Abstract:
Piet Strauss played an important part in the leadership of
the Dutch Reformed Church from 1994 to 2011. This article
focuses on important events and the role of the leadership
of the Dutch Reformed Church which prepared the way
for Strauss and his generation of leaders. It takes the
acceptance of the important policy document Church and
Society by the General Synod of 1986 and the Rustenburg
Consultation of 1990 as points of departure. It then
describes how the leadership of the church engaged with
different political leaders between 1990 and 1994. By doing
so, the leadership of the church, which became known for
the Biblical foundation of the notorious policy of apartheid,
played an important role while South Africa was on the
brink of civil war. Their efforts contributed to a peaceful
first democratic election in 1994.
