Orthodox Protestant Reformed Churches

The "De Wolf" group of Protestant Reformed Churches formed after Rev. Hubert De Wolf was deposed by the consistory of First Protestant Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The reason for the rift? Two statements made in a sermon in 1953: "The statements were, first, God promises to every one of you that, if you believe, you shall be saved,' and the second, 'Our act of conversion is a prerequisite to enter into the kingdom of heaven.'" Rev. Hoeksema considered these heresy, deposing De Wolf and half the church council members who agreed with De Wolf.

Secession

This led to a denomination-wide secession resulting in two denominations of equal size, each called Protestant Reformed Churches. The DeWolf faction eventually took the name Orthodox Protestant Reformed Churches (OPRC).

Over time, the OPRC decided to unite with the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), the denomination from which the Protestant Reformed Churches had originally seceded in the 1920s.

Congregations

Churches listed by year of organization as Protestant Reformed congregation.

1925	First, Grand Rapids, MI	organized 1879 as Eastern Ave. CRC, dissolved 1961
	Hull, IA	became Hope CRC, 1961
	Second, Grand Rapids, MI	became Beverly CRC, 1953
1926	Sioux Center, IA
1927	Kalamazoo, MI	became Alamo Avenue CRC, 1961
1928	Oskaloosa, IA	dissolved 1961
	Pella, IA	dissolved 1961
	Rock Valley, IA
1929	Holland, MI	dissolved 1961
1932	Creston, Grand Rapids, MI	dissolved 1962
	Hope, Redlands, CA	became Bethel CRC, 1961
1934	Orange City, IA
1935	Bellflower, CA	dissolved 1961
1938	Edgerton, MN
1940	Manhattan, MT
1944	Fourth, Grand Rapids, MI	became Faith CRC, 1961
1951	Lynden, WA
1955	South Holland, IL
1956	Chino, CA	dissolved 1961

Resources

• Introducing "The First Orthodox Protestant Reformed Church", The Standard Bearer, Oct. 15, 1958.

• The 1953 Protestant Reformed Church Split Revisited, Ted De Wolf.