scholarly journals The black church as the womb of black liberation theology?: Why the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) is not a genuine black church?

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rothney S. Tshaka
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Black Church ◽  
Black People ◽  
Black Theology ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Black Liberation ◽  
Black Liberation Theology ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Critical Theology ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article sets forth a controversial thesis which suggests that the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, although considered a black church, is in fact not a black church in the sense in which a radical black church is traditionally understood. A black church, it is argued, is perceived to be one that is a self-determined church which supports initiatives of ameliorating the depressive situations in which black people find themselves. References are made to black theology as a critical theology which was never accepted in the black church due to the dependency syndrome which was brought about by the white benevolence of the Dutch Reformed Church. This, it is argued, had become innate in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa which still considers itself as a so-called daughter church of the white Dutch Reformed Church.

scholarly journals Where have all the Prophets Gone? URCSA 25 years Later: Re-Acquainting with Prophetic Theology in Post-apartheid South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Andre Fortein
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Black Liberation ◽  
Black Liberation Theology ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
State Capture ◽  
The Status ◽  
Mission Church ◽  
The Church

The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) was formed in 1994 as a merger between the former Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA). URCSA, as the bearer of the Belhar Confession, has always stood within the tradition of Prophetic Theology. This article upholds the presuppositions that the prophetic nature of Black Liberation Theology impacted on the reasoning of the authors of various anti-apartheid documents like the theological declarations of the Belydendekring and Alliance of Black Reformed Christians in Southern Africa (ABRECSA), the Kairos Document and Belhar Confession; and with the advent of our democracy, URCSA not only lost her Kairos conscience but parted with Prophetic Theology—hence the title of this paper. Issues like state capture, corruption, the expropriation of land without compensation, poverty, racism, and so forth are all issues plaguing our young democracy and require a clear theological response. This article argues for renewed acquaintance from the church, URCSA, with Prophetic Theology, which will enable the church to not only speak prophetically but to challenge the status quo. Prophetic Theology is much better prepared to engage with the challenges posed in post-apartheid South Africa because it is grounded in a hope that is unprepared to accept the world as it is.

scholarly journals Ministerial formation policies of the Northern Theological Seminary of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa:

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-216
Author(s):  
ST Kgatla
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Theological Seminary ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Ethnic Churches ◽  
The Ideal ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article investigates the theoretical and practical effectiveness of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa’s (URCSA) ministerial formation of the Northern Synod. The URCSA is part of the Reformed Movement (Calvinism) that was established by the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) of South Africa that mainly came from the Netherlands to establish itself in South Africa and later established ethnic churches called daughter churches into existence in terms of a racially designed formula. After many years of the Dutch Reformed Church missionary dominance, the URCSA constituted its first synod in 1994 after the demise of apartheid. It was only after this synod that the URCSA through its ministerial formation tried to shake off the legacy of colonial paternalism and repositioned itself to serve its members; however, it fell victim to new ideological trappings. This article is based on a study that traces some basic Reformed practices and how the URCSA Theological Seminary of the Northern Synod dealt or failed to deal with them in its quest for the ideal theological ministerial formation.

scholarly journals Discovering and exploring ubuntu-language in the dialogue between the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieze Meiring
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
African History ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

Discussions with members of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in Ohrigstad illustrate the possibilities of ubuntu-language in overcoming racism and prejudice. After proposing a number of meanings and values related to ubuntu, this research explores the role of ubuntu-language � and at times the lack thereof � in the concrete relationship between these two faith communities as an expression of recent South African history. Ubuntu-language seems to offer unique outcomes in this relationship in strengthening identity, unleashing vitality, celebrating diversity, awakening solidarity, revealing humanity, bolstering individualism and enhancing Christianity.

scholarly journals Die reis met kerkeenwording tussen die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika en die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Afrika

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Anne Plaatjies van Huffel ◽  
Johan M. Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Administration Of Justice ◽  
Corporate Entity ◽  
Rules And Principles ◽  
African Context ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

The journey to church unification between the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa. The article gives a historical overview of judicial problems that the Dutch Reformed Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) encountered in their journey to church unification. On 14 April 1994 the DRMC and the DRCA merged and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) came into being. Firstly, attention is given to a historical overview of the unification process. Secondly, the resolutions of the General Synod of the DRCA (1991), the judicial problems that surfaced shortly after the unification between the DRMC and the DRCA, the objections against the unification process and the lawsuit that followed, will be attended to. The unification between the DRMC and the DRCA was tested in court and in 1998 the Supreme Court gave judgment in favor of the DRCA. The verdict indicated that all decisions with regards to church property were ultra vires and that the DRCA as a legal corporate entity remains. The article concludes with a few legal aspects that may be derived from the judgement. The verdict highlights the administration of justice according to established rules and principles, namely that a juristic person cannot be deprived of life, liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards. The article proposes that Reformed churches in the South African context should seriously take cognisance of the judgement. This article attempts to identify the important criteria for and characteristics of administration of justice with regard to church unification.

