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1
Duncan, G. A. "Back to the Future." Verbum et Ecclesia 24, no. 2 (November 17, 2003): 359–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v24i2.331.
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The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa was formed on 26th September 1999 as the result of the union of the black Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa and the white-dominated Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa. Various unsuccessful attempts had been made since the latter part of the nineteenth century to effect union. In the spirit of national euphoria which surrounded the first democratic elections in South Africa in1994, the Reformed Presbyterian Church initiated union discussions with the Presbyterian Church. The subsequent union was based on what are now considered to be inadequate preparations and many unresolved problems have emerged to test the witness of the new denomination, not the least of which is racism. At its 2002 General Assembly, as the result of what appeared to be a financial crisis, the Uniting Presbyterian Church appointed a Special Committee on Reformation was established to investigate the problems in the denomination and to bring proposals for dealing with these issues.
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Kgatla, ST. "Ministerial formation policies of the Northern Theological Seminary of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa:." STJ | Stellenbosch Theological Journal 5, no. 1 (June 10, 2020): 191–216. http://dx.doi.org/10.17570/stj.2019.v5n1.a10.
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This article investigates the theoretical and practical effectiveness of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa’s (URCSA) ministerial formation of the Northern Synod. The URCSA is part of the Reformed Movement (Calvinism) that was established by the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) of South Africa that mainly came from the Netherlands to establish itself in South Africa and later established ethnic churches called daughter churches into existence in terms of a racially designed formula. After many years of the Dutch Reformed Church missionary dominance, the URCSA constituted its first synod in 1994 after the demise of apartheid. It was only after this synod that the URCSA through its ministerial formation tried to shake off the legacy of colonial paternalism and repositioned itself to serve its members; however, it fell victim to new ideological trappings. This article is based on a study that traces some basic Reformed practices and how the URCSA Theological Seminary of the Northern Synod dealt or failed to deal with them in its quest for the ideal theological ministerial formation.
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Davids, Hanzline R. "Recognition of LGBTIQ bodies in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa." STJ | Stellenbosch Theological Journal 6, no. 4 (January 22, 2021): 301–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.17570/stj.2020.v6n4.a12.
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The human dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people are threatend on the African continent. The sexual orientation, gender identity, expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) of LGBTIQ persons are seen as un-African. Religious communities are one of the biggest perpetrators that violate the human dignity of LGBTIQ people. For the past fifteen years the Uniting Reformed Church in South African (URCSA) made policy decions and compiled research documents that envistigates the SOGIESC of LGBTIQ people. The URCSA failed multiple times to affirm the full inclusion of LGBTQ people. In this article I’m asking, whether the recognition of LGBTIQ bodies in the URCSA is an indecent proposal. This paper is theologically underpinned by late Latin-American bisexual theologian Marcella Althaus-Reid’s Bi/Christology. Starting with my own queer autobiography, I position myself from below and outside in doing theology. Secondly, I engage shortly with the history of the URCSA and the confessional clauses of the Belhar Confession. Lastly, the paper examines whether Belhar makes an indecent proposal for the recognition of LGBTIQ bodies in the URCSA.
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Hawthorne, L. "Frontiers of change and governance in contractual agreements: The possible role of exploitation - Uniting Reformed Church De Doorns v President of the Republic of South Africa 2013 5 SA 205 (WCC)." Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad 17, no. 6 (March 4, 2015): 2822. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/pelj.v17i6.17.
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Rautenbach, Christa. "Editorial." Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad 17, no. 6 (November 14, 2014): 0. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2014/v17i6a618.
