The theological coherence between the Belhar confession and some antecedent church witnesses in the period 1948-1982

Abstract

This article explores the historical and theological relation between the Confession of Belhar (1982) and some significant antecedent church witnesses from 1948 onward. After identifying these witnesses, a coherence is sought in the confessional interpretation of the SA situation, and core theological themes linked to ecclesiology, Christology and anthropology that served as basis for the vision of an alternative society. Although Belhar is no “summary” of these witnesses, an interpretation of the confession is enhanced by reading it against the ecumenical history of the time.