Paul G. Schrotenboer Collection, 1939-1998 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Paul G. Schrotenboer Collection, 1939-1998

ID: COLL/451

Primary Creator: Schrotenboer, Paul G. (1922-1998)

Extent: 18.25 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church, executive director for Association for the Advancement of Christian Scholarship (AACS), general secretary of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod (later called Reformed Ecumenical Council), editor of RES News Exchange, RES Theological Forum, RES Mission Bulletin, and International Reformed Bulletin. The collection includes: extensive AACS and Institute for Christian Studies (ICS), RES materials; speeches, lectures, reports, papers, notes, and reference materials on a wide range of topics including ecumenism, church unity, Calvinism, Christian Labour Association, Catholicism, Christian education, Canadian immigration, apartheid, theology, H. Evan Runner, Karl Barth, etc.; conference materials; sermons; and correspondence.

Biographical Note

Paul Gerard Schrotenboer was born in East Saugatuck, Michigan on May 10, 1922. As a high school senior, Schrotenboer felt the call to become a minister. Schrotenboer pursued his dream by entering Calvin Theological Seminary where he earned his Th.B. in 1947. He earned his Th.M. from Westminster Seminary in 1949 and travelled aboard to earn his Th.D. in 1955 from Free University in Amsterdam. Schrotenboer first call from the congregation of Ottawa, Ontario. He served there until 1960 when he accepted the call from the congregation of St. Catharines, Ontario. For a few years Schrotenboer also worked part-time as the development director for the Association for the Advancement of Christian Scholarship (AACS), now the Institute for Christian Studies (ICS).

During the 1963 meeting of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod (RES) in Grand Rapids, Schrotenboer was offered a staff position of General Secretary for RES. Hiring Schrotenboer resulted in RES having a greater world presence. He visited other world gatherings as a RES representative. He made connections with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches, and World Evangelical Fellowship. He also held close connections with the churches in South Africa. He greatly opposed apartheid, and played a significant role in helping end it. Despite having a busy work schedule, Schrotenboer still found time to write. He had written a great number of books, pamphlets, and essays. He remained with the Reformed Ecumenical Synod until he retired in 1988. Although retired, he still worked part-time for the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education.

After a long fight with cancer, Paul Gerard Schrotenboer passed away on July 16, 1998 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was survived by his wife of 52 years, Bernice Oatmen. He was also survived by his 3 sons and their families.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: AACS Material, 1964-1982],
[Series 2: Papers and Class Notes, 1930-1970, n.d.],
[Series 3: Reference Material, 1940-1988],
[Series 4: Correspondence, 1965-1998],
[Series 5: WEF Material, 1980-1998],
[Series 6: Speeches and Lectures, 1956-1988],
[Series 7: Papers, 1969-1997],
[Series 8: OMSC and Missions Conference Material, 1982-1987],
[Series 9: Miscellaneous, 1952-1998],
[Series 10: Photographs],
[All]

Series 4: Correspondence --- 1965-1998

Box 26

Folder 1: With Egbert Schuurman --- 1979-1984
Folder 2: With Neal Punt --- 1978-1979
Folder 3: Potchefstroom University --- 1975-1987
Folder 4: Ref. Missions Consultation --- 1983
Folder 5: Form W.M. Ridderbos --- 1980 and 1983
Folder 6: With J.P. Roberts --- 1979-1987
Folder 7: With Pierre Rossouw --- 1985
Folder 8: With Arnold Rumph --- 1969-1981
Folder 9: With Richard Russell --- 1976-1982
Folder 10: With W.M. Saayman --- 1976-1978
Folder 11: With J.J. Molenaar --- 1969-1976
Folder 12: With Dion Kempf --- 1966-1984
Folder 13: With Calvin College --- 1966-1967
Folder 14: Australia Correspondence --- 1993
Folder 15: "Facing the Challenge of Secularism" Correspondence --- 1988-1990
Folder 16: With Calvin Seerveld --- 1967-1971

Box 27

Folder 1-2: Correspondence --- 1965-1966
Folder 3: Correspondence --- 1994
Folder 4-5: Correspondence --- 1996-1997
Folder 6: Tantur Ecumenical Institute Correspondence --- 1996-1997
Folder 7: World Evangelical Fellowship Correspondence --- 1997
Folder 8: World Evangelical Fellowship Correspondence --- 1993-1998
Folder 9: AACS Correspondence --- 1983
Folder 10: With Gordon Spykman --- 1981-1985
Folder 11: With R. Soedarmo --- 1969-1972

Box 28

Folder 1: With William Smith --- 1972-1979
Folder 2: With James Skillen --- 1974
Folder 3: 3rd Conf. of Institutions for Christian Higher Education --- 1978-1981
Folder 4: Miscellaneous --- 1968, 1974, 1976
Folder 5: Miscellaneous --- 1981-1985
Folder 6: Miscellaneous --- 1986-1988
Folder 7: Miscellaneous --- 1994-1998
Folder 8: Documents/Correspondence re Committee for Justice and Liberty --- 1962-1965
Folder 9: M. Elaine Botha Correspondence --- 1975-1984
Folder 10: David P. Botha Correspondence and Paper --- 1980-1984
Folder 11: Glen A. Andreas Correspondence --- 1968-1979