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EditorialThis voluminous issue consists of 13 articles and 8 notes dealing with various legal topics in South Africa and abroad. The articles commences with Ig Rautenbach’s discussion of the ever-elusive concept of proportionality in the light of the text of the South African Constitution. Mmaphuti Tuba analyses the different approaches adopted for the regulation of payment systems in a variety of legislative instruments by the European Union. Phoebe Boltondeals with the thorny issue of public tenders and the extent to which bidders must comply with tender specifications and conditions. Leentjie de Jong examines present-day family arbitration and the problems experienced with it. Daleen Millard and Birgit Kuschke evaluate the insurer’s pre-contractual duties in the light of the transparency principle in insurance law. Karin Calitz deals with the question if a church can be held liable for the sexual assault of children by a priest, when the victims claim as adults, many years after the events took place. The entitlement of a non-member spouse to the member’s pension forms the focus point of Clement Marumoagae’scontribution. Mitzi Wiese reflects on the correctness of the classification of liens into enrichment and contractual liens. Frans Viljoen and Nicholas Orago analyses the importance and implications of the individual communications procedure under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) and details some of the reasons why it would be beneficial for South Africa to accede thereto. The interplay between international law and labour law in South Africa in the context of diplomatic immunity is investigated byEzette Gericke. Cornelius Kilian and Elizabeth Snyman-Van Deventer consider section 75 in the Companies Act of 1973 (or its equivalent, section 36(2) in the Companies Act of 2008) and the topic of statutory approval for an artificial decrease or increase in the number of issued shares. Annelie Laas and Trynie Boezaart give a critical analysis of the legal measures available to curb bullying in schools. Further afield, Mtendeweka Mhango discusses the development and current status of the political question doctrine in Ghana.The first note by Roger Evans and Lienne Steyn deliberate on the seemingly contradictory outcomes of three high court judgments regarding the question of ownership of property which vests in the master of the high court by virtue of the Insolvency Act 24 of 1936. Philip Stevens also discusses recent judgments pronouncing on the entering of the particulars of child sex offenders into the register for sex offenders as enunciated in Chapter 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. Sieg Eiselen illustrates how the Department of Trade and Industry’s proposed amendment to the definition of “electronic signature” would undermine the key principles of functional equivalence, media neutrality and party autonomy. Luanda Hawthorne deliberates on the element of exploitation in bargaining relationships between contractual parties, as highlighted in Uniting Reformed Church, De Doorns v President of the Republic of South Africa 2013 5 SA 205 (WCC). Anneliese Roos and Magda Slabbert discuss the case of Isparta v Richter 2013 6 SA 4529 (GP), which dealt with defamation in the social media on the Facebook platform. Rowena Bernard considers the case of Department of Correctional Services v Police and Prison Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) 2011 32 ILJ 2629 (LAC), where the employer's application of rules relating to the dress code of employees impacted on the religious beliefs and practices of five of the staff members. Nico Buitendag and Karin van Marle reflect on Afriforum v Malema 2011 6 SA 240 (EqC), which drew considerable attention in the media and in the public discourse. In the last contribution, James Linscott analyses F v Minister of Safety and Security 2012 1 SA 536 (CC), which dealt with the “standard” test for vicarious liability.EditorChrista Rautenbach
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Tshaka, Rothney S., and Peter M. Maruping. "�The hastening that waits�: A critical assessment of the tangebility of unity within the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa." Verbum et Ecclesia 31, no. 1 (March 29, 2010). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v31i1.426.
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The tale of the Reformed Church tradition in South Africa remains conspicuous with challenges also within the current democratic context. Whilst the political past of South Africa contributed towards a Reformed church divided along racial lines, a struggle continues for a genuinely unified Reformed church today. Conceding to the present discussions about the possibility of uniting all Reformed congregations that were divided along racial categories of Black, Coloured, Indian and White, this article aspires to delve into the intricacies pertaining to the already achieved unity between the �Coloured� and a huge portion of the �Black� Reformed congregations, that is to say, the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. This article will argue that although it is fundamental that the church of Christ must be united, it is equally imperative that the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) waits and assesses whether it has already achieved tangible unity.
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Plaatjies van Huffel, Mary Anne, and Johan M. Van der Merwe. "Die reis met kerkeenwording tussen die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika en die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Afrika." Verbum et Ecclesia 33, no. 1 (February 8, 2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v33i1.724.
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The journey to church unification between the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa. The article gives a historical overview of judicial problems that the Dutch Reformed Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) encountered in their journey to church unification. On 14 April 1994 the DRMC and the DRCA merged and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) came into being. Firstly, attention is given to a historical overview of the unification process. Secondly, the resolutions of the General Synod of the DRCA (1991), the judicial problems that surfaced shortly after the unification between the DRMC and the DRCA, the objections against the unification process and the lawsuit that followed, will be attended to. The unification between the DRMC and the DRCA was tested in court and in 1998 the Supreme Court gave judgment in favor of the DRCA. The verdict indicated that all decisions with regards to church property were ultra vires and that the DRCA as a legal corporate entity remains. The article concludes with a few legal aspects that may be derived from the judgement. The verdict highlights the administration of justice according to established rules and principles, namely that a juristic person cannot be deprived of life, liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards. The article proposes that Reformed churches in the South African context should seriously take cognisance of the judgement. This article attempts to identify the important criteria for and characteristics of administration of justice with regard to church unification.
