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 1: AACS Material --- 1964-1982

Box 1

Folder 1: Foundation Material --- 1981
Folder 2: ICS Curators Material --- 1981
Folder 3: ICS Curators Material --- 1981
Folder 4: ICS Curators Material --- 1981

Box 2

Folder 1: Constitution
Folder 2: Board of Trustees Minutes - Institute for Christian Studies --- 1968-1969
Folder 3: Board of Trustees Minutes - Institute for Christian Studies --- 1970-1973
Folder 4: Board of Trustees Correspondence --- 1972-1974
Folder 5: Board of Trustees Reports --- 1973-1974
Folder 6: Board of Trustees Minutes and Correspondence --- 1975
Folder 7: Board of Trustees Reports --- 1976
Folder 8: Board of Trustees Correspondence --- 1976
Folder 9: Board of Trustees Reports and Correspondence --- 1977
Folder 10: Board of Trustees Material --- 1978
Folder 11: Board of Trustees Material --- 1979
Folder 12: Report to the Board of Trustees --- 1980

Box 3

Folder 1: Board of Curators Minutes

Item 1: Institute for Christian Studies --- 1967-1968
Item 2: Executive Committee Minutes --- 1968

Folder 2: Board of Curators Minutes - Institute for Christian Studies --- 1970-1973

Folder 3: ICS Curators Documents --- 1973-1974

Folder 4: Curators Correspondence --- 1975

Folder 5: Curators Minutes and Reports --- 1975

Folder 6: Curators Minutes and Reports --- 1976

Folder 7: Curators Correspondence --- 1976

Folder 8: Curators Reports and Correspondence --- 1977

Folder 9: ICS Curators Winter Meeting Material --- 1978

Folder 10: ICS Curators Documents --- 1978

Folder 11: ICS Curators Material --- 1979

Box 4

Folder 1: Reports to the ICS Curators, by B. Zylstra --- 1979
Folder 2: Curators Correspondence --- 1980
Folder 3: Curators Reports --- 1980
Folder 4: Foundation Members Minutes --- 1972-1980
Folder 5: Foundation Minutes and Related Documents --- 1977-1978
Folder 6: Foundation Board Minutes --- February 1970-December 1979
Folder 7: Foundation Correspondence --- 1979
Folder 8: Foundation Documents --- 1979
Folder 9: Foundation Correspondence --- 1980
Folder 10: Foundation Reports and Minutes --- 1980
Folder 11: Foundation Documents --- 1982

Box 5

Folder 1: Foundation Minutes --- 1981-1982
Folder 1A: Board of Governors Minutes --- October 1968-February 1970
Folder 2: ICS Council Minutes --- 1975
Folder 3: Documents: AACS/ICS Boards Meeting --- 1975
Folder 4: Board of Directors Minutes --- August 1968-October 1975
Folder 5: Board of Directors Minutes --- May 1975-November 1978
Folder 6: Executive Directors Reports and Correspondence --- 1975-1979
Folder 7: Board of Directors Minutes --- 1980
Folder 8: Correspondence --- 1972-1973
Folder 9: Correspondence --- 1974-1976
Folder 10: ICS Correspondence --- 1972-1980
Folder 11: Correspondence --- 1979
Folder 12: Financial Reports --- 1971-1976
Folder 13: Correspondence with Calvin College re Foreign Students --- 1976
Folder 14: Material --- 1972-1973
Folder 15: Material --- 1974-1976
Folder 16: ICS Promotional Material --- 1970-1978

Box 6

Folder 1: NACPA Constitution and Related Material --- 1969-1972
Folder 2: NACPA Documents Relating to Conscientious Objection --- 1970
Folder 3: NACPA Documents Relating to Proposal C (Parochaide) --- 1970
Folder 4: NACPA Documents Relating to the Abortion Issue --- 1971-1972
Folder 5: Institute for Christian Studies Academic Papers --- 1975-1979
Folder 6: Grand Rapids Chapter Board Minutes --- 1969-1972
Folder 7: Holland, Michigan Chapter Material --- 1973
Folder 8: Curriculum Development Centre Material --- 1975-1977
Folder 9: ICS Accreditation Material --- 1973
Folder 10: Friends of the AACA Material --- 1980
Folder 11: ICS Reports --- 1964-1980
Folder 12: Draft of a Degree Charter for ICS --- 1980
Folder 13: Reports/Statements of Unity - ICS --- 1980
Folder 14: Documents Relating to the Issue Between Second Toronto CRC and AACS --- 1970-1971

Box 7

Folder 1: England Papers
Folder 2: Papers by Faculty --- 1965-1973
Folder 3: Membership Concerns --- 1980
Folder 4: Paper: From Covenant of Grace to Tolerant Public Pluralism-James Skillen --- 1975, 1980
Folder 5: Grand Rapids Chapter Material --- 1970-1975
Folder 6: Mini Missions Conference --- 1972
Folder 7: Trends in Higher Education Committee Material --- 1972-1974
Folder 8: Discovery III Speakers Series Material --- 1971