Academic literature on the topic 'Nederduitsche Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika'

Botha, PJ - Deist, FE Le Roux, JH 1987. Revolution and reinterpretation: Chapters from the history of Israel. (Bladsy 201)Geyser, PA - De Villiers, PGR 1987. Liberation theology and the Bible. (Bladsy 203)Naudé, RM - Kriel, JR 1988. Removing medicine’s cartesian mask: The problem of humanising medical education. (Bladsy 206)Stander, HF - Ferguson, E 1987. Backgrounds of early Christianity. (Bladsy 207)Stander, HF - Durst, M 1987. Die Eschatologie des Hilarius von Poitiers: Ein Beitrag zur Dogmengeschichte des vierten Jahrliunderts. (Bladsy 209)Storm, JMG - Loubser, JA 1987. The apartheid Bible. A critical review of racial theology in South Africa. (Bladsy 212)Van der Merwe, PJ - Krüger, JS 1988. Aandag, kalmte en insig. (Bladsy 215)Van der Merwe, JC - Van der Walt, BJ 1988. My roeping as Christenjongmens in die huidige Suid-Afrika. (Bladsy 217)Van der Westhuizen, HG - Van Houten, RL 1988. The Message of Harare. (Bladsy 222)Van der Westhuizen, HG - Du Preez, J 1988. Die aantrekkingskrag van die Marxisme vir die Derde Wereld. (Bladsy 225)Van Staden, AJ - Algemene Kommissie vir die Diens van Barmhartigheid van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk 1986. Die diakonaat en die alkohol- en dwelmaflianklike. (Bladsy 227)

A life with the fathers Carl Borchardt's views on the early church This article focuses on Carl Borchardt's contribution to the study of the early church. Especially one aspect of his historical endeavours is highlighted: the close link between the Bible and church history. He illustrated how the early church lived from the Bible and how patristic theology was shaped fundamentally by the Bible. Because he was so wellequiped for the study of the early church Borchardt succeeded highlighting the beauty of patristic exegesis and opening up new ways of understanding our religious past. Dit was in Julie 1968 dat ek Carl Borchardt vir die eerste keer ontmoet het. Professor Ben Marais was die semester weg en Borchardt moes die middeleeue en die reformasie aan ons doseer. Hy was inderdaad 'n uitstekende keuse. Pas twee jaar gelede het hy in Leiden by die befaamde Bakhuizen van den Brink gepromoveer. Sy proefskrif, Hilary of Poitier's role in the Arian struggle, was van so 'n gehalte dat dit in die reeks, Kerkhistorische Studien, opgeneem is. Borchardt was 'n uitnemende plaasvervanger vir Ben 1-farais. So ver ek egter kan onthou, was dosent Borchardt 'n bietjie skugter en manuskripgebonde, maar tog was daar iets in sy Iesings wat my na al die jare nog bybly: 'n deeglike kennis van en 'n vaardigheid met primere en sekondere bronne van die middeleeue en die reformasie. Nou nog onthou ek van die bronne wat hy met die oog op 'n Lutherstudie vermeld het. Drie jaar later was ons saam kollegas aan die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika. Borchardt was in aIle opsigte my senior, maar tog was hy 'n besondere kollega. Tydens daardie goeie Unisajare was ons dosentegetalle klein en gevolglik het ek Borchardt op 'n besondere manier leer ken. Talle gesprekke oor die kerkgeskiedenis het in sy kantoor of by die teekan plaasgevind. Toe hy in 1975 Unisa se diens verlaat en hom by die Universiteit van Pretoria aangesluit het, was dit 'n droewige dag. Vir my was dit egter 'n groot vreugde om in 1987 weer sy kollega te kon word. Van Carel Borchardt het ek enorm veel geleer. Hy is in murg en been 'n akademikus, leermeester en kerkhistorikus. Oor die kerk se historiesegang het hy 'n groot kennis beskik en het dit graag gedeel. Vir die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk is sy aftrede 'n groot verlies. Met aangename herinneringe sal sy studente en kollegas die werk van ~ns geagte koUega koester. Hieronder word kortliks op een aspek van sy kerkhistoriese arbeid gefokus: sy studie van die Parres. As ek aan Borchardt dink, is dit veral sy werk oor die vroee kerk wat my bybly. Sy entoesiasme vir die ou Vaders was aansteeklik. As hy oor hulle gepraat het, was die geesdrif voelbaar. Hieronder word slegs 'n paar fasette van Borchardt se werk as patristikus belig. Veral word die band tussen kerkgeskiedenis en die Skrif beklemtoon.

