Letteratura scientifica selezionata sul tema "Christian-afrikaans"

Abstract The article traces the lasting alienation of Olga Kirsch (1927-1994), a Jewish-born South African poet, as represented in her seven volumes of Afrikaans poetry published between 1944 and 1983. Growing up in a devoutly Christian, Afrikaans-speaking rural community, she found herself an outsider. The conditions at home brought little comfort, while the awareness of the racial discrimination which permeated society further contributed to her isolation. Seeking for a heimat, she emigrated to Israel at the age of 24. Reading her poetry, it becomes clear that here, too, she remained a stranger, continuing to write and publish in Afrikaans.

In the context of the White and Christian-dominated Afrikaans language movements, followed by apartheid, little attention has been paid to an Afrikaans literary variety used among Muslim Cape Coloureds, a group often referred to as ‘Cape Malays’. Descending mainly from Asian slaves brought by the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC, Dutch East India Company), and bearing the marks of cohabitation with non-Asian populations at the Cape, the Cape Malays at an early stage developed a distinct religious culture through their adherence to Islam, as well as a distinct Cape Dutch linguistic identity through their connections with the Dutch East Indies and the Islamic world. These cultural idiosyncrasies found expression in a local literature, religious and (more rarely) secular, using as a medium a variety of Cape Dutch/Afrikaans written either in the Arabic alphabet or in the Roman alphabet.

It is generally recognised that pietistic missionaries made an enormous contribution to Christian mission world-wide. The author analyses the contribution of Afrikaans-speaking pietist missionaries in South Africa, and their social involvement. He concludes that it was exactly their Pietist tradition which led them into meaningful socio-political involvement to change oppressive structures. This should, however, not be taken as a clean bill of health for pietism in general.

Political rewritings of the Our Father prayer in four Afrikaans poems. The utilisation of religious elements is a prominent trend in Afrikaans poetry − often in service of the political struggle, for example during the apartheid years. In this article four rewritings of the “Our Father” prayer are examined, using Linda Hutcheon’s theory of parody, as discussed in (among others), her pioneering work, “A theory of parody” (2000). For Hutcheon, parody does not necessarily imply ridiculing a previous text. According to her well-known definition, parody is “ironic transcontextualization, is repetition with difference. A critical distance is implied between the backgrounded text being parodied and the new incorporating work, a distance usually signaled by irony.” The rewritings of the “Our Father” by Jan Blom (Breyten Breytenbach), Ronnie Belcher and André Letoit (Koos Kombuis) are distinct examples of ironic inversion, while in Hans du Plessis’s poem (in Griqua Afrikaans) the irony is less obvious and the critique (if any) more subdued. As Hutcheon explains and motivates, parody does not always take place at the expense of the parodied text. Thus the parodical rewritings of the “Our Father” need not necessarily be seen as destructive and belittling of the prayer itself, but as critically constructive vis-à-vis the Christian community.

Abstract In this Germantranslation of an essay published 1988 in Afrikaans, the South African author criticizes the views ofthe influential Dutch Reformed New Testament scholar, E. P. Groenewald. In 1947 Groenewald published an essay on the nature ofthe Early Church and Pauline theology, in an effort to justify apartheid ideologically. The views expressed in that essay are still alive among concervatives in the DRC. From the perspective of Pauline soteriology, so Breytenbach argues, Apartheid is principally incompatible with Christian baptism.

The book Die vreemde God en sy mense (The enigmatic God and his people) — published in 1998 — marks the beginning of a new debate about God amongst Afrikaans-speaking people of the reformed tradition. The fall of the National Party government and the end of the Apartheid policy in 1994 forced theologians to reflect on the authority of the Bible; the issue of creation, the Big Bang and evolution; the relationship between Christianity and other religions; the historical Jesus research and the possibility of a new reformation. Afrikaans-speaking people suddenly became part of the global village and could not ignore these issues anymore. Four tendencies in the debates are identified: (1) clinging to the credos of the reformed tradition and adhering to the master narrative of Western Christianity; (2) looking at the credos as cultural and time-conditioned ones but trying to integrate the theories of the Big Bang and evolution with the master narrative of Christianity, (3) breaking away from the master narrative of Western Christianity and creating a new tradition; (4) abandoning the Christian tradition altogether and exploring another religious tradition, especially Buddhism.

