‘Doing theology as though nothing had happened’ – reading Karl Barth’s confessional theology in Zimbabwe today?

Rothney Tshaka

doi:10.4102/hts.v72i1.3028

Abstract

Although confessional theology is making its rounds across Reformed communities, this theology remains virtually unknown north of the Limpopo River. The Reformed Church of Zimbabwe (RCZ) is one of the immediate neighbours of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, which produced the Belhar Confession during the apartheid era. The confessional theology of Karl Barth, which informed this confession, has proven to be versatile in diverse contexts. Confessions, it will be argued, do not exist independently from the socioeconomic and political situations from which they arise. This article will attempt to argue that this theology can contribute to the Reformed theology in present day Zimbabwe. It will therefore attempt to introduce the confessional theology of Karl Barth to Zimbabwe; however, it also argues that the RCZ will have to realise that a number of adjustments need to be made on its part to ensure that it appropriates this theology profitably for its situation.Keywords: Zimbabwe, Karl Barth, confessional theology, Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, politics

Highlights

The Reformed ecclesial tradition is one that prides itself with having numerous confessional statements
Its confessional statements are not born out of courtesy, but are statements that are made because a Reformed Church at a particular point in time perceives the gospel to be under siege
A Reformed confession is always called into existence because a particular community of faith is of the view that the gospel is at stake, a Reformed confession can never ignore the socio-economic and political reality in which it is called into existence

Summary

Introduction

The Reformed ecclesial tradition is one that prides itself with having numerous confessional statements. Taking a cue from the confessional theology of Karl Barth, this article will attempt to argue that the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) ought to realise that its theology cannot be perceived to exist independently from the socio-economic and political reality in which it is currently practiced.1 before this theology can thoroughly be deliberated in Zimbabwe, it is

Results

Conclusion