scholarly journals URCSA as an Impossible Community

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boitumelo Ben Senokoane
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Church History ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Community Or ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article explores the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), argues it as an “impossible community” and deliberates its existence as an “impossible possibility.” The argument stems from the arrival of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) as a faith, and eventually, a community called a church. The article contends that under normal circumstances, URCSA should not be in existence, yet it has survived for 25 years. The reasons for this survival shall be explored and argued. The Reformed doctrine, church history, and the composition of the church are employed to prove why I speak of an impossible community or an impossible possibility. The reasons provided shall form the basis of why we should celebrate the existence and sustenance of URCSA as an impossible community.

scholarly journals The story of the Department of Practical Theology

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsje P. B�chner ◽  
Julian C. M�ller
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Practical Theology ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Presbyterian Church ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
University Of Pretoria ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The University ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article tells the story of the development of the Department of Practical Theology of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria. The story goes back to the start of the Faculty in 1938, although the Department of Practical Theology was only established in 1966 when Professor H.D.A. du Toit applied himself fully to the subject and Professor C.W.H. Boshoff became the first full-time lecturer for Missiology. The article is written mainly from the perspective of the Dutch Reformed Church, but with the acknowledgement of the appointments of Professor Yolanda Dreyer from the Nederduitsch Reformed Church of Africa and Professor Maake Masango from the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa.

scholarly journals Homoseksualiteit: Die standpunte van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk en die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika in 2007

2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Intercourse ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk ◽  
Church Life ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

Homosexuality: The viewpoints of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCA) in 2007 These two churches, through their broadest assembly namely the General Synod and the General Church Assembly respectively, show remarkable similarities in their approach to Scripture on the matter of homosexuality, the position of gay people in church life and the time frame in which they took decisions on these matters. The point of departure for both is marriage as something only for one husband and one wife. This is explicitly complemented by the NRCA with a limitation of sexual intercourse to marriage, which rules out the possibility of homosexuality. In the DRC the same principle is tradition, thus basicly coming to the same conclusion as the NCRA. The reason for these similarities is not that the two assemblies openly copied each other, but the fact that they both are reformed churches in Southern Africa serving, mainly, Afrikaners. Perhaps these similarities supply another reason for the present increase in cooperation between the two churches.

scholarly journals COMMEMORATION, REMEMORATION AND REFORMATION: SOME HISTORICAL-HERMENEUTICAL REMARKS IN LIGHT OF THE 1917 REFORMATION CELEBRATIONS OF THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Roux Vosloo
Keyword(s):  
Identity Construction ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Historical Consciousness ◽  
Protestant Reformation ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Tzvetan Todorov ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

In 2017 the 500th anniversary of the Reformation will be commemorated worldwide through various conferences, church and cultural events, and publications, also in Southern Africa. How should we commemorate the 16th-century Protestant Reformation in 2017 in Reformed circles in Southern Africa? Against the backdrop of this question, this article argues for the need of a self-critical reflection on the possible abuses associated with commemorations as such, as well as by a heightened historical consciousness of the way in which past commemorations of the Reformation functioned in processes of identity construction and ‘othering’. With this in mind, the article proceeds in two parts. In the first part the aspect of commemoration is problematised by referring to the critique of the possible abuses of memory associated with commemorations, as highlighted in the work of Tzvetan Todorov, also with reference to his distinction between commemoration and rememoration. The second part of the article then turns to some historical documents that give us a glimpse into the 400th anniversary of the Reformation in 1917 in Reformed circles in South Africa, and specifically within the Dutch Reformed Church. This is followed by some concluding remarks.

scholarly journals Die Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk en die menseregtevraagstuk: 1910-1990

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-339
Author(s):  
J.H. Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Black Church ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Church History ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
History Of ◽  
Rights Issue ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church ◽  
Theology Of Liberation

The Dutch Reformed Church and the human rights issue: 1910-199 Research in the field of church history reveals that the Dutch Refonned Church disposes its own human rights tradition that should be viewed and judged alongside and not in opposition 10 its apartheid tradition. As common factor "Human Rights" proved to be a suitablkey to unlock the history of the theology of apartheid ("evangelie van volksvryhede") of the Afrikaans churches, the theology of civilisation ("gospel of co-operation") of the English churches and the theology of liberation ("gospel of humanisation") of the Black church movement in an impartial and systematical way.

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