scholarly journals Kerkhistoriese oorsig van die diskoers oor rasseverhoudinge en versoening in die Afrikaanse gereformeerde kerke (1990–2017)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Race Relations ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Close Reading ◽  
The Past ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
The World ◽  
Reformed Churches

A church-historical analysis of the discourse on race relations and reconciliation in the Afrikaans reformed churches (1990–2017)The Afrikaans Reformed Churches, namely the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk of Africa (NHKA) and the Reformed Churches in South Africa (RCSA) made choices regarding the theological justification of apartheid and/or the denouncement thereof. in the past three decades. This chapter offers a close reading of synodical decisions of the Afrikaans Reformed churches with regard to the theological justification of apartheid and related issues as well as the resolutions of the General Assembly of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in 1992. The decisions of the said churches led to the re-admission of the NHKA and DRC in national and international ecumenical organisations, but eventually resulted in some schisms in the denominations. The chapter highlights the reluctance of the Afrikaans reformed churches to expedite a response to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches’ resolutions connected to the biblical justification of apartheid and to attend to reconciliation. In this chapter, attention will be paid to the following sub-themes: the struggle against the theological justification of apartheid and its legacy; from the theological justification of apartheid to a season of human dignity (DRC); from “volkskerk” to identity determined by God (NHKA); the protection of the identity of the “volk” as a God-given call to demographic unity (GKSA); jointly together towards a theology of inclusivity.

scholarly journals Johan Heyns and critique in the Dutch Reformed Church against apartheid: The moderator a prophet?

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
The World ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
First Time ◽  
Public Critique ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

Johan Heyns was the moderator of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church from 1986 to 1990. This church was known as a moral and theological supporter of apartheid until the 1980s. In 1980 Heyns was, for the first time, involved in public critique against the pro-apartheid stance of his church. He took an influential part in writing a new document that criticised apartheid and was accepted by the General Synod of 1986. Heyns was elected as moderator or chairman of this synod. The years from 1986 to 1990 became the busiest of his life. He became the leader in his church’s defence of the new document Church and Society in and beyond South Africa. In order to get back into the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and to stay on in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, the Dutch Reformed Church decided to depart from its apartheid ways. Heyns’ message on apartheid was shaped by his Reformed approach to life, in which he chose reform as the method for change.

scholarly journals Sending in die kerk: ’n Gevallestudie

1992 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-55
Author(s):  
J. J. Kritzinger
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Church Members ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The World ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Church ◽  
Significant Factors

Mission in the church: A case study Based on an enquiry into mission interest in the NG Church. Although there can be no doubt that mission is the essential task to which God called the church into being, to be his witness in the world, the empirical church often shows very little awareness of this. This article relates some results of research done in the Dutch Reformed Church in the Republic of South Africa on the church members’ interest in and involvement with mission. Some of the significant factors influencing the missionary interest of the members were (a) their personal spirituality and activities within the church, (b) their political leanings, and (c) the missionary preaching and enthusiasm of the ministers. A few aspects of the ministry are highlighted as worthy of attention.

scholarly journals Met die oog op genesingsdienste in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk

1991 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-108
Author(s):  
J. P. J. Theron
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Healing Ministry ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk ◽  
The World ◽  
Healing Services ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

Towards healing services in the Dutch Reformed Church The position of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa with regard to the world wide recovery of the Church’s healing ministry is discussed. Features of liturgical healing services of other denominational churches are utilised to develop a model for the Dutch Reformed Church in Initiating this kind of public ministry.

scholarly journals Politieke mag, die Ou Testament en kerkeenheid

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-372
Author(s):  
J.H. Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Political Power ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
The Past ◽  
Church Unity ◽  
The Family ◽  
Reformed Churches

Political power, the Old Testament and church unity The  family  of Dutch  Reformed  Churches  in  South  Africa  are  involved  in tense  discussions  on  church  unity.  One  aspect  which  must  be  discussed thoroughly  is  the  legitimation  of  political  "power.  Not  only  in  the past but also  the present Mandela government  is  religiously supported.  It  is argued that  this a dangerous  venture.  Some  examples from  the Old Testament are used to  illustrate  this point.  It  is  stated that Israel became disillusioned  in political power and therefore reformulated royal theology.

scholarly journals Tugwaardige sondes in drie gereformeerde kerkordes

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
Church Discipline ◽  
Christian Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Spiritual Nature ◽  
Christian Reformed Church ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church

Sin which should be disciplined according to three church orders. The orders of three reformed churches, namely those of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Christian Reformed Church in North America and the Reformed Churches in South Africa have consensus about the need for an officially punishable sin to be of a public and offensive nature. The reason is that a sin must be openly against the Word of God and the confessions of the church. The approach of the church as an institution of faith carrying the love and righteousness of God, should be to maintain the spiritual nature of church discipline and to aim for the spiritual purpose of its discipline. Church discipline should be aimed at convincing the sinner and assuring church members of its desire to keep the demands of the Word and justice in tact.

