Die hervertolking van die paradigma in verband met die Kollegialisme om die Afrikaanse kerke kerkregtelik te verstaan

Abstract

Reinterpreting the paradigm concerning ‘Kollegialisme’ in order to understand the Afrikaans churches according to church law
The Afrikaans term ‘Kollegialisme’ is used to convey criticism of the polity and history of the Afrikaans churches of Reformed persuasion. The well-known Dutch theologian, Abraham Kuyper, constructed this methodological paradigm. A philosophical concept originating within the German church was rendered contextually to communicate the development of the national church of the Netherlands. An analysis of the relevant sources indicates that what was implied was an understanding of the church in terms of a society (‘genootskap’). Accordingly, the polity and history of the Reformed churches needs to be reinterpreted.