Van der Merwe, Johan M.2017-01-122017-01-122016Van der Merwe, J.M. (2016). Die rol van die NGK-leierskap in die aanloop tot die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in Suid-Afrika: 1990-1994. Acta Theologica, 36(2), 162-177.2309-9089 (online)1015-8758 (print)http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/actat.v36i2.9http://hdl.handle.net/11660/5304Piet 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.afReconciliationApartheidDutch Reformed ChurchNelson MandelaArticleFaculty of Theology, University of the Free State