Updated 05/17/22: At its stated meeting on May 17, 2022, the Zeeland Classis of the Reformed Church in America released the Harlem Reformed Church from its 118 relationship with the RCA. It was with a great deal of sadness that the congregation of HRC had petitioned the Classis to release it. Harlem had grown and flourished within the RCA for most of its history but in recent years it became clear to the leadership of the Church that the RCA’s own polity was inhibiting its ability to live fully into its own stated views on the authority of Scripture and views of human sexuality. While there was sorrow at leaving the RCA, there is deep joy and anticipation as we become affiliated with the Alliance of Reformed Churches. The Alliance is a growing network of Churches fully devoted to our previously held creeds, confessions, and standards of unity.
Updated 04/07/22: The Zeeland Classis of the RCA called a Congregational meeting this past Sunday, April 3 to verify the petition of Harlem Reformed Church for permission to withdraw from the RCA in order to join the Alliance of Reformed Churches. The meeting was held at 3:00pm with members of the Classis Withdrawal Committee being present to respond to questions and to verify the vote. The vote was unanimous with 116 votes being cast, including absentee ballots, to withdraw from the RCA and join with the ARC. The Withdrawal Committee will now draft a proposal to approve our petition and we anticipate that Classis will vote to grant our petition at their meeting on May 17.
Updated 03/18/22: The Zeeland Classis Withdrawal Committee has received our petition to withdraw from the RCA. There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday, April 3 at 3:00pm, with Committee members present, to formally vote on withdrawing from the RCA to become part of the ARC. All confessing members are encouraged to attend this meeting.
Updated 02/15/22: The consistory unanimously voted at a meeting on Tuesday, January 4th to petition the Zeeland Classis to withdraw from the Reformed Church of America (RCA) and continue in the process of joining with the Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC). A congregational meeting was held on Sunday, February 6th to inform the congregation of this decision and to have members affirm consistory’s vote. The congregation’s vote was in agreement with Consistory, and in favor of petitioning Classis to withdraw from the RCA. We are now in the process of sending in our petition. If it is accepted by Classis, another congregational meeting will be held with a Classis representative present and at this time another vote will take place to withdraw from the RCA.