scholarly journals The Formularies of Unity and the Dutch Reformed Church: A preliminary survey

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Britz
Keyword(s):  
18Th Century ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
History Of ◽  
The One ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Sixth Decade ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article undertakes a survey of the application of the Formularies of Unity by the Dutch Reformed Church, covering its history from the 18th century to approximately 1935. Although these Formularies were the accepted confessional basis of the church, it did not prevent additional theological accommodation during the 18th century. During the first part of the 19th century an institutional concept of the church put forward a subscribing formula. The confession became important. In principle the way was opened for an institutional and contractual enforcement of the Formu­laries. This happened when the church was involved in the wide-ranging li­beral struggle during the sixth decade. Even before the 20th century a new approach in which the role of the Formularies was seen more dogmatically and confessionalistically came to the fore. And, when the church was once again entangled in a struggle (viz. the well-known 'Du Plessis case' of the 1930's) the dogmatic point of departure played into the hands of a con­fessional fundamentalism. In the history of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Formularies thus gained in ecclesiological emphasis and value and its application was conditioned by the context and theological influence. Most importantly, the underlying problem of its historicity on the one hand, and its scriptural context and intent on the other hand, remained an unpaid account.

scholarly journals The (Non)acceptance of Belhar in the Dutch Reformed Church: Analysing Synodical Debates of 2011 and 2013

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Jacobus Van Wyngaard
Keyword(s):  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
History Of ◽  
Open Session ◽  
Local Congregations ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article analyses the open session debates on the Belhar Confession at the 2011 and 2013 General Synod meetings of the Dutch Reformed Church. It identifies six key themes that repeatedly emerge from arguments made by delegates, namely: 1) accepting Belhar for the sake of the youth and future of the church; 2) Belhar as guide in the mission of the church; 3) Belhar as challenge to racism within the church; 4) Belhar and its relationship to liberation theologies; 5) the role of members in formal adoption of a new confession; and 6) adoption of confessions in ways which would not make them binding on all. From these themes three matters, which remain outstanding in terms of how the Dutch Reformed Church engages with the Belhar Confession, are raised: 1) the relationship between mission and racism; 2) the history of heresy and its implication for the present; and 3) the implication of and response to black and liberation theologies. These matters are identified as challenges given particular meaning in light of the emphasis on local congregations and members of the Dutch Reformed Church when discussing the Belhar Confession.

scholarly journals Nelson Mandela on leadership and the role of the churches: An interview

2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-620
Author(s):  
N. R. Mandela
Keyword(s):  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Special Edition ◽  
Special Significance ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
Theological Argument ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

In October 2002 the editor of Die Kerkbode, official newspaper of the Dutch Reformed Church (N G Kerk) paid a visit to ex-president Nelson Mandela. He talked about his life, leadership, as well as the challenges to the churches in our day. His gracious remarks on the role of the Dutch Reformed Church is of special significance, in view of the fact that during many years the church not only supported the policy of Apartheid, but provided a theological argument for doing so. During the 1990s the church, on a number of occasions, confessed guilt in this regard. Dr Frits Gaum, editor, provided a transcript of the interview to Verbum et Ecclesia for this special edition on leadership.

scholarly journals Les Universitats i la seva història. Algunes reflexions

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Rosa Maria Alabrús Iglesias
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Teaching Load ◽  
Crown Of Aragon ◽  
History Of ◽  
The One ◽  
History Of Universities ◽  
The University ◽  
The Church

Resum: En aquest article es fa un estat de la qüestió sobre la història de la Universitats amb un estudi comparatiu de les Universitats de la Corona d’Aragó i, en particular, de les catalanes, amb les Universitats castellanes. S’examina la problemàtica institucional amb les tensions entre l’Església, la Monarquia i els Municipis pel control universitari, la població estudiantil, l’oferta cultural, en les diverses Facultats, l’estructura econòmica, la càrrega docent i la presumpta «revolució educativa» des de la segona meitat de segle xvi. S’analitza, d’altra banda, el període de la decadència final de les Universitats catalanes i la significació de Cervera amb el debat entre jesuïtes i dominics al voltant de la Universitat creada per Felip V i el paper de centres culturals alternatius com l’Acadèmia de Sant Tomàs o l’Acadèmia de Bones Lletres de Barcelona. Paraules clau: Història de les Universitats, problemàtica institucional, càrrega docent, revolució educativa segle xvi, Cervera al segle XVIII Abstract: This article presents a state of the art on the history of Universities with a comparative study of the Universities of the Crown of Aragon and particularly of the Universities of the Crown of Aragon.The institutional problem is examined with the tensions between the Church, the Monarchy and the Municipalities by the university control, the student population, the cultural supply, in the diverse Faculties, the economic structure, the teaching load and the alleged «revolution educational» of the second half of the 16th century. It also analyses the period of the final decay of the Catalan Universities and the significance of Cervera with the debate between Jesuits and Dominicans around the University, create by Philip V, and the role of alternative cultural centres such as the one. Academia de Sant Tomàs or the Academy of Good Letters of Barcelona. Keywords: History of universities, institutional problems, teaching load, educational revolution sixteenth century, Cervera in the 18th century

scholarly journals Die Barmhartigheidsbediening van die NG Kerk van Natal - afhanklik en eksklusief?

