The Bond van Nederlandse Predikanten (BNP) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2018.
Our Association unites 2700 ministers from all Protestant churches in the Netherlands to represent the common interests of the entire professional group, convinced that this is a good thing for the ministers themselves as well as for the churches. By means of conferences, member meetings and a member's magazine we stimulate collegiality and reflection on the profession and office of ministers. In addition, we are the recognized representatives of ministers in consultations on conditions of employment in the church, and we are involved in the decision making of the synod when it concerns ministers. The jubilee celebration takes place in Utrecht on Monday 9 April. Guest speaker is the public theologian Miroslav Volf, born in Croatia, professor at Yale Divinity School (USA), known for 'Exclusion and Embrace'. We will present a jubilee bundle 'Preektijgers, pastors, pioniers' with articles and conversations on the tasks of the BNP and on the ministry of today. How do different generations of ministers experience their ministry? What is our opinion about new developments such as pioneering ministers and tent-making ministry, and about the future of our ministry? BNP employs two ministers who are exempt from ordinary work. They devote a great deal of time and attention to the advice and guidance of individual pastors in practical questions, work tensions, conflicts with the consistory, illness, burn-out and reintegration, and in finding a new congregation or workplace. In recent years, we have been intensively involved in 'Church 2025', a radical reorganization of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands: how can a church which rapidly becomes smaller be relevant in the Dutch society, and how can we remain ministers of the Word in freedom and with joy?
Sjaak Verwijs.