Meaning of the CWM Uniform

This article is based on a Facebook post by Rev Dr Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel, Moderator of the General Synod, on the 19^th July 2012.

The Christian Women's Ministry (CWM) uniform consists of:

• a black long sleeve, collar-less jacket;
• a black straight skirt;
• a white circular collar held in place by a CWM pin;
• a black hat;
• black stockings; and
• black shoes.

These are frequently asked questions:

• Why do CWM members wear a white collar, black shoes and stockings, a black jacket with only five black buttons and two pockets and a black hat on their heads?
• Why just black and white and not any other colour?
• Why don't they wear any jewelry or makeup when they put on the uniform?
• Are the women wearing the uniform holier than those who are not robed?

o       The white collar is a symbol of Christ having washed our sins away (Psalm 51:7, Isaiah 1:18, Revelation 7:9).

o       The hat, jacket, skirt, shoes and stockings are black as an indication of the sinful nature of human beings and that only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins away (Ephesians 5:8-11, Colossians 3:5-11).

o       The five buttons represent the five areas where Jesus was pierced and shed His blood to wash away our sins on the cross (Isaiah 53:5). The areas where Christ shed His blood are:

v     His hands (Luke 23:33, Luke 24:39, John 20:25);

v     His feet (Luke 23:33, Luke 24:39);

v     His side (John 19:34, John 20:25);

v     His back bled from being scourged (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15); and

v     His head was pierced by a crown of thorns (Matthew 27:29, Matthew 27:30).

o       The two pockets on the jacket are an indication that Christian women are not supposed to harm others, instead they must be peacemakers. We should, therefore, keep our swords in their sheaths just as Christ instructed Peter when He was captured (Matthew 26:52, John 18:11, Matthew 5:9, Matthew 18:22).

o       The hat is worn because the Bible instructs women to pray with a hat on (1 Corinthians 11:5-6). It is also an indication that our problems, grief, worry as Christian women need to be entrusted to Jesus Christ who is the only Head of His church. (Matthew 11:28-30, Ephesians 4:15).

o       The absence of outward adornment (cosmetics, jewelry, etc.) indicates to women that their beauty should come from within. They should be adorned with good deeds. (1 Timothy 2:9-10, 1 Peter 3:3-4).

The uniform is, therefore, a symbol of simplicity, minimalism, plainness and unfussiness as well as devotion to Jesus Christ. The uniform also breaks the boundaries between rich and poor members. There is, therefore, no distinction between those who can afford beautiful, expensive clothes and those who cannot afford them during official ministry or church activities.

Women in URCSA are not obliged to be robed – the uniform is optional. Only members who have been on trial for six months or more are robed. The uniform can only be worn at official CWM gatherings including meetings, funerals of robed members, dedication of church buildings, welcoming functions of ministers of the Word, Holy Communion, CMM gatherings and CYM gatherings.

The uniform puts each member (rich or poor, white or black) who commits herself to Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour on the same level – regardless of their background, status or culture. The uniform, therefore, has a symbolic meaning for those who wear it. This is, however, not a free pass to heaven. As Jesus explained, we can only go to the Father through Him (John 14:6).

Source: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3987016525802&id=1592461426&refid=17&_ft_=top_level_post_id.3987016525802%3Atl_objid.3987016525802%3Athid.1592461426%3A306061129499414%3A2%3A1325404800%3A1357027199%3A3929438243168662765#footer_action_list

General Synod 2016

This communiqué was published on the 17^th February 2016 by Dawid Kuyler, Scribe of the General Synod:

Dear Colleagues

RE: General Synod 2016

We would like to share a few important issues relating to the 2016 General Synod sitting with you:

1.   Date and Venue

The Seventh General Synod of URCSA (General Synod 2016) will be held from the 03^rd to 09^th October 2016 at Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre – 243 Glen Gory Road, Norton Estates, Benoni. We looked at many different options for a venue and we decided on this one after long deliberations. We also looked at schools but could not find a school with a suitable hostel. We took into account that delegates in the past have complained when the standard of accommodation was satisfactory. The venue is also near the O. R. Tambo International Airport, which will be convenient for delegates from presbyteries that are far from Gauteng Province and our international guests who will fly in.

