Not much enthusiasm for joint Congregation in Wynberg URC

URCSA News 1 October 2010

Wynberg – Unity talks between the Uniting Reformed Church Wynberg and the DRC congregation in Wynberg recently came to a halt. The URCSA congregation decided to place a moratorium on the current unity talks with the Wynberg Dutch Reformed Church.

The unification process in URCSA is defined by regulations in the Church Order as well as synod resolutions, especially those decisions as adopted by the General Synod as guiding policies on unification.

The URCSA Synod decision of 2005 called for unity on the highest level between the churches. The decision reads: "Therefore General Synod decides to forthwith approve the necessary Church Orderly Regulations to enable Regional Synods, Presbyteries and local congregations, who desire to do so on the basis of the acceptance of Belhar, to unite to the fullest extend possible in ministry, even if structural unity, because of church orderly impediments, is not yet possible."

The General Synod then instructed the Support Ministry for Judicial Affairs to urgently give attention to the enabling legislation to make structural union possible. These regulations have not been drawn up by the Judicial Ministry yet, and have not been adopted by the General Synod, which, according to Rev MG Betha, the actuary of the General Synod, means no legal framework exists for the implementation of the 2005 decision.

At the General Synod of 2008 a moratorium was placed on all unity talks. According to Betha all structures throughout the URCSA should adhere to the moratorium and deal with the three issues currently under discussion: a shared commitment to unity, assisting one another in a positive study of the Belhar Confession and a common effort to restorative justice and reconciliation.

This process is now in mediation between URCSA and the DRC under the leadership of Dr Jerry Pillay, the President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

Apart from the lack of a legal framework, the 2008 moratorium implies that the 2005 resolution is also under moratorium. It further implies that any URCSA structure that has acted upon the 2005 resolution should also place its activities on hold.

The Wynberg URC church council wrote a letter to the Wynberg DRC on the 12th of April 2010 to inform them that it could no longer identify itself with "unification," because of the rules of the URCSA Church Order. The council asked that there no longer be referred to "unity" between the churches, but "cooperation". This brought the URCSA Wynberg in line with the moratorium.

The church council referred to the agreement that had been written and agreed upon on the 13th of April 2008 at a joint conference by the two congregations. This agreement, however, had never been signed by the Wynberg URC church council.

This agreement was drawn up under the leadership of Dr Danie Nel of the DRC, after the death of the previous URCSA Wynberg minister, the late Rev James Buys, and before the current minister, Rev Winston Samuels had been ordained in the congregation.

According to Rev Samuels the document of agreement is a very difficult and problematic one. It presents a totally new Church Order position for Wynberg. It does not take into account the legal procedures that need to be followed in URCSA to implement the reality proposed in the document.

The terminology used in the agreement is also not clearly explained. It talks of a "joint" congregation, "one" congregation, and on another level of "area" congregations. Samuels says it appears to be chaotic document which represents a legal and conceptual minefield.

The actuary of the URCSA Cape Regional Synod, Dr Mary-Ann van Huffel-Plaatjies, is of the opinion that the document goes against the regulations in the Church Order of URCSA.

Samuels, who was not part of the creation of this document, agrees. According to him this model requires of the members of Wynberg URCSA and Wynberg DRC to have double membership, because they remain members of their original congregations as well as have membership of this new congregation. He says this is foreign to the practice in URCSA. He is also concerned by which Church Order this new church will function.

In a letter to Wynberg URC, Dr Danie Nel, in his capacity as chairperson of Wynberg DRC, questions the legal opinion of the actuaries of both the URCSA and DRC. He leans strongly on the opinion given by attorneys and professors in church law. He says the reason why the church council of Wynberg URC did not discuss or approved the agreement is because of the legal positions taken by the actuaries and the URCSA Presbytery of Wynberg.

According to Nel, the inability of Wynberg URC to approve the agreement has a negative impact on DRC members.

Rev Samuels’s other concern lies on the confessional level. This new congregation will function with two different foundations of faith because the Belhar Confession is not part of the DRC.

The agreement provides for a dual faith foundation. Belhar is included, but for DRC members confessing Belhar was a free choice. The agreement, however, envisages the day when all members in the joint congregation can confess Belhar in accordance with Scripture.

Samuels says in his conversations with members of Wynberg URCSA he does not find much enthusiasm for this joint congregation. He says the congregation speaks differently about the joint congregation than what they allegedly felt before.

Samuels expressed his incomprehension of the "unnecessary haste" by the DRC with this joint congregation. He also questions the commitment of Wynberg DRC members to this joint congregation. According to him, whenever a joint service takes place in Wynberg URCSA, the attendance of DRC members leaves much to be desired, while it is the other way round for URCSA members. URCSA members, he says, always occupies the pews to capacity at both churches.

