1319:
283:
first meeting of the DRMC. The DRC reserved the right to veto all decisions by this newly formed church. Also all its buildings had to be transferred on the DRC's name. The DRC decided to divide its mission work into a "home" and "foreign" mission. The first covered the Cape region, the second all the other provinces of South Africa, including
Namibia. In each province separate churches for blacks and coloureds were formed. The Free State had its own mission church already in 1910.
1399:
26:
329:, and every congregation is represented at these synods. Congregations are grouped together in presbyteries. At the general synod level congregations are only represented through their presbyteries. The general synod determines the Church's policy, and the regional synods see to it that these policies are reflected in their various activities.
299:
The
Uniting Reformed Church consists of approximately 1,230,000 members of them about 500,000 confessing members (excluding all those who are only baptised) and 683 congregations. Its name (which is in the continuous tense) and its logo (which is an incomplete circle) reflects the Church's emphasis
273:
This process motivated the DRC to start its own independent mission work. This new development started at the church's first synod of 1824, when it decided to allow missionaries within its own ranks. This was clearly a move to get control over the way in which mission work would be done in years to
286:
In the Cape a separate "Dutch
Reformed Bantu Church" was formed in 1951. All the coloured congregations eventually joined the DRMC, and the black congregations the DRCA. In 1974 the synod of the DRCA decided in favour of church unity. In 1978 the DRMC decided likewise. It took another 16 years for
242:
Shortly after the Dutch formed a halfway station at the Cape in 1652, they introduced slavery. They started a school for slaves, with the purpose of transferring the Dutch language and culture. To encourage slaves to learn the Dutch language and prayers, they were rewarded with tobacco and brandy.
282:
The DRC synod's decision of 1857 about separate services for coloured members "because of the weakness of some", has become notorious. The next logical step was the formation of a separate church. In 1881 representatives of five mission congregations assembled in
Wellington near Cape Town for the
238:
The joy which marked the formal unification of the Dutch
Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) and the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) in 1994 to form the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), should be seen against the background of a very difficult road on which church unity often
250:, as a matter of policy, had all their slaves baptised. The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) of the time had no organised mission activity, with the result that the baptism of slaves were left to the wilfulness of their masters. Baptised slaves also did not necessarily become members of the church.
372:
The Dutch
Reformed Churches Union Act Repeal Act 46 of 2008 lists one of its objectives as to 'remove obstacles in the unification process of the Verenigde Gereformeerde Kerk, Reformed Church of Africa and the Dutch Reformed Churches without legislative intervention.'
1346:
269:
again after seven years. In the course of time various mission organisations from overseas started working in South Africa, which led to the formation of a number of denominations amongst those people who else would have been excluded from the church.
308:
The Church consists of hundreds of congregations, these congregations belong to the regional presbytery and several presbyteries form a Synod. The
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa consist of seven regional synods, namely
866:
278:
the DRC formally rejected discrimination on the basis of skin colour, it did not mean that in practice people of colour were not discriminated against, particularly at worship services and holy communion.
990:
1351:
1438:
861:
274:
follow. "The
Afrikaner abhorred the liberal views of equality, freedom and the social integration of many missionaries (from the foreign mission societies)". Although at its 1829
1453:
1122:
941:
291:
with its strong emphasis on unity, reconciliation and justice was formulated and adopted in 1986. This is still very much the motivating power by which the URCSA today lives.
1428:
187:, which led to the formation of a number of denominations amongst those people who otherwise would have been excluded from the main churches, largely over issues of race.
529:
1463:
1448:
1199:
918:
871:
792:
1055:
1443:
475:
1204:
1154:
765:
722:
1209:
1149:
742:
647:
1458:
1376:
1137:
1132:
689:
684:
326:
313:, Northern synod, Southern synod (The whole Gauteng except Tshwane and parts of North & Mpumalanga), Phororo (Northern Cape), Cape,
522:
1423:
1117:
679:
563:
1194:
699:
1102:
856:
1433:
1164:
1048:
694:
1341:
1127:
515:
68:
1267:
1366:
1336:
1299:
1169:
838:
1097:
787:
666:
227:– with its strong emphasis on unity, reconciliation and justice – was formulated and adopted by the DRMC.
1403:
1371:
1356:
1142:
1041:
995:
704:
1361:
1107:
815:
1381:
1112:
612:
213:
1159:
727:
1250:
1189:
1184:
737:
628:
358:
191:
157:
1386:
1229:
1079:
732:
538:
457:
1304:
1087:
797:
674:
1292:
1282:
354:
230:
In 1994 the DRMC and the DRCA united to form the
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA).
