Algemene Doopsgezinde Societeit

1955 Article

In the course of the 17th and 18th centuries in the Netherlands various regional Sociëteits or conferences had been organized. These were groupings of Mennonite congregations organized usually for some practical purpose. In 1811 the Algemene Doopsgezinde Sociëteit (ADS; General Mennonite Association) was organized. The direct occasion for its founding was as follows: Since 1735 the Lamist congregation at Amsterdam had a seminary for the training of preachers, and this seminary remained when the various congregations in Amsterdam gradually united. But because of the financial decrees of Napoleon in 1810 the income of the Amsterdam Mennonite Church was no longer adequate to bear the expenses alone. Prof. Gerrit Hesselink set up a plan for the organization of a general association for the purpose of supporting the seminary, and after some discussion with neighboring congregations (Haarlem, Zaandam-Nieuwe Huis, and Zaandam-Oostzijde) in the course of which a misunderstanding which had arisen between Amsterdam and Haarlem was speedily cleared away, invitations were sent to 132 congregations in the Netherlands to take part in the association. Scarcely fifty of them joined the Sociëteit. Several congregations repudiated the plan; many said that in principle they were in harmony with the plan, but were not in a condition to take part because of financial weakness.

On 17 May 1811 the Sociëteit regulations were drawn up at a meeting in Haarlem. On 21 and 22 August 1811, the delegates of the 50 congregations met as an executive gathering.

The goal of the Sociëteit was twofold: first it served "to promote preaching service" by supporting the seminary, so that "the preaching of God's Word be done by competent and worthy preachers." The second objective was to guarantee a suitable salary for young men who had completed the course at the seminary, by granting a subsidy to congregations who were unable to raise the necessary funds.

The directorate at first consisted of twenty men, chosen by those member congregations who contributed to the treasury of the ADS. Not until 1950 was the system ended that gave more votes to one congregation than to another according to the amount contributed. After 1950 representation was in proportion to the membership of the congregation. In the course of time all Dutch Mennonite congregations became members of the ADS, the last joining in 1870. Some congregations in northwest Germany also belonged to it.

In the first century of its existence the work of the Sociëteit was mostly of a financial nature, but through the organization of 1923, planned by Pieter Feenstra Jr., the chairperson at that time, this changed. The new constitution of 1 January 1924 called for a concentration of effort, with the task of the ADS becoming more inclusive. If the Sociëteit's objective in 1811 was the promotion of the service of preaching and matters connected with it, that of 1923 read: "the promotion of the religious, moral, and directly connected with these, the material needs of the Mennonites, first of all the preaching service among them and also its representation outside of the brotherhood." This outside representation included the understanding that the ADS in the name of the Dutch Mennonites could (and did) discuss with the Mennonites of other countries, with the government, and with other denominations what happened during World War II.

The ADS had from the beginning a number of committees appointed by the directors. First to be named was the College of Curators, which supervised the seminary. Later came the Committee for the Proponenten (ministerial candidates), the Committee for Spiritual Interests, and the Committee for the Archives of the Congregations. After the 1923 reorganization all the work done in the Dutch Mennonite community was now included in the work of the ADS: a committee for supervision of the Zondagsbode, a Mennonite weekly (later the Algemeen Doopsgezind Weekblad); a committee to look after the scattered Mennonites (diaspora), which sent out visiting preachers and looked up Mennonites who lived in places where there was no Mennonite congregation, and which stimulated the formation of new congregations. An efficient Verhuisdenbureau kept the addresses of all the members who moved out of a congregation. Of great importance was the committee for Geestelijke belangen (spiritual interests), a committee which included representatives of all kinds of movements among the Dutch Mennonites, and which served in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee. A subcommittee of this group was the committee for Liturgic, which published a Kanselboek (ministers' manual) in 1948.

During the German occupation of the Netherlands (1940-45) the ADS became to a still greater degree the center of the church community. It maintained contact with other churches in the Inter-Kerkelijk Overleg (IKO). From the IKO messages were issued to the congregations, protesting against the persecution of the Jews, slave labor, deportation to Germany, and other measures of the occupation. When all independent associations in church community were prohibited by German regulations (Elspeetse Vereniging, Zendingsraad, Jongerenbond), the ADS temporarily took over.

In financial areas a great improvement came in the formation of a Pensioenstichting, through which appropriate pensions could be given to aged or sick ministers and to their widows. Previously there were seven Mennonite pension organizations. After the war the salaries of ministers were raised, and congregations paid contributions to the ADS in proportion to their membership.

