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

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