A theological-historical investigation of the reception of the Church Order of Dort (1619) and the General Regulation (1816) in the church orders of reformed churches in South Africa

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Date
2019-01
Authors
Nel, Petrus Jacobus
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The study on the reception of the Church Order of Dort (1619) and the General Regulation (1618) in South African Church Orders revealed that the NGK, NHKA and APK Church Orders differ from the Church Order of Dort (1619), despite the popular assumption that these Church Orders correspond with the Church Order of Dort (1619). The Church Order of Dort (1619) is not to be blamed for these differences, as it is clear that the Church Orders of the NGK, NHKA and APK formally acknowledge and agree to the Church Order of Dort (1619), but materially, with respect to their application, the status assigned to them as documents of authority and identity, etc., the spirit, legacy and tradition of the General Regulation determine. The General Regulation (1816) holds the key to explaining the coherence in the Church Orders of the NGK, NHKA and APK, despite their differences with the Church Order of Dort (1619). These Church Orders are much in line with the underlying scope of the General Regulation (1816) and echoes the same spirit and intention and departs from the same understanding of the church. Despite their appeals to adhere to the Church Order of Dort (1619) and their shared ecclesial history in South Africa, the Church Orders of the NGK, NHKA and APK incorporated the replacement of the Church Order of Dort (1618) with the General Regulation (1816). Even the GKSA interprets its Church Order through the lens of the principles of the Regulation. These Church Orders are therefore modern versions of the General Regulation (1816). They stand in the shadow of Dort (1619), but proceeds from the light of the Regulation (1816).
Afrikaans: Die studie aangaande die resepsie van die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) en die Algemene Reglement (1816) in Suid-Afrikaanse Kerkordes het aan die lig gebring dat die Kerkordes van die NGK, NHKA en APK verskil met dié van Dordt (1619), ten spyte van die populêre aanname dat hierdie Kerkordes met die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) ooreenstem. Die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) is egter nie te blameer vir hierdie verskille nie, aangesien dit duidelik is dat die Kerkordes van die NGK, NHKA en APK die Dortse Kerkorde (1619) wel formeel erken en ooreenstem, maar materieel ten opsigte van die aanwending, die status wat aan die dokument in terme van gesag en identiteit toegeken word, die gees en tradisie van die Algemene Reglement adem. Die Algemene Reglement (1816) hou die sleutel om nie net die verskil van hierdie Kerkordes met die van Dordt (1619) te verduidelik nie, maar ook die koherensie tussen die Kerkordes van die NGK, NHKA en APK. Hierdie Kerkordes staan in die lyn van en getuig van dieselfde gees en kerkbegrip soos beliggaam in die Algemene Reglement (1816). Ten spyte van hierdie Kerkordes se beroep dat hulle in ooreenstemming is met die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) en hulle gedeelde kerkregtelike geskiedenis aan die suidpunt van Afrika, het die NGK, NHKA en APK die skuif vanaf die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) na die Algemene Reglement (1816) in hulle Kerkordes opgeneem. Selfs die GKSA interpreteer hulle Kerkorde deur die lens van die Reglement. Hierdie Kerkordes kan daarom beskryf word as moderne weergawes van die Algemene Reglement (1816). Hulle staan in die skadu van Dort (1619), maar gaan voort uit die lig van die Reglement (1816).
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Church Order of Dort 1619, General Regulation 1816, Dissertation (M.Th. (Jonathan Edwards Centre))--University of the Free State, 2019, Afrikaans churches of reformed confession, Church governance, Church order, Church polity
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