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Modise, Leepo Johannes. "A Quarter Century of Democracy and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa." Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 45, no. 3 (September 19, 2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6253.
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This paper focuses on the role of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in the South African society during the past 25 years of its services to God, one another and the world. Firstly, the paper provides a brief history of URCSA within 25 years of its existence. Secondly, the societal situation in democratic South Africa is highlighted in light of Article 4 of the Belhar Confession and the Church Order as a measuring tool for the role of the church. Thirdly, the thermometer-thermostat metaphor is applied in evaluating the role of URCSA in democratic South Africa. Furthermore, the 20 years of URCSA and democracy in South Africa are assessed in terms of Gutierrez’s threefold analysis of liberation. In conclusion, the paper proposes how URCSA can rise above the thermometer approach to the thermostat approach within the next 25 years of four general synods.
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Tucker, Arthur Roger. "Financially resourcing the ministry in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa in the 21st century." Verbum et Ecclesia 33, no. 1 (February 8, 2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v33i1.695.
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From 1994 the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa has increasingly encountered tremendous challenges in financing its ministry on a just and equitable basis across all communities. This issue peaked when the Presbyterian Church of South Africa and the Reformed Presbyterian Church united to form the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) in 1999. The union produced tensions concerning the financial support of the ministry. These centred on as yet unresolved proposals for the centralisation and equalisation of ministerial stipends, which have been discussed at every biennial General Assembly of the UPCSA from 2006. This article has briefly analysed the theological, ecclesiological, missional, economic, sociological and practical administrative issues that it believes should inform the final decision and may help to establish a new ministerial, missional and congregational support paradigm for many other churches in the new South Africa.
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Modise, Leepo Johannes. "The Role of the Church in Socio-Economic Transformation: Reformation as a Transformation Process." Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 44, no. 3 (September 19, 2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/3900.
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This paper consists of five parts. Firstly, a brief historical background of reformation will be discussed as an exercise to remember reformation. Secondly, we review the role of the ecumenical church (SACC) prior to democracy in South Africa. The purpose for focusing on the role of the church from this period is that it gives us a model to follow in our involvement in socio-economic transformation. Thirdly, the social and economic challenges facing the church and society in democratic South Africa will be discussed. Fourthly, we debate the role of the ecumenical church (SACC) in democratic South Africa. Fifthly, the article explores what role the Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa (URCSA) is playing (descriptive) and ought to play (normative) through all her structures to transform the socio-economic situation in South Africa.
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Fortein, Eugene Andre. "Where have all the Prophets Gone? URCSA 25 years Later: Re-Acquainting with Prophetic Theology in Post-apartheid South Africa." Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 45, no. 3 (November 19, 2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6226.
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The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) was formed in 1994 as a merger between the former Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA). URCSA, as the bearer of the Belhar Confession, has always stood within the tradition of Prophetic Theology. This article upholds the presuppositions that the prophetic nature of Black Liberation Theology impacted on the reasoning of the authors of various anti-apartheid documents like the theological declarations of the Belydendekring and Alliance of Black Reformed Christians in Southern Africa (ABRECSA), the Kairos Document and Belhar Confession; and with the advent of our democracy, URCSA not only lost her Kairos conscience but parted with Prophetic Theology—hence the title of this paper. Issues like state capture, corruption, the expropriation of land without compensation, poverty, racism, and so forth are all issues plaguing our young democracy and require a clear theological response. This article argues for renewed acquaintance from the church, URCSA, with Prophetic Theology, which will enable the church to not only speak prophetically but to challenge the status quo. Prophetic Theology is much better prepared to engage with the challenges posed in post-apartheid South Africa because it is grounded in a hope that is unprepared to accept the world as it is.
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Muller, Retief. "The Awkward Positioning of a Dutch Reformed Missionary in Apartheid South Africa." Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 46, no. 1 (July 16, 2020). http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6805.
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The Rev. D. P. (David) Botha was a lifelong apartheid critic and minister in the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and later the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). Early in his career, he served as a “missionary” in a DRMC congregation in Wynberg, and subsequently in other congregations in the Western Cape, South Africa. During his career, he wrote an important book and engaged in public discourse through contributions in newspapers and other mainstream publications. Focusing on these sources, most of which now form part of his private collection in the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) Archive, this article traces Botha’s growing agitation regarding the implementation of apartheid policies, in the aftermath of the institution of the 1950 Group Areas Act. Among other things it illuminates the early apartheid-era white view of the other, as experienced and critiqued by this insider-outsider minister with respect to his assessment of general white perceptions of so-called “coloureds” in the Cape Town area. Through specific attention to Botha’s correspondences with A. P. Treurnicht and Beyers Naudé, this article also shows the problematic perspective of a white missionary seeking to alleviate the impact of policy decisions on his church members, while simultaneously buying into the predominant ideology of racial categorisation.