The Dutch Reformed Church, church order and education. From the first church order of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1962, it has formulated stipulations for the church and education. In this regard the Dutch Reformed Church is unique among reformed churches. The wording of this article has changed over the years, but the main content has remained the same. The Dutch Reformed Church supports Christian education as a church, but also recognizes the competence of education authorities to finalise education standards and programmes. In 1962 the order of the Dutch Reformed Church on education also stated that the church would work on the Protestant character of the Afrikaner people. From 1990 onwards these words were omitted. The church nevertheless feels that education will allways be imbricated in a certain culture. In synodical resolutions in recent times the Dutch Reformed Church has recognized the calling of the South African state to subsidize all education enterprises that meet certain purely educational standards. Vanaf sy eerste kerkorde in 1962 koester die Algemene Sinode van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk die ideaal van nie-kerklike Christelike onderwys. Met sy kerkordelike bepalings oor die kerk en onderwys, is die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk uniek onder gereformeerde kerke. Die bewoording van hierdie artikels het deur die jare verander, maar die hoofsaak het dieselfde gebly. Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk steun Christelike onderwys vanuit sy kerklike hoek, maar erken die interne bevoegdheid van onderwysinstellings om onderwysinhoude en standaarde te finaliseer. In 1962 het sy kerkorde bepaal dat die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk hom beywer vir die Protestants-Christelike karakter van “ons volk”, die Afrikanervolk. Die uitsondering van “ons volk” is sedert 1990 egter weggelaat ten gunste die erkenning van alle kulture in die onderwys. In sinodebesluite van die afgelope tyd ondersteun die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk die standpunt dat die Suid-Afrikaanse staatsowerheid onderwys alle lewensbeskoulik gerigte instansies subsidieer.

The Dutch Reformed Church and the South African Council of Churches The General Missionary Conference which was founded in 1904 became the Christian Council of South Africa in 1936. In 1940 a founder member, viz. the Transvaal Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church withdrew from the council. In 1968 a change of name to the South African Council of Churches reflected a deeper involvement in social and political matters and it gradually also became more representative of the black Christian point of view. Despite various invitations, the Dutch Reformed Church has not rejoined the Council and relations have been very strained, but at its last synod in 1986 the Dutch Reformed Church decided that informal discussions could be held.

Perceptions regarding synod decisions and the nature of psalms in the RCSA. Since its inception in 1859, the Reformed Church in South Africa has been singing only psalms, scriptural hymns and Biblical songs. Currently, there are two official versifications of the psalms in use within the Reformed Church, namely the so-called Totius versification of 1936 and the 2001 rhymed version of psalm texts, mainly by T.T. Cloete. A study of members’ perceptions of synod decisions and the nature of the psalms in the Reformed Church shows that the psalms are not fully utilised. Synods decide what type of songs, type of songs, including psalms, are approved, are approved for use. Members believe that many psalms are no longer suitable for the 21st-century churchgoer, that synod decisions appear to be out of touch with members’ musical needs and that synods oppose musical innovation. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of ministers, organists/music leaders and parishioners’ perceptions regarding the nature and use of psalms during worship in the Reformed Church of South Africa as well as synod decisions pertaining to the psalms. Die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika sing vanaf die kerk se ontstaan in 1859 slegs psalms, Skrifberymings en Skrifgetroue liedere. Tans is daar twee amptelike psalmberymings in gebruik binne die Gereformeerde Kerk, naamlik die sogenaamde Totius-beryming van 1936, asook die 2001-omdigting met psalmtekste deur hoofsaaklik T.T. Cloete. ’n Studie van lidmate se persepsies oor sinodebesluite en die aard van die psalms binne die Gereformeerde Kerk toon aan dat die psalms nie optimaal benut word nie. Sinodes besluit watter tipe liedere, insluitend psalms, vir gebruik goedgekeur word. Lidmate glo dat talle psalms nie meer geskik is vir die 21ste-eeuse lidmaat nie, dat sinodebesluite uit voeling is met lidmate se musikale behoeftes en dat sinodes musikale vernuwing teenwerk. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om ’n oorsig te gee van die persepsies van predikante, orreliste/musiekleiers en gemeentelede met betrekking tot die aard en gebruik van die psalms binne die erediens van die Gereformeerde Kerke van Suid-Afrika, asook sinodebesluite wat hiermee verband hou.

Abraham Kuyper het deur sy ekklesiologie in Suid-Afrika baie invloed uitgeoefen, veral op die teologie van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. Onder andere het hy deur sy visie op die kerk en deur sy pluriformiteitsleer ’n instrument aan Suid-Afrikaanse teoloë voorsien waarmee hulle sedert die veertiger jare die konsep van aparte kerke vir aparte volksgroepe teologies probeer onderhou het. Maar het dit werklik ten regte geskied?

