EXPERIENCES OF THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH (DRC) IN ZIMBABWE AND THEIR RELEVANCE FOR DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE DRC IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

Socio-economic developments in Zimbabwe over the last few years have had a significant impact on the whole of our society. The contentious and chaotic land redistribution programme of government, a sharp decline in economic output, famine affecting more than half the population and a general deterioration in the standard of living affected all Zimbabweans. It is for good reason that a recent poll listed Zimbabwe as the country with citizens with the most pessimistic outlook in Africa. The developments in Zimbabwe also deeply affected the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). A diminishing membership as a result of emigration and the general negative economic environment have led to the imminent dissolution (in July 2003) of the DRC Synod of Central Africa and the amalgamation with the synod of Northern Transvaal. This was the first time in the history of the DRC that a regional synod had to be disbanded.