Die Afrikaanse gereformeerde kerke in Suid-Afrika en hul aanbiddingspraktyke (1990–2020)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-198
Author(s):  
Hoffie Hofmeyr
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Church Life ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Church Service ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

The Afrikaans reformed Churches in South Africa and their worshipWorship as a major window on church life remains one of the most visible and obvious areas to discover and identify changes, movements and transformation quickly. Worship also reflects clearly on the way we experience the church. John van de Laar puts it aptly when he stated that “the way we worship, defines the way we live”. The question being addressed in this article is whether there have been some clear changes in the style of worshipping in these South African reformed churches and if so, why. In a brief overview the focus is on, inter alia, the most important areas of the worship of the church, that is, liturgy and the church service, preaching, church music and hymns, sacraments, small groups, and contemplative services. Many challenges remain; the important reality also remains that changes ought to be according to the basic principles of Scripture and the confessional tradition, always with a realisation of our contextuality in Africa and the needs of the 21st century.

scholarly journals Kuyper se ekklesiologie en die interpretasie van ‘kerklike sake’ in artikel 30 van die Kerkorde van die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Vorster
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
African Society ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

The Ecclesiology of Abraham Kuyper had a visible influence on the Reformed Churches of South-Africa. It has been noted by various theologians that his view of the Church as organism and as institute constituted the way in which these Churches functioned in South African society. His view determined the way in which the expression ecclesiastical matters in article 30 of the Church Order of the Reformed Churches in South Africa has been interpreted over the years. Ecclesiastical matters have been interpreted as matters dealing with the institute itself while political and social matters have been regarded as extra-ecclesiastical

scholarly journals Die 'vroue-kwessie' in die GKSA

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pieterse
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Church Members ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church ◽  
And Task ◽  
The Way

The issue about women in the Reformed Churches in South Africa (GKSA) This article provides a summary of the views of church members in the GKSA (Reformed Churches in South Africa) on women. According to traditional views a woman’s primary role and task are limited to the home where she has to be a wife to her husband and a mother to her children. The perception is that she does not have a role within society or politics. Furthermore her role in the church has been limited to activities regarded as in harmony with the view of women as housewives. Women have objected to this delimiting view of their role and task in society and church, especially because it is not in harmony with the restitution that Christ has effected for women. In the GKSA, especially the fact that women are not allowed to serve as deacon, elder or minister, is experienced as contradictory to women’s restitution. The article provides a synopsis of the way in which the GKSA has dealt with the issue of women in office. In several reports of Synod, many positive things have been written about women. The church, however, has been reluctant to translate words into actions and allow women to use their gifts fully in the church.

scholarly journals Bonhoeffer in South Africa: Role model and prophet

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-165
Author(s):  
PGJ Meiring
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Role Model ◽  
Dietrich Bonhoeffer ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Way

Dietrich Bonhoeffer , arguably more than any other European theologian, influenced the way in which South African Christians, clergy and laity alike, have come to see their role in the struggle against apartheid. In his article the author describes the manner in which the German theologian was accepted as a role model by many, and evaluates his influence  in the theological and ethical debates in the country. The aim of the article is to determine whether Bonhoeffer – who was born a hundred years ago, in 1906 – still has a message for us today, in a different time and under different circumstances.  The author’ s conclusion is in the affirmative: Bonhoeffer’ s message is as powerful as ever . The basic principles in his teaching are as important to us today and tomorrow as they have been in the past.  The author refers to five principles: 'Confessing Christ here and now’, ‘Putting a spoke in the wheel’, ‘Learning to see things from below’, ‘Acknowledging our guilt’, and ‘Becoming a church for others beyond privilege’.

scholarly journals Five hundred years on: Some traces of the Reformation in the Church Orders of two South African Reformed Churches – Seen as temporary expressions of the Church Order of the Reformed Synod of Dordrecht in 1619

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet Strauss
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
16Th Century ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
African Churches ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article examines the influence of the Reformation of the 16th century on the Church Orders of two South African Reformed Churches, namely the Dutch Reformed Church and the Reformed Churches in South Africa. The five so-called solas, namely sola gratia [by grace alone], sola scriptura [by Scripture alone], sola fidei [by faith alone], solus christus [Christ alone] and soli Deo gloria [glory to God alone], are widely accepted as key expressions of the convictions of the Reformation. Although not necessarily in the same terms, the content of the solas are also found in the thought of Calvin. These matters influenced the Synod of Dordrecht (1618–1619) in its acceptance of the Three Formulas of Unity as reformed confessions of faith and its affirmation of the Dordt Church Order. The said South African churches accept the Three Formulas of Unity as confessions of faith and view their church orders as a modern version of the Dordt Church Order – adapted to the demands of the time. This article mainly examines the consequences of sola scriptura and sola fidei on the church orders of the two churches. In terms of these two solas, both have traces of the Reformation after 500 years.

scholarly journals Rediscovering ‘disciplemaking’ and the role of faith-sharing

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malan Nel ◽  
W.J. Schoeman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Gospel Of Matthew ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Faith Sharing ◽  
Church Life ◽  
The Church ◽  
Natural Way