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Meiring, Lieze. "Discovering and exploring ubuntu-language in the dialogue between the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa." Verbum et Ecclesia 36, no. 2 (June 8, 2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v36i2.1439.
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Discussions with members of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in Ohrigstad illustrate the possibilities of ubuntu-language in overcoming racism and prejudice. After proposing a number of meanings and values related to ubuntu, this research explores the role of ubuntu-language � and at times the lack thereof � in the concrete relationship between these two faith communities as an expression of recent South African history. Ubuntu-language seems to offer unique outcomes in this relationship in strengthening identity, unleashing vitality, celebrating diversity, awakening solidarity, revealing humanity, bolstering individualism and enhancing Christianity.
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Tshaka, Rothney S., and Tshepo Lephakga. "Karl Barth’s understanding of Christian Baptism as a basis for a conversation on the praxis of Sacraments in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa." HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 69, no. 1 (January 14, 2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v69i1.1330.
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This article is an initial attempt to bring the subject of baptism and to a lesser extent infant baptism in particular, as demonstrated in Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics, into a conversation with the practice of this phenomenon in African Reformed churches in South Africa, specifically the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). Whilst the Roman Catholic and Reformed traditions regarding the sacraments differ significantly in the understanding of this subject, this article will examine Barth’s understanding of baptism. This is done by critically examining key themes in his Church Dogmatics. The praxis of the sacraments and especially that of baptism continue to be a praxis that is highly venerated in African Reformed theological circles. This is so because it is believed that symbolism continues to occupy centre stage in African Reformed churches. In a sense therefore it seems that the African Reformed Christian leans more towards a Roman Catholic understanding of this sacrament. Is that perhaps true? Essentially this conversation will explore the relationship of faith to baptism and how this impacts on infant baptism for instance.
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Plaatjies-Van Huffel, Mary-Anne. "Whose Land Is it anyway? A historical Reflection on the Challenges URCSA Encountered with Land and Property Rights." Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 46, no. 2 (October 26, 2020). http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/7359.
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The proposal to amend the Constitution of South Africa 1996 regarding the expropriation of land without compensation has invigorated a robust discourse with regard to the land issue in South Africa. Cognisance should be taken of how the land issue was handled during the apartheid dispensation and the way it has played out in the constitutional democracy dispensation since 1994 in South Africa. This article will attend to issues relating to land in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). URCSA was constituted in 1994 due to a merger of two racially segregated churches, the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA). The DRMC was constituted through mission endeavours of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) during 1881 to serve so-called coloured members of the DRC. The DRCA was constituted in or about 1910 to serve African members. In order to understand the controversy in URCSA from 1994–2012 with regard to property rights, one has to understand how the colonists and missionaries (and later the apartheid regime) utilised “divide and rule” and supremacy strategies to secure property rights for churches of people from mixed descent and Indian people (the DRMC) and the Reformed Church in Africa [RCA]); while at the same time restricting property rights for churches of members from African descent (the DRCA). This is evident in the way the constitutions of the above-mentioned mission churches were drafted. This article will attend to the following subthemes: property rights of the DRMC challenged by apartheid laws; property rights of the DRCA challenged by apartheid laws; a court case regarding the expropriation of land without compensation; controversy regarding property rights (1998–2012); from litigation to out-of-court settlement on property rights (1998–2012); and lastly out-of-court settlement between the DRC, the DRCA and URCSA.
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Duncan, Graham A. "South African Presbyterian women in leadership in ministry (1973–2018)." HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 75, no. 1 (February 12, 2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.5180.
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The issue of women in the ministry has been a vexed one historically. In many denominations, the ordination of women has been represented by some form of struggle, which culminated in the first ordinations of women during the second half of the 20th century. This article investigates the process towards the ordination of women in two Southern African Presbyterian denominations – the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa (renamed the ‘Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa’ in 1979) and the Presbyterian Church of South Africa (renamed the ‘Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa’ in 1958), prior to their union in 1999 to form the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. This article focusses on women in leadership in ministry, not exclusively on women ordained to the ministry of ruling or teaching elder (minister). It begins with an historical overview and proceeds to an investigation of developments in the two relevant denominations. The terms ‘leadership’ and ‘ministry’ are used separately and together and are considered to be synonymous. The article uses primary sources from the records of both denominations considered and suggests that the process was gradual and progressive as the worth of women in leadership was recognised following the general acceptance of the biblical and theological arguments.
