Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NHK)
Dutch Reformed Church in Africa | |
---|---|
Presbyterian | |
Branched from | Dutch Reformed Church |
Separations | Reformed Churches in South Africa (1859) |
Congregations | c. 300 |
Members | 130,000 |
The Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (
History
Origins in the Cape Colony
The
The Great Trek (1835-1846)
In the 1830s,
The Anglo-Boer War (1888–1902) and the WWII
The
Apartheid
Due to its Afrikaner Nationalist identity, the church has had a long and complicated history when it comes to Apartheid.[7][8] The church defined itself as a "volkskerk" and evangelism was aimed primarily at the "Afrikanervolk".[9][10] The NHKA was initially an active member of the international ecumenical community but a break from the ecumenical movement came during the Cottesloe Consultation in 1960[11] which lead to the NHKA's "Fifty Years of Isolation".[12] In 1982 the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) congress in Ottawa opened in a dramatic manner when South African Delegates under the leadership of Dr. Allan Boesak refused to take communion with the NHKA delegation. The NHKA sanctioned racial discrimination featured prominently during the meeting and the NHKA was suspended from the WARC. Support for the Apartheid Regime from the NHKA was not uncritically accepted by all, and many dissenters such as professors Adrianus van Selms,[13] Cas Labuschagne, Berend Gemser and Albert Geyser left the church, with some like Geyser being accused of heresy.[14][15] Other theologians and church leaders who remained within the NHKA and opposed Apartheid were stigmatized and harassed with a slew disciplinary actions.[16] After the end of Apartheid, the church increasingly re-evaluated its stance concerning Apartheid and its theological grounding thereof. In 2001,[17] the congress of the church accepted a confession in which it was stated that the church takes note of the crimes that were committed under apartheid, even by church members and that the church confesses its guilt before God and fellow human beings. The 67th General Church Assembly (AKV) decided in 2004 to re-apply for membership to the Reformed Ecumenical Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. The 68th AKV refused to take any binding decisions about re-applying. In 2010, with the eye on the 69th AKV, five ministers of the NHKA (professors Johan Buitendag, Ernest van Eck, Jimmy Loader, Andries van Aarde and Yolanda Dreyer) made a public statement condemning the theological justification of Apartheid. During the 69th AKV, a majority of the church's ministers and elders voted that the NHKA's support of Apartheid was in contradiction to the Gospel.[18] The term "volkskerk" was also removed from the ordinances of the church. The decision led to a backlash from the NHKA's politically right leaning minority and 13 congregations declared themselves independent from the NHKA and members of the "Geloofsbond van Hervormde Gemeentes".[19]
Recent History
Women in the church
Women have been serving in charity work in the NHKA since 1940 under the Nederduitsch Hervormde Sustersvereniging (NHSV).
Female ministers have been serving in the NHKA since 1979, making it one of the first churches to allow for women to serve as ministers. The first female minister in the NHKA was Professor Yolanda Dreyer. Dr. Elsabé Kloppers was the first female minister to obtain a doctorate in theology.
Homosexuality
After many years of debate about homosexuality in the church, the 68th General Church Assembly stated that homosexual persons are welcomed, will be comforted and supported in the NHKA. The assembly also stated it will do everything in its power to root out homophobia, gay-hate and any other derogatory behaviour against homosexual persons.[20] Homosexual ministers are welcomed if they remain celibate.
Doctrine and Polity
The NHKA falls within the
The NHKA adheres to internal regulations (Church Order) and the General Church Assembly (AKV) allows for amendments every three years which takes place under church vote.
Church Publications
Die Hervormer
Die Almanak
Konteks
Blitspos
Social Media
Statistics
It has 130,000 members and about 300 congregations, 38 regional
It has a presbytery in Namibia and congregations in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[24]
The church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[25][26]
References
- ^ Beknopt Nederduitsch taalkundig woordenboek, Petrus Weiland, Blusse en van Braam, 1829, page 236
- ISBN 9780864862532.
- ^ "Great Trek 1835-1846 | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
- ISBN 0624026779.
- ^ "Historical Background". www.sun.ac.za. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
- ISSN 2072-8050.
- ISSN 0018-229X.
- ISBN 978-0-620-48204-2.
- ^ NHKA Algemene Kerkvergadering 1997. Kerkorde van die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika. Kerkargief. Pretoria.
- ISSN 2072-8050.
- ISSN 1015-8758.
- ISBN 978-1920689100.
- ISSN 0259-9422.
- ISSN 2072-8050.
- ISSN 2072-8050.
- ISSN 0259-9422.
- ISSN 0259-9422.
- S2CID 142992279.
- S2CID 142992279.
- ISSN 2072-8050.
- ^ "Wie is ons". Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (in Afrikaans). 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
- ^ Fasse, Christoph. "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". www.reformiert-online.net.
- ^ "South African Christian". www.sachristian.co.za. Archived from the original on 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
- ^ Fasse, Christoph. "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". www.reformiert-online.net.
- ^ Montgomery, Dewald. "WARC". www.nhka.org.
- ^ www.wcrc.ch/node/164 Archived August 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
External links
- Official website of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (Official website)
- HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies is an influential and frequently cited accredited peer reviewed, Open Access journal, published since 1942, that promotes multi-church and inter-faith research in the international theology arena.