christian School, a large audience gathered at the Kelloggsville Church for the evening mass meeting at which the speaker was Dr. Cornel Venema of Ontario, California.
Dr. Venema’s theme “Why Must We Contend for the Faith?” based on II Timothy 3:10–4:8 was developed masterfully. The speaker first asked the question “Why is it not popular to contend for the faith?” He gave a four-fold answer. Contending for the faith is said to be divisive and those who do so are accused of being arrogant. Furthermore we are told that it is neither essential nor nice to contend for the faith. This fourfold argument said the speaker has just about won the day in the Christian Reformed Church.
The speaker went on, secondly, to answer the question “Why we must contend for the faith?” First of all the Lord demands it. Secondly, the truth is essential to the church’s life and ministry. It is not a matter of indifference whether the truth is upheld or not, for the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth.” Thirdly the church will everface error within its ranks. In the church’s history the most dangerous enemy did not enter the church from without but arose from within the church itself. There is a powerful complacency in our church today on the part of people who hear no evil, who see no evil and who cannot conceive that there is even the possibility of error.
Dr. Venema then went on to expound what it means to contend for the faith. We must keep (exert ourselves and even agonize to keep) the faith entrusted to us. We must do all we can to refute error and we must exercise ourselves to keep the church free of error.
In conclusion, Dr. Venema reminded us that to contend for the faith will not win us plaudits or praise and surely not denominational advancement. It will be discouraging, difficult and even agonizing, but the apostle Paul says we should be glad for there is laid up for every faithful foot-soldier a crown of righteousness that does not fade away. That should be enough for us.
It was reported that balloting for board members bad resulted in the election of the following to a three-year term: Rev. John Engbers, Rev. E.J. Knott, Rev. T. Vanden Heuvel, Mr. Gerrit Sterk and Mr. Peter Wobbema.
It was a day rich in instruction, inspiration and encouragement. The offering of $1100.00 showed the interest and support which the Reformed Fellowship continues to enjoy. May its work be prospered as it enters the thirty-seventh year of working for the preservation and propagation of the Reformed Faith.