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Modise, Leepo J. "Language as a barrier to ministry of the Word with special reference to sign language in ministry: Human dignity perspective." Verbum et Ecclesia 37, no. 1 (March 31, 2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v37i1.1596.
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This article is born out of my participation in the General Synod Ministerial Formation for theological training of Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), when a decision was taken to license a student with a disability to be a minister of the Word in URCSA. Furthermore, my experience and observation of the licensing of the two candidates with hearing impairments to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament in URCSA and Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (DRCSA) has encouraged me to conduct this research. This article is made up of four important parts: Firstly, the researcher will discuss Belhar Confession as the confession that emphasises unity (inclusivity), reconciliation and justice. Secondly, Belhar Confession and disability from the human dignity perspective will be discussed. Thirdly, the ecclesiological practices and shortcomings from the human dignity perspective will be highlighted. Fourthly, pastoral care as the affirmation of human dignity will be discussed.Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The fields involved in this article are Systematic Theology, Sociology and Psychology. The author challenges classification of people with a disability under the category of limited competence by the Dutch Reformed Church when they license the ministerial candidates. The future results will reveal the inclusivity in terms of licensing and calling of ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church Family. This research calls for the change in the traditional discourse within ecclesiological, sociological and psychological fields, which exclude the people with a disability from the ministry of the Word and Sacraments.
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Rudolph, Elizabeth C., and Christina Landman. "Exploring Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa African pastors’ well-being, calling and healing: An interactive qualitative analysis." HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 75, no. 4 (December 11, 2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5539.
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Meiring, Pieter Gerhard J. "The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Rev. James Buys at the Microphone." Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 45, no. 3 (December 4, 2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6225.
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On October 19, 1997, Rev. James Buys presented the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa’s submission to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He firstly reported on the extent to which URCSA, through its theology and activities, contributed to the violation of human rights during the years of apartheid, especially referring to the church’s stance on the notorious Group Areas Act, the government’s Labour Policy, the Mixed Marriages Act and the chaplain services. For all of this, a heartfelt apology was rendered. Buys, secondly, reported on the decisions and actions taken by URCSA during the 1970s and 1980s to resist apartheid, ranging from prophetic statements by individuals and synods, to eventually taking an active part in the struggle against apartheid. The role that the ecumenical community inside as well as outside South Africa had played to encourage and empower URCSA to define its message and actions, was also mentioned by Buys. Concluding his statement, Buys discussed URCSA’s recommendations for the process of reconciliation in South Africa. The author, who was present at the Faith Communities Hearing when Buys addressed the TRC, added a number of personal remarks pertaining to URCSA’s statement and to the role that URCSA is called to play on the road to reconciliation and nation-building in the country.
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Botha, Nico. "Unsettling Theology: Sunday school children reading the text of the Bible in the age of recolonisation." HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 72, no. 1 (February 4, 2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i1.3569.
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During Women’s month in South Africa (August), a group of Sunday school children from the rural congregation of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), Middelburg- Nasaret, got together to read the narratives of the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus and the healing of the woman suffering from a blood disease. The exercise which appears to be quite innocent is in a sense subversive in its hidden script. In the Reformed tradition, the pulpit as a centre of reading and preaching the Word has become the ‘holy of holiest’ which nobody, leave alone children, except the ordained minister could occupy. This is of course contrary to the intention of the Reformation to return the Bible to the people and have the people return to the Bible. The reading exercise of this article goes beyond all exegetical and theological presuppositions, unsettling conventional interpretations of Scripture. The children allow their real life experiences in the township of having witnessed, among others, child and women abuse to inform their reading of Mark 5:21–43. In the process they avoid a linear reading of the Bible which is based on the explication-application scheme of matters. Put differently, instead of doing a deductive reading of the portion, i.e. trying to explain or exegete the text clinically and then applying it to their context, they read it inductively, resulting in a hope sharing and hope giving understanding of the rising from the dead of the 12-year-old girl and the healing of the woman with a blood disease. A major spin-off of such reading of the Bible by children is the unlocking of refreshingly new avenues of reading the Bible and interpreting the text.