Die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in SA:

’n vasgeloopte kerk?

Authors

  • Hans Jurgens Hendriks Stellenbosch University
  • Kobus Schoeman University of the Free State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17570/stj.2025.v11n1.9

Keywords:

klein plattelandse gemeente, leierskap, missionaal, VGKSA, ekklesiologie

Abstract

The article is based on PhD research in the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa (URCSA) congregations of the Free State/Lesotho Synod. The main research question was: What does the missional development of small rural congregations look like in the URCSA Synod of the Free State/Lesotho (Pienaar 2024:10)? The article summarises and discusses the three empirical research chapters. Firstly, data from 11 presbytery interviews were collected. Secondly, data from 85 of the church’s 92 congregations that returned questionnaires were discussed. The third part discussed data from five focus group interviews. In the third part of the article, the outstanding findings from the first two sections were integrated with data from the focus group interviews. The last part of the article concludes with remarks on the findings. This article is the first comprehensive empirical research on the situation in the URCSA Synod of the Free State/Lesotho. It summarises the dissertation and suggests ways forward.

Author Biography

Hans Jurgens Hendriks, Stellenbosch University

Emeritus Professor Dept Practical Theology and Missiology

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Published

2025-09-11

How to Cite

Hendriks, H. J., & Schoeman, K. (2025). Die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in SA: : ’n vasgeloopte kerk?. Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.17570/stj.2025.v11n1.9

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2025): Stellenbosch Theological Journal

Section

General Articles (articles from all theological disciplines)

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Hans Jurgens Hendriks, Kobus Schoeman

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