1318:
220:
In 1974 the synod of the DRCA decided in favour of church unity. In 1978 the DRMC decided likewise.
1277:
1272:
1064:
959:
247:
25:
1174:
967:
581:
1287:
1219:
972:
318:
114:
53:
1179:
923:
595:
546:
409:
342:
150:
8:
1092:
369:
to discuss the reunification of the family of DRC churches and how this can be realized.
337:
In
October 2018, the Southern Synod of the denomination voted to allow clergy to perform
300:
on unity, and its hope for an even greater church unification within the family of God.
1019:
142:
1234:
757:
573:
419:
414:
338:
288:
224:
173:
169:
1224:
887:
555:
397:
833:
254:
46:
1260:
901:
507:
424:
1417:
387:
314:
1255:
1033:
714:
392:
184:
104:
78:
58:
848:
366:
362:
622:
36:
933:
910:
825:
657:
154:
779:
639:
604:
262:
258:
198:
172:, which was approximately halfway between the Netherlands and the
807:
322:
310:
266:
194:(NGK) in South Africa to start its own independent mission work.
177:
82:
942:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Africa
275:
265:. Pressurised by the Cape church, he was forced to leave for
197:
In 1857 the NGK synod decided to have separate services for
1439:
History of the South Africa Province of the Moravian Church
502:
458:"Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions"
183:
Various foreign mission organisations started working in
476:"Polygamy and gay marriage welcome: Church makes U-turn"
1454:
Calvinist denominations established in the 20th century
353:
From 6 to 8 November 2006, 127 representatives of the
357:, The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa and
793:
Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa
1429:
Members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches
168:In 1652 the Dutch formed a halfway station at the
1415:
537:
332:
287:that ideal to be fulfilled. In the process, the
139:The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
1049:
523:
147:Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika
1063:
867:South Africa International Assemblies of God
1464:Affirming Christian denominations in Africa
1449:Christian organizations established in 1994
1123:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
690:Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NHK)
685:Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK)
1056:
1042:
530:
516:
503:Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
348:
19:Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
1014:
1012:
680:Christian Reformed Church in South Africa
564:Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
1444:Members of the World Council of Churches
991:The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa
239:appeared as being an unattainable goal.
857:Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
1416:
1009:
695:Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
451:
449:
257:came to Cape Town to work amongst the
233:
1037:
511:
1200:Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church
69:World Communion of Reformed Churches
1459:1994 establishments in South Africa
582:Coptic Holy Diocese of South Africa
446:
13:
1317:
788:Anglican Church of Southern Africa
14:
1475:
996:South African Council of Churches
862:Assemblies of God of South Africa
705:Reformed Churches in South Africa
496:
455:
149:) was formed by the union of the
1424:Reformed denominations in Africa
1398:
1397:
1362:Witchcraft Suppression Act, 1957
919:Apostolic Church of South Africa
816:Baptist Union of Southern Africa
24:
1155:Evangelical Presbyterian Church
723:Evangelical Presbyterian Church
253:In 1737 Georg Schmidt from the
214:Dutch Reformed Church in Africa
728:Free Church in Southern Africa
468:
437:
403:
1:
1434:Protestantism in South Africa
1185:Presbyterian Church of Africa
738:Presbyterian Church of Africa
430:
359:Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk
333:Homosexuality and LGBT issues
294:
206:Dutch Reformed Mission Church
192:Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk
158:Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk
1205:United Congregational Church
766:United Congregational Church
539:Christianity in South Africa
341:as well as to ordain openly
303:
7:
1210:Uniting Presbyterian Church
1150:Evangelical Lutheran Church
1088:Afrikaans Protestant Church
798:Province of Southern Africa
743:Uniting Presbyterian Church
675:Afrikaans Protestant Church
648:Evangelical Lutheran Church
376:
217:(DRCA) was formed in 1963.
208:(DRMC) was formed in 1881.
190:This process motivated the
94:; 30 years ago
10:
1480:
1251:African Traditional Belief
1235:The Church of Almighty God
325:. Each region has its own
163:
1395:
1329:
1315:
1243:
1230:People's Church of Africa
1195:Reformed Church in Africa
1118:Christian Reformed Church
1078:
1071:
1004:
981:
958:
932:
909:
900:
880:
847:
824:
806:
778:
756:
733:People's Church of Africa
713:
700:Reformed Church in Africa
665:
656:
638:
621:
603:
594:
572:
554:
545:
462:www.reformiert-online.net
381:
355:Reformed Church in Africa
128:
120:
110:
88:
74:
64:
52:
42:
32:
23:
18:
1065:Religion in South Africa
960:African-initiated church
248:Dutch East India Company
1215:Uniting Reformed Church
1175:Nazareth Baptist Church
1103:Apostolic Faith Mission
968:Nazareth Baptist Church
748:Uniting Reformed Church
349:Achterbergh Declaration
204:A separate church, the
1323:
1165:Free Reformed Churches
201:(mixed race) members.
