Die beskuldiging van vrysinnigheid teen die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk : ʼn Herinterpretasie van die teologiese diskoers (1842 - 1894)

Abstract

In this study the accusations of theological liberalism made against the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika is tested to see if they are historically and theologically justified. Four incidents, namely the establisment of the Hervormde Kerk in 1842, the schism of the Gereformeerde Kerk van Suid-Afrika in 1859, the schism of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Transvaal in 1865, and the failed church unification of 1885 are trawled for a sign of theological liberalism. The only justifiable occurence of theological liberalism found in this period is in 1865 when the Rev. Dirk Van der Hoff repudiated the Canons of Dordt and the teaching on the election. It is found that the Hervormde kerk is not a liberal church, but a church that harbours a certain theological diversity. Furthermore it is concluded that a single occurence (in terms of Rev. Van der Hoff) fundamentally influenced South African ecclesial historiography regarding the Hervormde Kerk and it’s supposed theological liberalism.