Hierdie artikel diep die geskiedenis van die eerste vertalings van die Heidelbergse Kategismus in Afrikaans uit die primêre bronne op. Die Belydenisskrifte (insluitende die Kategismus) is gedurende die eerste helfte van die twintigste eeu in Afrikaans oorgesit tydens ’n vertalingsprojek waaraan die drie Hollands-Afrikaanse Kerke van gereformeerde belydenis saamgewerk het. In hierdie geskiedenis kan drie fases onderskei word. Die aanvanklike fase (1913–1927) eindig in die gemeenskaplike oortuiging dat die werk aan die Bybelvertalers oorgelaat moet word. Daarmee is beslag gegee aan ’n tweede fase (1927–1936). In 1936 is die vertaling voltooi en in ’n Formulierboek vir die ‘drie Hollandse Kerke’ gepubliseer. Die derde fase (1936–1950) behels die ontvangs van die Formulierboek. Slegs die Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) het die vertaling amptelik aanvaar, omdat dit op die Nederlandse teksuitgawe berus het wat F.L. Rutgers in samewerking met Herman Bavinck en Abraham Kuyper in 1897 vir die Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland besorg het. Die ander twee Kerke het aansluiting gevind by hulle eie negentiende-eeuse tekstradisie. In 1945 het die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHK) ’n eie vertaling asBelydenisskrifte, gebede en formuliere die lig laat sien. Hierdie vertaling is gebaseer op die (Nederlandse) krities bewerkte teksuitgawe wat Van Toornenbergen in sy boek, De symbolische schriften (1895), opgeneem het. Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) het in 1950 sy vertaling van die Belydenisskrifte en Formuliere voltooi. Dit is hoofsaaklik geanker in die (Nederlandse) tekste van die Formulierboek der N.G. Kerk in Z. Afrika (1907), wat op sy beurt ook in ooreenstemming was met die tekstradisie waarmee Van Toornenbergen gewerk het. This article traces the history of the first Afrikaans translations of the Heidelberg Catechism from primary sources. In a mutual project the three Dutch-Afrikaans and reformed churches translated their Doctrinal Standards (including the Catechism) during the first half of the twentieth century in Afrikaans. In this regard three phases can be distinguished. The initial phase (1913–1927) ended in the decision to assign the work of translation to the Bible translators. That inaugurated the second phase (1927–1936). In 1936, their translation was completed and a Formulierboek was published for the ‘three Dutch Churches’. The reception of theFormulierboek constituted the third distinctive phase (1936–1950). Only the Reformed Church in South Africa (GKSA) officially accepted the translation, because it was based on the recognised Dutch text edition prepared by F.L. Rutgers in collaboration with Herman Bavinck and Abraham Kuyper for the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands in 1897. The other two Afrikaans Churches followed different text editions. In 1945, the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHK) published its own translation of the Belydenisskrifte, gebede en formuliere. This translation is based on the (Dutch) critically edited text edition of Van Toornenbergen, published in his book, De symbolische schriften (1895). In 1950 the Dutch Reformed Church (NGK) received its translation of the Doctrinal Standards and Formularies. This translation was rooted in the (Dutch) texts of the Formulierboek der N.G. Kerk in Z. Afrika (1907), which was in turn also embedded in the Van Toornenbergen text tradition.

The influence of Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920) on South Africa in the spheres of Church History and Church Polity A short biography of Kuyper is followed by an attempt to qualify him as a typical theologian of the 19th century, as leader of the Doleantie-movement in the Dutch church and as a man of many parts. His personal contact with South Africa is traced, as well as his direct and indirect influence in the South African churches. It is interesting to note that the influence of Kuyper's theology in the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika was largely initiated by JD du Toit while his father, SJ du Toit, introduced Kuyper's theology in the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. Subsequently it was mainly the influence of the VU (Bavinck and Rutgers) which prevailed in the abovementioned churches.

