Dear Sisters and Brothers
in Christ
We greet you in the Name of
the Head of this Church, Jesus Christ. Our Seventh General Synod (GS) of the
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) met from 3-9 October 2016 at
the Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre, Benoni, under the theme “Celebrating 30 years of the Belhar
Confession: Unity, reconciliation and justice in obedience to Christ.” This
theme will remain the guiding vision of the URCSA during the four-year recess
till the next general synod in 2020.It is with immense gratitude that the
Moderamen wishes to write to you and provide feedback on some of the key issues
discussed and decision taken.
Already in his opening
remarks, based on 1 Peter 2:1-5, the Assessor of the GS, Rev Betha, reminded us
that Jesus is the Lord of the church and whatever direction the church takes,
should be in obedience to Christ, the cornerstone on whom the church is built.
The Moderator of the GS, Prof Plaatjies-van Huffel challenged the GS with the
notion that God, as a God of justice and mercy, seeks from God’s church the
same justice and mercy. Prof Allan Boesak, one of the co-authors of the
Belhar Confession, in his reflection of the confession challenged the GS on what
it means to walk with God. Boesak helped to rekindle the spirit of the Belhar
Confession – who we are, how we speak and how we act is done from the stance
that the church is the possession of God. The Confession of Belhar was
more than a political response to the legitimised gross violations of our human
dignity during the apartheid years. The Belhar Confession, rather, was a faith
response to the issue of apartheid and its impact. In the light of the
spirit of the confession, reconciliation is not an option, but an obligation, a
calling and a ministry entrusted to us by God.
As the church of Christ,
the “ultimate stranger” (Prof. M A Plaatjie-van Huffel), we are called to be a
church on the margins for the marginalised. Hence, the GS has no choice but to
reflect on the marginalised in our societies who include the poor, the
stateless refugees, those affected by xenophobia, gender equality, sexuality
issues and to fight for inclusivity, justice, unity and
reconciliation. The URCSA fully acknowledges that issues of oppression,
abuse, injustice and conflict are global issues and hence also reflected on the
Israel-Palestine situation and the challenges of Christian Zionism for the
ministry of justice. As the result of deliberations on the above, the GS
would like to share the following:
First Deaf Ministerial Candidate
with Full Status at Synod
GS was blessed with the
presence of Proponent Betty Wanza, who lost her hearing at the age of 5.
Proponent Wanza was licensed in 2013 as a Candidate of the Word with full status
in the URCSA. Her presence affirmed to the GS that inclusiveness is
possible, yet on the other hand it brought to reality that on so many levels we
are failing the ministry of inclusiveness and our witness to the power of the
Belhar Confession. This GS affirmed the URCSA’s commitment to assist
differently-abled members who have the calling for ministry in the church with
the necessary training and mentoring that will enable them to be licensed in
the URCSA as ministers with full status. Hence, GS calls on vacant
congregations to consider calling Proponent Wanza.
GS acknowledged the
presence of proponent Betty Wanza, the first deaf ministerial candidate in the
history of the URCSA. Wanza’s story affirms to GS the possibilities of
inclusiveness, yet continues to challenge GS to embody the Belhar Confession on
different levels.
With regards to a just and
inclusive community the URCSA recommits herself to actively work towards
becoming an even more inclusive faith community as well as towards a more
inclusive society. The URCSA commits to creating an enabling environment for
people with disabilities to share in the calling of the church. The URCSA
rejects any form of violence and injustice and commits to working for the
elimination of violent and unjust practices in society.
The Gift of Diversity
Prof David Xolile Simon urged
GS to embrace multi-cultural ministries that goes beyond the mere tentativeness
of “cooperation”, which he said was a theological imperative. He also shared
his experience with congregations that have successfully braved this route. GS
acknowledge the numerous challenges faced by the church in moving towards
multi-cultural ministries, but cannot condone situations where these challenges
serve to deter this confessing church from earnestly and obediently striving for
multi-culturalism.
The GS reaffirms that
diversity is a gift and commits to:
(1)
embracing the cultural diversity of the URCSA and in the world we live
in, and
(2)
to actively work towards the expansion of the inclusive identity of the
church.
