Original Research - Special Collection: Applied subjects - Practical Theology and Science of Religion

Wanneer een twee word: ’n Perspektief op resente gebeure in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika

Wim A. Dreyer
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 70, No 1 | a2054 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i1.2054 | © 2014 Wim A. Dreyer | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 27 August 2013 | Published: 28 May 2014

About the author(s)

Wim A. Dreyer, Department Church History and Church Polity, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

When one becomes two: A perspective on recent events in the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa. On 28 July 2013 13 congregations of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika) declared themselves independent and constituted as the ‘Geloofsbond van Hervormde Gemeentes’. This contribution examines the recent historical background to this event as well as several contributing factors such as the role of the media, the role of organisations, differences in theology as well as ideological differences. The conclusion is reached that a tension-filled discourse between confessional and critical theology, linked to clear ideological views, were the main contributing factors to divisions in the church. The contribution concludes with a discussion of some implications of these events from the perspective of church polity.

Keywords

Ned. Hervormde Kerk van Afrika; schism; critical theology; confessionalist theology, apartheid; ideology; ecclesiology

Metrics

Total abstract views: 6432
Total article views: 7604

 

Crossref Citations

1. A Reformed theologian on a journey on a surpassing road
Andries G. Van Aarde
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies  vol: 79  issue: 1  year: 2023  
doi: 10.4102/hts.v79i1.9263