Thesis (DTh (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa
(DRCA) was established in 1881 and 1910 respectively. As pointed out in this study both
these churches grew from the mission endeavours of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC).
In April 1994 the DRMC and the DRCA united in forming the Uniting Reformed Church in
Southern Africa (URCSA). This church has as confessional base the Belgic Confession of Faith,
the Canons of Dordt and the Heidelberg Catechism as well as the Belhar Confession. The
church order of the URCSA is built on these Confessions and in particular on the Belhar
Confession. In this study I argue that it was only after the unification of the mentioned
churches that a history characterised by guardianship, subordination and semi-autonomy
came to an end.
However this may be the histories of the DRMC and the DRCA point out that, on a church
juridical level, these churches where subordinate and to a large extent directly governed by
the DRC. Here the model for the church planting as followed by the DRC will receive
attention. By looking into the primary documents through which these churches were
governed as well as the documents that formed the church orderly backbone of the
mentioned churches in that, through their principles and stipulations, the DRMC and DRCA
were organised internally, I attempt to evaluate these documents. These documents include
the initial constitutions for the governance of the DRMC and the DRCA, the deeds of
agreement between the regional synods of the DRC and the regional synods of the DRCA as
well as the Deeds of Agreement between the DRC in South Africa (the Western and
Southern Cape Synod of the DRC) the Synod of the DRMC, the first church orders of the
DRMC and the DRCA and, to a lesser extent, the church order of the URCSA.
Through their histories these churches were granted church juridical liberties. These
liberties form the foundation for the initial development in the polity of these churches. The
content of the abovementioned documents highlights these liberties as well as the effect it
had on the theological identities of the DRMC and the DRCA.
As the histories of these churches depict a strong strive towards reaching a position of
ecclesial autonomy and the acknowledgment of their autonomy by the DRC, special
attention is given to the concept and interpretation of ecclesial autonomy. In this regard I
remark on the historical interpretation of ecclesial autonomy as it played out in the histories
of the DRMC and the DRCA. Through the works of renowned Reformed theologians, I
further look into historical interpretations of this theological principle, which is ecclesial
autonomy. In doing this I attempt to formulate a specific understanding of ecclesial
autonomy based on a particular interpretation of the Lordship of Christ. As outcome this
interpretation shows towards the interdependant relation between churches. It can be
argued that this impacts directly on the relation between the DRC, the DRMC and the DRCA,
specifically in the ongoing processes of church re-unification. In a final turn in which I affirm
vi
the interdependent and interrelatedness between churches, I argue towards the building of
a vulnerable ecclesiology which impacts directly on an understanding of ecclesial autonomy,
the specific polity of a church, as well as on the structures embodied by a community of
believers.
Some of the tenets and convictions of Reformed church polity, as they are relevant to this
study, are discussed in detail. In turn I use these principles in evaluating the church juridical
position of the DRMC and the DRCA in the mentioned period. As such I point towards the
strong deviations in Reformed church polity as it played out in the history of the churches
within the family of Dutch Reformed Churches. In this regard I also point towards the
interrelatedness of these churches within the broader social context of South(-ern) Africa. I
argue that these unique deviations are to a large extent distinct from the ecclesial context
of South(-ern) Africa. Concluding remarks are made in this regard. Through the unpacked
notion of what is termed an ecclesiology of vulnerability, built on the interdependent
relation between churches, I make brief suggestions regarding the ongoing process of
church re-unification between the churches within the family of Dutch Reformed Churches. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Sendingkerk (NGSK) en die Nederduitse Gereformeerde
Kerk in Afrika (NGKA) het onderskeidelik in 1881 en 1910 tot stand gekom. Soos wat hierdie
studie uitwys, het beide hierdie kerke gegroei vanuit die sendingaktiwiteite van die
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK).
In April 1994 het die NGSK en die NGKA verenig in die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in
Suider-Afrika (VGKSA). Hierdie kerk het as konfessionele basis die Nederlandse
Geloofsbelydenis, die Dordtse Leerreëls, die Heidelbergse Kategismus sowel as die Belydenis
van Belhar. Die kerkorde van die VGKSA is dan ook gebou op hierdie belydenisskrifte en dan
in besonder op die Belydenis van Belhar. In hierdie studie redeneer ek dat dit eers ná die
eenwording van die vermelde kerke was dat ’n geskiedenis gekenmerk deur voogdyskap,
ondergeskiktheid en semi-outonomie agterweë gelaat is.