2.   Cost

The cost per delegate will be R8,000. This includes accommodation, meals and synod materials. Presbyteries must send their fees to regional synods, which will pay over the money to the General Synod. The due date for the payments by regional synods is the 01^st July 2016. In order to secure the booking, the hotel had to be paid in advance.

3.   Credential Letters

Each regional synod must submit a list of its delegates before the 01^st July 2016. Each presbytery must send a credential letter to its regional synod – which will compile a credential letter on behalf of the region. Keep in mind the decision of General Synod 2005 that we must strive to achieve gender and age balance of delegates.

4.   Special Diets

Each regional synod must indicate if any delegate has special dietary requirements so that this can be communicated to the hotel in advance.

5.   Due Dates for Ministry Reports

i.    According to the Church Order, the agenda must be sent to delegates a month in advance. Therefore, delegates must receive the agenda by the 01^st September 2016.

ii.   In order for the Scribe to prepare the agenda and to have it printed and dispatched, all reports must reach him by the 01^st July 2016. Ministries are requested to plan carefully so that their reports are received on time.

iii. According to the Church Order, all proposals that implies a change in the Church Order needs to reach the Actuarius three months before the General Synod. The deadline for such proposals is, therefore, the 01^st June 2016 in order to be incorporated in the agenda.

6.   Belhar Confession: 30^th Anniversary

We will be communicating with presbyteries and regional synods to determine how they have lived with the Belhar Confession over the past years.

Blessings in Christ

                                   

Dr Dawid Kuyler

Scribe: General Synod

Vision:        A Committed and United Church in service of unity, reconciliation and justice to all people through Christ

The Presbyterian Church Adopts the Belhar Confession

The 222^nd General Assembly makes history by adopting the Belhar Confession.

Author: Jill Duffield (23 June 2016)

The 2016 General Assembly sitting in Portland, Oregon, made history by voting on the 22^nd June 2016 to add the Belhar Confession – a moving call for reconciliation, and a condemnation of racial injustice written in the crucible of the struggle over apartheid – to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Book of Confessions. The Belhar Confession becomes the first confession from the southern hemisphere the mostly-white PC(USA) has ever adopted. The PC(USA) has done this at a time when racial tension, injustice and violence in the United States make headlines nearly every day.

Christians from South Africa told the assembly they have been waiting for this day for years.

On the evening of the 22^nd June 2016, the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee of the 2016 General Assembly moved for the approval of the Belhar Confession. Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons explained to the assembly the ramifications of the vote that was about to be taken. Should the commissioners pass the motion, he explained, the Belhar Confession would become part of the Book of Confessions, which is part of the PC(USA)’s constitution. After commissioners watched a video explaining the importance and impact of the Belhar Confession, the assembly’s co-moderator, T. Denise Anderson, called for discussions. There were none.

The commissioners then voted overwhelmingly (540 in favour and 33 against) to approve the measure, and with that the first confession since The Brief Statement of Faith in 1983 was added to the Book of Confessions. Across the room, people began to clap; commissioners rose to their feet and musicians took the stage to lead the body in singing: “Oh, Freedom.”

Reverend Godfrey Betha, Assessor (Deputy Moderator) of the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa, was invited to address the assembly. Rev Betha began by saying: “It is 05H45 in South Africa, and I believe there are those who did not sleep waiting for this moment.” He went on to say: “We gave you this gift and you have been unwrapping this gift for quite some time.”

Co-moderators, Teaching Elders Jan Edmiston and T. Denise Anderson, upon approval of Belhar

The adoption of the Belhar Confession has been a long time coming. The 219^th General Assembly in 2010 approved the Belhar Confession, but it then failed to win approval from the required two-thirds of presbyteries. The 220^th General Assembly in 2012 created a special committee given the task of studying the Belhar Confession and creating educational materials. Once again in 2014, the assembly approved the addition of the Belhar Confession – the first step in the process. This time, the required two-thirds of the presbyteries did vote in favour – allowing the Belhar Confession to be presented to the 222^nd General Assembly for the historic vote, the last step in a long process.

