Die NHKA op reis na inklusiwiteit I: Die anatomie van ’n gefragmenteerde/eskatologiese ekklesiologie

Self Cite

To know communally first and then to listen: Edward Schillebeeckx’s notion Deus Humanissimus as the conscience of the church. In this article the notion of the conscience of the church is investigated. By deconstructing the apostle Paul’s notion of conscience and then exploring the connection he makes between knowledge and conscience, the role of critical voices of theologians within the church is examined, with special reference to the life and theology of Edward Schillebeeckx. His notion of Deus Humanissimus – the human face of God that becomes visible in Jesus Christ – is explored as the conscience of the church, with special reference to the inclusivity of the church. The Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCA) is then described as an example of a church where knowledge and conscience presently do not correlate, resulting in the persistence of the NRCA’s self-description as an ethnic ‘people’s’ church, as it struggles on its journey to inclusivity. It is suggested that Schillebeeckx’s notion of Deus Humanissimus as the conscience of the NRCA can help this church to write a new narrative.

Section: Die Nhka Se Worsteling Met Eenheid En Verskeidenheidunclassified

Om saam te weet en dan te luister: Edward Schillebeeckx se begrip Deus Humanissimus as die kerk se gewete

Wyk

2013

Self Cite

“…In ekklesiologiese terme is heterotopie die verwerkliking van kerk-wees as 'n ellips -eenheid te midde van en selfs ten spyte van die Ander. (Buitendag & Van Wyk 2011a, 2011b.…”

Section: ŉ Transendering Van ŉ Epistemologie Van Binêre Denkeunclassified

Kerkwees in die saeculum vandag, Deel 2: ‘n Nuwe narratief (ook vir die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika)

Wyk

2012

Self Cite

Being church in the saeculum today, Part 2: A new narrative (also for the Netherdutch Reformed Church. A previous article illlustrated that the root of the tension between unity and plurality in the church can be found in an epistemology charcaterised by binary opposisions. This article describes this epistemology and, from the perspective of narrative theological epistemology, discusses the struggles and pitfalls reflected in the narrative of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa which identifies itself as an ‘ethnic church’ (volkskerk). The article argues that such a self-identification functions as a metanarrative that is in conflict with the church’s grand narrative, that of the Triune God. The re-telling of the grand narrative of the Trinity as the metaphor for unity through plurality will sustain the re-telling of the church’s narrative in the changing context of a secular society.

Die toekoms van die drie Afrikaanse hoofstroomkerke saam

Tolmay

2014

The future of the three mainstream Afrikaans Churches. The union of the three mainstream Afrikaans Churches encompasses inter alia a mutual origin, a mutual socio-historical contextualism, a mutual language experience and mutual Articles of Faith. These bonds form the foundation for greater cooperation and may even lead to future church unification. The Conventus of Reformed Churches is an exciting initiative that has developed over the last two decades. This organisation unites some 15 churches with a reformed background. Do the three Afrikaans mainstream churches take church unification seriously? Historically the Nederduitsche Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) in particular was cautious about church unification. The Interdenominational Church Council (TKR) presents a basis for cooperation, but the question arises as to the structure that would be supported by the three churches. Mainly after 1994 the Afrikaner started redefining its own identity. The tendency is that the three churches will decrease in size as the three are all losing members. The three Afrikaans mainstream churches definitely need one another, and in future this interdependency probably will increase. That is why it is important to focus on common ground and not on differences. Bearing the church unification of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PCN) in mind, together we can look forward to a bright future in the 21st century.