Psalms are songs that have principal importance in Jewish and Christian traditions; in the Eastern Orthodox and Western churches; in the Roman Catholic tradition and numerous Reformed divisions. Contemplation on this rich heritage considers the Psalm's contribution to the enrichment and magnification of the liturgy. The richness that the Psalms offer as song book, should be rediscovered and utilised. In this article, selected new Psalms, recently versified in Afrikaans by T T Cloete, are analysed. These Psalms are to be taken into official use on 28 October 2001. The place and function of hymnals is also considered. The church songs are analysed using three criteria: theological, literary, and musicological aspects.

Although elements of queer experience exist in Afrikaans poetry since 2002, for example in the work of Hennie Aucamp andMarius Crous, a clear shift from gay to queer experience took place with the publication of Staan in die algemeen nader aan vensters ( “In general, stand close to the windows”, 2008) by Loftus Marais. With specific reference to his poetry, the article demonstrates how the eccentric, marginal and oppositional position of various queer subjects, for instance the female impersonator/drag queen, relates to the destabilization of specific dimensions of normativity: heteronormativity, Cape Town as urban space, gay masculinity, the soul//body binary, Christian faith, the gay sadomasochist and the representation of gay male sex in the poetry of Johann de Lange. These aspects are discussed within a queer theoretical framework with a specific focus on the views of queer theorist David Halperin.

The Dutch Reformed Church and the Afrikaner – in its church orderThe Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and the Afrikaner people had close ties in the 1960’s. This was intensified by the apartheid system in South Africa. The policy of apartheid was supported by the DRC, most of the Afrikaners and the National Party in government. In 1962 the DRC determined in its church order that it will protect and build the Christian-Protestant character of the Afrikaner people. This group was singled out by a church that was to be for believers of all nations. It also gave the DRC an active part in the development of this group. The documents Church and Society-1986 and Church and Society-1990 changed all this. The close links between the DRC and Afrikaans cultural institutions ended and the DRC declared that it caters to any believer. The church order article about the Afrikaner was omitted.

Is T.T. Cloete a Calvinist poet?T.T. Cloete has had a strong influence on contemporary Afrikaans poetry, particularly as a religious poet with a fanerotic world view. Some critics have characterized him as a Calvinist poet, and the validity of such a description is discussed in this article. It is pointed out that Cloete's Biblical orientation as well as the importance given to the so-called general or creational revelation of God in his poetry, is typically Calvinist. The panentheistic trend in his view of the relation between God and cosmos, the aesthetic mysticism that distinguishes his experience of God and the consequent discomfort in his poems about the meaningful ness of death in the dispensation of God, are, however, indicated as motives deviating from a typically Calvinist world view. In these respects his views, as expressed in his poetry, show similarities with those of the Catholic tradition, even with those of the Eastern Christian church.

Magazine readers in South Africa have a wide choice: there are more than 188 consumer magazines on the shelf and this gives readers the opportunity to choose what they like. However, there are very few Afrikaans Christian magazines and they have to compete commercially with the other publications. The question that arises is how these magazines manage to maintain a Christian character while at the same time staying competitive. In an attempt to answer this question, this study investigates the covers and contents of Finesse, Lig and Lééf. A literature study was used to determine which features and approaches can be used to make a Christian magazine's agenda (and therefore approach) unique. A qualitative content analysis is used to investigate how the covers and contents of Finesse, Lig and Lééf correlate with what one associates with Christian journalism, and how these magazines differ from one another in this regard. All these findings are compared with the biggest Afrikaans women's magazine, Sarie, to identify correspondences and differences. Semi-structured interviews were also held with the editors of Finesse, Lig and Lééf. Specific directive arguments were formulated about the features of Christian journalism and about agenda setting and the role of magazine covers. These specific directive arguments were used as a guideline in the content analysis. It was found that all four publications in question use well-known personalities (like actresses, singers and sports stars) as cover models. However, there are differences in the way the covers are presented and framed. Ug and Leer give noticeably more attention to the spiritual lives of their models, and as a result these magazines have clear features that can be associated with Christian journalism. Signs of the so-called "celebrity" culture were particularly evident in the covers and contents of Finesse and Sarie. In summary, it may be argued that Ug and Leer (which are outspoken Christian publications) strongly display their Christian character. On the other hand, Finesse (who views itself not as a Christian publication but as a lifestyle publication for the Christian woman) less consistently displays a Christian character. There is a strong distinction between Lig and Lééf and the secular Sarie, whereas Finesse displays more correspondences with Sarie.
Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) --Univesity of Limpopo, 2013
South Africa has a growing rate of mental health care users. Because of the lack of health resources and personal beliefs many of these mental health care users consult with their church leaders. The treatment of mental illness by clergy in South Africa is largely undocumented. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the treatment of mental illness by Afrikaans speaking church leaders in Polokwane, Limpopo Province. To gain a deeper understanding of the views held by the Afrikaans-speaking church leaders, a qualitative approach was utilized. Ten participants agreed to participate in the study. The results tend to suggest that most of the respondents use a combination of supportive therapy and teachings from scripture to treat some mental illnesses, and that they feel positive towards collaboration with other mental health care professionals. Lastly the results indicated that most respondents emphasized the importance of homophily in referral criteria. Key Concepts Mental illness; Christian church; Afrikaans speaking; church leader; treatment

