Synod of Dort

The rise of Arminianism caused a National Synod to be held in Dordrecht by the Dutch Reformed Church to settle the divisive controversy initiated. On November 13, 1618, the Dutch Reformed Church and voting representatives from eight foreign Reformed churches held the first meeting. The last and final meeting was held on May 9, 1619 and was the 154th meeting. It settled the controversy over Arminianism, condemned it, rejected the Arminian views and set forth the Reformed doctrine on each point, namely total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. The Remonstrants, as the Arminians were known as, were directed to abstain from ministerial activities such as preaching, exhorting, administering the sacraments, and visiting the sick. They were also requested to sign The Act of Cessation, the legalization of the order to desist from the ministry but refused to sign it and were sentenced as 'disturbers of the public peace' and ordered to leave the United Provinces. The Synod condemned the religious doctrine of Arminianism as heresy.