What We Believe
Colts Neck Reformed Church - A Christian Church in the Reformed Tradition

Historical Context

The word reformed means "change for the better".The Colts Neck Reformed Church traces its change for the better all the way back to the time of the Reformation. In the 1500s groups of Christians, opposed to any authority or practice that they believed could not be supported by a careful study of the Bible, set themselves apart from the established church of that time. They began praying and worshiping and working together under a new umbrella : Reformed, changed, according to the Word of God.

The Reformers, in interpreting the Bible, held to the basic teachings of the early church‑for instance, the Apostles'and the Nicene Creeds ‑ but also wrote new ones of their own. For example, the Heidelberg Catechism, which was first published in 1563, is still a standard that guides the life and witness of the Reformed Church in America of which the Colts Neck Reformed Church is a part.

The reform movement of the church in Europe would itself splinter over differences in belief or practice, often by nationality. Some groups kept the name Reformed: others called themselves Presbyterians or other names. But the influence of the reformation as a whole continued to spread, first across northern and central Europe and then across the ocean, with the first of the settlers in the New World.

Reformed Theology

Old, yet new. Traditional but contemporary. Rather than being a kind of disjointed paradox, those concepts get to the very core of what we believe: a theology rooted in the traditions of the Bible, yet always open to new insights from God's Spirit.

There are five key elements of our Reformed theology:

• Reformed according to the Word of God:
  You could say our Church has an enthusiastic commitment to the Bible. That emphasis is the basis of the Church's life and faith and its greatest gift from the Reformers, who opened God's Word to everyone and insisted that the church be based on that Word. The Bible is taught in our church, preached from the pulpit, and applied in the community. There is no Colts Neck Reformed Church apart from an understanding of itself as a biblical people.
• Reformed but always Reforming:
  The original Reformers believed that God's Spirit worked in the world as a guide to understanding the Bible. Our church believes that the Spirit still challenges us to examine our faith through the Scriptures to determine how we should live in this day and age.
• Decently and in order:
  Reformed faith says that the final authority of the church is Jesus Christ. We have put in place an order that serves Christ through a series of groups and bodies with specific responsibilities. We hold each other accountable for our ministries in Christ's name.
• Unity amid diversity:
  God has given a wide array of gifts to his people; some are called to be teachers or prophets in our midst, others preservers of heritage, others leaders and witnesses. We are committed to using all these gifts, even when some inevitably bump into each other.
• One part of Christ's body:
  Our Church continues to foster its relationships with other churches and denominations as a witness to our belief that: in Christ there is no east or west. And we continue to support witnesses from our midst to all the peoples of the world, so that they too may hear the saving grace of Christ.

Committed to Communities
Reformed Churches have long been community churches, no matter the particular name on the sign. From 300‑year‑old churches that follow the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys of New York, to new congregations that rim major Southern and Southwestern cities, to racially mixed and ethnic congregations in both the U.S. and Canada, there is a commitment to be a part of the community. The Colts Neck Reformed Church is a living church, believing the God who inspires our faith also compels us to change our own lives and to make a positive difference in the world around us. That means we hold sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in high esteem and also social justice. Our steeple stands not only as a beacon of belief but also as a sign of open arms to the hurting. Our mission begins next door and extends to the far corners of the earth.

A Welcoming Church
Life is a challenge. As members of the Colts Neck Reformed Church, we do our best to be a caring, accepting, and helpful group of people. We think it's important to provide meaningful worship, sympathetic counseling, and a solid program of Christian education. We think preaching must be biblical and practical. We strive to build strong youth ministries and a community of people who support each other when the going gets tough. We strive to keep a balance between local autonomy and denominational services, between clergy and lay people, between individualism and structure.

Reaching Out
Believing that God loves the world (John 3:16 ), believing that Jesus has commissioned us to go into all the world and to make disciples of all nations ( Matt. 28:19 ), and believing that a reconciling God has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18 ),

We, who belong to the Colts Neck Reformed Church reach out for Christ to our neighbors down the street, to our neighbors across town, to our neighbors across the continent, to our neighbors around the world.

We reach out to share the love of God; to share the good news of Jesus Christ; to share the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; to share the healing touch of the Master; to share God's good gifts of food and water; to share God's vision of justice and peace.

As we reach out, we also receive.  We learn as well as teach, we are inspired as well as being called to inspire others; we are encouraged in addition to helping those who need support; we are blessed as we fulfill our mandate to be a blessing to others.

We reach out in love, for love is the summary and the spirit of all that God requires ( Matt. 22:35‑40 ).

We reach out in unity, thankful for our partnership in the gospel, both here and around the world ( Phil. 1:5).

