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 the federation’s relationship with the Canadian Reformed Churches, and discuss the place of Scripture, the confessions, and church order in Reformed ecclesial identity.
We also reflect on the years of reform efforts that preceded 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. Throughout the conversation, we ask how receiving the church’s history can serve present faithfulness and future generations.
Book
Cornelis P. Venema, ed., Roots Renewed: Perspectives on the United Reformed Churches in North America (After Thirty Years) (Reformed Fellowship).
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
Participants: Camden Bucey, Cornelis Venema
Christ the Center focuses on Reformed Christian theology. In each episode a group of informed panelists discusses important issues in order to encourage critical thinking and a better understanding of Reformed doctrine with a view toward godly living. Browse more episodes from this program or subscribe to the podcast feed.