2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-386
Author(s):  
R. B. Van Aarde
Keyword(s):  
Black Communities ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Missionary Work ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Church Finances ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
History Of ◽  
Financial Dependency ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

The ministry of compassion of the Dutch Reformed Church in Natal - dependent and exclusive?This study highlights two major concerns in the history of the Dutch Reformed Church of Natal’s ministry of compassion. The church’s work became financially too dependent on government subsidies. The work originally started off with church finances, but was later financed by government. In principle there is nothing wrong with such a partnership, but the present financial dependency will have to make room for an independent ministry of compassion. The church’s ministry of compassion was also mainly focussed on the Afrikaner nation. In this the church supported the apartheid system of the day and started the perception that services of compassion are for the White community while missionary work is focussed on the Black communities. What history teaches us in this field of compassion and caring can help to rectify the ministry of compassion of the Dutch Reformed Church in KwaZulu/Natal and help the church to avoid the same mistakes in future

scholarly journals The Bells of the Stellenbosch Moederkerk

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tertius De Wet ◽  
Jef L. Teugels ◽  
Pieta Van Deventer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church ◽  
Church Buildings

The Dutch Reformed Moederkerk of Stellenbosch has a long history, being the second oldest congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. The history of the church has been well documented, including the architecture and building of the church buildings over its 332 years of existence. However, although bells have from the beginning played an important part in the church’s history, very little has been written on the bells. This paper reports on research carried out into that important aspect of the church’s life, in that way adding to Moederkerk’s recorded history.

scholarly journals Die lewensbeskouing van D.F. Malan (1874–1959) soos weerspieël in openbare standpunte

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Political ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
History Of ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

The world view of D.F. Malan as reflected in his public stance. D.F. Malan was born in 1874 and grew up on a farm near Riebeeck-Wes in the Western Cape. He died in 1959 in Stellenbosch. Malan started his career as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church. Before that he regarded himself as a student in Theology with a vocation. In 1905 he became a Doctor in Theology at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. He entered politics in June 1915 by becoming the first editor of the new Dutch-Afrikaans newspaper, De Burger, and at the same time, the leader of the National Party (founded in 1914) in the Cape Province. Malan had a career in politics for almost 40 years. He retired as the Prime Minister of South Africa in 1954. In his time Malan concentrated especially on unity among the Afrikaners in culture and politics, the cooperation between Afrikaans- and English-speaking citizens, and the well-being of all the people in South Africa. As a reformed Christian in every sphere of life, Malan believed in God-given principles and a timely application of this by believers. This worldview of his became known through his preaching, speeches, articles and commentaries on matters. His worldview influenced his approach to politics and the cultural aspect of his existence. The purpose of this article is to explain this view by using primary sources. The main figure in this article was a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church with a noticeable influence in the affairs of the church, and he was also a South African politician on national level. These aspects influenced the history of the church, as well as the political or general history of South Africa. It also made an imprint on church political concepts and ethical considerations that had to come to grips with Malan leaving the church ministry for politics, as well as the ethics of policies like apartheid and the political unity of an officially bilingual Union of South Africa. For Malan, his worldview determined his aims in politics, namely the cultural unity among Afrikaners, while they and their English-speaking counterparts form a successful state, and the relationship between all South Africans.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The interdisciplinary implications of this article involved the subjects of church history, general history and a political ethics approach.

scholarly journals Uitdagings vir die Ned Geref Kerk in Suidelike Afrika met Malawi en Zambië as illustrasiegebiede

1990 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-32
Author(s):  
D. Crafford
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Church Ministry ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

Challenges for the Dutch Reformed Church in Southern Africa with Malawi and Zambia as illustration areas What will be the challenges for the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa if in the coming decades its isolation from Africa could be ended because of political developments in a post-apartheid era? The Dutch Reformed Church planted indigenous churches in many African Countries like Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Namibia. The role of the church in Africa will be determined by its relations with these younger churches. The challenges in the fields of evangelism, church ministry, the youth and in the socioeconomic and political areas are illustrated specifically in the cases of Malawi and Zambia.

scholarly journals THE HISTORY OF THE CONQUERING OF THE BEING OF AFRICANS THROUGH LAND DISPOSSESSION, EPISTEMICIDE AND PROSELYTISATION

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Lephakga
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
African People ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Land Dispossession ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

This paper examines the role of colonisation in the conquering of the Being of Africans. It is pointed out that the colonisation of Africa became possible only because the church  − particularly the Catholic Church and the Protestants − gave backing to it. Colonialism and Christianity are often associated because Catholicism and Protestanism were the religions of the colonial powers. Thus Christianity gave moral and ethical foundation to the enslavement of Africans. Colonisation is a concept which involves the idea of organising and arranging, which etymologically means to cultivate or to design. Therefore, it is the contention of this paper that this organising and arranging of colonies had a dire impact on the Being of the African people. Colonisation manifests itself through land dispossession (which in South Africa was given theological backing by the Dutch Reformed Church), epistemicide and proselytisation. Colonisation was informed by the idea of the scramble for Africa, which was blessed and commissioned particularly by the Catholic Church; and the notion of geopolitics of space, according to which the world has been divided by Europeans into two − namely the centre (occupied by the Europeans) and the periphery (occupied by non-Europeans). This division was informed by the articulation that ‘I conquer; therefore I am the sovereign’. Therefore, following the ego conquiro (i.e. I conquer), which was followed by the Cartesian ego Cogito (i.e. I think) then those who possess both the ego conquiro and ego cogito felt justified to colonise those who lacked these. This was felt in Africa through land dispossession, and Africans were forced to go through a violent process which alienated them from their ancestral land. Land is ancestral in the Being of the African people, and therefore any disturbance to the relation between the land and the Africans will result in them losing their Being (or self) − becoming pariahs in their ancestral land. This made them a conquered people and empty shells that accepted everything coming their way. It is against this background that the paper will explore the role of colonisation in the conquering of the Being of Africans through land dispossession, epistemicide and proselytisation.

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