On October 19, 2002, Rev. Edward J. Knott, who until recently served as the president of the board of Reformed Fellowship, will observe the 55th anniversary of his ordination as a Minister of the Word and Sacraments.

Rev. Knott is a graduate of Calvin College and of the Seminary of the Protestant Reformed Churches. In 1947 he was ordained to serve as a Home Missionary for the Protestant Reformed Churches. This service took him to various parts of the United States. In 1950 Rev. Knott accepted the call to serve the Protestant Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After a pastorate of nine years in Kalamazoo, he and his family moved to Grand Rapids where he became the pastor of the Second Protestant Reformed Church. Two years later he accepted the call to the Beverly Christian Reformed Church of Wyoming, Michigan. After ten years at Beverly Church, the Knotts moved to the West Leonard Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids. In 1978 Rev. Knott accepted the call extended to him by the Calvin Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley, Iowa. In 1983 the Knotts moved back to Michigan when Rev. Knott became the pastor of the Forest Grove Christian Reformed Church. From this pastorate he retired in 1988.

Upon retirement Rev. and Mrs. Knott became members of the Beverly Church in Wyoming where they had earlier served. They remain members of this congregation which is now known as the Bethany United Reformed Church of Wyoming.

Throughout his ministry Rev. Knott has been highly esteemed for his deep commitment to the truth of the Reformed Faith and for his wise counsel in matters ecclesiastical. His exceptional leadership abilities have been widely recognized and used in the work of the Kingdom of God. He has been delegated to Synod upon a number of occasions. He was elected to serve as an officer of synod both in the Christian Reformed Church and in the United Reformed Churches. He served for a number of years on the Home Missions Board of the Christian Reformed Church. That board called upon him to serve as its president. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and Seminary. He has served for many years on the board of Reformed Fellowship. He is one of the founders of Mid-America Reformed Seminary now located in Dyer, Indiana. He currently serves that institution as Vice-President of the Board of Trustees.

Rev. Knott rendered great service on the Board of the Concerned Members of the Christian Reformed Church and also on the Board of the Alliance of Reformed Churches, both of which organizations he served as an officer. He served as Chairman of the meeting of Independent Reformed Churches meeting in 1995 which led to the organization of the Federation of United Reformed Churches in North America of whose first synod he served as president.

Rev. Knott remains in demand for pulpit supply, for leading Bible Studies and is often looked to for wise counsel by both church members and church councils. During the years of his ministry he has been ably assisted and encouraged by his wife, the former Harriet Doezema whom he married in 1946.

The Board and membership of Reformed Fellowship are grateful for the services rendered by Rev. Knott during his many years of affiliation with them and extend congratulations to him upon this significant milestone in his ministry.