.
Collection Overview
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.
Administrative Information
Repository:
Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Alternate Extent Statement:
4 Boxes
Acquisition Source:
s: Clarence Boomsma, 2003, 2006; Shirley Boomsma, 2008
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: [General Materials]],
[
Series 2: Photographs],
[All]
- 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
- Box 3
- Folder 23: Family photographs --- undated
- Folder 24: Photographs of trip to South Africa --- 1985
- Folder 25: Photographs of trip to Geneva for Reformed Ecumenical Synod Interim Committee meeting --- 1987
- Folder 26: Photographs of trip to Zimbabwe for Reformed Ecumenical Synod --- 1988
- Folder 27: Photographs of trip to South Africa, Switzerland, and France --- 1986
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Photo album dedicated to C. Boomsma from Korean Presbyterian Churches --- undated
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: [General Materials]],
[
Series 2: Photographs],
[All]
