A Newcomer's Guide to CR-speak.

Is it some form of glossolalia (Greek for speaking in other tongues) those Christian Reformed folk use? Or perhaps a secret language only known by insiders? Neither, just terms we've become comfortable with growing up in this ethno-religious tradition. :-)

1973 usually a reference to the 1973 study report on ministry to people who are homosexual; origin of the term homosexualism.

2850 shorthand for CRC denominational headquarters at 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan; considered less disparaging than Pentagon.

Afscheiding secession from the NHK in 1834 and following over issues of orthodoxy; resulted in at least two denominations, CGKN and Kruis kerken.

Alliance of Reformed Churches organization formed for Christian Reformed congregations dissatisfied with decisions on women in church office; originally named Christian Reformed Alliance; name changed after churches began separating from CRC; some member congregations have no CRC ties; majority of ARC federated as United Reformed Churches in 1996.

Arminian theology of free will propounded by Jacob Arminius; rejected by the Synod of Dort.

Arminius, Jacob Reformed church pastor whose uncalvinistic teachings form the basis of Arminian (free will) theology.

AWARE acronym for As We Are, a support group for Christian Reformed homosexuals.

Back to God Hour radio ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.

Bannaner, The parody of The Banner occasionally published by staff of Chimes, the Calvin College student newspaper; the first issue was dated April 1, 1970; spelling is variable; see also the Bananner Panorammer, an electronic cousin of The Bannaner.

Banner, The weekly publication of the Christian Reformed Church.

Belgic Confession confession penned by Guido de Brès in 1561.

BTGH acronym for the Back to God Hour.

Calvin College college in Grand Rapids, MI, owned and operated by the CRC.

Calvin Theological Seminary seminary in Grand Rapids, MI, owned and operated by the CRC; all Christian Reformed pastors are required to spend a year at Calvin Seminary.

Calvin, John French reformer and father of the Reformed tradition.

Calvinism theological framework established by reformer John Calvin.

Canadian and American Reformed Churches (CARC) North American equivalent of Vrijgemaakt churches in the Netherlands; began with post-WW II Dutch immigration to Canada.

Canadian Reformed see Canadian and American Reformed Churches.

Canons of Dort not a projectile weapon, but a summary of the "five points of Calvinism" adopted by the Synod of Dort in 1619 (in contrast to the "five points" of Arminianism); see TULIP.

CGKN Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk in Nederland (Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands); formed in 1869 by union of many Gereformeerde Kerk onder het Kruis (Reformed Church under the Cross) congregations and Christelijke Afgescheiden Kerk (Christian Seceded Church); majority of CGKN united with Doleantie in 1892 to form GKN; remnant of CGKN is equivalent of Free Reformed Churches in North America.

Classis intermediate governing body between local congregation and synod.

Classes (class-eez) plural of classis.

Common grace teaching that God shows a measure of grace to both elect and reprobate, such as allowing rain to fall on good and evil; this doctrine was first propounded by Dr. Abraham Kuyper.

CRC Christian Reformed Church in North America; founded 1857 after seceding from Reformed Church in America.

CRHM Christian Reformed Home Missions.

CRWM Christian Reformed World Missions.

CRWRC Christian Reformed World Relief Committee; involved in domestic and international relief efforts.

Canons of Dort Calvinist response to five points of Arminianism. See TULIP.

Doleantie Dutch for grieving; exodus from the NHK under leadership of Dr. Abraham Kuyper.

Dordt College independent reformed college in Sioux Center, IA, affiliated with CRC.

Dooyeweerd, Herman Dutch reformed philosopher and author of New Critique of Theoretical Thought.

Dropjes (drop-yahs or drup-yahs) salted black Dutch licorice, available in zoute and dubbel zoute (really salty!); alternative to peppermints.

Dutch Reformed Church earlier name for Reformed Church in America; also shorthand for Reformed churches with roots in the Netherlands.

EPC Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Five Points of Calvinism see TULIP.

Free Reformed Churches North American equivalent of CGKN; most congregations rooted in Dutch immigration to U.S. and Canada following WW II.

GKN Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Reformed Churches in the Netherlands); formed in 1892 by union of Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk and Doleantie.

Grand Rapids, Michigan heart of the Christian Reformed denomination, this is the city where it all began; where the denominational headquarters (see 2850, Pentagon), college, and seminary are located, and where the largest percentage of Christian Reformed folk live.