OPSOMMING Daar is 'n wêreldwye tendens van afname in lidmaatgetalle van hoofstroomkerke. Hierdie artikel fokus op die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) in Suid-Afrika. Dit ondersoek of die hoofsaaklik rasionele verstaan van God eerder as 'n persoonlike spirituele ervaring 'n rede vir die afname in die spesifieke Gereformeerde kerklike tradisie kan wees. Die gewildheid van charismatiese en pinksterkerke in die konteks kan toegeskryf word aan hulle klem op subjektiewe ervaring, wat ook kenmerkend is van die postmoderne kultuur. Mense woon eredienste by met die verwagting dat hulle spirituele behoeftes bevredig sal word. Mense se spirituele en emosionele behoeftes verander saam met hulle leefwereld. In die moderne era was die klem op rasionele kennis terwyl die klem in 'n postmoderne era meer op subjektiewe ervaring is. Hierdie paradigmaskuif beïnvloed die wyse waarop mense godsdiens ervaar en beoefen. Die ondersoek maak gebruik van Corinne Ware se spirituele tipologie om insig te verkry in mense se ervaring van eredienste in die NG Kerk. Die resultate dra by tot 'n beter verstaan van lidmate se spirituele behoeftes met betrekking tot eredienste om by te dra tot hulle geestelike groei. Die vraag is hoe die NG Kerk getrou kan bly aan die gereformeerde tradisie terwyl 'n meer holistiese en inklusiewe benadering gevolg word, spesifiek wat eredienste betref. Trefwoorde: gereformeerd, spiritualiteit, spiritualiteitstipes, erediens, eredienservaring, liturgie, katafaties, apofaties, modern, postmodern ABSTRACT Membership of mainstream churches is declining all over the world. This article focuses on the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in South Africa. It investigates whether a reason for the decline in this specific Reformed ecclesial tradition could be the predominantly rational understanding of God rather than that of a personal spiritual experience. The popularity of charismatic and Pentecostal churches in the context could be attributed to their emphasis on subjective experience, which is also characteristic of postmodern culture. People attend worship services with the expectation of having their spiritual needs met. People's spiritual and emotional needs evolve as their lifeworld changes. In the modern era, the emphasis was on rational knowledge. In this era people resonated with the rational approach of the mainstream churches. The influence of the postmodern era is visible in the emphasis on subjective experience. This paradigm shift influences how people experience and practice religion. They tend to search for congregations that address their needfor a fulfilling spiritual experience. Many prefer worship services where they have a personal, emotional experience of God. Every person has unique spiritual needs and experiences God in unique ways. Therefore people exercise their faith in different ways. Spirituality plays an important role in people's lives. A qualitative approach was used to gain insight into people's experiences. The empirical part of the study was based on responses from volunteers who participated by completing spirituality questionnaires and took part in semi-structured interviews. The aim was to ascertain whether the DRC is experienced to be exclusive regarding spiritual preferences and, if so, whether this could be a contributing factor when it comes to the decline in membership of the Church. In 1980 Urban T Holmes wrote a handbook on spirituality, titled A history of Christian spirituality. Holmes' valuable contribution is a typology of spiritual preferences, specifically focused on prayer. In 1995 Corinne Ware used this typology and expanded it. She specifically focused on the way people responded to worship patterns. She explained differences in spirituality and spiritual preferences by distinguishing between four groups. She called the spirituality preferences "spirituality types" and named them "head", "heart", "mystic" and "hand". Ware developed a questionnaire to determine a person's "spirituality type". This investigation utilised Corinne Ware's spiritual typology to gain insight into people's experiences of worship services in the DRC. The results contribute to a better understanding of members' spiritual needs with regard to worship services in order for these experiences to contribute to their spiritual growth. The question is how the Dutch Reformed Church can remain true to its Reformed tradition while taking a more holistic and inclusive approach to spirituality, specifically with regard to worship. Keywords: reformed, spirituality, spirituality-types, worship service, worship experience, liturgy, cataphatic, apophatic, modern, postmodern

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past two decades the Dutch Reformed Church, a typical mainline church in South Africa, encountered radical challenges, as was the case with many similar churches worldwide. The DR Church had to face global societal shifts such as the emergence of postmodernism, the intensifying of secularisation and the growing impact of globalisation on the religious community. In addition, the members of the DR Church were exposed to radical challenges due to the dismantling of the apartheid system in South Africa. This dismantling was a particularly traumatic experience for the DR Church, seeing that this church did not only support the apartheid regime, but also legitimized it on theological grounds. It is therefore understandable that the publishing of the document Kerk en Samelewing (“Church and Society”) in 1986, which first signalled the rejection of apartheid in the DR Church, evoked a major reaction, not only among the church membership, but also within the ranks