The third of three resolutions proposed by F.L. Rutgers, A.F. de Savornin Lohman, and A. Kuyper, respectively, on the first day of the Reformed Church Congress held at Amsterdam from January 11 to January 14, 1887 (see 1887.01). This concluding resolution makes the point that trying to abolish the hierarchy in the Dutch Reformed Church by efforts from within the church has to be given up because it is ineffective and improper. Instead, Kuyper encourages church members to imitate the Reformers by throwing off the yoke of this “second hierarchy” (see 1887.04) by renouncing their pledges to the denomination and its congregations. He did not want his supporters to withdraw into private circles, but to work actively to bring about a broad-based movement to liberate local congregations from denominational hierarchy.

The three resolutions were printed and made available on the first day of the congress. Approximately 1,500 participants and seventy churches took part in the congress, which aimed at liberating churches throughout the Netherlands from the synodical hierarchy. Kuyper was the chairman of the congress.