Dit kan vermeld word dat die geskiedenis van die NGSK en die NGKA duidelik uitwys dat
hierdie kerke, op ’n kerkregtelike vlak, ondergeskik was aan, en tot ’n groot mate regeer is
deur die NGK. Die model vir die planting van kerke soos gevolg deur die NGK geniet in
hierdie verband in die studie aandag. Verder het ek probeer om die inhoud van die primêre
dokumente waardeur die NGSK en die NGKA regeer is, sowel as die dokumente wat as
kerkordelike basis vir die interne organisering van hierdie kerke gebruik is, te evalueer. Die
vermelde dokumentasie sluit in die oorspronklike Grondwette vir die regering van die NGSK
en die NGKA, die Aktes van Ooreenkoms tussen die streeksinodes van die NGK en die
streeksinodes van die NGKA sowel as die Aktes van Ooreenkoms tussen die NGK in Suid-
Afrika (die sogenaamde Kaapse Kerk) en die sinode van die NGSK, die eerste kerkordes van
die NGSK en die NGKA, en, tot ’n mindere mate ook die kerkorde van die VGKSA.
Deur die verloop van die geskiedenis is daar sekere kerkregtelike vryhede aan die NGSK en
die NGKA toegestaan. Hierdie vryhede vorm, myns insiens, die basis van die oorspronklike
kerkregtelike ontwikkeling(-e) in die vermelde kerke. Die inhoud van die bovermelde
dokumente wys juis hierdie vryhede uit sowel as die effek wat dit op die teologiese
identiteite van die NGSK en die NGKA gehad het.
Aangesien die geskiedenis van die NGSK en die NGKA ’n sterk strewe na kerklike outonomie
en die erkenning van hierdie outonomie deur die NGK uitwys, word spesiale aandag gegee
aan die bespreking van die konsep en interpretasie van kerklike outonomie. Die historiese
begrip van hierdie term word verduidelik en spesifiek hoe dit uitgespeel het in die
geskiedenis van die NGSK en die NGKA. Deur te verwys na die werke van welbekende
Gereformeerde teoloë, word daar ook aandag gegee aan die historiese interpretasie van
kerklike outonomie as teologiese beginsel. Daarvolgens probeer ek om ’n spesifieke begrip
vir kerklike outonomie te formuleer. ’n Bepaalde interpretasie van Christus se heerskappy is
hier as basis gebruik. As uitkoms dui hierdie geformuleerde interpretasie van kerklike
outonomie op inter-afhanklike verhoudinge tussen kerke. Myns insiens impakteer dit direk op die verhouding tussen die NGK, die NGSK en die NGKA en hier spesifiek dan op die proses
van kerklike hereniging tussen hierdie kerke.
In ’n finale rondte gaan my argument oor die bou van wat genoem word ‘n kwesbare
ekklesiologie. Hierdie argument is gebou op ‘n verstaan van kerklike outonomie wat wys op
die inter-afhanklike verhouding tussen kerke. Myns insiens impakteer hierdie argument
direk op ’n spesifieke begrip van kerklike outonomie, die spesifieke kerkreg wat uitspeel in
’n kerk, sowel as op die strukture wat beliggaam word in ’n gemeenskap van gelowiges.
Van die oortuigings van die Gereformeerde Kerkreg komend vanuit ‘n spesifieke konteks,
soos wat dit betrekking het op hierdie studie, word gedetailleerd bespreek. Ek het ook
hierdie oortuigings gebruik om die kerkregtelike posisie van die NGSK en die NGKA in die
vermelde periode te evalueer. In hierdie verband wys ek op hoe daar in die geskiedenis van
hierdie kerke sterk afgewyk was van die Gereformeerde Kerkreg. Melding word in hierdie
verband gemaak van die inter-afhanklikheid van hierdie kerke en die breër sosiale konteks
van Suid(-er)-Afrika. Myns insiens is hierdie vermelde eiesoortige afwykings tot ’n groot
mate uniek aan die kerklike konteks van Suid(-er)-Afrika. Slotopmerkings word in hierdie
verband gemaak. Wanneer die konsep van ’n kwesbare ekklesiologie, gebou op ‘n verstaan
van die inter-afhaklike verhouding tussen kerke, beskryf word, maak ek kort opmerkings
rakende die aangegaande proses van kerkhereniging tussen die kerke binne die familie van
NG Kerke.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4025 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van Rooi, Leslie Bernard |
| Contributors | Vosloo, Robert, Koffeman, L. J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 219 leaves |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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