The Plan of Du Moulin

In this plan Du Moulin proposed two stages to achieve Protestant unity. The first stage sought to establish an accord among Reformed churches on the basis of a common confession. In a conference to meet in Zeeland, the various Reformed churches of Europe would each be represented by two theologians. They would lay on the table the various confessions of the English, Scottish, French, Dutch, Swiss, and Palatine churches, so that “from these confessions a common one might be drawn up, in which some things might be passed by, the knowledge of which is not necessary for salvation; such as the question of Piscator regarding justification, and several subtle opinions proposed by Arminius on free will, predestination, and perseverance of the saints.” In this common confession, to be approved by the princes and synods of the various nations, the churches would be content to focus only on matters necessary for salvation and agree to “tolerate those of a different opinion on matters not necessary,” especially differences in ceremonies and church polity.9 In this context it is clear that Du Moulin considered Arminian views to be in the category of nonnecessary matters that could be tolerated. The next stage of the plan was to hold a second conference to which the Lutheran churches would be invited to explore areas of agreement and mutual toleration in order to seek a broader accord with the Reformed.

 

Donald Sinnema, "The French Reformed Churches, Arminianism, and the Synod of Dort (1618-1619)", in Martin Klauber, ed., The Theology of the French Reformed Churches: From Henry IV to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014), 101-102