The Synod of Dordt met from November 1618 to May 1619.
1604: Two professors at Leiden, Jacobus Arminius and Franciscus Gomarus, publicly debate the doctrine of predestination.
1607: Church delegates gather for a national synod to settle the issue. The national government refuses to call a national synod, in part because it is preoccupied with war against Spain. At this time, the national government sympathizes with the Arminians.
1610: Some Arminian sympathizers write five position statements. The statements are called the Remonstrance, and the Arminians became known as the “Remonstrants,” because the word “remonstrate” can mean to present a written demonstration of error or protest. The five heads of the Canons correspond to the Remonstrance.
1611: A conference between Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants (representing the truly Reformed position) fails to help settle the issue.
1617, Nov: The national government, now opposed to the Arminians, approves calling a national synod.
1618, Oct. 17: The national government designated this day one of fasting and prayer for God’s blessing on the synod.
1618, Nov. 13: Synod begins. It treats matters of Bible translation, Heidelberg Catechism preaching, baptism of slave children in the Dutch East Indies, and the training of ministers.
1618, Dec. 6: Synod begins treating the Arminian controversy.
1619, Jan. 14: President Bogerman dismisses the Arminians with a memorable speech.
1619, Mar. 25-Apr. 16: Synod recesses while a committee drafts the Canons of Dordt. The word “Canons” refers to a rule or standard; the Synod of Dordt adopted the Canons of Dordt as the standard of orthodoxy regarding the five contested points of doctrine.
1619, May 6: The date on which the Canons were officially adopted in their final form.
1619, May 9: The foreign delegates are dismissed. Synod adopts the Church Order, an official translation of the Belgic Confession, the liturgical forms, and the Formula of Subscription. It also gives its pronouncements regarding Sabbath observance.
1619, May 29: Synod adjourns.
Next Spring (April 25-27, 2019) the PRC Seminary with help from Trinity PRC’s Evangelism Committee, will sponsor a major conference marking the 400th anniversary of the “Great Synod” of Dordt (1618-19).
Recently a new website was launched to promote the event and highlight the history and significance of Dordt – dort400.org – and the following announcement was sent out to advertise the event:
Dordt 400: Trinity PRC is hosting a 3-day conference for the 400th anniversary of the Synod of Dordt on April 25-27. Mark your calendars and visit our website at dordt400.org
The Dordt 400 Conference includes a Writing Contest with great prizes. If you are looking for a way to use your writing skills, visit our website at dordt400.org and start working on your essay.
The website also has a blog, where you will find the first post to be a summary of the important dates involving the Synod of Dordt, penned by the seminary’s new professor, Douglas J. Kuiper and published in the August issue of the Standard Bearer. We reproduce that here for your interest.
We hope you will plan to attend and participate in every way you can. Subscribe to the blog posts and look for more content to be added in the months leading up to the conference.
And, yes, look for some books and other items of interest on this synod and its anniversary here in the months ahead too. Here’s one you may start with, currently offered at a 40% discount from the publisher:
The Three R's Blog 
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