belhar confession
TRANSCRIPT
The Belhar Confession
A little history…Where we are now…
What’s in the future…
Reformed Churchhistory
South Africahistory
CRCNA and theBelhar
A bit of history…
Reformed Churchhistory
1652
Dutch form station at Cape, introduce slavery
Dutch Reformed Church (DRC)
1857
Separate services for “colored” members
1881
Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC)
1951
Dutch Reformed Church of Africa (DRCA)
1978
DRMC and DRCA decide to work toward unity.
1994
Uniting Reformed Church (URC) [DRMC+DRCA]
Reformed Churchhistory
South Africahistory
CRCNA and theBelhar
A bit of history…
South AfricaHistory
1652
Dutch East India company settle in Cape Town
1857
European settlement expands; Anglos claim land in the north and east of the country
1806 1910
Diamonds, gold discovered, SA becomes a British “dominion.”
1961
South Africa was declared a republic, indepen-dent of Britain.
1990
President F.W. de Klerk begins to dismantle apartheid
Cape Town becomes a British Colony
1948
Racial segregation (apartheid) becomes legally institutionalized
1994
First democratic election held, Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress gain power
1995
Truth and Reconciliation Commis-sion is set up
apartheid
• Blacks stripped of citizenship– Become citizens of tribally based bantustans (tribal
homelands); four of these become semi-independent states.
– Similar to the US reservations – small, unproductive land.
• Segregated services (health, education, etc.)– Black education geared toward “labor class.”
• The people rose up– In response, the government detained without trial,
tortured, censored, murdered, and the banned political opposition.
Apartheid
Reformed Churchhistory
South Africahistory
CRCNA and theBelhar
A bit of history…
CRCNA and theBelhar
1978
DRMC+ DRCA work for unity (over 16 years)
Belhar Confes-sion is drafted.
1986
DRMC adopts Belhar; DRC rejects
1982 1994
URC adopts Belhar
1999
URC asks all Reformed church to adopt
2009
Recommen-dation from IRC will be presented to CRCNA Synod regarding adoption
Status confes-sionis declared
CRCNA +DRMC join in ecclesial relation-ship
WARC calls apartheid heresy, suspends the DRC
DRC rejects: “liberation theology”
What is a confession?
BelgicConfession
Canons ofDort
HeidelbergCatechism
BelharConfession?
1563 1619 1566
•Uniter (and a divider)
•Different from the Creeds (Athanasian, Apostles, Nicene)
•Arises from a particular place/time
1982
We have three.
What is a confession?
BelgicConfession
Canons ofDort
HeidelbergCatechism
BelharConfession?
1563 1619 1566 1982
WHEN: Reformed churches suppressed / persecuted by the Roman Catholic government.
WHY: To protest suppression, prove they were law-abiding citizens (who believed what the early church believed), claim identity distinct from Roman Catholics and Anabaptists.
What is a confession?
BelgicConfession
Canons ofDort
HeidelbergCatechism
BelharConfession?
1563 1619 1566 1982
WHEN: The official religion of the state was Reformed; followers of Arminius challenged Calvinism with five points of disagreement.
WHY: Canons were “rules” as to what is “right” and legitimate to believe; purpose was to refute the five points of Arminianism (not to be “Calvinism in a nut-shell).
What is a confession?
BelgicConfession
Canons ofDort
HeidelbergCatechism
BelharConfession?
1563 1619 1566 1982
WHEN: King Frederick III (Germany) became Calvinist and commissioned two pastors to write a catechism to separate from Lutherans (and others).
WHY: Not a confession but a teaching document; functions devotionally and educationally with a pastoral tone.
Adopting the Belhar Confession
• Fills in a big gap
• Content is fundamental
• Addresses key concerns
• Expands our confessional base
• Enrich our Christian way of life
• Expresses solidarity
Not Adoptingthe Belhar Confession
• Does not add what’s not implied
• Is bound to particular events, place, time
• Sounds like Liberation Theology
•“…an interpretation of religious faith from the perspective of the poor, oppressed and victimized.” (B.A. Robinson) – theology from below.
•“…preferential option for the poor.”
•Linked to democratic socialism.
Some options…
• Adopt as fourth confession.
• Adopt as new category: “ecumenical confession,” which would not have same weight as our “standards of unity.”
• Approve it as “important statement of faith,” like Contemporary Testimony.
• Gratefully acknowledge it without adoption or approval.
Regardless of Synod’s decision…
• Is the Belhar prophetic in our time and place?
• What might the Belhar mean for this congregation?
• How would the CRC (denominationally, this congregation) be different if the Belhar’s words were enacted?
• What personal challenge does it raise?
Find out more
• Unity, Reconciliation, and Justice available for download (rca.org) and sale (Faith Alive).