With other churches the ADS has cooperated in ecumenical union, including broadcasting of religious services and the religious instruction of children in the grades of the public schools. In 1949 a two-year correspondence course began, called the kadercursus (basic course), with eight instructors in various fields (including Old and New Testament and Mennonite history), which had as its objective the awakening of a definite Mennonite life by means of imparting information.

After 1946 the ADS published a weekly organ which is sent to all the Dutch Mennonites, the Algemeen Doopsgezind Weekblad. A publication committee looks after the publication of booklets on Mennonite history and doctrine. Through the ADS a new hymnal was produced in 1944 to reduce to the multiplicity of hymnals in use.

1990 Article

Immediately following World War II, the Algemene Doopsgezinde Sociëteit (ADS) played a central role among the Dutch congregations, a leadership role occasioned by the difficulties of the war years and the German occupation. During the 1960s and later, Dutch Mennonite leaders became aware of a growing desire for change in the function of this central agency. This led to a meeting of the directors of the ADS and congregational representatives at Elspeet in April 1970 to reflect on the functioning of the ADS and on congregational renewal. A list of recommendations was drawn up, beginning with a concern that greater unity and fraternal relationships should transcend local congregational autonomy. Beyond this, it was felt that the several agencies e.g., the mission board, (Doopsgezinde Zendingsraad), youth office (Doopsgezinde Jeugdcentrale), fellowship committee (Gemeenschap voor Doopsgezind Broederschapswerk), and the relief and service committee (Stichting voor Bijzondere Noden), should have a place in the administrative structure of the ADS.

These recommendations led to the appointment of a structures review committee following intense review of issues in all congregations across the land. During a period of several years, a new structure for the ADS was recommended; it was adopted on 3 June 1975. In this agreement, the primary purpose of the ADS was stated as being the strengthening of congregational life and faith, with particular concern for the evangelism and proclamation of the word. The ADS was commissioned to increase support of congregational activities, while the congregations committed themselves to increased spiritual and material fellowship and support. The structure for achieving these objectives consists in the brotherhood meeting (conference), in which all congregations are equally represented, and in two agencies to implement decisions: the brotherhood council (Broederschapsraad), organized regionally with local agency participation, and the general board (Dagelijks Bestuur committee).

While the congregations were more actively related to the ADS after 1975, the freedom of the ADS to take new initiatives remained too limited. At the same time, the tendency to return to earlier patterns of congregational autonomy became apparent. Nevertheless, the discussion about renewal continued, particularly as congregations and the ADS became aware of the decline in total membership. This led in 1976 to the establishing of the BOLT (Broederschap op langere termijn) commission, which was to concern itself with the study and analysis of longer range trends within the brotherhood. Based upon a sociological study, this group made a recommendation in 1979 for the strengthening of leadership training and a broadening of the mandate of the seminary. In view of the urgent need for more pastors and leaders, the seminary received the assignment to provide an alternative two-year course in Anabaptist theology and congregational leadership for persons who, for one reason or another, could not pursue the full university-seminary curriculum. Two faculty members were added to the seminary in 1981 to make this program, known as the "Second Way," possible.

In keeping with the earlier study, the ADS mandate was also increased considerably and, since 1986, the ADS is better prepared organizationally to support congregational and other activities. At the same time, the declining membership has led to financial concerns. Fortunately, the merging of the ADS ministers pension fund with the larger national fund in 1986, together with additional federal funds received on the basis of longstanding obligations, resolved the earlier financial concerns.

Ecumenical cooperation with other denominations remains a significant task for the ADS. One visible sign of this cooperation was the publication of a new joint hymnal in 1973. Most Protestant congregations in The Netherlands now use this hymnal.

Since the reorganization of the ADS the chairpersons have been: 1924-1929, A. Binnerts Szn., Haarlem; 1929-1934, P. B. Westerdijk, Amsterdam; 1934-1939, A. H. van Drooge, Deventer; 1939-1945, F. H. Pasma, Grouw; 1945-1946, C. Nijdam, Zeist; 1946-1951, W. F. Golterman, Amsterdam; 1951-1959, H. Craandijk, Amsterdam; 1959-1963, S. M. A. Daalder; 1963-1970, J. J. J. van Sluijs; 1970-1971, S. C. Dierdorp; 1971-1979, C. F. Brüsewitz; 1979-1983, J. A. van Ingen Schenau-Elsen (the first woman in this office); 1983-1994, S. A. Vis; 1994-2001, P.A. Beun; 2001-, A.S. de Jong.