Free, Decolonised and
Quality Education
With regards to the current
plight for free, decolonised and quality education as witness in the
#Feesmustfall movement in South Africa, the GS resolved the following:
“Due to our prophetic calling we should respond to the demands of the
Gospel. The Belhar Confession inspires us to act in accordance to the Word of
God and adhere to the Biblical imperative to stand where God stand and to walk
with God. Therefore, GS declare that we:
·
Believe tertiary education is not a
privilege, but a right enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa;
·
Condemn all forms of violence;
·
Also condemn the violence of poverty towards
the poor students of South Africa;
·
Continue to fundraise for students as funds
are available;
· Affirm the issue of equity when addressing
the struggle of students pertaining to student fees;
· Support that parents who are in the position
to contribute proportionally to the paying of fees, do so;
· Support fully that free education be made
available to all financially needy students as well as the lost-middle
Immediate action proposed:
·
The Executive of URCSA meet the student
leadership of #Feesmustfall before the end of 2016;
· To act in accordance with the Belhar Confession,
which calls on us to physically stand with the oppressed and the marginalised”
The questions of
restorative justice and equality are questions inherently implied by the
Confession of Belhar and cannot be ignore by the church of Christ.
Church Unity
GS univocally confesses
that the church of Christ is one church. GS confesses that Scripture remains
clear about the unity of the church and, hence, URCSA cannot abandon the Biblical
call to strive for the unification, at first, of the churches from the Dutch
Reformed Church family. The God of the Belhar Confession compels us to
remain obedient and faithful to His call for the unity of the Church of Christ
and, hence, we remain committed to the process. We acknowledge that we
cannot control the processes of others, but it is our duty, as far as possible,
to provide an enabling environment for progress to happen. In this respect,
GS adopted a provisional Church Order that allows for joint ministry that goes
beyond mere agreements of cooperation.
Nuclear Energy Development
Synod took note of the
plans of the government of the Republic of South Africa to go ahead with a
nuclear procurement plan. GS realises that this is a complex matter that cannot
be dealt with in a superficial manner. As a church that confess to the
Lordship of Christ and who embrace the God-given mandate for stewardship of the
created environment, GS does not condone the current coal-dependent energy
generation paradigm. GS, however, expresses concern with regards to the
huge costs associated with planned nuclear energy projects as well as with
regards to issues related to safety and the safe disposal of nuclear
waste. In addition to this, GS pleads for a transparent process to be
followed in every step during this process.
This General Synod
resolved:
- That the URCSA align herself with the Astana declaration;
- To call on the Faith Community and Civil Community in Southern Africa to oppose the governments’ nuclear programme;
- To engage with the governments in the region on the issue of cleaner and affordable technology in the energy generation.
The Israel-Palestine Situation
and Christian Zionism
Synod was reminded of the
oppression under apartheid in South Africa during the 1980’s, a context within
which the Belhar Confession was born. GS acknowledges the significant similarities
between that context and that of occupied Palestine today. URCSA stands
with the people of Palestine against the practices of abuse, oppression,
marginalisation and dehumanisation directed towards them by the state of
Israel. GS also expresses concern about the ease with which Christian
faith communities proclaims a Zionist agenda justified from Scripture, and
calls on URCSA congregations to refrain from such Christian Zionism. In
the spirit of the Belhar Confession, the URCSA has no other option but to stand
with our sisters and brothers in Palestine as they continue to suffer the
atrocities of occupation and oppression.
The position of the URCSA Regarding
Homosexuality
After discussions on this
matter, GS decided to refer the matter regarding homosexuality back to
congregations, presbyteries and regional synods for dialogue and engagement. Congregations,
presbyteries and regional synods are requested to seriously engage on this
matter during the following four years till the next General Synod.
Newly Leadership Elected:
2016-2020
The URCSA General Synod
elected the following Executive Committee to serve the church as new leadership
until the next General Synod in 2020.
1.
Moderator: Rev Prof L. J. Modise from the
Southern Synod
2.
Assessor: Rev M. G. Betha from the
Phororo Synod
3.
Scribe: Rev W. J. Julius from
the Namibia Synod.
4.
Actuarius: Rev D. P. Carelse from the
Cape Synod.
5.
Additional
Member: Rev Prof C. Landman from the
Northern Synod.
6.
Additional
Member: Rev L. P. Fokase from the
Free State & Lesotho Synod.
7.
Additional
Member: Rev T. E. Ngema from the KZN
Synod.
May God continue to guide
us through His Spirit and may we continue to remain an ever-confessing church,
walking with God in the light of the cross of Jesus Christ.
On behalf of the Moderamen
of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA).
Rev W J Julius
Scribe: General Synod
Vision: A Committed and United Church in
service of unity, reconciliation and justice to all people through Christ
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