scholarly journals Die Wêreldbond van Gereformeerde Kerke, die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk en ’n status confessionis teen die teologiese en morele regverdiging van apartheid

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Moral Justification ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk ◽  
The World ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Dutch Reformed Church and a status confessionis against the theological and moral justification of apartheid. In 1982 the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) announced a status confessionis against the theological and moral justification of apartheid. It expelled two member churches, the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika) because of their known support of apartheid. This situation could only be changed if these two churches were to unequivocally reject apartheid on the basis of a status confessionis and show specified practical examples of this rejection. The meaning of a status confessionis as applied by the WARC is analysed. The reason why the WARC came to a status confessionis is historically investigated. The reaction of the DRC to this resolution and its readmittance as a member of the WARC is clarified. Attention is also given to the condition that accepting a status confessionis against the support of apartheid does not mean – for the WARC at least – that a new confession of faith should follow from this.

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 Armoede

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Church Education ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

Poverty: A challenge for the Afrikaans reformed churches, 1994-2019This contribution gives an overview of how four of the important reformed churches in South Africa responded to the challenge of poverty from 1994 to 2019. Following an introduction, the first part of the chapter defines poverty and describes the extent of the crisis. It then gives an overview of how the Dutch Reformed Church responded by imbedding compassion into the missional calling of the church. It also describes how early childhood development became the focus of the church in the struggle against poverty. The chapter then describes how the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa was guided in her action by the Belhar Confession. The church integrated the struggle against poverty with the struggle of justice and reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa. The focus of the reformed churches in South Africa in addressing poverty was the role of the deacons in the local church. Education is also an important part of their fight against poverty. The Dutch Reformed Church of Africa rose to the challenge by making important structural changes in the church after 1995. This led to the empowerment of deacons in local churches through which the church addressed the poverty of members. The research shows in conclusion how the four churches used different routes to respond to the challenge of poverty in South Africa over the past 25 years.

scholarly journals Raakpunte in die ontwikkeling van ekumene in die wêreld met ekumeniese ontwikkelinge in die gereformeerde kerke in Suid-Afrika (1990–2020)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolph Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
People Of God ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
The Past ◽  
Church Unity ◽  
The World ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Minimal Importance

Points of communality in the development of ecumenism worldwide with reformed churches in South Africa (1990–2020)This historic-critical study analyses the development of ecumenism from 1990 to 2020 within the traditional Afrikaans speaking reformed churches in South Africa. The study attempts to determine whether the so-called change or shift in ecumenism within reformed churches and ecumenical bodies worldwide, influenced the theology and practice of ecumenism in Afrikaans-speaking churches in South Africa (1990 to 2020). Afrikaans-speaking reformed churches not only face political and social challenges in South Africa, but also face other major challenges brought about by a postmodern society and theological developments from 1990 to 2020. The development of ecumenism in reformed churches in the world, as described by Plaatjies-Van Huffel (2011:1–11) consists of a shift from conciliar ecumenism to transformative receptive ecumenism. In the past 30 years conciliar ecumenism took its stance in absolute certainties derived from a specific viewpoint on Scripture. Conciliar ecumenism partially failed because some reformed churches excluded other reformed churches from church unity, based on a particular interpretation of Scripture. These exclusions were claimed to be based upon the “authority” derived from Scripture. This ecumenical practice did not lead to significant church unity. The transformative receptive ecumenism, on the other hand, tends to reach out to the marginalised people of God, and not only try to transform the unrighteousness in the lives of people, but also tends to learn from and accommodate the needy in the understanding of ecumenism. If the developments in worldwide ecumenism influenced ecumenical thought among reformed Afrikaans-speaking churches, the question arises: to what extent was transformative receptive ecumenism able to contribute to a better understanding of ecumenism and church unity – especially in the development of an African transformative receptive ecumenism. Also, if a shift in ecumenical practise took place, does that mean that the conciliar ecumenism of the past was of minimal importance? Is a new understanding of ecumenism (as in transformative receptive ecumenism) the alpha and omega of ecumenism in theory and practice? Shouldn’t transformative receptive ecumenism be further discussed by all churches in South Africa and the world to bring forth an ecumenical model that suits the South African situation as part of worldwide ecumenism?This chapter attempts to understand recent developments and issues within the reformed ecumenical societies and agencies in the world, after which the Afrikaans-speaking historic-reformed churches will be viewed in terms of the understanding of their calling to ecumenism. The developments and issues in the reformed world will be compared with the latest developments and issues within the Afrikaans-speaking reformed churches. A conclusion based on a comparison between ecumenism in the world and in South Africa will be drawn before some remarks on the future of ecumenical understanding concludes this study.

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