scholarly journals Die hermeneutiek van gereformeerde kerkreg

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andries Le Roux Du Plooy
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
Church Polity ◽  
The Common ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church

Die artikel het op die belangrikheid en noodsaaklikheid van ‘n hermeneutiek vir die gereformeerde kerkreg gefokus. Die kerkregtelike dokument wat besonderlik ter sake was, is die kerkorde van die Gereformeerde kerke in Suid-Afrika, met sy besondere band met die Dordtse kerkorde van 1618 en 1619. Agtereenvolgens is aandag gegee aan die volgende aspekte soos (1) die eiesoortige aard van ‘n kerkorde as ‘n teologiese dokument en teks, in onderskeiding van regsdokumente; (2) die aard van die hermeneutiek van kerkreg; (3) enkele teorieë oor die interpretasie of uitleg van tekste, veral regstekste en (4) normatiewe vooronderstellings en reëls vir die interpretasie en verstaan van die teks en artikels van die kerkorde asook besluite van kerklike vergaderinge. Die gevolgtrekking was dat weinig indringende navorsing gedoen is oor die saak van hermeneutiek vir kerkreg, hoewel dit noodsaaklik is. Duidelike hermeneutiese reëls is gesuggereer en verduidelik, wat sou kon meehelp dat kerke en kerklike vergaderinge die artikels van die kerkorde asook besluite en reglemente wat daarop berus het, kan interpreteer en toepas.The hermeneutics of reformed church polity. The article focused on the importance and urgency of a design for reformed hermeneutics on church polity. The Church Order referred to in the article is the Church Order of the Reformed Churches in South Africa, which are closely related to the Church Order of Dordt of 1618 and 1619. The following aspects received attention namely (1)  the unique character of a Church Order, in comparison to and distinguished from legal documents and statutes; (2) the character and nature of hermeneutics of church polity; (3) theories of interpretation in the common law tradition and their relevance to church polity and (4) normative presuppositions and marks for the interpretation and understanding of the text and articles of the Church Order, as well as the resolutions of church assemblies. It was found that minimum research has been done on the topic of hermeneutics for reformed church polity. This contribution was an effort to suggest and explain a number of hermeneutical principles and guidelines, which may serve and encourage churches and assemblies to interpret, utilise and apply the Church Order in an adequate and responsible way.

scholarly journals Die plek en funksie van die Heidelbergse Kategismus in ’n omkeerstrategie in die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Callie F.C. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Church Of Christ ◽  
Church Of God ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
The Future ◽  
Special Occasion ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Rich ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Church

Die herdenking van die 450 jarige bestaan van die Heidelbergse Kategismus (1563−2013) is ’n baie besondere geleentheid. Dit is ’n geleentheid om ons in die ryke erfenis van die 16de-eeuse Reformasie te verheug. Dit is ook ’n geleentheid om met die oog op die toekoms van kerkwees oor die relevansie, handhawing en belewing van hierdie erfenis te besin. Wat die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika betref, word hierdie besinning oor die plek en funksie van die Heidelbergse Kategismus (HK) in besonder in hierdie artikel gedoen in die lig van die sogenaamde omkeerstrategie waarop die Algemene Sinode van 2012 besluit het. Deputate wat die volgende sinode moet adviseer, het onder andere die opdrag om ’n studie te doen ‘… van die suiwerheid en toepaslikheid van die leer wat op elke vlak verkondig word, asook hoe dit verder uitgebou kan word’. In die artikel word beredeneer dat die volgende sake in die besinning oor ’n omkeerstrategie vir ’n kerkgemeenskap in die reformatoriese tradisie aandag sal moet ontvang: Die wese van die kerk, kerk en belydenis en die belydenis as deel van die wese van die kerk. Wat die HK in besonder betref, word aandag gegee aan die unieke aard daarvan, die kategismusprediking en die apologetiese en missionale gerigtheid daarvan omdat dit ’n belangrike onderdeel van die werk van bogenoemde deputate vorm. Die artikel word afgesluit met enkele slotopmerkings en ‘aanbevelings’ dat opnuut oor die kategismusprediking besin word en dat die handhawing van die belydenis in enige omkeerstrategie ononderhandelbaar is.The place and function of the Heidelberg Catechism in a ‘turn-around’ strategy within the Reformed Churches in South Africa. The commemoration of the 450th year of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563−2013) is a special occasion worldwide. It is an opportunity to experience gratitude and joy for the rich heritage of the 16th-century Reformation. It is also an opportunity to reflect on maintaining and experiencing this heritage of being church in the future. As far as the Reformed Churches in South Africa are concerned, this reflection on the future is focused in this article on the so-called turn-around strategy, decided on by the General Synod of 2012. A mandate was given to deputees in this regard, inter alia to undertake a study regarding the soundness and relevance of the doctrine that is proclaimed and how that can be further promoted. It is argued in this article that the following issues should be addressed in reflecting on a turn-around strategy for a church in the Reformed tradition: the essence of the church, church and confession and the confession as part of the essence of the church. As far as the Heidelberg Catechism in particular is concerned, the following points are addressed: the unique character of the Heidelberg Catechism, catechism preaching, the apologetic and missional focus of the Heidelberg Catechism in the light of the task to be dealt with by the abovementioned deputees. It is concluded that special attention should be given anew to catechism preaching and that maintaining the confessions is not negotiable for the church of Christ on her way to his second coming. Believe me, my Lord, the Church of God will never preserve itself without a Catechism. (Uit ‘n brief van Calvyn aan Somerset, 22 Oktober 1548; Vgl Wallace 1990:97)

