Clarence Bouma

Clarence Bouma, born Klass Bouma (1891-1962) was born in the Netherlands. His parents immigrated to the USA in May 1905. He was a theologian and professor at Calvin Theological Seminary

he studied at both Calvin College and Seminary, then at Princeton Seminary, Princeton University and Harvard Divinity School where he obtained a Doctorate of Theology in 1921. On a graduate fellowship he travelled to Berlin and Amsterdam to carry post-graduate work.

He joined the faculty at Calvin Theological Seminary in 1924. His first role was as Chair of Dogmatics but shortly afterwards he moved to the new role of chair of Apologetics and Ethics.(1924-51)

In 1935 he became the editor of The Calvin Forum(1935-1951).

He opposed liberal and modernistic movements in Christianity. He became a key member in the mid 20th century development of American evangelicalism… He influenced the formation of the National Association of Evangelicals in 1942.
In 1949 he became the first president of the Evangelical Theological Society.

The conflict between traditional and progressive theologies escalated in 1951 to the point that Clarence suffered a nervous breakdown which left him in a psychiatric hospital for the 10 remaining years of his life. He bore this with great courage and faith.

Clarence died, aged 71, on 12th August 1962