Formation of The Lord's New Church
“For in heaven ... there are also governments both ecclesiastical and civil.”
(New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 7).
“For in heaven ... there are also governments both ecclesiastical and civil.”
(New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 7).
The Lord's New Church Which is Nova Hierosolyma (a.k.a. The Lord's New Church) had its origin in The Hague, Holland, in 1937. The first international governmental document, Principles and Plan of Order for the International Government of the Church, was drawn up in 1947 and approved by church members in both Holland and the United States.
Prior to the Church’s 1947 official beginning, a new doctrinal position about the Divine nature of Swedenborg's Theological Writings was developing with priests and lay members in Holland, who were members of the General Church of the New Jerusalem.
Beginning in January of 1930, The Hague Society of the General Church published their doctrinal discussions in a monthly Dutch magazine, De Hemelsche Leer (The Heavenly Doctrine), which was "Devoted to the Doctrine of Genuine Truth out of the Latin Word Revealed by the Lord."
De Hemelsche Leer’s three leading theses in brief are (a.k.a. The Hague position):
When presented with these new doctrinal ideas, priests in the General Church were not altogether in agreement. This led to many doctrinal discussions and papers over the course of the next six years with some priests coming to accept and others to oppose De Hemelsche Leer’s three leading theses.
During this same time period, opposition to the "Hague position" among some of the highest priestly leaders in the General Church increased.
The year 1937 became a turning point for the Dutch Society after a bishop, who opposed "The Hague Position", was appointed as the new leader of the General Church.
This newly appointed bishop (Bishop George De Charms) decided the doctrine of “The Hague Position" was incompatible with General Church thought. He invited the Rev. Pfeiffer to present his ideas as to how ‘The Hague position’ and his differing doctrinal position could co-exist in the same Church. This led to some discourse about the importance of freedom in the Church in regard to doctrinal thought.
Since The Hague Society members had always rejected the idea of separating from the General Church on the basis of doctrinal differences, efforts were made during the 1937 meetings with the General Church priestly leaders to keep the two differing doctrinal groups together in one church.
Mr. Groeneveld, the leading layman in The Hague Society and in the understanding of The Hague position, requested a meeting with Bishop George De Charms to discuss all issues with the hope of preventing any separation. Regrettably, this request was rejected by Bishop George De Charms.
Separation occurred after the Rev. Ernst Pfeiffer was informed on April 7, 1937 that his name had been removed from the list of pastors and members of the General Church by Bishop George De Charms.
This action of separating the Rev. Ernst Pfeiffer caused a large number of the Dutch Society members to resign from the General Church (Link to the Dutch Society resignation letter), and led to the eventual formation of The Lord's New Church which is Nova Hierosolyma (or, The Lord's New Church), which was delayed until 1947 because of World War Two and the massive destruction it caused in Europe.
Some Governmental Principles in The Lord’s New Church
“Freedom in the Church” for Lay Members and Priests…
The Law of 'Freedom in the Church' in The Lord’s New Church teaches that “human freedom is necessary if men are to be led in freedom” and that “within this freedom there must be unanimity of acknowledgment of the presence of an internal sense in the literal sense of the Word of the Third Testament ... that the Second Coming of the Lord may further be fulfilled and the Church may be ever new.... (Freedom in the Church, Handbook, pg. 38).
Governmental Structure based upon the “Circle of Life”…
The governmental structure of the Lord's New Church was defined in 1947 and was based specifically upon the teachings in the Word of the Third Testament about the "Circle of Life", which describes and illustrates the process of man's regeneration (spiritual rebirth) and the glorification of the Lord's Human.
In the Old Testament, the "Circle of Life" is illustrated by the ladder seen in Jacob's dream, upon which Jacob saw "the angels of God ascending and descending on it" (Genesis 28:12) & (Arcana Coelestia 3882).