of white Afrikaners as social group. With the dawn of the post-apartheid era in South Africa in 1994, the issue of the church's relevance was already on the agenda of the ecumenical church. In recent times suddenly this theme also became critical to the church in South Africa and especially to the DR Church. The present study proposes that a missional diaconal ministry which focuses on the society as a whole will provide a modus to the DR Church by which it can function as a relevant church within the South African society. The rationale of this investigation is a follows: The DR Church is currently (2014) not in a position to impact significantly on the societal needs of South African citizens. The reason is that this church's current ministry of compassion is still based on an ecclesiocentric and specialist approach, which was typical of the Corpus Christianum. As a result, a new, unique praxis is needed for the diaconal ministry of this church. The present study argues that missional theology provides a new paradigm according to which an applicable missional diaconal praxis can be developed for the DR Church. Such a unique diaconal praxis can only develop when it is guided by a spirituality that leads to a diaconal attitude and sensitivity towards the poor and destitute. This diaconal spirituality, in turn, is activated and fed by a missional theology that builds on the triune God as origin, basis and final purpose of the diaconal ministry as such. Furthermore in this study it is shown that the concept of missio Dei implies that the diaconal ministry forms an integral part of God’s mission and is thus not an isolated church ministry besides other ministries. It is further argued in the present study that a multi-dimensional missional-diaconal practice should be developed for congregations and the various structures within the DR Church. To facilitate the conceptualisation and operationalisation of a missional diaconal ministry in this church, the study proposes that a specific research focus, namely “Missional-diaconal Studies” should be developed for the South African environment. For this purpose a research and teaching institution should be established to provide in such needs of the church.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die NG Kerk, ’n tipiese hoofstroomkerk in Suid-Afrika, het die afgelope 20 jaar – soos vele ander kerke wêreldwyd – voor ingrypende uitdagings te staan gekom. Hierdie kerk moes globale samelewingsverskuiwings verwerk, soos die opkoms van postmodernisme, ’n verskerping in sekularisasie en die impak van globalisering op die geloofsgemeenskap. Daarbenewens is die NG Kerklidmate blootgestel aan ingrypende veranderings wat gevolg het op die aftakeling van die apartheidstelsel in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie aftakeling was veral traumaties vir die NG Kerk omdat hierdie kerk nie slegs apartheid ondersteun het nie, maar dit ook op teologiese gronde verdedig het. Dit is gevolglik begryplik dat die verskyning van die dokument Kerk en Samelewing (1986), waarin die eerste tekens van ’n wegbeweeg van die apartheidsideologie in die NG Kerk sigbaar word, hewige reaksie ontlok het – tussen die kerklidmate, maar ook in die blanke Afrikaners as samelewingsgroep. Met die aanbreek van die postapartheid-era in Suid-Afrika in 1994 was die vraag na die relevansie van die kerk reeds wêreldwyd op kerklike agendas. Skielik het hierdie vraag nou ook vir die kerk in Suid-Afrika, en veral die NG Kerk, ’n kernsaak geword. In hierdie studie word voorgestel dat ’n missionaal-diakonale bediening wat op die samelewing in geheel fokus, ’n moontlike modus vir die NG Kerk kan verskaf om vir die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing relevant te funksioneer. Die rasionaal van die ondersoek behels die volgende: As gevolg van die historiese ontwikkeling van die NG Kerk se diens van barmhartigheid, veral die verbondenheid aan ʼn volksteologie en nasionalisme die afgelope paar dekades, kan hierdie kerk binne die postapartheid-era tans (2014) nie werklik ʼn verskil aan die nood in die samelewing maak nie. Die bestaande barmhartigheidsbediening van hierdie kerk is steeds gebaseer op ʼn model wat nog spruit uit ʼn ekklesiosentriese en spesialisbenadering wat eie is aan die Corpus Christianum. Gevolglik is ʼn nuwe, eiesoortige praxis vir hierdie kerk se diakonaat nodig. In die huidige studie word betoog dat die missionale teologie ʼn nuwe paradigma voorsien waarvolgens ʼn toepaslike missionaal-diakonale praxis vir die NG Kerk ontwikkel kan word. So ʼn eiesoortige diakonale praxis kan egter slegs ontwikkel wanneer dit gerig word deur ’n spiritualiteit wat lei tot ’n diakonale gesindheid en houding teenoor die armes en noodlydendes. Hierdie diakonale spiritualiteit word aangewakker en gevoed deur ’n missionale teologie wat bou op God Drie-enig as oorsprong, basis en einddoel van die diakonaat. Verder word in hierdie studie aangetoon dat die missio Dei juis veronderstel dat die diakonaat ʼn wesenlike deel uitmaak van God se sending en gevolglik nie ʼn losstaande bediening van die kerk benewens ander bedienings is nie. In die studie word verder betoog dat ʼn multidimensionele missionaal-diakonale praktyk vir gemeentes en die onderskeie kerkverbande binne die NG Kerk ontwikkel behoort te word. Om die konseptualisering en operasionalisering van ʼn missionale diakonaat in hierdie kerk te bevorder word in die studie aanbeveel dat ’n navorsingsfokus, naamlik “Missionaaldiakonale Studie”, vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks ontwikkel word. Hiervoor behoort ʼn navorsings- en opleidingsinstelling in die lewe geroep te word om aan sodanige kerklike behoeftes te voldoen.