White Brothers–Black Strangers: Dutch Calvinist Churches and Apartheid in South-Africa

Exchange ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Meijers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Church History ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Protestant Churches ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church

AbstractAfter apartheid was abolished in 1994, fierce discussions within the Dutch churches on the theme of apartheid were quickly forgotten. However, we could still learn from this important chapter of church history. Erica Meijers argues that the debates during the 1970s and 1980s have their roots in the changes which the churches underwent in the 1950s and 1960s. Apartheid confronted protestant churches with their own images of black and white, their role in the colonial area and their view of the role of the church in society. All this led to a decreasing solidarity with the Afrikaners and a growing focus on black reality in South Africa. White brothers became strangers and black strangers became allies. This is in essence the transformation of attitude which both the Netherlands Reformed Church and the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands underwent between 1948 and 1972.

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 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 Dort, Doleantie and Church Order

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-252
Author(s):  
Ryan Faber
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Church Polity ◽  
Local Congregations ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed Church

This article attends to the relationship between minor and major assemblies as prescribed by the foundational principles of Reformed church polity proposed by Mary-Anne Plaatjies-Van Huffel. It reviews the limited autonomy of local congregations and the authority of broader assemblies in the Church Order of Dordrecht (1618/19), the touchstone of Dutch Reformed church polity. It considers the challenge to historic Reformed church polity posed by the ecclesiology of the Doleantie, a secession from the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (NHK) in 1886 under the leadership of Abraham Kuyper. Finally, it evaluates a contemporary church order (of the United Reformed Churches in North America), that explicitly codifies Doleantie ecclesiology. The church order fails to embody the principles of Reformed church polity set forth by Plaatjies-Van Huffel. This article concludes that it cannot be considered a Reformed church order.

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 Ekumeniese kerkreg: Die aangewese weg?

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter J. Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Church Polity ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

Die argument word gehoor dat kerkregeringstelsels soos dié van die Rooms-Katolieke, Lutherse en gereformeerde kerke van ’n transendentale aard was en is. Daardeur word geïmpliseer dat hierdie stelsels een transendentale, unieke vaste beginsel gebruik om ’n hele stelsel van kerkregering van buite af te bepaal. Volgens Leo Koffeman, ’n voorstander van ’n ekumeniese kerkreg, plaas hierdie stelsels hulself hiermee buite die diskoers oor kerkreg en kerkregering en die beweging van die Heilige Gees. ’n Ekumeniese kerkreg, daarenteen, is ten gunste van ’n gemeenskaplike kerkreg tussen kerke. Omdat dit verskillende tradisies bymekaar bring, is dit ’n kritiese en daarom beter benadering. Die skrywer oorweeg hierdie argumente krities in die lig van ’n gereformeerde benadering tot kerkreg.The argument is used that church political systems like that of the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and reformed churches were of a transcendental character. By that it is implied that it used one transcendental and unique ‘hard principle’ from outside to direct a system of church government. Such uniqueness, according to Leo Koffeman who advocates an ecumenical church polity, places it outside the church political discourse and the way of the Holy Spirit. An ecumenical church polity seeks a combined polity between churches and is, by bringing different traditions together, a critical and therefore better undertaking. The author examines these arguments critically in the light of a reformed church polity.

scholarly journals Kerkordelike toleransie en die reg van usansie

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry J. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Church Polity ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Church ◽  
Modern Form

A tolerant treatment of church order and the law of usance: This article discusses the recent decline of church polity in the Netherdutch Reformed Church which is obvious in different areas of the Church with special reference to the liturgy practised in sermons of some congregations. This decline is also observed in other churches in South Africa and abroad. The article is a reaction to the reason for this situation and indicates that it should not be found in a collegialistic concept of church, but rather due to congregationalism or independentism in modern form. The article’s viewpoint is that the above-mentioned church polity decline is a result of the fact that church order is not valued as an order with a Scriptural and therefore an ecclesiological basis.

scholarly journals The decline of reformed church polity in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Smit
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
The State ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Church Polity ◽  
The Church

Church polity in South Africa is one of the smaller theological disciplines. Different reasons for this position of the discipline maybe indicated as inter alia bad experiences with church polity with regard to church schisms, the influence of the Zeitgeist, and the lack of development in church polity in comparison to other theological disciplines. This article suggests that the impetus for the decline of reformed church polity should be found within the dominant collegialistic concept of church since the acceptance thereof in South Africa. The effect is a secularised view of the church with regard to its government, the office, the church and the church’s relationship with the state. It is suggested that a new discourse about the church and its polity should be initiated in South Africa to the benefit of the church and its polity, but also to that of the different fields which are involved with ecclesiology in various ways.

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