Scope and Contents
The collection includes biographical material, correspondence, letters of call to churches, photographs, images of plaques received for service, prayers and sermons he wrote, and audiotapes and videotapes of him speaking and his funeral service. Audiotapes and videotapes are available in digital form. The collection is ordered alphabetically by subject and chronologically within each folder.
Dates
- Creation: 1939 - 1997
Biography
The Rev. Dr. Raymond E. Beckering, Sr. was born December 27, 1910, in Oostburg, Wisconsin. He attended Central College to receive both an A.B. degree in 1931 and later an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1966. He continued on to attend Western Theological Seminary, graduating in 1934 with a Th.D. degree. After graduation, he married Harriet J. Hasper in Chicago.
He was licensed and ordained by the Classis of Chicago in 1934. He served as pastor at a series of churches connected with the Reformed Church of America (RCA): Ross Reformed Church, Gary, Indiana (1934-1939); Hope Reformed Church, Chicago, Illinois (1940-1944); Hope Reformed Church, Los Angeles, California (1944-1949); Hope Reformed Church, Chicago, Illinois (1949-1954), Park Hills Reformed Church, Los Angeles, California (1954-1958); Second Reformed Church, Zeeland, Michigan (1959-1967); and Garden Grove Reformed Church, Garden Grove, California (1967-1977).
In 1958, while pastor at the Second Reformed Church of Zeeland, Michigan, he was elected vice-president of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) at its 159th conference. At this point, he was already secretary of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at Western Theological Seminary. He also served on the Board of Education, RCA and the boards of Central and Hope Colleges. After working with the Reformed Church, he became pastor of Crystal Cathedral. While there, he founded the New Hope Counseling Center.
Beckering’s wife, Harriet, passed away July 13, 1991. He died Sunday, July 14, 1996, in Holland, Michigan leaving two adult children.
Extent
1.50 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Rev. Dr. Raymond E. Beckering, Sr. was born in Oostburg, Wisconsin. He graduated Central College (A.B, 1931), Western Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1934), and Central College (D.D., 1931). He was licensed and ordained by the Classis of Chicago in 1934. He served as pastor at a series of churches connected with the Reformed Church of America (RCA): Ross Reformed Church, Gary, Indiana (1934-1939); Hope Reformed Church, Chicago, Illinois (1940-1944); Hope Reformed Church, Los Angeles, California (1944-1949); Hope Reformed Church, Chicago, Illinois (1949-1954), Park Hills Reformed Church, Los Angeles, California (1954-1958); Second Reformed Church, Zeeland, Michigan (1959-1967); Garden Grove Reformed Church, Garden Grove, California (1967-1977). He was elected vice-president of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) at its 159th conference in 1958. At this time, he was also serving as secretary of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at Western Theological Seminary. He also served on the Board of Education, RCA and the boards of Central and Hope Colleges. After working with the Reformed Church, he became pastor of Crystal Cathedral. While there, he founded the New Hope Counseling Center. Beckering passed away in 1996 in Holland, Michigan. The collection includes biographical material, correspondence, letters of call to churches, photographs, images of plaques received for service, prayers and sermons he wrote, and audiotapes and videotapes of him speaking and his funeral service. Audiotapes and videotapes are available in digital form.
Photographs
10 images (Box 1)
Provenance
Rev. Dr. Raymond E. Beckering, Sr.
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Hope College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Van Wylen Library
53 Graves Place
Holland Michigan 49423 United States
616-395-7798
archives@hope.edu