Assignment (M.Div.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research was done from the viewpoint that because of different reasons believers and congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa are struggling to make a significant contribution to processes of reconciliation in this country and thereby to a certain extent fail to live out the church’s witness in this regard. Therefore the question was asked how this church can be guided to play a bigger part in processes of reconciliation in the midst of phenomena like race-prejudice, race-discrimination and subtle and blatant forms of racism in South Africa today. By focusing on few of the causes of these phenomena as well as certain perspectives on missio Dei theologies, an attempt are made to guide the Dutch Reformed Church towards involvement in processes of reconciliation, the transformation of broken relationships between people of different races and the eradication of racism. A number of hermeneutical processes are being emphasized in order to guide the church towards a miss ional praxis of reconciliation. The essence of this praxis entails the eradication of stereotypes regarding ‘the other’, by focusing on an inculturation approach in the light of missio Dei theology. By focusing on an interpretation of missio Dei as God’s reconciliation through the poor, an attempt was made to guide the church towards involvement in processes aiming at economic justice. This research is therefore an attempt to guide the church towards the discernment of her role as the witnesses of Christ within this context in South Africa today.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing is vanuit die uitgangspunt gedoen dat gelowiges en gemeentes van die NG Kerk in Suid-Afrika om verskeie redes in ‘n mindere mate daarin slaag om ‘n daadwerklike (getuienislewerende) bydrae tot versoeningsprosesse in Suid-Afrika te lewer. Na aanleiding van hierdie stelling word die vraag gevra na hoe die NG Kerk ‘n groter rol kan speel in prosesse van versoening en die transformering van verhoudinge tussen verskillende mense in Suid-Afrika, veral te midde die realiteit van rassevooroordeel, rassediskriminasie en subtiele en blatante rassisme vandag. Deur te let na enkele oorsake van rasseskeiding en rassisme, asook verskeie perspektiewe op missio Dei teologieë, word daar derhalwe gepoog om die NG Kerk hierdeur tot betrokkenheid in die transformering van gebroke rasseverhoudinge en die uitwissing van rassisme in Suid-Afrika vandag te begelei. Verskeie hermeneutiese prosesse word in die proses benadruk ten einde die kerk by te staan in die onderskeiding van ‘n missionale versoeningspraksis binne hierdie konteks. Die essensie van hierdie praksis, wat op verskeie hermeneutiese prosesse steun, bestaan daaruit om stereotipes aangaande ‘die ander’ uit die weg te ruim deur op ‘n inkulturasie-benadering tot missio Dei te fokus. Daar word ook voorstelle gemaak oor hoe om versoening tussen mense te bevorder deur die nastreef van ekonomiese geregtigheid. ‘n Aanvullende benadering tot missio Dei, nl. missio Dei as God se versoening asook God se sending deur die arme dien as basis hiervan. Op hierdie manier het hierdie navorsing ‘n bydrae gelewer oor wat die NG Kerk kan doen om versoening tussen mense groepe in Suid-Afrika te kan bewerkstellig en om haar getuienis i.t.v. hierdie konteks te oriënteer.

Sedert die vestiging van die kerk aan die suidpunt van Afrika, het die gereformeerde godsdiens 'n belangrike deel uitgemaak van die Suid-Afrikaanse kerkgeskiedenis. Deur die toedoen van predikante soos ds. Andrew Murray, het 'n nuwe evangeliese bewuswording posgevat wat mense laat vra het na wedergeboorte, bekering en heiligmaking. 'n Ernstige soeke na die werking van die Heilige Gees het, na baie gebed, uitgeloop op die bekende herlewings laat in die vorige eeu. Hierdie opwekkings het 'n aptyt gewek vir die ongewone en daarmee saam het 'n ontevredenheid geheers oor die swak geestelike toestand in die Ned.Geref.Kerk. In pogings wat aangewend is om te voldoen aan die geestelike behoefte van lidmate en om die onbekeerdes te bereik, het die Ned.Geref.Kerk met spesiale evangelieprediking begin. Intussen kom meer as een beweging, hoofsaaklik weens buitelandse invloede, die Kerk binne. Die vernaamste doelwit van hierdie bewegings was om op verskeie vlakke van die samelewing die boodskap van bekering en heiligmaking te bevorder. Hoewel sekere predikante en lidmate kon getuig van 'n besliste bekeringsmoment in hulle lewe, was dit nie verteenwoordigend van die res van die kerklike publiek nie. Enkeles het ook 'n definitiewe heiligmakingsondervinding voorgestaan. Hierdie verwikkelinge het die besef laat ontstaan dat Metodistiese invloede in 'n baie groot mate die Kerk begin infiltreer het en daarom is enige poging ter bevordering van wedergeboorte, bekering en heiligmaking met agterdog bejeen. Terselfdertyd het, deur die invloed van dr. Abraham Kuyper, 'n oplewing van Calvinisme ontstaan wat verdere druk geplaas het op die evangelies-bevindelike stroom in die land. Beskuldigings van Metodistiese geesdrywery, gevoelvolle prediking en allerlei vorme van opsweping moes aangehoor word. Om