à Kempis, Thomas, The Imitation of Christ, Chicago: The Moody Press, 1980.

This is a well-known and loved classic from the Dutch Reveille period (pre-Reformation) which reflect the roots of the Pietism found among the Dutch Reformed. It remains fine devotional reading even now.

Berkhof, Louis, Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1941.

This volume is long-time systematics professor Berkhof's "summa" and represents the prevailing theology of the CRC throughout most of its history and also today. The volume is well-known for its forthright presentation of classic Reformed theology and used around the world today in many Reformed seminaries as their systematics textbook.

Bratt, James D., Dutch Calvinism in Modern America: A History of a Conservative Subculture, Eerdmans, 1984.

Bratt's book is an extremely useful and well-written account of the roots and history of the Reformed folk from the Netherlands who immigrated and developed their communities in the U.S.A., both the CRC and RCA ones. Many of his insights have been incorporated into this syllabus. In addition, Bratt introduces his readers to some of the writers the CRCNA spawned, which gives some good insights into the psychology of these communities from another angle.

____, Classis Holland: Minutes 1848-1858, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1950.

Originally the minutes were in the Dutch language, but they were translated and published in this English edition for a later generation of CRC members who no longer use the "mother tongue." This is a very interesting source book illuminating the concerns of the Dutch immigrants who settled in Western Michigan, and it documents the seccesion which gave birth to the CRCNA.

C.R.C.N.A., Agenda/Acts of Synod , Grand Rapids, CRC Publications.

The Acts are published annually and together with the Agenda volumes contain the reports of the agencies of the denomination as well as of standing and study committees, the proposals and protests (overtures, appeals, communications, gravamina, etc.) of the classes and individuals, and the actual minutes of the annual assembly of the denomination. Up until the 1920's, these were printed in the Dutch language.

C.R.C.N.A., The Banner, CRC Publications.

Weekly official publication of the denomination.

C.R.C.N.A., Church Education in the Christian Reformed Church, CRC Publications, 1974.

Summarizes the background and current philosophy behind the church's production of church school educational materials. The background section is a good illustration of how "Americanization" changed this aspect of the church's life.

C.R.C.N.A., Church Order and Rules for Synodical Procedure, CRC Publications, 1995.

This is published annually to incorporate new synodical decisions.

C.R.C.N.A., The Nature and Extent of Biblical Authority, CRC Publications, 1972.

This report of the study committee appointed to research this matter was adopted by the Synod of 1972 as reflecting the CRCNA's position on these matters.

C.R.C.N.A., The Psalter Hymnal, CRC Publications, 1987.

This is the hymn and service book of the CRCNA. It also is a useful reference tool as it also contains the confessions of the church and the contemporary testimony. See also the "Centennial Edition" published in 1959 ("the blue Psalter") as well as the earlier 1934 edition ('the red Psalter"). Comparing these three editions gives some insight into changes in the worship style and culture of the church which were occurring over these decades. Introductions to the books have useful information about the "theology of worship" which guided their production.

C.R.C.N.A., Synodical Decisions on Doctrinal and Ethical Matters, CRC Publications,1976.

This very useful booklet contains summaries of major decisions of various synods on important matters. Unfortunately out of print, the booklet is being updated and is scheduled to be reprinted in 1996. Mimeographed version is available upon request from the church's headquarters in Grand Rapids and is included in the handbook of the CRCNA called, Your Church in Action.

C.R.C.N.A., Yearbook of the CRCNA, CRC Publications.

Published annually, this contains statistical summaries, a complete listing of all the churches in the denomination as well as of its ministers, those licensed to exhort ("lay preachers"), seminarians, information about the church's agencies, etc.

C.R.C.N.A., Your Church in Action, CRC Publications.

With the subtitle, "Handbook of the Christian Reformed Church in North America," this volume is an assemblage of various helps for councils, financial information, insights into the denomination, listing of available audio-visual programs, and the above-mentioned decisions on doctrinal and ethical matters. It is distributed annually to all CRCNA councils.

De Jong, James A., Course Packet 332, CRC History, Grand Rapids, Clokesbury Bookstore, 1997.

