Van Wyk, Tanya2014-10-022014-10-022014-09-03Van Wyk, T., 2014, 'Nasie, volk, religie en die kerk as ellips van versoenende verskeidenheid', HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 70(3), Art. #2671, 10 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v70i3.2671.0259-9422 (print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/hts.v70i3.2671http://hdl.handle.net/2263/42207This article examines the 19th and 20th century European context wherein religion was practiced. In a ‘Rip-Van-Winkle’ manner it is as if this context had no influence on the Afrikaans speaking church in South Africa. The isolation, that was the result of the apartheid ideology, lead to the Afrikaans speaking church in South Africa not internalising ecumenicity. It is argued that for the church to be able to take an active role in reconciling diversity and therefore contributing to social cohesion in South Africa, the church needs to transcend being a ‘nation’ church. This is possible by respecting culture and diversity, while recognising the priority of salvation in Christ. This is the ellipse of being church.Afrikaans© 2014. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.NasieVolkReligieKerkNationReligionChurchEthnic peopleArticle