Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
| Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Theology | Reformed |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Associations | World Communion of Reformed Churches |
| Region | South Africa, Namibia |
| Origin | 1994 |
| Branched from | Dutch Reformed Church |
| Congregations | 683 |
| Members | 1,230 000 |
The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika) was formed by the union of the black and coloured Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk mission churches.
In 1652 the Dutch formed a halfway station at the Cape, which was approximately halfway between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies, and introduced slavery by whites.
Various foreign mission organisations started working in South Africa, which led to the formation of a number of denominations amongst those people who otherwise would have been excluded from the main churches, largely over issues of race.
This process motivated the Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) in South Africa to start its own independent mission work.
In 1857 the NGK synod decided to have separate services for coloured members.
A separate church, the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) was formed in 1881.
For blacks, the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) was formed in 1951.
In 1974 the synod of the DRCA decided in favour of church unity. In 1978 the DRMC decided likewise.
In 1986 the Belhar Confession – with its strong emphasis on unity, reconciliation and justice – was formulated and adopted by the DRMC.
In 1994 the DRMC and the DRCA united to form the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA).
The joy which marked the formal unification of the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) and the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) in 1994 to form the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), should be seen against the background of a very difficult road on which church unity often appeared as being an unattainable goal.
Shortly after the Dutch formed a halfway station at the Cape in 1652, they introduced slavery. They started a school for slaves, with the purpose of transferring the Dutch language and culture. To encourage slaves to learn the Dutch language and prayers, they were rewarded with tobacco and brandy.
The Dutch East India Company, as a matter of policy, had all their slaves baptised. The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) of the time had no organised mission activity, with the result that the baptism of slaves were left to the wilfulness of their masters. Baptised slaves also did not necessarily become members of the church.
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