The church and ethnic diversity: a church polity approach for structural unification in the contemporary church

Authors

  • Humphreys Frackson Zgambo North-West University, South Africa

Keywords:

The Reformed Churches in South Africa (GKSA), Ethnicity, Church structure, Unification, Ethnic diversity

Abstract

This study will discuss the question on the church and ethnic diversity in the contemporary church, based on the experience of the Gereformeerde Kerke in South Africa (GKSA) in South Africa. An important presupposition of this study is that the GKSA was never divided in different church communities. Synods were divided on a racial or ethnical basis, but they remained one-church community where the different groups came together within one General Synod. The GKSA process did not aim at unification of separate and independent church communities; rather a unification of the structures of the church community that already existed in South Africa. The churches are in fact one church community, but struggle to integrate different synodal structures based on ethnicity.

Published

2018-08-06

How to Cite

Zgambo, H. F. (2018). The church and ethnic diversity: a church polity approach for structural unification in the contemporary church. Tydskrif Vir Christelike Wetenskap | Journal for Christian Scholarship, 54(1), 71-93. Retrieved from https://pubs.ufs.ac.za/index.php/tcw/article/view/444

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Artikels | Articles

In Terms of the provisions in the Copyright Act, 98 of 1987, as amended, the copyright of author(s) in regard to articles submitted to and published in the Journal for Christian Scholarship is protected. The Vereniging vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys (VCHO) posesses the vested rights (copyright) in regard to published issues of the journal.

Die outeursreg (kopiereg) van outers ten opsigte van voorgelegde artikels aan en gepubliseerde artikels in die Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap word beskerm, ingevolge die bepalings van die Wet op Outeursreg, 98 van 1987, soos gewysig. Die Vereniging vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys (VCHO) beskik oor die gevestigde regte (outeursreg) ten opsigte van gepubliseerde uitgawes van die tydskrif.