Clarence Boomsma Collection, 1947-2005

Collection Overview

Title: Clarence Boomsma Collection, 1947-2005

ID: COLL/500

Creator: Boomsma, Clarence (1917-2007)

Extent: 1.97 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Date Acquired: 00/00/2003

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The collection includes memoirs; letters of call; correspondence; articles; speeches; sermons; family materials; news clippings; photographs; materials detailing ecumenical matters, i.e., Christian Reformed Church Interchurch Relations Committee, especially with the Reformed Churches in South Africa; Synodical Reports on Homosexuality; Synodical Reports on Women in Office; and ministerial matters. [See also the Campus Titles Database.]

Biographical Note

Clarence Boomsma was born in Hammond, IN on March 9, 1917. Boomsma attended Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary. He earned his Th.B. in 1943. He also pursued graduate work from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia and New College in Edinburgh, Scotland. Boomsma received his first call to service from Imlay City, MI which he served until 1948. Boomsma went on to Calvin CRC in Grand Rapids, MI. He served the Calvin congregation until his retirement in 1983.

Rev. Boomsma devoted a lot of time and energy into the CRC denomination. He served as a delegate to the Synod eight times, and four times as its president. He also was heavily involved in the Christian Reformed Interchurch Relations Committee as its secretary for many years. In this capacity he was able to significantly improve the contact between the CRC and the post-apartheid South African churches. He also served many years as the convener of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod and served on the Board of Publications.

Clarence Boomsma passed away on May 28, 2007. He was ninety. He was survived by his wife, Shirley Balk, their 3 children, and grandchildren.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: [General Materials]

Box 1

Folder 1: Memories from the Life of Clarence Boomsma --- 1917-1943; 2004
Folder 2: Farewell Program for C. Boomsma - Imlay City, Michigan, CRC --- 1947
Folder 3: Letters of call and responses --- 1947-1970
Folder 4: Letters to his parents --- 1956-1959
Folder 5: Appreciation shown for twenty years of ministry at Calvin CRC, Grand Rapids, Michigan --- 1967
Folder 6: Material re: 25 Years as Pastor at Calvin CRC --- 1973
Folder 7: Grand Rapids Press feature article --- 1973
Folder 8: Funeral of C. Boomsma's mother --- 1981
Folder 9: Family material --- 1965-1996
Folder 10: Correspondence: Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) --- 1963-1964
Folder 11: Interchurch Relations Committee correspondence --- 1974-1986
Folder 12: Correspondence between Interchurch Relations Committee and Reformed Church of South Africa --- 1989-1995
Folder 13: Correspondence and related material re: Korean Presbyterian Church --- 1964
Folder 14: Correspondence re: trip to South Africa for IRC Committee --- 1981
Folder 15: Correspondence --- 1960s
Folder 16: Correspondence --- 1970s
Folder 17: Correspondence --- 1980s
Folder 18: Correspondence --- 1990s

Box 2

Folder 1: Banner articles --- 1952-1991
Folder 2: De Wachter article --- 1963
Folder 3: Reformed Journal articles --- 1952
Folder 4: Presbyterian Guardian article --- 1963
Folder 5: Article "What has happened to the CRC since World War II?" --- 1983
Folder 6: Participation in funeral of Pfc. Walter Patterson --- 1968
Folder 7: Funeral of J. Herman Fles --- 1982
Folder 8: Funeral of Marion Battles --- 1994
Folder 9: Memorial service and funeral of Henry Stob --- 1996
Folder 10: Reports of trip to South Africa for Interchurch Relations Committee --- 1981
Folder 11: Account of trip to South Africa --- 1985
Folder 12: List of trips made to South Africa --- 1981-1990
Folder 13: Report of Fraternal Delegated Synod Gereformeerde Kerken in South Africa --- 1988
Folder 14: Journal and related material of trip to South Africa --- 1986
Folder 15: Account of trip to South Africa, Switzerland and France --- 1987
Folder 16: Material re: Relationship between the CRC and the Reformed Churches of South Africa --- 1989-1993
Folder 17: Speech at the Young Calvinist Convention --- 1960
Folder 18: Invocation given at Michigan Constitutional Convention --- 1962
Folder 19: Sermon for Reformed Ecumenical Synod Prayer Service --- 1963
Folder 20: Synodical Report 39-A, Ecumenicity and the World Council --- 1967
Folder 21: Committee on World Council of Churches Report to Synod --- 1967

Box 3

Folder 1: Synodical Report 42 on Homosexuality --- 1973

Folder 2: Calvin Commencement Address --- 1976

Folder 3

Item 1: Commencement Address at Calvin Seminary --- 1976
Item 2: Convocation Address at Reformed Theological Seminary --- 1981

Folder 4: School Commencement Address --- 1969-1977

Folder 5: Remarks and prayer at the Joint Praise and Prayer Service [NAPARC] --- 1978

Folder 6: Speech for American Guild of Organists --- 1978

Folder 7: Sermon commemorating 125th anniversary of CRC --- 1982

Folder 8: Speech to Pine Rest Hospital Board and staff --- undated

Folder 9: Material on proposed study booklet on CRC/RCA Relations --- 1985-1987

Folder 10: Minutes and related material re: Concurrent CRC/RCA Synods --- 1988

Folder 11: Denominational CRC/RCA Committee minutes correspondence --- 1983-1989

Folder 12: Material of Synodical ad hoc Committee to Gather Grounds for 1990 Decision re: Women in Office --- 1991

Folder 13: "Committee of 100 for 100 Days of Progress," booklet --- 1968

Folder 14: Participation in the 30th Christian Reformed Family Conference --- 1970

Folder 15: Shirley Boomsma's organ recitals and conference participation --- 1972-1975

Folder 16: Review of Shirley Boomsma's organ performance --- 1978

Folder 17: Robert Boomsma's poems and Chimes article --- 1978

Folder 18: Insight magazine article on homosexuality --- 1978

Folder 19: Commendation from Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism --- 1984

Folder 20: Material on "Preaching Today" Planning Committee (Joint CRC/RCA) --- 1989

Folder 21: Paper, "Why I still Believe the Gospel" --- 2005

Folder 22: News clippings --- undated

Series 2: Photographs