Hope College | Van Raalte Institute

"The 'Bespreekbaarheid' of Euthanasia," SISWO [Netherlands Institute for the Coordination of Social Scientific Research], University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 30 June 2000. (James C. Kennedy)

"Burn the Wooden Shoes: Modernity and Division in the Christian Reformed Church in North America," International Society for the Study of Reformed Communities, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 28 June 2000. (Robert P. Swierenga)

Chair of Conference on Euthanasia, Netherlands Institute for the Coordination of Social Scientific Research, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 30 June 2000. (James C. Kennedy)

"Computers and Historical Research: Personal Reflections," Regional History Meeting, Spring Arbor College, Spring Arbor, Michigan, 24 September 1999. (Robert P. Swierenga)

"Defending Orthodoxy: Religious Struggles in the Dutch Immigrant Churches of Western Michigan," Holland Genealogical Society, Holland, Michigan, 16 October 1999, and Western Michigan Genealogical Society, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 6 November 1999. (Robert P. Swierenga)

"The Development and Growth of Early Holland, Michigan," Western Theological Seminary class in American Church History, Holland, Michigan, 19 July 2000. (Elton J. Bruins)

This year's "Dutch" speaker [at Central College's annual Dutch lectures] was Prof. Robert P. Swierenga, whom some in this community will remember as a teacher at Pella Christian High School....I was especially interested in the lecture which concerned the religious developments and the relationships of Hendrik P. Scholte, Pella's founder, and Albertus C. Van Raalte, Holland, Michigan's founder....In theology Van Raalte favored the Dutch Reformed tradition whereas Scholte established a church with a simplified doctrine, throwing out all creeds and relying only on the Bible....Scholte built his church using his own money. Several of his followers soon became dissatisfied with his style of worship and in 1856 formed the First Reformed Church. Van Raalte's son-in-law was the first pastor here. In 1867 the First Christian Reformed Church split off from the First Reformed Church. One of the reasons was that the church had begun to sing hymns as well as psalms. They felt that hymns were man-made while the psalms came from God. Swierenga ...quoted this little saying: "One Hollander and you have a theologian, two Hollanders and you have a church, three Hollanders and you have a schism."

From "A Tale of Two Dominies" by Helen Boertje in The Chronicle, Pella, Iowa, 20 July 2000.

"The Dutch in America," lecture series including "Overview of Dutch Immigration in the USA," "Religious Developments and Relations of Hendrik P. Scholte and Albertus C. Van Raalte," and "Politics in Pioneer Pella," Elderhostel, Central College, Pella, Iowa, 11-13 July 2000. (Robert P. Swierenga)

"Family Quarrels Revisited," adult christian education class, Third Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan, 9 April 2000. (Elton J. Bruins)

Fifteenth Century Studies Conference, chair of session on John Huizenga, Antwerp University, the Netherlands, 2 July 2000. (James C. Kennedy)

"The Founding of the Dutch Immigrant Colony at Holland, Michigan, and Its Early Years, 1847-1875," Hope College freshman seminar, Holland, Michigan, 4 October 1999. (Elton J. Bruins)

"The Groningen Hoek: Chicago's West Side Dutch," Senior Citizen Fellowship, Faith Christian Reformed Church, Elmhurst, Illinois, 26 October 1999. (Robert P. Swierenga)

"Living through the Depression and World War II," Hope College psychology class, Holland, Michigan, 18 April 2000. (Elton J. Bruins)

"Mastering Mores: How the Dutch and American States Differ," Keynote Address, Conference on Regulating Morality in the Netherlands and the United States, Middelburg, the Netherlands, 23 September 1999. (James C. Kennedy)

"The 1960s," Maastricht University, the Netherlands, 2 February 2000. (James C. Kennedy)

"Reformed Church in America and Its Relationship with Hope College," Hope College Faculty Seminar, Holland, Michigan, 18 January 2000. (Elton J. Bruins) "Relationship of the Reformed Church in America with the Christian Reformed Church," Senior Members' Fellowship, Pillar Christian Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan, with Rev. Michael de Vries, 1 December 1999. (Elton J. Bruins)

"Riddles in the Dutch Way of Death," Maastricht University, the Netherlands, 29 June 2000. (James C. Kennedy)

"The Third Generation and Dutch American Studies, 1960-2000," Conference on The Dutch American Experience, Hope College, Holland, Michigan, 9 June 2000. (Robert P. Swierenga)

"Wetenschap en religie in conflict: een terugziende blik," Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 23 May 2000. (James C. Kennedy)

James Kennedy of the Hope College faculty has again been featured nationally in the Netherlands for his research on that country's modern history. Kennedy, a research fellow with the A. C. Van Raalte Institute and an assistant professor of history, was interviewed on the program "Buitenhof," which he described as the Dutch equivalent of "Meet the Press" or "Face the Nation." The 20-minute segment concerned his assertion that politics is dead in the Netherlands, a result of a good economy coupled with "everyone in agreement on major policy issues and norms and values." ...Kennedy's appearance on "Buitenhof" coincided with his trip to the Netherlands for the Sept. 23-24 conference "Regulating Morality: A Comparison of the Role of the State in Mastering the Mores in the Netherlands and the United States."

Hope College Press Release, 12 October 1999