This study is concerned with modern Christian poetry in Afrikaans. Afrikaans poetry, which initially carried the clear stamp of the Afrikaner's Calvinistic view of life, gradually assumed a new image to the extent that it could no longer be recognised as religious and specifically Calvinistic poetry. To the contrary, modern Afrikaans Christian poetry is the expression of a contemporary conceptualisation of the very same gospel. The occasional violent reaction especially of conservative institutions to so called "unchristian" modern poetry in Afrikaans during the past three decades, has prompted this study which attempts to illustrate that modern Afrikaans poetry still exhibits a strong Christian element. The essential qualities of contemporary Christian poetry in Afrikaans are illustrated in the discussion of the works of particular leading Afrikaans poets. Chapter 3 attempts to indicate a transitional stage between traditional and modern Christian poetry by means of an overview of the latest tendencies and approaches, with brief references to the recent poetry of the Louws, the poetry of Peter Blum as the initial exponent of the poetry of the Sixties, and the poetry of Ina Rousseau. The work of Sheila Cussons, eminent Roman Catholic (and thus also Christian) poet who is probably the most impressive contemporary exponent of metaphysical/mystic poetry in Afrikaans, is discussed in chapter 4. Chapter 5 illustrates the traditional Calvinistic Christian point of view and Christian experience as represented in the poetry of I.L. de Villiers. The poetification of the ministry adds new dimension to religions poetry in Afrikaans. Chapter 6 constitutes a discussion of the works of T.T . Cloete, the most significant contemporary Reformed poet in Afrikaans indicating the extent to which the many related facets embodied in his poetry consistently reflect a Christian attitude and are unified in and encompassed by the principle of Soli Deo Gloria. Chapter 7, by way of conclusion, reviews the religious poetry of Lina Spies and Petra Müller who write accessible popular poetry, nevertheless exploring interesting references. In conjunction with the poetry of Ina Rosseau, this poetry represents a contribution to modern Afrikaans religious poetry from a feminine point of view