146:
1347:CRL Rights Commission
1321:
1220:Zion Christian Church
1128:Dutch Reformed Church
973:Zion Christian Church
613:Roman Catholic Church
115:Dutch Reformed Church
1322:Flag of South Africa
1180:New Apostolic Church
924:New Apostolic Church
596:Western Christianity
547:Eastern Christianity
443:Prof PB van der Watt
410:Heidelberg Catechism
1367:Traditional healers
1337:Freedom of religion
1093:Afrikaner Calvinism
982:Interdenominational
480:www.timeslive.co.za
234:Road to unification
1357:Marriage Act, 1961
1352:Equality Act, 2000
1324:
1020:Anglican Communion
872:Grace Bible Church
456:Fasse, Christoph.
339:same-sex marriages
160:mission churches.
1411:
1410:
1313:
1312:
1031:
1030:
954:
953:
950:
949:
896:
895:
774:
773:
758:Congregationalist
590:
589:
574:Oriental Orthodox
420:Belhar Confession
415:Belgic Confession
289:Belhar Confession
225:Belhar Confession
176:, and introduced
174:Dutch East Indies
136:
135:
1471:
1401:
1400:
1225:Zionist Churches
1170:Methodist Church
1076:
1075:
1058:
1051:
1044:
1035:
1034:
1022:
1016:
907:
906:
888:Zionist churches
839:Methodist Church
663:
662:
636:
635:
632:
601:
600:
556:Eastern Orthodox
552:
551:
532:
525:
518:
509:
508:
490:
489:
487:
486:
472:
466:
465:
453:
444:
441:
398:Athanasian Creed
345:LGBT ministers.
211:For blacks, the
102:
100:
95:
28:
16:
15:
1479:
1478:
1474:
1473:
1472:
1470:
1469:
1468:
1414:
1413:
1412:
1407:
1391:
1382:Public holidays
1325:
1309:
1239:
1113:Catholic Church
1098:Anglican Church
1067:
1062:
1032:
1027:
1026:
1025:
1017:
1010:
1000:
983:
977:
946:
928:
892:
876:
843:
820:
802:
770:
752:
709:
652:
626:
625:
617:
586:
568:
541:
536:
499:
494:
493:
484:
482:
474:
473:
469:
454:
447:
442:
438:
433:
406:
384:
379:
351:
335:
306:
297:
255:Moravian Church
236:
166:
103:
98:
96:
93:
12:
11:
5:
1477:
1467:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1409:
1408:
1396:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1333:
1331:
1327:
1326:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1296:
1295:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1264:
1263:
1258:
1247:
1245:
1241:
1240:
1238:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1084:
1082:
1073:
1069:
1068:
1061:
1060:
1053:
1046:
1038:
1029:
1028:
1024:
1023:
1007:
1006:
1005:
1002:
1001:
999:
998:
993:
987:
985:
979:
978:
976:
975:
970:
964:
962:
956:
955:
952:
951:
948:
947:
945:
944:
938:
936:
930:
929:
927:
926:
921:
915:
913:
904:
902:Restorationism
898:
897:
894:
893:
891:
890:
884:
882:
878:
877:
875:
874:
869:
864:
859:
853:
851:
845:
844:
842:
841:
836:
830:
828:
822:
821:
819:
818:
812:
810:
804:
803:
801:
800:
795:
790:
784:
782:
776:
775:
772:
771:
769:
768:
762:
760:
754:
753:
751:
750:
745:
740:
735:
730:
725:
719:
717:
711:
710:
708:
707:
702:
697:
692:
687:
682:
677:
671:
669:
660:
654:
653:
651:
650:
644:
642:
633:
619:
618:
616:
615:
609:
607:
598:
592:
591:
588:
587:
585:
584:
578:
576:
570:
569:
567:
566:
560:
558:
549:
543:
542:
535:
534:
527:
520:
512:
506:
505:
498:
497:External links
495:
492:
491:
467:
445:
435:
434:
432:
429:
428:
427:
425:Canons of Dort
422:
417:
412:
405:
402:
401:
400:
395:
390:
383:
380:
378:
375:
350:
347:
334:
331:
305:
302:
296:
293:
235:
232:
165:
162:
134:
133:
130:
126:
125:
122:
118:
117:
112:
108:
107:
90:
86:
85:
76:
72:
71:
66:
62:
61:
56:
50:
49:
44:
40:
39:
34:
33:Classification
30:
29:
21:
20:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1476:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1421:
1419:
1406:
1405:
1394:
1388:
1387:Satanic panic
1385:
1383:
1380:
1378:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
