scholarly journals THE ROAD OF UNITY IN THE FAMILY OF DUTCH REFORMED CHURCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA SINCE 1994: A DUTCH REFORMED PERSPECTIVE

Scriptura ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (0) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Pieter Coertzen
1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-372
Author(s):  
J.H. Le Roux

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.


Author(s):  
Arnau Van Wyngaard

This article covers the time from 1985 to 1992 in the history of the Swaziland Reformed Church (SRC). In 1985, for the first time in its existence, the SRC had four missionaries working in the four districts of the country. At this stage the SRC formed a presbytery within the synodical region of the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) of Northern Transvaal. In 1989 – at its own request – this church became a regional synod within the DRCA. However, not long thereafter, in 1992, it was forced to become an independent Reformed church, even though it still remained part of the family of Dutch Reformed churches. Making use of original documents, this article records this history of the SRC.


2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Le R. du Plooy

The Confession of Belhar and ecumenism against the backdrop of the Three Forms of Unity This article focuses on the Confession of Belhar and in- vestigates from an ecclesiastical and theological perspective the question whether this confession should be accepted and added as a fourth confession to the existing Three Forms of Unity. The following aspects are addressed: the origin and content of the Confession of Belhar, the ecclesiastical and theological reaction within the family of Dutch Reformed Churches as well as in the reformed ecumenical world. A critical analysis of the content is made and evaluated, and in con- clusion attention is given to a few options with regard to the place of the Confession of Belhar in the reformed ecumenical world in the future. A comparison between the Three Forms of Unity and the Confession of Belhar shows a definite difference in quality. The Confession of Belhar is not of a similar standard with regard to the theological and doctrinal content and structure of the Three Forms of Unity, and does not add quality or neglected faith-related value to these existing creeds.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet Strauss

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Van der Merwe

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.


Author(s):  
David K. Semenya

This article attempts to investigate and give practical guidelines to the church councils of the mainly Black Reformed Churches in South Africa and also to the couples and families involved in vat en sit relationship. Vat en sit is now becoming a common thing in South Africa. This however does not only affect the black members in the Reformed Churches in South Africa but moreover affect the family structures of the society. Therefore the aim of this article is to find out why in most cases couples opt for vat en sit relationship and also how the church councils could be assisted in dealing with the issue of vat en sit.   The Biblical overview regarding the issue of vat en sit will be discussed and thereafter the practical guidelines be given in order to help both the church councils; the couples in the vat en sit relationship and also their families.


Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss

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.


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