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Men have been experiencing a crisis in masculinity for a number of years now. Lower income white Afrikaans men experience this crisis in a unique way. Performance, especially in the area of work, as well as being able to provide for one‟s family, are integrally related to masculinity. This study takes place in the field of practical theology with an eye on the Sunday service, as practised in the Dutch Reformed Church, as a whole. The study is concerned with the question of how the Sunday service can be used as a space where an alternative masculinity can be nurtured. In this study the researcher makes use of qualitative empirical research in the form of a half-structured interview schedule to ascertain how men in a specific lower income community experience the Sunday service in times of questions about masculinity when in a situation of work loss. The researcher focuses on two areas when speaking about the Sunday service, namely preaching and liturgy. In the interviews the researcher not only finds out about men‟s experiences, but also about their needs with regards to experiences and messages of lament and hope in preaching and liturgy. Although hope is preached during Sunday services, there is little experience of lament. There is, however a need to lament before God and this can be expanded in Dutch Reformed liturgy. A need, coupled by an experience results in a message of hope received. In the next stage a detailed look is given at the Sunday service as a whole, in terms of preaching and liturgy. Different types of preaching are studied, as well as different elements of liturgy. The researcher focuses on a need to reclaim lament in both preaching and liturgy as a way of creating a space for bring one‟s feelings and emotions before God, but also as a way of finding hope. Prophetic and eschatological preaching are ways of bringing lament into preaching. It sees the present in light of the end where God brings everything to fulfilment. In liturgy, lament is reclaimed in music and song and facilitated in rituals. The rediscovery and reclamation of lament is central to the nurture of an alternative masculinity. There are many ways of doing this in the preaching and liturgy of a Dutch Reformed congregation. The researcher gives a few practical suggestions on how to bring lament into the Sunday service.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mans ervaar al vir jare 'n krisis in manlikheid. Die mans van 'n laer inkomste werkersklas ervaar hierdie krisis op 'n unieke manier. Om veral in die area van werk te presteer en vir jou gesin te sorg, is kwessies wat integraal deel is van 'n man se ervaring van sy manlikheid. Hierdie studie vind plaas in die veld van praktiese teologie, met 'n oog op die erediens in sy geheel, soos dit in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk beoefen word. Hierdie tesis is bemoeid met die vraag oor hoe die erediens gebruik kan word as a ruimte waar 'n alternatiewe manlikheid gekoester kan word. In hierdie studie maak die navorser gebruik van kwalitatiewe empiriese navorsing in die vorm van 'n half-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule om vas te stel hoe mans in „n spesifieke laer inkomste gemeenskap die erediens ervaar ten tyde van vrae oor hulle manlikheid in 'n situasie van werksverlies. Wanneer die navorser oor die erediens praat, fokus sy op twee areas, naamlik prediking en liturgie. In die onderhoude vind die navorser nie net uit oor mans se ervarings van die erediens nie, maar ook oor hulle behoeftes wanneer dit by ervarings en boodskappe van lament en hoop in die prediking en liturgie kom. Alhoewel daar wel oor hoop in die erediens gepreek word, is daar min ervarings van lament. Daar is wel 'n behoefte om voor God te lament en dit kan uitgebrei word in die liturgie. 'n Behoefte, gekoppel aan 'n ervaring loop uit op 'n boodskap van hoop. In die volgende fase word daar op 'n gedetailleerde wyse na die erediens as 'n geheel, in terme van prediking en liturgie, gekyk. Verskillende tipes prediking word bestudeer, sowel as verskillende elemente van die liturgie. Die navorser fokus op 'n behoefte om lament in beide prediking en liturgie te herwin as 'n manier om 'n ruimte te skep om 'n persoon se gevoelens en emosies voor God te bring, maar ook as 'n manier om hoop te vind. Profetiese en eskatologiese prediking is maniere om lament in die prediking in te bring. Dit sien die hede in die lig van die einde wanneer God alles tot vervulling bring. In die liturgie word lament herwin deur musiek en sang gefasiliteer deur rituele. Die herontdekking en herwinning van lament is van groot belang in die koester van 'n alternatiewe manlikheid. Daar is baie maniere om dit in die prediking en liturgie van 'n Nederduitse Gereformeerde gemeente te doen. Die navorser gee 'n paar praktiese voorstelle oor hoe om lament in die erediens in te bring.

