Revisiting “Church and Society†after a quarter of a century – a critical reappraisal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-514Keywords:
Apartheid, “Church and Societyâ€, “The Confession of Belharâ€, Cottesloe, Dutch Reformed Church, “The Open Letterâ€, “Ras, Volk en Nasieâ€, “The Reformation Day Confessionâ€Abstract
Apart from the more immediate catalysts for “Church and Society†such as the Reformation Day Confession, the Open Letter, the suspension of the Dutch Reformed Church from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Confession of Belhar, also the legacy of Cottesloe, the demise of “Ras, Volk en Nasieâ€, contributions of the Cape Synod, pressure from overseas Reformed institutions and growing internal misgivings about apartheid, should be kept in mind. Two divergent currents met in “Church and Societyâ€, causing it to become a document of compromise. Theologically, it improved on its predecessor, but its ambivalent character subjected it to severe criticism. The most basic strategic mistake in “Church and Society†was the exclusion of the rest of the Dutch Reformed family. The Dutch Reformed Church was not yet ready to confess apartheid unreservedly as sin. Finally, it is suggested that our present situation urgently calls for a new, prophetic ecclesiastic directive, but then one coming from the Dutch Reformed family as a whole; still better: from one united Dutch Reformed Church.Downloads
Published
2014-09-26
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