We reach out in faith, confident that the God of the seedtime will bring about an abundant harvest ( Luke 8:8 )

We reach out in humility, for we are a servant people following the example of a servant Lord ( Phil. 2:3‑8 ).

We reach out in hope, for we look to the day when people will come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and will sit at the banquet of God ( Luke 13:29 ).

Summary
As evident in the above discussion, we in the Colts Neck Reformed Church proclaim the Bible as God's Word for our time, the only reliable guide for our convictions and our lifestyle. We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of those who believe in him. We believe the historic Christian faith as stated in the Apostles' Creed. We regard the Heidelberg Catechism, a sixteenth‑century statement of faith, as an excellent tool for understanding the Christian faith and acknowledge the particularly important role it has played in our Reformed Church history.

Our congregational core values are that we:  Confess our Faith, for Jesus is Lord; Nurture our Faith through life-long learning; Reflect our Faith through worship and witness; Carry Out our Faith believing that everyone is called to a form of ministry.

Note: Portions of the following publications were utilized directly and in summary in preparing the above statement of belief:

"A Look at the RCA"
The Reformed Church in America A special Church Herald Publication

"A three-minute tour of the Reformed Church in America"
Stewardship and Communications Services Reformed Church in America

"Are You Looking for a Church Home?"
Reformed Church in America
Office of Promotion, Communication, and Development
475 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10115

Our History

In April of 1628, only eight years after the Pilgrims landed, the first congregation of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church was begun in America in New Amsterdam (Manhattan). By 1699 services in Dutch were being held in our part of New Jersey- in the Middletown area.

In the 1770's while the colonies struggled with the question of independence, the denomination struggled with whether the Protestant Dutch Church in America should gain independence from the Netherlands. In 1771 a compromise was achieved whereby in all practicality the American churches gained independence from the Dutch Church, while on paper they were still united. The American Dutch Church continued its Presbyterian form and the tradition of ecclesiastical freedom that marked the church in The Netherlands.

During the same era, the American Dutch Church moved to ensure adequate numbers of clergy. During the first 150 years of the American Dutch Church almost all the clergy were educated in The Netherlands. However, the difficulties of intercontinental travel often meant that a congregation would not get a needed and promised minister. The solution they opted for was to educate these young men destined for the ministry at home. So by order of King George III, on November 10, 1766, the charter for Queens College (Rutgers University) was granted for this purpose.

In 1796 the Reformed Churches helped to organize the New York Missionary Society, which focused on work with the Indians of North America, and so the mission work of the Church began. Denominationally, the church's mission overseas began in 1819 when Dr. John Scudder sailed for Ceylon and later organized a mission in India. A decade later, David Abeel left for the Far East and eventually established a mission in China. Work in Japan followed in 1859 and a mission to the Arab World began in 1889.

The Reformed Church in America is presently at work with other major denominations throughout the world in medical, educational, agricultural, as well as evangelical mission. As a founding member of The National Council of Churches of Christ, USA, and as a founding member of The World Council of Churches, the Reformed Church in America has played an important role in conversations with caring Christians around the world.

The mission statement of the congregation, adopted in 1992, expresses the principles that join us together to worship and to serve. The statement is significant for those who seek a church home: Let us be a church "growing in faith, prayerfully seeking God's will and providing spiritual refreshment, comfort and hope to people in all stages and circumstances of life."

Preaching in our community during the 1800's was done in homes, barns, and in the Scobeyville schoolhouse. On April 22, 1856, the Colts Neck Reformed Church was established as an outgrowth of the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Freehold (Old Brick Reformed Church of Marlboro). In that same year, our original building, measuring 40 x 60 feet, was constructed on donated land. Sunday School was in session only during the warm months, and weekly prayer meetings were held in the school room on Saturday evenings. In August of 1866, the first Harvest Home Supper was held. That tradition continues today as the Annual Election Day Dinner and Bazaar.

In 1906 our congregation was busy adding a Chapel to the church building; the six original stained glass windows came in 1911. It was not until decades later, however, that - with the sustained growth of the community - the church also grew significantly. During this period an educational building was built; the sanctuary was enlarged; the Chapel was replaced by a new addition; the organ was increased to 22 ranks; and four more stained glass windows were installed.

In 1994 an elevator and barrier-free bathroom were installed in the education building to assure full accessibility.

Currently, we are involved in a capital expansion / renovation project to help accomodate our growing congregation.

As the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church became the "Reformed Church in America" in 1867, so the flavor of our congregation has changed to become very ecumenical. The traditional "Dutch Reformed" church member is today far outnumbered by former Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Catholics. Our diversity continues to be one of our greatest assets, as it frees us to be committed together to Jesus Christ our Lord.

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