This course packet contains the course description and schedule, bibliography for research, and a collection of readings for the CRCNA history course taught by James De Jong at Calvin Theological Seminary. The very extensive annotated bibliography is topically organized and divided into pre- and post-1975 sections, which makes it very useful for anyone contemplating serious further research.

De Jong, Peter Y., and Nelson D. Kloosterman, eds., The Reformation of 1834: Essays in commemoration of the Act of Secession and Return, Orange City, Iowa:Pluim Publications, 1984.

This is a collection of articles written by the faculty of the Mid- America Reformed Seminary, an independent seminary founded in protest against what was seen as the increasing departure from traditional theological education offered at Calvin Seminary. While most of the content is a reflection 150 years later on the events in the Netherlands in 1834, the book is also an attempt to call the CRC back to its roots, so it offers interesting contemporary insight as well.

De Klerk, Peter, and Richard De Ridder, eds., Perspectives on the Christian Reformed Church: Studies in its History, Theology and Ecumenicity, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983.

This fetschrift in honor of John Kromminga's retirement as president of Calvin Seminary contains a variety of articles on the above mentioned topics, most of which are not particularly helpful.

Greenway, Roger S., ed., Lengthened Cords, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1975.

This volume dedicated to the late Henry Evenhouse, examines the world- wide mission work of the CRCNA, the most vigorous period of expansion of which took place under the 23 years of Evenhouse's leadership.

____, A Handbook of C.R.C. Issues 1968-1978, Grand Rapids: Association of Christian Reformed Laymen, 1978.

This volume is a collection of various articles, essays and pamphlets from various individuals addressing matters of concern to a very vocal conservative group of CRCNA members who organized themselves into an almost vigilante society to stand up against what are seen as disturbing trends in the denomination. The publication date shows that it was during the 1960's and 1970's that issues cropped up which indicated a decisive theological shift in the church.

Heerema, Edward, Letter to My Mother, Freeman, South Dakota: Pine Hill Press, Inc., 1990.

Subtitled, "Reflections on the CRCNA," this book is a little melodramatically written but a most sincere call to the CRCNA to repent of what the author sees as recent wanderings from its traditional theological moorings and practice. The book is very useful as a representative sample of conservative protest against modernistic currents in the church.

Heerema, Edward, A Prophet in the Land, Jordan Station, Ont.: Paideaia Press, 1986.

This is a sentimental but insightful biography of R.B. Kuiper written by his son-in-law.

Hoeksema, Herman, The Reunion of the Christian Reformed and Protestant Reformed Churches, Grand Rapids: Free Reformed Publishing Association, (no year).

English translation of an address by Hoeksema to a joint gathering of CR and PR persons considering the possibility and conditions of reunion. The occasion for this assembly was a visit from the Netherlands in 1947 by Klaas Schilder, who had urged the brethren to come together again. (translation by H. Veldman)

Guillaume, Francios, and Henry A. Venema, The U.S. and Canada in the C.R.C., Toronto: Pro Rege Publishing Co., 1957.

Provides some useful information and observations of the different development of one denomination in two countries, particularly underscoring the post-WWII immigration of many Dutch to Canada and the explosive growth of the CRC there which resulted.

Knight, Daniel, The Dutch Reformed Presence in Canada, unpublished course paper available on the Internet at http://reformed.net/canada/index.shtml

Knight's paper is a well-researched summary of the experience of Dutch immigrants in Canada and also contains some very helpful graphics of Dutch Reformed church splits and schisms, comparative immigration, etc. His home page has many useful links to other related papers which are electronically available for reading and downloading as well as to the home pages of many North American Reformed denominations, which pages are also rich in useful links.

Kromminga, D.H., The Christian Reformed Tradition: from the Reformation Till the Present, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1943.

Written by one-time professor of church history at Calvin Seminary, Kromminga gives about two thirds of the 160 pages to CRCNA roots (the Netherlands and immigration period of the 1850's) and one third to the history of the CRC itself.

Kromminga, John H., In the Mirror: An Appraisal of the CRC, Hamilton, Ontario: Guardian Publishing Co. Ltd, 1957.