Just as the "Circle of Life" (or "Circle of Regeneration") and the angels’ actions on the ladder seen in Jacob's dream contains two parts ('Ascending' and 'Descending' part), the Church's governmental structure consists of two governmental bodies representing each of these two parts:
In Heaven there are Ecclesiastical and Civil Governments…
Additionally, this twofold structure is also in representative agreement with the Third Testament's teaching about the existence of two governmental bodies in Heaven (“For in heaven ... there are also governments both ecclesiastical and civil.” - New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 7)…:
The Drawing of Doctrine out of the Word is of the Spiritual Function of All, Not Just the Priesthood…
The Word of the Third Testament teaches that the Lord enlightens the understanding of individuals so that each can see the truths of life out of the Word upon which they are to live according to... Thus the drawing of Doctrine out of the Word is of the spiritual function of all members, not just of the priesthood (See Principles and Plan of Order for the International Government of the Church, Handbook, pg. 19).
All New Governmental Laws of the Church Must be Approved by the International Church Membership via an Assembly, in which an Official Vote of All Members is taken after the Proposed Governmental Law(s) is Explained and All Questions are Answered…
From the very beginning of the Lord’s New Church in 1947, all governmental laws were approved by the international church members before they could take effect.
For example, the proposed 1947 International Governmental Laws were explained and submitted to the then two Societies of the Church, the Hague Society, and the Philadelphia Society. This is NOTED in the Church’s Handbook on page 30…:
“(Approved by the Members of the Church in America and in Holland.)”
(Handbook, page 30)
All following new governmental laws of the church or changes in church governmental laws listed in the Handbook contain a note indicating the international membership approved it
All following new governmental laws of the church listed in the Handbook contain a similar note indicating the international church membership approved it
The Lord’s New Church's 1947 "Principles and Plan of Order..." created a governmental structure unlike any other found in the 250-year history of the New Church.
Its governmental structure was based upon the teachings in the Third Testament about the “Circle of Life” (the Circle of Regeneration). Additionally, its governmental structure is in harmony with what exists in Heaven - “In Heaven... there are also governments both ecclesiastical and civil”(NJHD 7). Just as Heaven has both Ecclesiastical and Civil Governments, so also The Lord's New Church has an Ecclesiastical and Civil Government.
Prior to the Church’s 1947 official beginning, a new doctrinal position about the Divine nature of Swedenborg's Theological Writings was developing with priests and lay members in Holland, who were members of the General Church of the New Jerusalem.
Beginning in January of 1930, The Hague Society of the General Church published their doctrinal discussions in a monthly Dutch magazine, De Hemelsche Leer (The Heavenly Doctrine), which was "Devoted to the Doctrine of Genuine Truth out of the Latin Word Revealed by the Lord."
De Hemelsche Leer’s three leading theses in brief are (a.k.a. The Hague position):
- The Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg are the Third Testament of the Word of the Lord. The DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE must be applied to the three Testaments alike [cf A.C. 10325, NJHD 266, W.H. 16 ]
- The Latin Word without Doctrine is as a candlestick without light, and those who read the Latin Word without Doctrine, or who do not acquire for themselves a Doctrine from the Latin Word, are in darkness as to all truth (cf. S. S. 50-61).
- The genuine Doctrine of the Church is spiritual out of celestial origin, but not out of rational origin. The Lord is that Doctrine itself (cf. A. C. 2496, 2497, 2510, 2516, 2533, 2859; A. E. 19).
When presented with these new doctrinal ideas, priests in the General Church were not altogether in agreement. This led to many doctrinal discussions and papers over the course of the next six years with some priests coming to accept and others to oppose De Hemelsche Leer’s three leading theses.
During this same time period, opposition to the "Hague position" among some of the highest priestly leaders in the General Church increased.
The year 1937 became a turning point for the Dutch Society after a bishop, who opposed "The Hague Position", was appointed as the new leader of the General Church.
This newly appointed bishop (Bishop George De Charms) decided the doctrine of “The Hague Position" was incompatible with General Church thought. He invited the Rev. Pfeiffer to present his ideas as to how ‘The Hague position’ and his differing doctrinal position could co-exist in the same Church. This led to some discourse about the importance of freedom in the Church in regard to doctrinal thought.
Since The Hague Society members had always rejected the idea of separating from the General Church on the basis of doctrinal differences, efforts were made during the 1937 meetings with the General Church priestly leaders to keep the two differing doctrinal groups together in one church.
Mr. Groeneveld, the leading layman in The Hague Society and in the understanding of The Hague position, requested a meeting with Bishop George De Charms to discuss all issues with the hope of preventing any separation. Regrettably, this request was rejected by Bishop George De Charms.