die situasie te vererger, word twee predikante van hul gemeenteverpligtinge losgemaak en hou as sogenaamde Los predikante konferensies landwyd. Saam met die invloed van die A.E.B. word die kloof tussen Calvinisme en Metodisme groter. Met die stigting van Die Nuwe Protestantse Kerk (Evangelies-Gereformeerde Kerk) in 1944 onder die Ieiding van dr. D.J.J. de Vos, skaar die ondersteuners van die Los predikante en die A.E.B. hulle by hom. Intussen kristalliseer 'n verskeidenheid leerstellige standpunte in die Ned.Geref.Kerk uit wat wissel van 'n strenge verbondsteologie (waarin wedergeboorte latent plaasvind) tot 'n meer Metodisties-gekleurde interpretasie van die heilsweg waar wedergeboorte neerkom op 'n bewustelike ondervinding. By laasgenoemde groep het heiligmaking sterk geneig in die rigting van perfeksionisme. Die oorsprong van hierdie groep kan teruggevoer word na sekere teoloë wat rondom die eeuwending aktief betrokke was, asook na die invloed van buitelandse evangeliesgesindes. Die verbondsteoloë daarenteen, wou getrou aan hul Nederlandse erfenis nie afsien van die suiwer Calvinistiese leer nie. In die Ned.Geref.Kerk het hierdie twee strominge in 'n groot mate saamgewerk sonder dat die Metodistiese invloede die Kerk leerstellig van die spoor laat afwyk het. Die evangeliese invloed, met die praktiese beoefening van wedergeboorte, bekering en heiligmaking kon ook verder bydra tot die verdieping van gereformeerde spiritualiteit in die Ned.Geref.Kerk. Die slotsom waartoe die kandidaat kom is dat gereformeerde spiritualiteit in die Ned.Geref.Kerk grootliks hand aan hand loop met die evangeliese inslag in hierdie Kerk en dat die term "Metodisme" dikwels verkeerdelik aan hierdie groepering gekoppel is. ENGLISH: Since the founding of the church at the southern tip of Africa, reformed religion played an important part in the history of the church in the South African context. Through the contribution of the ministers like dr. Andrew Murray, a new evangelical awakening arose which inspired people to enquire about rebirth, conversion and sanctification. An earnest search after the work of the Holy Spirit resulted after much prayer, in the well-known revival towards the latter part of the previous century. These conversions awakened the appetite for the unusual and, with that, a dissatisfaction about the spiritual well-being of the church reigned. By attempting to comply with the spiritual need of members as well as trying to reach the heathens, the Dutch Reformed Church began a special evangelical preaching programme. In the meantime more than one movement, mostly as a result of international influence, infiltrated the church. The prime object of these movements were to promote the message of salvation and sanctification. Although some ministers and members could testify to a decisive moment of rebirth in their lives, this was not representative of the rest of the churchgoing public. Individuals claimed a definite experience of sanctification. These developments allowed for the relations that the Methodist influence, to a large extend, were beginning to infiltrate the church and thus any attempt to promote the concepts of rebirth, conversion and sanctification were treated with suspicion. Simultaneously, through the influence of dr. Abraham Kuyper, resurgence of Calvinism began which placed further pressure on the Evangelicals in the country. Accusation of Methodist practices, emotional preaching and various forms of incitement had to be heard. To worsen the situation, two ministers were relieved of their ministerial duties and held, as so-called "Loose ministers" country-wide conferences. The influence of the A.E.B. contributed to the rift between Calvinism and the Methodists widening. With the founding of the New Protestant Church (Evangelical Reformed Church) in 1944 under the auspices of dr. D.J.J. de Vos, the supporters of the "Loose ministers" and the A.E.B. rallied to his support. In the meantime a variety of doctrinal viewpoints crystalised in the Dutch Reformed Church. These vary from a strictly covenant theology (wherein rebirth is latently present) to a more Methodist inclined interpretation of the root to salvation where rebirth is interpreted as a concious experience. With the latter salvation was strongly inclined towards perfectionism. The origin of the group can be attributed to various theologians who were active at the turn of the century, as well as the influence of international evangelists. In contrast the covenant theologians did not want to waive from their pure Calvinism. In the Dutch Reformed Church these two streams worked together to a large extend, without the Methodist influences deviating them from their tracts. The evangelical influence, with the practical practise of rebirth, conversion and sanctification can further contribute to the deepening of the spirituality of the Dutch Reformed Church. The final conclusion reached is that reformed spirituality in the Dutch Reformed Church can to a large extent be related to its evangelical inclination and that the exponents of this trent were falsely accused of Methodism.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 1997.
