Abstract:
The article points out that the debate on church unity cannot be confined to either a spiritual or structural perspective.It is argued that the church, visible or invisible, is a given reality. Racially based beliefs are identified as the cause of the seperate existence of the NHKA and HKSA. It is indicated that the true and tenable foundation for the church's mission work and ecclesiastical organisation is the love of God, which makes possible true Christian fellowship, service and witness. After pointing to developments in the cooperation between the two churches, on which structural unity can be built, the article makes a strong call for a merger of the two churches in the new South Africa, for the sake of positive witness to Christ's mission in the world.