1334:
1332:
1328:
1320:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1294:
1291:
1290:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1262:
1261:Zulu religion
1259:
1257:
1254:
1253:
1252:
1249:
1248:
1246:
1242:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1190:Protestantism
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1130:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1108:Baptist Union
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1085:
1083:
1081:
1077:
1074:
1070:
1066:
1059:
1054:
1052:
1047:
1045:
1040:
1039:
1036:
1021:
1015:
1013:
1008:
1003:
997:
994:
992:
989:
988:
986:
984:organisations
980:
974:
971:
969:
966:
965:
963:
961:
957:
943:
940:
939:
937:
935:
931:
925:
922:
920:
917:
916:
914:
912:
908:
905:
903:
899:
889:
886:
885:
883:
879:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
854:
852:
850:
846:
840:
837:
835:
834:Die Heilsleër
832:
831:
829:
827:
823:
817:
814:
813:
811:
809:
805:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
785:
783:
781:
777:
767:
764:
763:
761:
759:
755:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
720:
718:
716:
712:
706:
703:
701:
698:
696:
693:
691:
688:
686:
683:
681:
678:
676:
673:
672:
670:
668:
664:
661:
659:
655:
649:
646:
645:
643:
641:
637:
634:
630:
624:
620:
614:
611:
610:
608:
606:
602:
599:
597:
593:
583:
580:
579:
577:
575:
571:
565:
562:
561:
559:
557:
553:
550:
548:
544:
540:
533:
528:
526:
521:
519:
514:
513:
510:
504:
501:
500:
481:
477:
471:
463:
459:
452:
450:
440:
436:
426:
423:
421:
418:
416:
413:
411:
408:
407:
399:
396:
394:
391:
389:
388:Apostle Creed
386:
385:
374:
370:
368:
364:
360:
356:
346:
344:
340:
330:
328:
324:
320:
316:
315:Kwazulu-Natal
312:
301:
292:
290:
284:
280:
277:
271:
268:
264:
260:
256:
251:
249:
244:
240:
231:
228:
226:
221:
218:
216:
215:
209:
207:
202:
200:
195:
193:
188:
186:
181:
179:
175:
171:
161:
159:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
131:
127:
123:
121:Congregations
119:
116:
113:
111:Branched from
109:
106:
91:
87:
84:
80:
77:
73:
70:
67:
63:
60:
57:
55:
51:
48:
45:
41:
38:
35:
31:
27:
22:
17:
1402:
1268:Baháʼí Faith
1256:San religion
1214:
1080:Christianity
1018:Outside the
747:
715:Presbyterian
629:Main article
483:. Retrieved
479:
470:
461:
439:
393:Nicene Creed
371:
352:
336:
307:
298:
285:
281:
272:
252:
245:
241:
237:
229:
223:In 1986 the
222:
219:
212:
210:
205:
203:
196:
189:
185:South Africa
182:
167:
138:
137:
105:South Africa
79:South Africa
65:Associations
59:Presbyterian
1160:Free Church
849:Pentecostal
667:Continental
404:Confessions
367:Krugersdorp
363:Achterbergh
180:by whites.
1418:Categories
1283:Irreligion
623:Protestant
485:2018-12-06
431:References
319:Free State
295:Statistics
37:Protestant
1072:Religions
934:Mormonism
911:Irvingism
826:Methodist
658:Calvinist
343:partnered
327:moderamen
304:Structure
143:Afrikaans
132:1,230 000
1404:Category
1305:Paganism
1278:Hinduism
1273:Buddhism
780:Anglican
640:Lutheran
605:Catholic
377:Doctrine
263:Overberg
259:Khoikhoi
199:coloured
155:coloured
47:Reformed
43:Theology
1330:Related
1300:Judaism
808:Baptist
361:met at
323:Lesotho
311:Namibia
267:Germany
261:of the
178:slavery
164:History
129:Members
97: (
83:Namibia
382:Creeds
89:Origin
75:Region
54:Polity
1377:NICSA
1342:SAHRC
1288:Islam
1244:Other
881:Other
365:near
276:synod
151:black
1372:SACC
1293:Shia
1143:GKSA
321:and
246:The
170:Cape
153:and
99:1994
92:1994
1138:NHK
1133:NGK
124:683
1420::
1011:^
478:.
460:.
448:^
317:,
145::
81:,
1057:e
1050:t
1043:v
631:)
627:(
531:e
524:t
517:v
488:.
464:.
141:(
101:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
