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Fred Klooster Collection

Overview

Abstract

Biographical Note

Detailed Description

[General Materials]

Articles and Papers

Academic Materials

Committee Materials

Academic Materials

Correspondence



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Fred Klooster Collection, 1952-1997 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Fred Klooster Collection, 1952-1997

ID: COLL/453

Primary Creator: Klooster, Fred (1922-2003)

Extent: 7.9 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church and professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. The collection includes materials on theological, doctrinal, ethical, and confessional matters; reports, minutes and correspondence detailing synodical committees, i.e., Interchurch Relations, Form of Subscription, Report 44 of 1972, Confessions, Heidelberg Catechism, and SCORR; minutes for the Meeter Center; articles; papers; materials on the alternate seminary and women's issue controversy; correspondence; letters of call; course materials; home missionary reports; retirement materials; and material on the Gerald Klooster court case with clippings, articles, correspondence, court proceedings, and videos. [See also the Campus Titles Database.]

Biographical Note

Fred H. Klooster was born in Munster, Indiana on December 23, 1922.  While attending Chicago Christian High, Klooster's Bible teacher told him he had the ability to become a pastor and encouraged him to pursue an education in ministry. Klooster took his teacher's word to heart and enrolled at Calvin College. After graduating with his B.A. in 1942, he went on to Calvin Theological Seminary where he earned his Th.B. in 1947. Klooster decided to further his education by obtaining his Th.M. from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1949.  Klooster had the honor of studying as a Fulbright scholar at the Free University of Amsterdam, earning his Th.D. in 1951.

Once he completed his education, Klooster was ordained on September 21, 1952 at South Holland, Illinois. He served as a Home missionary in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois until 1953. Klooster went on to become a lecturer at his alma mater, Calvin College, from 1953 to 1956. Klooster accepted the position of Professor of Dogmatics at the Seminary, and later taught Systematic Theology. Over the course of 35 years, he proudly prepared several generations of pastors for the CRC. Klooster retired in 1988.

Klooster's real passion was teaching, but he also enjoyed writing and scholarly research on the Heidelberg Catechism. He has written many articles and books including Our Only Comfort: A Comprehensive Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, 2001. He was also the founding editor of the Calvin Theological Journal.  He served his church in many capacities as well, such as serving on numerous synodical committees and leadership roles in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod.

On a personal level, Klooster married Leona De Waard in 1946. Together they had five children. When Klooster was not teaching, writing, or involved with a committee, he was gardening, playing ping-pong, or running around with his family.  Fred H. Klooster passed away due to subdural hematoma on December 27, 2003 at the age of 81.


Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: [General Materials]],
[Series 2: Articles and Papers],
[Series 3: Academic Materials, 1961-1996],
[Series 4: Committee Materials, 1982-1997],
[Series 5: Academic Materials, 1982-1997],
[Series 6: Correspondence],
[All]

Series 1: [General Materials]
Box 1
Folder 1: Biographical information
Folder 2: Retirement Articles and Documents
Folder 3: Notes on Thesis: "The Incomprehensibility of God in the Orthodox Presbyterian Conflict"
Folder 4: Outline for a Study of the Heidelberg Catechism
Folder 5: Final draft of Catechism Comparisons --- April 1989
Folder 6: Article on the Heidelberg Catechism written for Psalter Hymnal Handbook --- 1987
Folder 7: Material dealing with publication of A Mighty Comfort
Folder 8: Material on evaluation of Dutch confession "God Met Ons"
Folder 9: Two Latin catechisms
Folder 10: Speech to Bible conference
Folder 11: Articles on the Westminster Assembly and Confession
Folder 12: "Reflections upon the Document - Communion of Saints," paper
Folder 13: "Reformed Confessions and the Identity of the Church," paper
Box 2
Folder 1: Minutes of Report 44 Study Committee
Folder 2: Report 44 Committee memos
Folder 3: Commentaries on Report 44
Folder 4: Correspondence with Report 44 Committee
Folder 5: Papers on biblical authority (various authors)
Folder 6: Seminarian N. Overduin paper on Report 44
Folder 7: Report 44 Committee Report to Synod --- 1972
Folder 8: Dordt College Conference on Biblical Authority --- 1976
Folder 9: Papers by Report 44 committee members on biblical authority
Folder 10: Papers/articles on Report 44 (by non-committee members)
Folder 11: Appeals to Synod re: Report 44
Folder 12: Report 44 Committee Member comments on final reports for committee meetings
Folder 13: Report to the (6) Midwest CRC classes re: Report 44 --- 1983
Folder 14: Correspondence between Report 44 committee members
Folder 15: Klooster correspondence re: Report 44
Folder 16-17: Correspondence received re: Report 44
Folder 18: Banner articles on Report 44
Item 1: Guardian articles
Item 2: Reformed Journal articles
Item 3: Christian Beacon article
Item 4: Outlook articles
Item 5: De Wachter article
Box 3
Folder 1: RES Conference on Scripture --- 1972
Folder 2: Reformed Ecumenical Synod Correspondence
Folder 3: NAE Theology Committee material
Folder 4: National Association of Evangelicals material
Folder 5: Presbyterian Confession of 1967 material
Folder 6: CRC/RCA Relations material
Folder 7: Discussions between Interchurch Relations Committee and PCA
Folder 8: Discussions between Interchurch Relations Committee and RCA
Folder 9: Discussions between Interchurch Relations Committee and OPC
Folder 10: Interchurch Relations Committee minutes --- 1988-1992
Folder 11: D. Feddes vs. Neal Punt on Universalism
Folder 12: The Theology of the New Hermeneutics
Folder 13: Willis De Boer material

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: [General Materials]],
[Series 2: Articles and Papers],
[Series 3: Academic Materials, 1961-1996],
[Series 4: Committee Materials, 1982-1997],
[Series 5: Academic Materials, 1982-1997],
[Series 6: Correspondence],
[All]


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