Church History and Church Policy
unrestricted

Apartheid had long been an everyday practice in South Africa when the NG Kerk threw its weight behind it during the third decade of the twentieth century. However, it did not take long before the church began playing a leading role in this respect. During the fourth and fifth decades many decisions and publications underscored the church's conviction that the policy of separate development was based on Scripture. The South African Government and the National Party Government, in particular, were certain of the co-operation of the NG Kerk not only in the establishment of this policy but also in the extension thereof to cover all the facets of social, economical and political life. Although the NG Kerk, on many occasions, reiterated that the policy should be implemented with justice and compassion, it was always clear that apartheid as a policy that was based on colour could only result in discrimination against, and injustice to, people of colour. This resulted in growing resistance by blacks, coloureds and Indians since the beginning of the century. The resistance increased rapidly after the National Party took over the government of the country in 1948 and proceeded to intensify this policy by applying it to all levels of the political and societal life. On March 21 1960 thousands of blacks marched to the police station in Sharpeville to protest against the pass laws. This resulted in the police killing 69 blacks and wounding 180 in a panic reaction which caused not only a worldwide wave of indignation and protest but also increased racial tension in South Africa. The World Council of Churches in conjunction with the local member churches immediately arranged the Cottesloe Conference to discuss possible solutions to the racial problems. The proposals of this conference which was held in December 1960 met with strong opposition from Government and were eventually completely smothered by the Church leadership. The proposals were unacceptable because they smacked too much of criticism of apartheid. Notwithstanding the strong political and ecclesiastical rejection of Cottesloe, a group of church leaders nevertheless decided to establish the publication Pro Veritate, and soon afterwards the Christian Institute of Southern Africa was founded in an effort to give scriptural witness in South Africa. Pro Veritate, which later served as the mouthpiece of the Christian Institute (CI) and the CI itself, were - since their inception - seen as contentious issues by both the NG Kerk and Government because of the challenge to apartheid. The church immediately instituted strong measures to suppress Pro Veritate and the Christian Institute initiatives. This was applauded from the political side, particularly in the Transvaal, where certain Afrikaans newspapers gave their full support to it. Decisions were taken by the Southern Transvaal Synod to discourage ministers from contributing to Pro Veri tate and to prevent them from becoming members of the CI. The CI leaders, in particular, had to be silenced. After the General Synod finally rejected the Christian Institute, a long and heart-rending history of church persecution of Naude as leader and Engelbrecht as theologian of the CI followed. It all took place within the boundaries of the Parkhurst parish, of which the Naude and Engelbrecht families were members. Parkhurst parish was part of the circuit of Johannesburg. Strong pressure was exerted on the church council of Parkhurst and the circuit of Johannesburg to censure these members in order to silence them. Disciplinary measures had to be employed to get rid of these voices against the policy of separateness. The church leadership played a prominent role in these efforts. In the intensity with which the campaign was waged in and through the circuit of Johannesburg and the Parkhurst parish, it became evident - as nowhere else - how strong the NG Kerk felt about apartheid. When eventually the Government investigated and banned the CI and confined Dr Naude to his home, the church silently acclaimed what was being done. After all, the NG Kerk had from the very beginning not differed from the Government with regard to the CI. The biblical protest of the CI against apartheid was, of necessity, also a protest against the close ties of the NG Kerk with the Government and National Party. With time, however, the CI also moved into a process of politicisation. Black power and black political aspirations became the major driving forces behind the CI. In the middle seventies it became increasingly clear that a strong relationship had developed between the CI and the African National Congress (ANC). The history of the CI ended in immense irony. This organisation which took its stand on Scripture and courageously warned against the support by the church of a political party and structural violence in serving apartheid, ended in close co-operation with the ANC as a political party which committed itself to the armed struggle to overthrow the Government. There was also the irony that in their struggle against the ali gnment of the NG Kerk wi th the political theology to the right, the CI and its director aligned themselves to a South African version of the theology of liberation - a political theology to the left in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is struck in the heart. And just as the NG Kerk in its political alignment remained silent about the violence of apartheid - so the CI eventually became silent about the violence of the political party in its struggle against apartheid.