View source for Jacob Jansz Scheedemaker (d. ca. 1596)

Jacob Jansz Scheedemaker<strong> </strong>(also called Jacob Jansz Kist), a Dutch Mennonite leader, a preacher at [[Emden (Niedersachsen, Germany)|Emden]], [[East Friesland (Niedersachsen, Germany)|East Friesland]], who was banned in 1555 or 1556; he was probably excommunicated by [[Leenaert Bouwens (1515-1582)|Leenaert Bouwens]] for being too lax in the practice of shunning (see [[Ban|Ban]]). But a considerable number of Mennonites agreed with Scheedemaker and they were then called the "Scheedemaker" group. At the same time and for the same reason [[Hendrik Naeldeman (16th century)|Hendrik Naeldeman]] and [[Joriaen Heyns (16th century)|Joriaen Heynsz]] were excommunicated; both were leaders at [[Franeker (Friesland, Netherlands)|Franeker]] in [[Friesland (Netherlands)|Friesland]]; they also had many followers, who were called "[[Franekeraars|Franekeraars]]." Soon after his excommunication Scheedemaker moved from Emden to De Rijp in the Dutch province of [[North Holland (Netherlands)|North Holland]]; in this Waterland district most Mennonites rejected rigorous shunning, being inclined to somewhat milder practices. From then on, the names "Franekeraars" and "Scheedemakers" disappeared, and were replaced by the general term "[[Waterlanders|Waterlanders]]", who separated from the main body in the fall of 1556. An attempt made by [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]] early in 1557 to reconcile the Waterlanders with Leenaert Bouwens and the supporters of rigorous shunning miscarried. Jacob Jansz Scheedemaker became a Waterlander leader. In September 1577 he drew up the first Dutch confession ([[Confession of Faith (Waterlander, 1577)|Waterlander Confession]]) with [[Ries, Hans de (1553–1638)|Hans de Ries]], [[Simon Michielsz (d. 1587?) |Simon Michiels]], Simon Jacobs, and [[Verspeck, Albert (d. 1612)|Albert Verspeck]]. On 28 November 1578, he and Hans de Ries debated with[[Coornhert, Dirk Volkertsz (1522-1590)| D. V. Coornhert]] on the question whether there could be a true Christian church on earth. In 1581 Scheedemaker was appointed elder and moved to Haarlem. Here he became involved in a quarrel with [[Hans Doornaert (16th century)|Hans Doornaert]], a Flemish immigrant and a preacher. The quarrel was settled during a meeting at Haarlem, 14 September 1587, which Coornhert, then a notary at Haarlem, also attended. A debate between Scheedemaker and Coornhert was held at a meeting of Waterlander leaders at [[Alkmaar (Noord Holland, Netherlands)|Alkmaar]] on 29 November 1587, when they agreed that persons who had not been baptized should also be admitted at the communion. Scheedemaker was still active in 1596. On 3 March of that year he preached at Rotterdam, using the silent prayer criticized by the Reformed Minister [[Lansbergen, Franciscus van (d. 1626)|Franciscus van Lansbergen]]. He must have died soon after.

In 1591 Scheedemaker was attacked by [[Cornelisz, Pieter (16th/17th century)|Pieter Cornelisz]], a Reformed pastor at Alkmaar, in a booklet, <em>Argumenten ende Bewysredenen, </em>in which he proved that it is permissible for a Christian to hold government office. Scheedemaker, supported by Hans de Ries, his fellow preacher, answered with <em>Nootwendighe Verantwoordinge der Verdruckter Waerheyt </em>(probably published in 1597), in which he also defended silent prayer against van Lansbergen. In 1590 he was elder of the Waterlander congregation at [[Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Amsterdam]]; on 22 October of this year some young Frisian leaders such as [[Gerritsz, Lubbert (1534-1612)|Lubbert Gerritsz]] and [[Hoyte Riencx (d. after 1600)|Hoyte Renix]] wrote a letter to Scheedemaker concerning a merger of the [[Frisian Mennonites|Frisians]] and the Waterlanders, which had been proposed by Scheedemaker and his co-ministers, but which the Frisians considered premature.
= Bibliography =
Cramer, Samuel and Fredrik Pijper. <em>Bibliotheca Reformatoria Neerlandica</em>, 10 vols. The Hague: M. Nijhoff, 1903-1914: VII, 55.

Cate, Steven Blaupot ten. <em>Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinden in Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht en Gelderland</em>, 2 vols. Amsterdam: P.N. van Kampen, 1847: v. I, 46, 114, 119, 123 f.

<em>Doopsgezinde Bijdragen</em> (1863): 114; (1864): 2, note 20 f., 32 f., 35; (1877): 79-91; (1894): 34; (1897): 78 f<em>., </em>92-105; (1904): 142-158; (1909): 145 f.; (1917): 29.

Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. <em>Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam</em>, 2 vols. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: v. I, 714.

Kühler, Wilhelmus Johannes. <em>Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Doopsgezinden in de Zestiende Eeuw.</em> Haarlem: H.D. Tjeenk Willink, 1932: 317 f., 350, 353, 359, 363 f., 368-374.

Molhuysen, P. C. and  P. J. Blok. <em>Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek,</em> 10 vols. Leiden, 1911-1937: v. IX, 449.

Vos, Karel. <em>Menno Simons, 1496-1561, zijn leven en werken en zijne reformatorische denkbeelden</em>. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1914: 132, 135, 191.

Visscher, H. and L. A. van Langeraad. <em>Biographisch Woordenboek von Protestantsche Godgeleerden in Nederland, </em>A-L v. I Utrecht, 1903-: IV, 525 f.
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