The impact of Reformed theology on church unity and reconciliation in the Reformed Churches in South Africa since the first general synod, 2009

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaka C. Mathundela
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Church Unity ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Unpacking the downside of sustentasie on African theology and theologians: a need for contextual black theology as a liberative ingredient for the black Reformed churches

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Baloyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Black Church ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Black Theology ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Financial Independence ◽  
African Theology ◽  
Reformed Churches

The practice of the black church being a follower of the leading white church is a continuous process in the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid Afrika (or Reformed Churches in South Africa in English). This makes it difficult to contextualise Reformed Theology to address African challenges and problems. There are many reasons for the subordination of the black theologians, but for the sake of this article, I identified the issue of sustentasie1 as one of the causes. The lack of financial independence implies that the black church2 cannot determine their destiny by revising, transforming and even Africanising their theology to fit into their context and challenges, since that would mean they are biting the hand that feeds them. This article will argue that it is time that Africans stop being a theological duplication of the Western theologies and that they take responsibility to ensure that their theology addresses the immediate situation of the Black Reformed people (contextualised) with or without the support from the white church.

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 Gereformeerde teologiese opleiding vir Afrika in die een-en-twintigste eeu

1990 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Van Rooy
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Christian Higher Education ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
African Churches ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Correspondence Course ◽  
Theological Training

Although the numbers and influence of the Reformed Churches in South Africa seem to be dwindling at the moment, they still have a precious heritage which should be passed on to Africa: the reformed faith and reformed theology:. Christianity is growing apace in Africa, but unfortunately this is often a superficial, nominal Christianity. A great need and desire for thorough, biblical, theological training does exist. This need should be answered by the Reformed Churches by providing theological courses for extension training at four academic levels, especially for equipping leaders of the independent African churches, not with the purpose of making proselites, but primarily with the purpose of biblical leaching where it is needed. These courses should be made available at inter alia the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, which is already involved in the Timoteus correspondence course.

scholarly journals The Heidelberg Catechism: A 16th century quest for unity

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim A. Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
16Th Century ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Churches

In this contribution the view is presented that the Heidelberg Catechism should be regarded as an attempt to promote unity between 16th century reformers and churches in the Palatinate. This, to some extent, determined the content of the Catechism resulting in some controversial issues receiving less attention. This in turn not only made the Catechism acceptable to a wide spectrum of Reformed Christianity, but also resulted in a creative and unique contribution to Reformed theology, almost a ‘third option’. It was soon used in different Reformed territories as a confession and acclaimed for its clarity in formulating the basic Reformed faith. Today the Heidelberg Catechism is regarded as one of the most ‘ecumenical’ documents of the 16th century. As such, it still promotes unity amongst many Reformed churches, including those in South Africa.

scholarly journals Liberating reformed theology, social-embedded economics, and the white Afrikaans Reformed Churches

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Pieters
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Privileged Position ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Conventional Paradigm

In this article, the author used a social-embedded framework to analyse the current economic paradigms of the white Afrikaans Reformed Churches in South Africa. He concluded that the current conventional paradigm is problematic in the lack of engagement with both the poor and alternative economic paradigms. He suggested that the notions of covenant, sovereignty and providence could assist the churches to develop an economic paradigm that is informed by solidarity with the poor. For this to happen he concludes that the churches need to develop a liberating hermeneutic in which the Bible is read as a book for the poor, while the readers remain conscious of their privileged position.

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.

scholarly journals The Leuenberg Agreement and church unity: A possible matrix to cross ten seas with?

2009 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willem A. Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Protestant Churches ◽  
Church Unity ◽  
Reformed Churches

This article gives a short historical background to the debate between Lutherans and Calvinists on unity. It is important that this debate should also start in southern Africa. The focus is placed on the Leuenberg Agreement of 1973 as a possible model of unity not only between the Lutheran and Reformed churches in South Africa, but also between all Protestant churches which have historically been divided on the basis of tradition, language and race.

Some Reflections on Reparation in Post-Apartheid South Africa, using a Couple Therapy Intervention as a Microcosm of South African Society

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Hill ◽  
Sylvia Poss
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Couple Therapy ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Depressive Position ◽  
Central Hypothesis ◽  
Transference And Countertransference ◽  
Constructive Engagement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Therapy Intervention

The paper addresses the question of reparation in post-apartheid South Africa. The central hypothesis of the paper is that in South Africa current traumas or losses, such as the 2008 xenophobic attacks, may activate a ‘shared unconscious phantasy’ of irreparable damage inflicted by apartheid on the collective psyche of the South African nation which could block constructive engagement and healing. A brief couple therapy intervention by a white therapist with a black couple is used as a ‘microcosm’ to explore this question. The impact of an extreme current loss, when earlier losses have been sustained, is explored. Additionally, the impact of racial difference on the transference and countertransference between the therapist and the couple is explored to illustrate factors complicating the productive grieving and working through of the depressive position towards reparation.

Harnessing Digital Technology to Strengthen the Culture of Reading at Public Libraries in South Africa

Mousaion ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Ramothupi Matolong
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Pilot Phase ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Private Company ◽  
Line Survey ◽  
Gates Foundation ◽  
Formed Part ◽  
The Impact

Statistics and numerous authors have highlighted the reading crisis in South Africa. At the same instance, more people in South Africa are embracing the potential of digital technology to provide lifelong learning opportunities and also to strengthen the culture of reading. This study is framed against the backdrop and implementation of the Mzansi Libraries On-Line Project in South Africa – a project implemented in line with the Global Libraries Programme of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The study explored the potential of access to information of digital technology and the contribution of the project to inculcating a culture of reading at public libraries. A benchmark survey was conducted by an independent research company during the pilot phase of the project in 2015. This survey covered library users of the 27 libraries that formed part of the pilot phase, and a further 25 libraries from a representative sample across South Africa. An end-line survey was conducted through a private company towards the conclusion of the countrywide implementation in 2017, based on the Common Impact Measurement System which was customised for South Africa. The benchmark survey found that although ICT in libraries had been used by relatively few people in 2015, the impact of this technology tended to be positive and would be beneficial to the wider society by helping to redress societal imbalances, including education and the culture of reading. The end-line survey found increased benefits of library usage and library technical infrastructure to improve the lives of the communities involved.

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