Reverend Godfrey Betha

 

Rev Betha noted that: “it is the 22^nd... and the 222^nd GA. I will never forget this date.” He continued: “Your decision affirms that you say to your children, you say to all, ‘When you come to us looking for a glimmer of racism, don’t come to our church.’”

 

Cliff Kirkpatrick and Matilde Moros, Co-Moderators of the Special Committee on Belhar, upon seeing the Belhar Confession adopted

Quoting Philippians 1:6, Rev Betha closed by saying: “I am confident of this; the One who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus – Viva Belhar Confession! Viva!” Once again people rose to their feet and applauded.

Reverend Dr Allan Boesak a minister from the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa, anti-apartheid activist, and drafter of the Belhar Confession, came to the podium saying: “What a night, what a night! Thank you so much for coming to this point of this journey – I thank you for this action tonight.”

Rev Dr Allan Boesak

Rev Boesak acknowledged both how much progress has been made against racism and injustice, and how much more needs to be made. He told of the adoption of Belhar Confession in his own denomination in 1986. Upon its adoption, the youth started singing: “We Shall Overcome.”

Rev Boesak said: “I know no matter how long the road, we shall overcome – I thank God for your faithfulness. I know because of God’s faithfulness we shall overcome.” At that point, someone began to sing from the floor: “We Shall Overcome.” By the second verse the body had joined hands, by the third they had lifted them upward. Some on the stage couldn’t hold back tears and Co-Moderator Anderson was caught on the large screen mouthing: “Wow.”

There was no doubt the gift of the Belhar Confession had finally been fully unwrapped. The challenge now is for the PC(USA) to open it up and use it.

Source: https://pres-outlook.org/2016/06/adopting-belhar-222nd-general-assembly-makes-history/

CAP Camp Address

This is a speech delivered on behalf of the CYM Central Executive Committee by Deputy Chairperson, Brother I. L. Phara, on the 21^st July 2016 at the CAP Camp Farewell Function:

Good evening brothers and sisters, we greet you all in the wonderful name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. We are humbled today to come before you as the Central Executive Committee of the Christian Youth Ministry of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa – which is the only vehicle used by the church to advance the aspirations of young people in URCSA, and aims to equip them to become spiritual adult members of the body of Christ.

We assemble today, the 21^st July 2016, three days after the world celebrated the birth of an icon of reconciliation in the twenty-first century – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Through his teachings of Ubuntu, we can all call ourselves human beings without looking at anyone's skin colour or background.

Today also marks a historic event in that one of the founding members of our youth ministry (CYM), Professor Reggie Nel, delivered his inaugural lecture at the University of South Africa. We are very proud as young people to have one of the best scholars of youth development in our church.

We are honoured today as CYM to be tasked with providing these closing remarks to a very successful CAP Camp, which was held here in South Africa this year. I trust that our guests from here in Africa, as well as those from Belgium and Germany have once again enjoyed the excellent hospitality that South Africa has become known for.

This CAP Camp is the latest in a long tradition of exchanges between young people within the Reformed Church. The CAP Camp idea was conceived more than a decade ago. The early organisers – Professor Nico Norman Koopman, Rev De Wet, Rev Makoko and many others – made it possible for all of us today to participate in this prestigious event in the calendar of our churches.

The objective of the camp is to expose young people in our churches to other ecumenical churches in other parts of the globe. During the time that we were together – the time of community service that we embarked on – through working together we gained a strong understanding that we are all the same before Christ. We realise that it does not matter where we come from, what language we speak and the different hues our skins are – we are all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

I am sure you have formed strong bonds over this time and I know you will be communicating with each other on a regular basis. Each one must now go back to his/her country and congregation and give testimony that our God is truly a universal God, and that we are all bound together by His universal love for all of us.

In conclusion, let me quote Nelson Mandela when he said "People respond in accordance to how you relate to them. If you approach them on the basis of violence, that's how they'll react. But if you say, 'We want peace, we want stability,' we can then do a lot of things that will contribute towards the progress of our society."

I wish you all of the best on your journeys back home. Travel well and God bless!!!

CYM CEC was represented by its chairperson, Brother N. Mabuza, and deputy chairperson, Brother I. L. Phara.