John was D.H.'s son and heir to the chair of church history at Calvin; he also went on to serve the seminary as its president for three decades. Written on the occasion of the CRC's centennial, this book is, as the subtitle indicates, an appraisal of the church as it was at that time. It is a good supplement to D.H.'s book as it focuses much more on the CRC rather that the pre-CRC roots and gives quite a good deal of insight into issues which preoccupied the denomination in the post-WW II period, especially the difficulty in maintaining tradition and unity in the light of Americanization, and the issues of missions and ecumenism.

Kromminga, John H., Christian Reformed Church History, unpublished course syllabus.

This was Dr. Kromminga's lecture outline for the course he taught for many years at Calvin Seminary. Much material is devoted to the roots of the church and the controversies in the Netherlands. The syllabus gives a good look at the church as it was in the late 1950's and early 1960's but contains little beyond that time.

Kuyper, Abraham, Lectures on Calvinism, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1931.

These are Kuyper's well-known "Stone Lectures" delivered at Princeton University in 1898. They provide a good look at Kuyper's thought which was so extremely influential in the CRCNA and representative of the "progressive Calvinism" which became a second current in the church alongside of, and sometimes at odds with, the earlier Pietism.

Kuiper, R.B., "Change & Decay; Abide & Grow. "

Unpublished address given at the dedication of the Calvin Seminary facility at Knollcrest campus. The original manuscript is in the Reformed Heritage Collection of the Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana. The words in the title are verbs, and the address is a challenge to the CRCNA to remain faithful to her Reformed roots and grow, and a warning that to depart from them will be to wither.

Kuiper, R.B., God-Centered Evangelism, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1961.

As missions and evangelism became the topic of discussion and focus of activity in the CRCNA, this son of the church who was teaching at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, penned this classic to call on the CRC and other Reformed denominations to carry out the missions mandate in ways which did justice to Reformed theological principles. In some ways, this book is an attempt to stem the currents of Americanization and infiltration of the largely Arminian evangelicalism which was gaining ascendancy over the older mainline churches.

Kuiper, R.B., To Be or Not To Be Reformed, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1959.

Written two years after the CRCNA's centennial to commemorate the 450th "birthday" of John Calvin, then president of Calvin Seminary reflects on the CRC from a variety of angles. The book is organized topically and gives a very insightful analysis which is quite prophetic, considering later developments in the church. Kuiper's analysis is a mature reflection on the church he loves deeply after he had served in a number of different denominations (O.P.C. & R.C.A.), giving him the objectivity to view his church from an outsider's perspective.

Lindsell, Harold, The Battle for the Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.

This book gives an indispensable look at the controversy surrounding the doctrine of Scripture which was preoccupying not only the CRC, but many evangelical churches at this time. Lindsell is arguing from the conservative evangelical position, i.e., for and inerrant and fully authoritative Bible. His work was often used by Banner editor Lester DeKoster, who was also arguing for this and protesting against the "new hermeneutics" being employed in the Netherlands and USA which undermined the authority of the Scriptures.

Olthuis, John, et al., Out of Concern for the Church, Toronto: Wedge Publishing Foundation, 1970; Will All the King's Men: Out of Concern for the Church, Phase II, 1972.

These companion volumes contain collections of essays and addresses given by faculty members of the Institute for Christian Studies, a radically Calvinistic (i.e. Kuyperian/Dooyeweerdian) graduate studies center in Toronto, Ontario. While some of the material may now strike the reader as quaint, late-1960's activist literature, the essays capture the thinking and spirit of the progressive Calvinist portion of the CRCNA, especially as it came to expression in the Canadian wing of the church. Contained in the essays is a prophetic call for a thoroughgoing biblical (Calvinistic) world and life view and its consistent application to every sphere of life.

Pompton Plains CRC, Gaining Perspective: A Statement of Observation, Challenge and Concern, Pompton Plains, N.J.: PPCRC, 1988.

This is a very extensive expression of concern over theological directions in the CRCNA addressed to all the consistories of the denomination, carrying on a tradition begun by the Christian Reformed Layman's League in the 1960's. The statement is representative of the conservative wing of the CRC and its production and distribution demonstrates a trend of extra-ecclesiastical communication and networking which became more and more common during this time.

The Outlook, Grand Rapids, Reformed Fellowship, Inc.