Separation occurred after the Rev. Ernst Pfeiffer was informed on April 7, 1937 that his name had been removed from the list of pastors and members of the General Church by Bishop George De Charms.
This action of separating the Rev. Ernst Pfeiffer caused a large number of the Dutch Society members to resign from the General Church (Link to the Dutch Society resignation letter), and led to the eventual formation of The Lord's New Church which is Nova Hierosolyma (or, The Lord's New Church), which was delayed until 1947 because of World War Two and the massive destruction it caused in Europe.
Some Governmental Principles in The Lord’s New Church
“Freedom in the Church” for Lay Members and Priests…
The Law of 'Freedom in the Church' in The Lord’s New Church teaches that “human freedom is necessary if men are to be led in freedom” and that “within this freedom there must be unanimity of acknowledgment of the presence of an internal sense in the literal sense of the Word of the Third Testament ... that the Second Coming of the Lord may further be fulfilled and the Church may be ever new.... (Freedom in the Church, Handbook, pg. 38).
Governmental Structure based upon the “Circle of Life”…
The governmental structure of the Lord's New Church was defined in 1947 and was based specifically upon the teachings in the Word of the Third Testament about the "Circle of Life", which describes and illustrates the process of man's regeneration (spiritual rebirth) and the glorification of the Lord's Human.
In the Old Testament, the "Circle of Life" is illustrated by the ladder seen in Jacob's dream, upon which Jacob saw "the angels of God ascending and descending on it" (Genesis 28:12) & (Arcana Coelestia 3882).
Just as the "Circle of Life" (or "Circle of Regeneration") and the angels’ actions on the ladder seen in Jacob's dream contains two parts ('Ascending' and 'Descending' part), the Church's governmental structure consists of two governmental bodies representing each of these two parts:
- 'Descending Line' (Priestly Line) and
- 'Ascending Line' (Line of the Men [Mankind] of the Church)
In Heaven there are Ecclesiastical and Civil Governments…
Additionally, this twofold structure is also in representative agreement with the Third Testament's teaching about the existence of two governmental bodies in Heaven (“For in heaven ... there are also governments both ecclesiastical and civil.” - New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 7)…:
- Ecclesiastical (Descending Line: Priestly Line/Celestial Kingdom) and
- Civil (Ascending Line: Line of the Men [Mankind] of the Church/Spiritual Kingdom)
The Drawing of Doctrine out of the Word is of the Spiritual Function of All, Not Just the Priesthood…
The Word of the Third Testament teaches that the Lord enlightens the understanding of individuals so that each can see the truths of life out of the Word upon which they are to live according to... Thus the drawing of Doctrine out of the Word is of the spiritual function of all members, not just of the priesthood (See Principles and Plan of Order for the International Government of the Church, Handbook, pg. 19).
All New Governmental Laws of the Church Must be Approved by the International Church Membership via an Assembly, in which an Official Vote of All Members is taken after the Proposed Governmental Law(s) is Explained and All Questions are Answered…
From the very beginning of the Lord’s New Church in 1947, all governmental laws were approved by the international church members before they could take effect.
For example, the proposed 1947 International Governmental Laws were explained and submitted to the then two Societies of the Church, the Hague Society, and the Philadelphia Society. This is NOTED in the Church’s Handbook on page 30…:
“(Approved by the Members of the Church in America and in Holland.)”
(Handbook, page 30)
All following new governmental laws of the church or changes in church governmental laws listed in the Handbook contain a note indicating the international membership approved it
All following new governmental laws of the church listed in the Handbook contain a similar note indicating the international church membership approved it
The Lord’s New Church's 1947 "Principles and Plan of Order..." created a governmental structure unlike any other found in the 250-year history of the New Church.
Its governmental structure was based upon the teachings in the Third Testament about the “Circle of Life” (the Circle of Regeneration). Additionally, its governmental structure is in harmony with what exists in Heaven - “In Heaven... there are also governments both ecclesiastical and civil”(NJHD 7). Just as Heaven has both Ecclesiastical and Civil Governments, so also The Lord's New Church has an Ecclesiastical and Civil Government.