According to the Gospel of Matthew, disciplemaking seems to be the signature mark of faithful disciples of Jesus the Christ (cf. Mt 28:18–20). Van Aarde refers to this, with reference to Von Harnack and Lohmeyer as the manifesto of the church, being on the same level of meaning as Deuteronomy 6 in the Old Testament. It may be fair to say that this ‘natural’ way of being and doing was in more than one way exchanged for evangelism practices that did nothing to show forth that following the Christ is a better or best way of living life, here already, to its fullest. These practices even reflected negatively on disciplemaking as such. A personal conviction is that ‘discipling’ may even be one of the missing links in the so-called missional conversation. This article will reflect on current theory on discipling and the natural necessity thereof. It will also draw upon findings in empirical research conducted by the National Church Life Surveys during 2014 in South Africa that may give an indication whether discipling is a common praxis among selected South African denominations and congregations. The focus will be on ‘Faith-Sharing’ as a core quality among adult attenders and includes several measures of the involvement of attenders in the outreach of the congregation (e.g. evangelistic activities, readiness to share their faith with others and whether outreach is a highly valued part of the ministry of the congregation).

scholarly journals Die toerustingstaak van die Gereformeerde predikant: ’n praktiese bedieningsmodel

1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Vorster
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
The Other ◽  
Worship Service ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Ministry Of The Word ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church

The mininstry of the minister in the Reformed churches in South Africa is strongly influenced by the insitutional model of the Church. The result of this pattern of ministry is that ministry in general is solely dependent on the work of the particular offices of minister. elder and deacon. The community of the saints and the general priesthood of the believers are thus neglected. This article explores ways in which the equipping task of the minister can be effectively rearranged in order to enhance the upbuilding of the church. In conclusion, it is stated that the Reformed minister can equip the believers by simultaneously using two patterns of ministry. On the one hand, the believers can he equipped by way of the ministry of the Word and Sacraments in the worship service and by the ministry of the Word in catechetical instruction and parish visiting. On the other hand, the Reformed minister can equip believers by enabling people with the gift of leadership to lead small groups in the congregation, with the ultimate aim of building up the community of the saints and the general priesthood of the believers.

scholarly journals Afrikaanse gereformeerde kerke in Suid-Afrika en ekologie

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rikus Fick
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Refined Formulation ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

The Afrikaans reformed churches in South Africa and ecologyA plethora of studies describing the scope of destruction of the ecology has been published since the 1970s. Lately, Christianity has been accused of being partly responsible for this. Despite the fact that South Africa is one of the ten largest polluters in the world, local religious communities only started voicing an opinion on this matter during the late 1980s. Only in the early 1990s did the reformed churches in South Africa begin some soul searching and the matter was placed on the agenda. The question raised in this article is: What contribution have the reformed churches in South Africa made towards averting this crisis? The author considers criticism levelled at Christianity in general and at the reformed churches in particular; the status of ecology in the dogma of these churches; the contributions made by theologians, and important decisions taken by synods. Three phases were noted in the way the synods dealt with the issue: Firstly, it was acknowledged that a crisis exists and that the church is neither innocent nor can she remain indifferent; secondly, theologians reflected deeply on this matter and offered a refined formulation of a creed to articulate the relationship between God, creation and man. Lastly, practical guidelines were proposed. It was found that the reformed churches have contributed significantly towards alerting people to the fact that the crisis also has religious implications; that the faithful should obey Biblical guidelines; and that there are implications for life, liturgy, education, and theological training.

scholarly journals Truth and reconciliation in South Africa: Hindu experiences and concerns

2004 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
P.G.J. Meiring
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
The South ◽  
Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation ◽  
Hindu Community ◽  
The Way

The author who served on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), focuses on the Hindu experience in South Africa during the apartheid years. At a special TRC Hearing for Faith Communities (East London, 17-19 November 1997) two submissions by local Hindu leaders were tabled. Taking his cues from those submissions, the author discusses four issues: the way the Hindu community suffered during these years, the way in which some members of the Hindu community supported the system of apartheid, the role of Hindus in the struggle against apartheid, and finally the contribution of the Hindu community towards reconciliation in South Africa. In conclusion some notes on how Hindus and Christians may work together in th

Tracing the Theological Development of the South African Baptismal Rites: The Journey to An Anglican Prayer Book 1989 and Beyond

2017 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-64
Author(s):  
Andrew-John Bethke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Source Material ◽  
Church Membership ◽  
The South ◽  
Valuable Source ◽  
Prayer Book ◽  
Church Unity ◽  
Common Prayer ◽  
The Church

This essay analyzes the theological changes which are reflected in successive revisions of Southern Africa's Anglican liturgy from 1900 to 1989. The following liturgies are examined: A Book of Common Prayer—South Africa (1954); Proposals for the Revision of the Rites of Baptism and Confirmation (1967); the Church Unity Commission's ecumenical liturgies in the 1970s; Birth and Growth in Christ (1984); and An Anglican Prayer Book 1989. The article also includes valuable source material which influenced the revised liturgies, including two official reports on the theology of baptism and confirmation. The author finds that theological uncertainty surrounding the underpinning of current rites brings into question whether full church membership is actually granted during baptism.

Reconciliation in the Public Domain

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Van der Borght
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Domain ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Religious Symbol ◽  
The Public ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

Reconciliation shifted in South Africa during the transition from being a contested idea in the church struggle to a notion proposed and rejected by the fighting parties and finally embraced by the two main political protagonists when they reached an agreement on the transition to a democratic order. This article analyses the layered meaning of the reconciliation concept within the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. On the basis of this description the questions that will be explored are whether reconciliation functioned as a religious symbol at the trc, and if so, in what way. In the conclusion, the way the concept of reconciliation itself was transformed due to the role it played in the transition in South Africa will be summarized and the consequences for theological research will be indicated.

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