One of the most important yet most undermined aspects of the Reformed Churches
in the resort of Synod Midlands is its liturgy. Little study has been done on liturgy and
few Church Councils make liturgy their concern. Consequently most of the Reformed
Churches in Midlands are faced with the problem of syncretism, secularism and
modernistic trends in the liturgy.
All human beings are religious people. All humans beings are believers yet it
depends whom and how people worship and in whom or what they believe. People
have different cultures and in some instances, as is the case with the African religion,
culture and religion are not easily separated. Liturgy has an indispensable task in
transforming culture. This study aims at scrutinising the manner of worship in
Reformed Churches in Synod Midlands. It is divided into three sections. The first
section focuses on basic-theoretical principles, the second on meta-theoretical
guidelines and empirical findings and the third on a critical-hermeneutical interaction
between the basis-theoretical principles and the meta-theoretical guidelines.
This study indicates that the Reformed Churches in Synod Midlands need a relevant
liturgy that is suitable for the African members but also a liturgy that is not easily
influenced by culture and by the world. Liturgy has to shape culture and culture has
to be accommodated in the shape that liturgy takes. This does not occur at the same
level. The gospel preaches to culture and leads it to repentance. The sermon,
however, is presented within a certain culture, context and language. This is where
culture fits in and contributes to the shaping of the liturgy.
A relevant liturgy for the Reformed Churches in Synod Midlands would be a dynamic
liturgy that displays an interactive communicative character. There has to be a
dialogue between God and His children. The liturgist should not be an individual
standing between God and humans, blocking the dialogue-related character of the
liturgy. All members have to be participative and should follow the liturgy. This study
therefore calls upon a free liturgy because African people are spontaneous. However
this liturgy should also be characterized by the necessary order. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/697 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Letšosa, Rantoa Simon |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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