Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 11:39:23 -0400 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Reply-To: Darrell128@aol.com Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service To: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 99036: GKN - Vrijgemaakte Synod Questions TV Evangelism NR #1999-036: GKN - Vrijgemaakte Synod Questions TV Evangelism The extent to which church services that will be broadcast on radio or television can be adapted to serve evangelization purposes is still hotly debated in the 121,000-member Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (vrijgemaakt), the Netherlands' third largest Reformed denomination. Even though the large majority of viewers and listeners are still members of a church, Zendtijd voor Kerken - the broadcast agency in which the GKN-vrij. cooperates with three other Dutch denominations - wants to give special attention to those that are or have become "unchurched." Evangelization receives, therefore, important emphasis. The Vrijgemaakte delegation to ZvK agrees with this principle. "But how this should be implemented is still a discussion topic," they say in its report. To what extent does this mean that worship services will be adapted, or that only certain ministers selected? As it happens, the contents of the broadcast continue to be the responsibility of the local church whose service will be aired. Rev. L.E. Leeftink, spokesman for the GKN-vrij. synodical delegation to ZvK, disclosed the area of tension. The alteration of a service could be so radical that a worship service is no longer recognizable as a Reformed service. If a viewer would decide to join the church during an actual worship service, he or she would experience a great gap between the broadcast service and the actual one. This synod member described two extremes: broadcasting a normal service, or a service that is completely focused on evangelization. He assumed that the ideal was somewhere in between. NR #1999-036: For Immediate Release: GKN - Vrijgemaakte Synod Questions TV Evangelism Copyright (C)1999 Nederlands Dagblad Translated by Simone Kennedy Distributed by United Reformed News Service LEUSDEN, THE NETHERLANDS (April 26, 1999) URNS - The extent to which church services that will be broadcast on radio or television can be adapted to serve evangelization purposes is still hotly debated in the 121,000-member Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (vrijgemaakt), the Netherlands' third largest Reformed denomination. According to Rev. L. E. Leeftink, it is too early to determine what the limits will be - the synod should not yet mandate directions in this matter. That's what Leeftink said April 25 at the General Synod of the GKN-v in Leusden. Leeftink was the spokesman of the synod committee that studied the work done by the delegation responsible for the airing of church services on radio and television. The proposal, which suggested approving the work of the delegation, was unanimously accepted by the synod. Leeftink noted that this quick resolution was a sign of a broad public support. This delegation is responsible for the broadcasts of vrijgemaakt-gereformeerde worship services. They work through a foundation, the Zendtijd voor Kerken (ZvK), translated as "Airtime for Churches," in which also the Nederlands-Gereformeerde Kerken, the Christelijk-Gereformeerde Kerken and the Union of Baptist Churches participate. The delegation is accountable to the General Synods of their churches. Their report shows that each year ten worship services were aired on radio and four on television. The average number of viewers diminished slightly to 83,000, but is still higher than the average viewers (70,000) of all services broadcast by the ZvK. Three-quarters of all viewers are over fifty, and there are twice as many women as men who watch. The main group of viewers is from the "lower classes." Worship services that are aired from foreign countries are relatively successful. The broadcasts of the ZvK draw a larger audience than comparable programs of the broadcast organizations IKON and NCRV. Worship as Evangelization Even though the large majority of viewers and listeners are still members of a church, ZvK wants to give special attention to those that are-or have become-"unchurched." Evangelization receives, therefore, important emphasis. The Vrijgemaakte delegation agrees with this principle. "But how this should be implemented is still a discussion topic," they say in its report. To what extent does this mean that worship services will be adapted, or that only certain ministers selected? As it happens, the contents of the broadcast continue to be the responsibility of the local church whose service will be aired. Tensions and Complaints Against the Services Spokesman Leeftink disclosed the area of tension. The alteration of a service could be so radical that a worship service is no longer recognizable as a Reformed service. If a viewer would decide to join the church during an actual worship service, he or she would experience a great gap between the broadcast service and the actual one. This synod member described two extremes: broadcasting a normal service, or a service that is completely focused on evangelization. He assumed that the ideal was somewhere in between. The chosen approach is not always well received. The members of the delegation often receive messages indicating objections of Vrijgemaakten against services that have been broadcast, according to their president, Rev. R. T. Urban. One of those objections was discussed at synod's April 25 session. A church member from Houtigehage complained about a service aired from Buitenpost: the "amen" was omitted after the benediction, a woman read the Scripture text and the Living Bible version was used. It was unanimously decided that the synod would not deal with these objections, because the petition had sidestepped church laws in reaching the synod. Selection of Broadcast Preachers Synod member Rev. G. Zomer asked the delegation to explain the process of selecting ministers for their broadcasts. Does it decide to never invite a minister again for their programs if his performance was not to its satisfaction, or do the delegation members talk it over with him? Zomer revealed the real reason for his question by adding: "I have been waiting for an invitation for years now." Rev. Urban explained that the ability to preach clearly and understandably-also for the youth-is an important factor in the selection process, but the church building should also be suitable. "I will let them know that you are interested," he said, "who knows, you may become famous through our programs." Zomer was not satisfied with his response. He had wanted to know if the delegation members were mindful of the ministers and would give them feedback if the aired worship service did not meet their expectations. But he did not get further response. Synod president Rev. H. J. Boiten praised the work done by delegation members Urban and brother R. F. van Mill, who, after 18 and 32 years respectively, are taking their leave. Cross-References to Related Articles: [No related articles on file] Contact List: Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Vrijgemaakt) - Correspondence Address c/o Rev. J. Klamer, Goyerkamp 11, 8014 EH Zwolle, The Netherlands O: [31] (38) 659042 Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Vrijgemaakt) - Synodical Address 3830 AE Leusden, The Netherlands O: [31] (033) 494 38 00 * E-mail: synode@euronet.nl ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive99: nr99-036.txt .