Guilt, grace, and gratitude a summary of the three sections of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Heidelberg Catechism a Reformed/Lutheran catechism written in 1563; one of the Three Forms of Unity in the Dutch Reformed tradition.

Homosexualism CRC-speak for homosexual activity; originated in 1973 study report on ministry to homosexuals.

Hope College independent reformed college in Holland, MI; closely affiliated with RCA; perennial basketball rival of Calvin College.

King's College independent reformed college in Edmonton, Alberta, affiliated with CRC and tied to University of Alberta.

Kruis kerken shorthand name for Gereformeerde Kerk onder het Kruis (Reformed Church under the Cross); after the Afscheiding, this group refused to apply for government recognition; in 1869 the majority of this group united with the Christelijke Afgescheiden Kerk (Christian Seceded Church) to form the CGKN.

Kuyper, Abraham Dutch theologian, journalist, and statesman; leader of Doleantie, exodus from the NHK; proponent of common grace and presumptive regeneration.

KWOO acronym for Keep Women Out of Office; opposite of WICO.

Ledeboerian churches group of congregations loosely affiliated in following teachings of Rev. Ledeboer; separated from NHK circa 1841; united with Kruis kerken in 1907 to form Gereformeerde Gemeenten.

NAPARC North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council; CRC is a charter member.

NHK Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (Netherlands Reformed Church); Gereformeerde Kerken were restructured under the state by William I in 1816; NHK is in merger negotiations with GKN and Evangelical Lutheran Church.

OPC Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

OCRC Orthodox Christian Reformed Church; denomination composed of several churches which seceded from the CRC over women in church office.

Outlook conservative journal rooted in Christian Reformed tradition.

RPC Reformed Presbyterian Church.

PCA Presbyterian Church in America.

Pentagon tongue-in-cheek name for denominational headquarters, often used disparagingly (see also 2850).

Peppermints particularly King, Faam, or Wilhelmina brand hard Dutch peppermints, official sermon snack of the CRC; see also dropjes.

Presbyterian Reformed tradition first established in Scotland under John Knox.

PRC see Protestant Reformed Churches.

Presumptive regeneration teaching that we baptize our children because we presume they are elect; children of believers are assumed elect unless their later life shows them to be reprobate; this doctrine was put forth by Dr. Abraham Kuyper.

Protestant Reformed Churches this group separated from the CRC following the 1924 deposition or Rev. Herman Hoeksema for refusing to teach common grace and presumptive regeneration.

RBC see Reformed Bible College.

RCA Reformed Church in America; founded 1628; separated from Dutch church 1792; denomination from which CRC separated in 1857.

REC Reformed Ecumenical Council; CRC is a charter member.

Redeemer College independent reformed college in Ancaster, Ontario, affiliated with CRC.

Reformed generally speaking, those whose theology follows that of John Calvin; more specifically, churches with roots in the continental Reformed tradition (in contrast to Presbyterian, which is rooted in the British Isles).

Reformed Dutch Church early name of Reformed Church in America.

Reformed Bible College independent reformed Bible college in Grand Rapids, MI, affiliated with CRC.

Report 44 a report on hermeneutics adopted by Synod in 19__; considered by some an abandonment of traditional Reformed hermeneutics.

SHI, SHII acronym for conferences held in South Holland, IL, in 1995 and 1996 by KWOO proponents to discuss options in light of Synod 1995 decision to allow classes to declare the word 'male' inoperative for the offices of elder and minister of the word.

Sin, salvation, and service a summary of the three sections of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Synod annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, typically held mid-June on the Calvin College campus.

Synod of Dort international synod convened 1618-19 to address "five points of Arminius" and create a church order for the Dutch Reformed Church. (see TULIP, Canons of Dort).

The Three Forms of Unity are the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort.

Trinity Christian College independent reformed college in Palos Heights, IL, affiliated with CRC.

TULIP acronym for the five points of Calvinism (see Canons of Dort).

Total depravity

Unconditional election

Limited atonement

Irresistible grace

Perseverance of the saints

UPC United Presbyterian Church.

URC United Reformed Churches; denomination formed in 1996 primarily by churches in the Alliance of Reformed Churches; mostly former-CRC churches and churches formed for former-CRC members who left over women in church office.

URNS United Reformed News Service.

WICO acronym for Women In Church Office; opposite of KWOO.

Recommended reading: Our Family Album, The unfinished story of the Christian Reformed Church, James Schaap