Abstract
The article argues from a “Barthian” perspective of “Revelation Theology” versus “Natural Theology”, that the current leadership of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church (NHKA) and the majority of its members consider the notion "church" primarily as a community of believers which is brought to completion by the Spirit of God and which therefore transcends all anthropological barriers such as race. In light of Karl Barth’s concept of Natural Theology, “racism as religion” is confessed to be idolatry and Apartheid a sin. Any attempt to justify racism theologically amounts to heresy. The article is a reworked version of the opening address by the Moderator of the NHKA at a meeting with an official delegation of the World Alliance of Churches (WARC) held in Pretoria from 5-8 June 2006. The article makes an appeal for the ecumenical re-admittance of the NHKA by WARC. It includes documentation from the NHKA’s National Colloquium and the responses to the NHKA’ re-application for WARC membership by WARC officers and the NHKA leadership.1. INTRODUCTION
Highlights
In 1982 the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church (NHKA) terminated its membership of the World Alliance of Churches (WARC) after this Protestant ecumenical institution suspended the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA)’s membership until the NHKA consciously and meaningfully renounce the justification of Apartheid as a theological heresy
This article consists of (a) the Moderator’s opening address,[7] (b) a memorandum compiled by the Commission of the General Commission for discussion and endorsement at a National Colloquium in April 2006, attended by representatives of the NHKA, (c) a joint declaration of the abovementioned National Colloquium, (d) and a letter to the NHKA by World Alliance of Churches’ (WARC’s) General Secretary, Rev Dr Setri Nyomi
Out of the approximately 130 representatives from throughout the NHKA, representative in terms of geography, age, gender and office, only two persons were explicitly against the “Declaration of Intent”, with possibly three more who implicitly jointed ranks with them. This declaration expresses the quintessence of the thoughts of the NHKA today and we present it with pride
Summary
In 1982 the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church (NHKA) terminated its membership of the World Alliance of Churches (WARC) after this Protestant ecumenical institution suspended the NHKA’s membership until the NHKA consciously and meaningfully renounce the justification of Apartheid as a theological heresy. The WARC’s Executive Committee responded by delegating WARC officers to visit the NHKA’s leadership in Pretoria during the week of 5-. The WARC delegation[2] had discussions with the NHKA’s Moderature,[3] an expanded Commission of the NHKA General Assembly,[4] the NHKA’s Ecumenical Council,[5] and the NHKA members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Pretoria.[6] This article consists of (a) the Moderator’s opening address,[7] (b) a memorandum compiled by the Commission of the General Commission for discussion and endorsement at a National Colloquium in April 2006, attended by representatives of the NHKA, (c) a joint declaration of the abovementioned National Colloquium, (d) and a letter to the NHKA by WARC’s General Secretary, Rev Dr Setri Nyomi
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