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Verbum et Ecclesia
On-line version ISSN 2074-7705
Print version ISSN 1609-9982
Verbum Eccles. (Online) vol.31 n.1 Pretoria 2010
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v31i1.426
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
'The hastening that waits': A critical assessment of the tangebility of unity within the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
Rothney S. TshakaI; Peter M. MarupingII
IDepartment of Philosophy and Systematic Theology, University of South Africa, South Africa
IIDepartment of Church History, Missiology and Christian Spirituality, University of South Africa
ABSTRACT
The tale of the Reformed Church tradition in South Africa remains conspicuous with challenges also within the current democratic context. Whilst the political past of South Africa contributed towards a Reformed church divided along racial lines, a struggle continues for a genuinely unified Reformed church today. Conceding to the present discussions about the possibility of uniting all Reformed congregations that were divided along racial categories of Black, Coloured, Indian and White, this article aspires to delve into the intricacies pertaining to the already achieved unity between the 'Coloured' and a huge portion of the 'Black' Reformed congregations, that is to say, the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. This article will argue that although it is fundamental that the church of Christ must be united, it is equally imperative that the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) waits and assesses whether it has already achieved tangible unity.
Keywords: tangible unity; justice; reconciliation; URCSA; Reformed Church
Full text available only in PDF format.
References
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Correspondence:
Rothney Tshaka
Department of Philosophy and Systematic Theology
PO Box 392
UNISA 0003
South Africa
Email: tshakrs@unisa.ac.za
Received: 17 Aug. 2010
Accepted: 27 Oct. 2010
Published: 07 Dec. 2010