Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkorde

The Church Order of the Dutch Reformed Church puts the position of the Scriptures, its confessions of faith and its order for the church in a truly reformed perspective. In some instances this can be traced to the famous Synod of Dordt of 1618-1619. Supported by resolutions from the General Synod,...

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Main Author: P. J. Strauss
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2008-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2210
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author P. J. Strauss
author_facet P. J. Strauss
author_sort P. J. Strauss
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description The Church Order of the Dutch Reformed Church puts the position of the Scriptures, its confessions of faith and its order for the church in a truly reformed perspective. In some instances this can be traced to the famous Synod of Dordt of 1618-1619. Supported by resolutions from the General Synod, these points of departure indicate the official stance of this church on these issues — a stance which can only be changed, be it officially, by changing the formulations in the Church Order. The Scriptures are regarded as the objective Word of God. With regard to the confessions, quia does not necessarily mean that one supports every reference or remark, but it indicates that the doctrine it confesses and formulates is according to the Scriptures. With regard to the offices, the assemblies and the relationships of the church, this Church Order differs from an attitude which has been accepted over many years by other reformed churches. Two dangers lie ahead for the Dutch Reformed Church. On the one hand, conservatism with a confessionalism that regards the confessions as canonical for all practical purposes. On the other hand, the church may endeavour to keep up with the times to such an extent that it exchanges Scriptures as a point of departure for humankind itself: It chooses to be liberal in the sense of an unrestricted freedom for humankind.
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spelling doaj-art-4b6753f48fc148e1a616982ad7ed4c462025-02-11T10:07:00ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892008-12-0128210.38140/at.v28i2.2210Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkordeP. J. Strauss0University of the Free State The Church Order of the Dutch Reformed Church puts the position of the Scriptures, its confessions of faith and its order for the church in a truly reformed perspective. In some instances this can be traced to the famous Synod of Dordt of 1618-1619. Supported by resolutions from the General Synod, these points of departure indicate the official stance of this church on these issues — a stance which can only be changed, be it officially, by changing the formulations in the Church Order. The Scriptures are regarded as the objective Word of God. With regard to the confessions, quia does not necessarily mean that one supports every reference or remark, but it indicates that the doctrine it confesses and formulates is according to the Scriptures. With regard to the offices, the assemblies and the relationships of the church, this Church Order differs from an attitude which has been accepted over many years by other reformed churches. Two dangers lie ahead for the Dutch Reformed Church. On the one hand, conservatism with a confessionalism that regards the confessions as canonical for all practical purposes. On the other hand, the church may endeavour to keep up with the times to such an extent that it exchanges Scriptures as a point of departure for humankind itself: It chooses to be liberal in the sense of an unrestricted freedom for humankind. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2210
spellingShingle P. J. Strauss
Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkorde
Acta Theologica
title Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkorde
title_full Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkorde
title_fullStr Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkorde
title_full_unstemmed Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkorde
title_short Die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: uitgangspunte ten opsigte van Skrif, belydenis en kerkorde
title_sort die kerkorde van die ned geref kerk uitgangspunte ten opsigte van skrif belydenis en kerkorde
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2210
work_keys_str_mv AT pjstrauss diekerkordevandienedgerefkerkuitgangspuntetenopsigtevanskrifbelydenisenkerkorde