November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Homiletical Use of the Heidelberg Catechism
In the letter the consistory goes on to enumerate its reasons for
secession. Listed as the third of the reasons is “Neglecting to
preach the Catechism regularly, (to hold) catechetical classes, and
(to do) house visitation.” 26 The newly formed denomination began
with a definite commitment to regular Heidelberg Catechism
preaching. Its secession was also a return. Among other things it
was a return to the time-honored tradition of the Dutch Reformed
churches, as prescribed by the Church Order of Dordrecht: weekly
Heidelberg Catechism preaching.
Current Practice in Various Reformed Churches
A number of denominations of Dutch Reformed extraction still
today follow the practice of regular preaching on the Lord’s Days
of the Heidelberg Catechism. The practice is enshrined in the
church orders of these denominations. More or less faithfully,
the ministers in these denominations carry out the prescription of
their respective church orders and preach on the sum of Christian
doctrine contained in the Heidelberg Catechism.
Article 68 of the Church Order of the Netherlands Reformed
Congregations reads:
The Ministers everywhere shall briefly explain on Sunday, ordinarily
in the afternoon sermon, the sum of Christian doctrine comprehended
in the Catechism which at present is accepted in the
Netherland Churches, so that it may be completed every year in accordance
with the division of the Catechism itself made for the purpose.
27
Similar is Article 68 in the Church Order of the Free Reformed
Church of North America:
At one of the services each Lord’s Day, the minister shall ordi-
26. Classis Holland: Minutes 1848-1858, p. 242.
27. K. DeGier, Explanation of the Church Order of Dordt in Questions
and Answers (Kalamazoo: Book and Publishing Committee of the
Netherlands Reformed Congregations, 1974), p. 98.
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