Dive Into Doctrine: The Canons of Dort

Today marks the 400th anniversary of the beginning of the meetings of the Synod of Dort, which met from 13 November 1618 to 9 May 1619.

The Synod of Dort did a lot of things. They created a church order for the Reformed Churches (the CRC’s Church Order is still based on the one written by the Synod of Dort). They wrote up a Form of Subscription for officebearers to sign (which is like the Covenant for Officebearers that elders and deacons and pastors sign when they get ordained). They wrote a Dutch translation of the Bible. They wrote a new songbook for the Dutch churches. And finally, they wrote the Canons of Dort, which responds to the five points of the Remonstrants.

Synod 2018 encouraged churches across the denomination to celebrate and study the Canons of Dort over the next year on this milestone anniversary.

Community CRC in Kitchener has developed a 5-week intergenerational curriculum that studies the history and decisions of the Synod of Dort, focused on the doctrines contained in the Canons of Dort. As churches around the world celebrate the 400th anniversary of this document over these next six months, we humbly offer this as one option that churches may try.

A student guide and leaders guide may be found below.