This monthly publication is one of the conservative voices of the CRCNA. It was formerly known as the Torch & Trumpet.

Schooland, Marian M., De Kolonie: The Church God Transplanted, Grand Rapids, CRC Publications, 1973-74.

This delightful little book is a consummate story-teller's version of the roots, birth, development, hardships, growth and accomplishments of the CRCNA, a church the author obviously cherishes.

Van Halsema, Thea B., I Will Build My Church, Grand Rapids: International Publications, 1956.

In commemoration of the CRCNA's 1957 centennial, Van Halsema produced this somewhat sentimental "history" of the church. Her story begins with Constantine and how the church in the Netherlands was born out of trials produced by his "synthesis" of church and state. The book reads like an early historical novel and presents many vignettes and snapshots of the church throughout its history.

Vanden Berg, Frank, Abraham Kuyper, St. Catherines, Ontario: Paideia Press 1978.

A definitive biography of the man who had an impact on the development of the Reformed family of churches second only to that of John Calvin.

Van Reest, Rudolf, Schilder's Struggle for the Unity of the Church, Neerlandia, Ata.: Inheritance Publications, 1990.

Translated by Theodore Plantinga and with a helpful appendix by him, this book is a sympathetic biography of Klaas Schilder, leader of the "liberation of 1944," a secession from the GKN of churches which remained confessionally Reformed and theologically conservative to form the churches often know as "Article 31 churches," or as the GKNV. Schilder's group exercised a great influence over post-WWII immigrants, especially to Canada, and thus this late controversy in the Reformed family of churches in the Netherlands has spilled over into the North American context. Schilder's secession was larger than either the 1834 or 1886 ones, but he and his new denomination were kept at arm's length by the leaders of the CRCNA, with the result that many GKNV sympathizers (especially new immigrants) refused to unite with the CRCNA and formed instead the Canadian Reformed Church. Appendix I, "North American Developments," summarizes the fallout of Schilder's life and work on the CRCNA scene.

Van Til, Howard, The Fourth Day, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.

This book by Calvin College Professor of Astronomy challenges the traditional CRCNA consensus regarding the creation, espousing a theory of "theistic evolution." Publication resulted in a storm of controversy and charges being brought by several consistories and councils (which were not upheld by synod) that this theory of origins was not within the confessional bounds of the CRC. Failure to condemn Van Til's views resulted in the beginning of a mass defection from the CRC, the momentum of which grew with subsequent decisions on women in church office.

Venema, Cornelis, Denominational History, Unpublished course syllabus (for classroom use only), Dyer, Indiana: Mid-America Reformed Seminary, 1997.

This is the course syllabus used by Professor Venema at the Mid-America Reformed Seminary. It contains good summaries of the early doctrinal controversies and a thorough discussion of the "seminary situation" as well as good material on present doctrinal discussions.

Verduin, Leonard, Honor Your Mother, Grand Rapids: CRC Publications, 1988.

Produced by the education department of the Board of Publications, this book examines the roots of the CRCNA in the Secession of 1834 by presenting a critique of an unsympathetic pamphlet written by a J.A. Wormser in 1853 to criticize the secession and its heirs. It also provides some interesting insights and study questions to help the reader (or study class) reflect on contemporary issues which are not really that far removed from those of 150 years ago.

Zwaanstra, Henry, Catholicity and Secession: A Study of Ecumenicity in the CRC, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.

This book examines the "problem" of ecumenical relations and how the issue has been handled in the CRC throughout its history. Zwaanstra's approach is unapologetically biased in favor of expanding ecumenical relations on the basis of the "ecumenical charter" adopted by the CRC in 1987 and critical of the church's failure to be more ecumenically involved in the past. Zwaanstra serves currently as professor of church history at Calvin Seminary.

Zwaanstra, Henry, Reformed Thought & Experience in a New World, Kampen:J.H. Kok B.V., 1973.

An analysis of the CRC and RCA communities focusing on the period 1890- 1918, a time of crucial transition when "Americanization" began to occur. Much of this material gives a more detailed analysis than that found in Bratt's book (see above), but its usefulness is limited because of the brief time frame to which Zwaanstra limits himself.