ʼn Visuele analise van twee Afrikaanse, Christelike vrouetydskrifte het ten doel om die aard van ʼn hedendaagse Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal te ondersoek, soos dit in alledaagse kultuur gekonstrueer word. Hierdie studie bestaan uit ʼn visuele analise wat fokus op populêre media, naamlik die Afrikaanse, Christelike glansvrouetydskrifte Finesse en Lééf. Die tiende verjaardaguitgawe van Finesse in Mei 2008 dui op ʼn mylpaal vir Christen-Afrikaanse vroulikheid. Daarom ag hierdie studie die Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal as ʼn waardige onderwerp om te bestudeer. Die studie stel ondersoek in na die agtergrond rondom die Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal, wat insluit: die sosio-politieke konteks rondom die Afrikaner/Afrikaanses, ʼn Godsdienstige kultuurgeskiedenis, en die bydrae van vrouetydskrifte tot die konstruering ʼn vroue-ideaal. Hierdie visuele analise bepaal dat die Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal subtiel gekonstrueer word deur sekere kodes wat met vroulikheid geassosieer word. Dit sluit onder meer in: visuele tekens wat ʼn denkbeeldige gemeenskap simboliseer, teekoppies, inskrywings, mooimaaksessies, vrugte, see, skoenlappers en skoonheid. Hierdie tekens simboliseer mitiese vroulikheid wat vergestalt in die Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal, wat deur die raamwerk van Finesse en Lééf ondersteun word. ʼn Kritiese, visuele analise van Finesse en Lééf volg, met spesifieke verwysing na visuele beelde waar ʼn vrou as individu in ʼn foto verskyn. Hierdie analise eien sekere karaktereienskappe wat die Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal voorhou, terwyl sekere tekens of kodes wat bepalend is tot haar uiterlike voorkoms, uitgelig word. Die studie bepaal dat die rolle wat die Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal voorhou, dié van eggenote en moeder insluit en word ondersteun deur die visuele analise. Die belang van iii haar rolle lei waarskynlik tot die Christen-Afrikaanse vroue-ideaal se beperking tot die huislike sfeer. Die huislike sfeer in die betrokke tydskrifte word visueel uitgebeeld aan die hand van resepte en dekor. Deur middel van die visuele analise van Finesse en Lééf bepaal hierdie studie die aard van Christen-Afrikaanse vroulikheid soos dit tydens 2008 in alledaagse kultuur weerspieël word. ENGLISH : The aim of a visual analysis of two Christian, Afrikaans, women's magazines is to explore the nature of the contemporary Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal, as it is constructed in popular culture. Therefore, this study consists of a visual analysis which focuses on popular media, in this case the Christian, Afrikaans, glossy women's magazines, Finesse and Lééf. This coincides with the tenth birthday celebration of Finesse, which represents a milestone for Christian-Afrikaans femininity. Therefore, this research regards the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal as a significant topic to be studied. The construction of the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal is considered in terms of: the social-political context surrounding the Afrikaner/Afrikaanses; a religious cultural history; and the contribution of women's magazines to the construction of a feminine ideal. From the visual analysis it is clear that the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal is subtly constructed by codes that may be associated with femininity. These include: visual signs that symbolise an imagined community, tea cups, subscriptions, make-overs, fruit, the sea, butterflies and beauty. These signs, which are supported by the frameworks of Finesse and Lééf respectively, work together to construct not only a myth of femininity, but more importantly to this study, the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal. The critical visual analysis of Finesse and Lééf focuses on photographs of individual women in these magazines. This allows the study to pinpoint specific characteristics that form part of the persona of the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal. Signs and codes that contribute to the physical appearance of the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal are also pointed out. This study discovers that the various roles expected from the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal include that of wife and mother. These two primary roles then lead to the association of the Christian-Afrikaans feminine ideal with the private sphere. The visual analysis reveals that the private sphere is constituted by articles on decor and recipes in both magazines. Through a visual analysis of Finesse and Lééf, this study explores the nature of Christian-Afrikaans femininity as it was portrayed in 2008 in two popular magazines. Copyright
Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Visual Arts
unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans
Private schooling is a very controversial topic. Those in favour of it focus on the fundamental rights of the individual in freedom of choice, association, religion and culture. On the other hand private schools are often regarded by the media and the man on the street as an expensive option whereby èlite is promoted. Private education, being an expensive option, is also a problem for the managers of private schools, who have to deal with the dilemma of insuffisient funds. This forms the background against which this study was undertaken. Since no official data base regarding Christian Afrikaans Private schools in Namibia existed, data had to be gathered by means of a questionnaire. This data formed the base for a second questionnaire regarding financial management and the role of the school principal in this regard. The second questionnaire was used in personal interviews with two principals from two private schools. Although the financing of private schools was looked into, the emphasis was on the principal acting as executive and financial manager. An attmept was made to suggest a financial strategy which could be used by a principal in school management.
Educational Studies
M. Ed. (Onderwysbestuur)

The thesis of this study is to argue that the term “office” and its meaning, as found in the New Testament, cannot be applied without reserve to the understanding of office in the present-day institutionalised church. The focus of this study is on the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa, officially named the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika. For the past few decades, the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, gave much consideration to the view it holds of “office”. It is nonetheless still necessary to obtain more clarity on the matter insofar as it pertains to the meaning and practical execution of ministry. In this regard, almost every theological discipline can contribute towards obtaining such clarity. From a Biblical and Reformed perspective, the logical place to look for the answer would be in the documentation of both the New Testament and the early church of the second and third centuries CE. This study investigates the origin of “office”, as well as the intention of office as found in the New Testament and writings of the early church. The use of the term “office” and its meaning, as found in the New Testament, would not be appropriate for an understanding of office in the present-day church, as it would amount to an anachronistic use of what early Christians called “ministry”. When explained from a kerygmatic perspective, ministries in the New Testament can only serve as a guideline for the understanding and intention of office in the present-day church. The development of “office” is explained particularly in terms of the development of the concept of “elder” from early Judaism until the times of the church of the second and third century CE. This development is illustrated against the background of the group of Jesus followers surrounding the historical Jesus, the Pauline and deutero-Pauline epistles, including the Pastoral Epistles, as well as the early church. A basic assumption of this study is that the understanding of office and church cannot be separated from one another. Therefore, the development of office is explained against the background of the developing institutionalisation of the earliest church. As the church increasingly began to have a character of institutionalisation, the understanding of office developed within more fixed structures. This study illustrates that Paul’s view of the church, ministries, kerygma and charismata, is of central importance for the understanding of the New Testament’s intention of ministries.
Dissertation (MA(Teologie))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
New Testament Studies
unrestricted

