Abstract:
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.
Description:
This article was initially
delivered as a paper on 07
August 2013 as requested
by the Reformed Theological
College, University of
Pretoria, South Africa.