2014 Update

In 2014 the following congregations were members of the Algemene Doopsgezinde Societeit:

Church	Location
Doopsgezinde Gemeente 's Gravenhage	's Gravenhage
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Aalsmeer	Aalsmeer
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Aardenburg	Aardenburg
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Mid-Fryslân: Akkrum	Akkrum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Alkmaar	Alkmaar
Doopsgezinde Gemeenten in Twente: Almelo	Almelo
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Almere	Almere
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Amersfoort	Amersfoort
Verenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente Amsterdam	Amsterdam
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Amsterdam	Amsterdam
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Apeldoorn	Apeldoorn
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Arnhem	Arnhem
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Assen	Assen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Baarn	Baarn
Combinatie Zuid-West Hoek: Balk-Woudsend	Balk
Federatie Doopsgezind Gereformeerd Ameland: Ballum	Ballum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Berlikum	Berlikum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Beverwijk	Beverwijk
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Blokzijl	Blokzijl
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Bolsward	Bolsward
Doopsgezinde Gemeenten in Twente: Borne	Borne
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Breda	Breda
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Broek op Langedijk	Broek op Langedijk
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Buitenpost	Buitenpost
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Bussum-Naarden	Bussum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Damwoude	Damwoude
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Bovenknijpe	De Knipe
Doopsgezinde Gemeente De Rijp	De Rijp
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Texel	Den Burg
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Den Helder	Den Helder
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Den Ilp-Landsmeer	Den Ilp-Landsmeer
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Deventer	Deventer
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Doetinchem	Doetinchem
Verenigde Christelijke Gemeente Dokkum	Dokkum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Dordrecht	Dordrecht
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Drachten Ureterp	Drachten
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Edam	Edam
Samenwerkingsverband van Doopsgezinde Gemeenten in Noord- en West Groningen: Eenrum-Mensingeweer	Eenrum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Eindhoven	Eindhoven
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Noordoostpolder	Emmeloord
Hutgemeenschap Emmen	Emmen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Enkhuizen & omstreken	Enkhuizen
Doopsgezinde Gemeenten in Twente: Enschede	Enschede
Doopsgezinde Gemeente De Lytse Streek: Franeker	Franeker
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Giethoorn	Giethoorn
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Goes	Goes
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Gorredijk-Lippenhuizen	Gorredijk
Federatie Gouda (Do-RE-VPB)	Gouda
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Graftdijk	Graftdijk
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Groningen	Groningen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Mid-Fryslân: Grouw/Grou	Grouw/Grou
Verenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente Haarlem	Haarlem
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Hallum	Hallum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Noordwest Veluwe-Flevoland	Harderwijk
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Haren	Haren
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Harlingen	Harlingen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Heerenveen	Heerenveen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Zuid-Limburg	Heerlen
Vrijzinnige Geloofsgemeenschap Hilversum-Huizen	Hilversum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Hindeloopen	Hindeloopen
Vrijzinnige Geloofsgemeenschap Hilversum-Huizen	Hippolytushoef
Federatie Doopsgezind Gereformeerd Ameland: Hollum	Hollum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Holwerd-Blija-Ternaard	Holwerd
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Haarlemmermeer	Hoofddorp
Doopsgezinde-Remonstrantse Gemeente Hoorn	Hoorn
Doopsgezinde Gemeente IJlst	IJlst
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Mid-Fryslân: Irnsum/Jirnsum	Irnsum/Jirnsum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente De Lytse Streek: Baard-Itens	Itens
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Joure	Joure
Verenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente Kampen	Kampen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Koog aan de Zaan	Koog aan de Zaan
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Koudum	Koudum
Verenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente Krommenie	Krommenie
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Leeuwarden	Leeuwarden
Doopsgezinde-Remonstrantse Gemeente Leiden	Leiden
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Makkum	Makkum
De Verenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente Barsingerhorn-Zijpe Noord-Zijpe Zuid-Wieringermeer-Medemblik: Medemblik	Medemblik
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Meppel-Zwartsluis: Meppel	Meppel
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Walcheren	Middelburg
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Middelie	Middelie
Samenwerkingsverband van Doopsgezinde Gemeenten in Noord- en West Groningen: Middelstum	Middelstum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Beemster-Oosthuizen	Middenbeemster
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Monnickendam	Monnickendam
Federatie Doopsgezind Gereformeerd Ameland: Nes	Nes
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Nieuwe Niedorp	Nieuwe Niedorp
Doopsgezinde-Remonstrantse Gemeente Nijmegen	Nijmegen
Samenwerkingsverband van Doopsgezinde Gemeenten in Noord- en West Groningen: Westerkwartier	Noordhorn
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Mid-Fryslân: Oldeboorn/Aldeboarn	Oldeboorn/Aldeboarn
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Ouddorp	Ouddorp
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Mid-Fryslân: Poppingawier/Poppenwier	Poppingawier/Poppenwier
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Purmerend	Purmerend
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Roden	Roden
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Rotterdam	Rotterdam
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Rottevalle-Witveen	Rottevalle-Witveen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Sappemeer-Noordbroek	Sappemeer
De Verenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente Barsingerhorn-Zijpe Noord-Zijpe Zuid-Wieringermeer-Medemblik: Schagen	Schagen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Sneek	Sneek
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Het Bildt	St. Annaparochie
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Noordoost Nederland: Stadskanaal	Stadskanaal
Combinatie Zuid-West Hoek: Stavoren	Stavoren
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Steenwijk	Steenwijk
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Stiens	Stiens
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Surhuisterveen	Surhuisterveen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Mid-Fryslân: Terhorne/Terherne	Terhorne/Terherne
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Terschelling-West	Terschelling-West
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Tjalleberd	Tjalleberd
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Twisk-Abbekerk	Twisk
Samenwerkingsverband van Doopsgezinde Gemeenten in Noord- en West Groningen: Uithuizen	Uithuizen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Utrecht	Utrecht
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Noordoost Nederland: Veendam	Veendam
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Veenwouden	Veenwouden
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Wageningen	Wageningen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Mid-Fryslân: Warga/Wergea	Warga/Wergea
Combinatie Zuid-West Hoek: Warns	Warns
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Winterswijk	Winterswijk
Doopsgezinde Gemeente De Lytse Streek: Witmarsum-Pingjum	Witmarsum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Wolvega	Wolvega
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Workum	Workum
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Wormer-Jisp	Wormer
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Wormerveer	Wormerveer
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Zaandam	Zaandam
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Zeist	Zeist
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Zeerijp-Zijldijk	Zijldijk
Vrijzinnig Christelijke Geloofsgemeenschap te Zoetermeer	Zoetermeer
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Zutphen	Zutphen
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Zwaagwesteinde	Zwaagwesteinde
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Meppel-Zwartsluis: Zwartsluis	Zwartsluis
Doopsgezinde Gemeente Zwolle	Zwolle