Scripture is God’s Word in human language – a truth reflected over 2000years of Church history. Without this truth, proper knowledge of God is impossible. All human efforts to come to a true and meaningful understanding of God, lead to a variety of religious “isms.” The pluralism, post-modernism and post-Christian society of the 21st century, brings its own challenges. Words mean nothing and truth is relative. There are, however, unique resemblances with the pluralism, pre-modern and pre-Christian society of the patristic. From a historical-theological perspective, the researcher points out that these resemblances could shed light on the current burning issue around the authority of Scripture. This historic continuity with the patristic and apostolic tradition is addressed in relation to Tertullian and Augustine. Both these Church Fathers had to give Biblical answer to the burning issues of their day that sought to undermine the authority of Scripture. The patristic’s emphasis on the authority of Scripture, stems from the unique unity between the Old and New Testament. It finds expression in the Apostolic preaching – regula fidei – the rule by which sound theology and godly living is guaranteed. Their historical-literal method of Biblical exegesis reflects a Christian worldview in contrast to the secular worldview of their day. In conclusion the researcher points out the relevance of this study for Southern-Africa. The confusion within the ranks of society, and the disillusionment of hundreds of thousands in Africa concerning the role of the Church, ask for clear direction and uncompromising answers on the fundamentals of the Christian faith with the framework of the authority of Scripture.
Dissertation (MA (Church History))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Church History and Church Polity
unrestricted