Bibliography

Cramer, S. Rede, gehouden bij de herdenking van het 100-jarig bestaan der A.D.S. Amsterdam, 1911.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 27.

Kraybill, Paul N., ed. Mennonite World Handbook.,Lombard, Ill.: Mennonite World Conference, 1978: 303-306.

Mennonite World Handbook. Supplement. Strassbourg, France, and Lombard, Ill.: Mennonite World Conference, 1984: 123.

Muller, Sam. De Gesch. van het ontstaan en de vestiging der A.D.S. Amsterdam, 1861.

van der Meulen, P. "Dutch Mennonites Unite During Crisis." Mennonite Life 3 (July 1948): 20-22.

van der Meulen, P. De wording der Alg. Doopsgez. Soc. Wormerveer, 1947.

Verslag van den staat . . . der A.D.S. annually 1812-1951.

Vis, S. A."175 jaar ADS," in Doopsgezind Jaarboekje (1986): 24-32.

Additional Information

Algemene Doopsgezinde Societeit web site: http://www.doopsgezind.nl/

Author(s)	Nanne van der Zijpp
	C. F. Brüsewitz
Date Published	1990

Cite This Article

MLA style

Zijpp, Nanne van der and C. F. Brüsewitz. "Algemene Doopsgezinde Societeit." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1990. Web. 25 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Algemene_Doopsgezinde_Societeit&oldid=125862.

APA style

Zijpp, Nanne van der and C. F. Brüsewitz. (1990). Algemene Doopsgezinde Societeit. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Algemene_Doopsgezinde_Societeit&oldid=125862.

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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pp. 52-53; v. 5, p. 14. All rights reserved.

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