Afrikaans: Die eenheid van die kerk is 'n skriftuurlike werklikheid. Hierdie eenheid is nie alleen 'n geestelike eenheid nie, maar moet ook uitgroei tot 'n konkrete, sigbare eenheid. Die NG Kerkfamilie in Suid-Afrika worstel met die vraag oor hoe hierdie eenheid sigbaar vergestalt moet word. Die NG Kerkfamilie bevind homself tans in 'n impasse en die vordering op die pad na kerklike eenheid het in 'n groot mate tot stilstand gekom. Die studie stel die historiese en kerkregtelike verloop van die kerkverenigingsproses in die NG Kerkfamilie aan die orde. Vir bykans tweehonderd jaar was die NG Kerk één kerk. Hierna het daar verwydering gekom en het dit gegroei vanaf die hou van aparte dienste tot die stigting van eie kerke op kleurgrondsiag. Die NG Kerkfamilie het die moeisame pad na kerklike eenheid begin stap. Hierdie proses is gekenmerk deur 'n wisseiwerking tussen toenadering of 'n soeke na eenheid aan die een kant en verwydering of verskeurdheid aan die ander kant. Die NG Kerk het die staatsbeieid van apartheid ondersteun en het dit skriftuurlik regverdig. Hierdeur het die kerk homself geïsoleer en het die verskeurdheid groter geword in die NG Kerkfamilie. Die NG Sendingkerk het 'n Status Confession afgekondig en dit het aanleiding gegee tot die Belydenis van Belhar. Hiermee het die NG Sendingkerk die verdeeldheid ook in 'n belydenis verwoord. Die NG Kerk het veral sedert 1990 'n hand van versoening uitgereik en gekies vir een kerkverband. Eenheid het totstand gekom tussen die NG Sendingkerk en die NG Kerk in Afrika met die stigting van die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika (1994). Ongelukkig het interne weerstand in die hofsaal geeindig en het 'n deel van die NG Kerk in Afrika bly voortbestaan. Die kerkverenigingsproses het verval in 'n slakkepas en het uiteindelik in 'n impasse beland. Hoewel kontak op plaaslike vlak en nuwe gesprekspotensiaal op sinodale vlak ontgin is, is weinig vordering gemaak. Verskeie struikelblokke in die pad na kerklike eenheid belemmer die vordering met die kerkverenigingsproses in die NG Kerkfamilie. Die studie toon aan dat meer as net teologiese, kerklike en kerkregtelike faktore dikwels 'n rol speel in die vordering al dan nie met kerkverenigingsprosesse. Almal van ons sonder, bewustelik of onbewustelik, bepaalde faktore uit in die proses. Die gespreksgenote het dikwels nie dieselfde einddoelwit nie en dit het tot gevolg dat verskillende agendas 'n bepalende rol in die verenigingsproses speel. Prinsipieel-kerkregtelike beginsels lê onder andere ten grondslag van 'n suksesvolle kerkvereningingsproses. Hierdie fundamentele vertrekpunte in die gereformeerde kerkreg moet as basis dien vir die kerkverenigingsproses in die NG Kerkfamilie. Verskillende modelle vir kerkeenheid is in die verlede reeds aangebied as oplossings vir die strukturele eenheid. Hierdie studie bied 'n dinamiese, bifokale versoeningsmodel aan vir die proses van kerkvereniging in die NG Kerkfamilie. Hierdie model wil dinamiese groei teweeg bring in die onderlinge verhoudings en intussen ook geleentheid skep vir outentieke verantwoordbare verhoudingstigting. Twee fokus- of groeipunte (sinodale en plaaslike vlak) werk gelyktydig om die proses te bevorder en versoening vorm die basis vir hernude groei tot eenheid. English: The unification of the church is a scriptural reality. This unity is not only a spiritual unity, but must also develop into a concrete, visible unity. The Dutch Reformed Church family in South Africa are struggling with the question of how this unity should be visibly embodied. The Dutch Reformed Church family presently finds itself in an impasse and the progress on the road to ecclesiastical unity has, to a large extent, come to a standstill. The study allows discussion on the church historical and church polity course of the unification process of the church in the Dutch Reformed Church family. For almost two hundred years the Dutch Reformed Church (NG Church) was one church. After this, a division occurred and it grew from holding separate services to the establishment of own churches based on colour. Then the Dutch Reformed Church (NG Church) began the arduous road to ecclesiastical unity. This process was characterised by an interaction between reconciliation or a search for unity on the one side, and alienation or dissension on the other side. The Dutch Reformed Church (NG Church) supported the government's policy of Apartheid and justified it scriptually. By doing this, the church isolated itself and the dissension became more widespread• in the Dutch Reformed Church family. The NG Missionary Church had a Status Confession is promulgated and gave rise to the Confession of Belhar. Thereby the NG Missionary Church also expressed the dissension in a confession. The Dutch Reformed Church (NG Church) stretched out a hand of reconciliation particularly since 1990 and opted for one church relationship. Unity came about between the NG Missionary Church and the NG Church in Africa with the founding of the United Reformed Church in Southern Africa in 1994. Unfortunately, internal resistance ended in the law courts and only part of the NG Church in Africa survived. The unification process of the church fell into a snail's pace and eventually landed in an impasse. Although contact on local level and new potential for dialogue was cultivated on synodical level, little progress was made. Various stumbling blocks on the road to church unity thwarted the progress of the unification process of the Dutch Reformed Church family. The study reflects whether or not more than only theological, ecclesiastical and church polity factors often play a role in the progress of the unification processes of the church. We all exempt, whether intentionally or not, certain specific factors in the process. The fellow conversationalists often do not have the same goal and the result is that various agenda’s play a determining role in the unification process. Fundamental church polity principles, inter alia, lay the foundation of a successful unification process in the church. These fundamental points of departure in the reformed church polity must serve as a basis for the unification process in the Dutch Reformed Church family. Various models for the unity of the church have already in the past been presented as solutions for structural unity. This study presents a dynamic, bifocal reconciliation model for the unification process of the church in the Dutch Reformed Church family. This model aims at bringing about dynamic growth in mutual relationships, simultaneously also creating an opportunity for establishing authentic, accountable relationships. Two focal- or growth points (on synodal and local level) work together simultaneously to promote the process, and reconciliation forms the basis for renewed growth toward unity.
Thesis (PhD (Church History and Church Polity))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Church History and Church Polity
unrestricted