Unification process not to the honour of God – Wynberg Presbytery

URCSA News 1 October 2010

Lotusriver - The URC Presbytery of Wynberg reacted officially to the difficulties in the unification developments between the two Wynberg congregations of URCSA and the DRC.

In a letter to the DRC, the presbytery said it no longer regarded the process as to the honour of God. They said the behaviour of the minister and church council of the DRC rather sowed discord.

The presbytery requested Dr Danie Nel to stop his interference in the internal affairs of the URCSA congregation. The presbytery accused Nel of paternalism and unethical behaviour. It expressed its support for the decision of a moratorium by the URCSA Wynberg church council.

The presbytery also warned Dr Nel that further steps would be taken if he did not keep to the affairs of his own congregation. The presbytery expressed the hope that if the attitude of Nel towards the presbytery and the minister of Wynberg URC changed, they might be willing to walk the road of cooperation again.

Kommentaar op eerste artikel:

Artikel:  These regulations have not been drawn up by the Judicial Ministry yet, and have not been adopted by the General Synod, which, according to Rev MG Betha, the actuary of the General Synod, means no legal framework exists for the implementation of the 2005 decision.

Reaksie: Reglement 43 van die Kerkorde van die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika is opgestel met die bedoeling om die 2005 besluit in werking te stel. Ds. James Buys, VGKSA leraar van Wynberg, het in sy ampstermyn as moderator seker gemaak dat die NGK en die VGKSA dieselfde reglement aanvaar.

Artikel: Apart from the lack of a legal framework, the 2008 moratorium implies that the 2005 resolution is also under moratorium. It further implies that any URCSA structure that has acted upon the 2005 resolution should also place its activities on hold. The Wynberg URC church council wrote a letter to the Wynberg DRC on the 12th of April 2010 to inform them that it could no longer identify itself with "unification," because of the rules of the URCSA Church Order. The council asked that there no longer be referred to "unity" between the churches, but "cooperation". This brought the URCSA Wynberg in line with the moratorium.

Reaksie: Die Algemene Sinode van die VGKSA se besluit betreffende die moratorium het nie herenigingsprosesse op plaaslike vlak opgeskort nie, soos punt 6 van die besluit verklaar:

6. That the faith, courage and work of regional synods, presbyteries, commissions of the church and local congregations be respected and honoured by encouraging them, where all efforts towards unification are done in faith and with integrity, in obedience to the call of Christ and on the basis of the acceptance of the Confession of Belhar, to continue with these efforts; to thereby remain signs of hope, reconciliation and love to the fulfilment of justice, the edification and witness of the church and the glory of God.

Artikel: The church council referred to the agreement that had been written and agreed upon on the 13th of April 2008 at a joint conference by the two congregations. This agreement, however, had never been signed by the Wynberg URC church council.

Reaksie: Die gesamentlike kerkraad het op 2 September 2008 die ooreenkoms eenparig goedgekeur en besluit dat ooreenkoms na die ringe vir oorweging en goedkeuring gestuur word. Die kerkrade het hul besluite aan die einde van die vergadering afsonderlik bekragtig. Die konsulent (die ringspredikant wat amptelik tydens 'n vakature waarneem) het in laasgenoemde verband as voorsitter van die VGKSA Wynberg se kerkraad opgetree. Die Ring van die VGKSA het later beswaar gemaak omdat die afsonderlike goedkeuring in mekaar se teenwoordigheid plaasgevind het. Volgens die kerkraadslede van die VGKSA Wynberg het die konsulent wat as voorsitter van die kerkraad moes optree, vanaf 13 November 2008 tot 14 September 2009 nooit aan hulle die geleentheid gegee om die ooreenkoms te bespreek of afsonderlik goed te keur nie. Die VGKSA Kerkraad het ook nog nie die wysigings wat die VGKSA actuarius en Prof. Koffeman voorgestel het en wat aangebring is, bespreek of goedgekeur nie.

Artikel: The terminology used in the agreement is also not clearly explained. It talks of a "joint" congregation, "one" congregation, and on another level of "area" congregations. Samuels says it appears to be chaotic document which represents a legal and conceptual minefield.

Reaksie: Ds. Samuals verwys na die tussentydse ooreenkoms van 30 Oktober 2009, wat die NGK Kerkraad aan die streeksinodes se regskommissies vir beoordeling en terugvoering voorgelê het. Dit kan bestudeer word deur op die balkie Tussentyds te kliek. Die tussentydse ooreenkoms is opgestel om aan die actuarii se voorwaarde dat elke gemeente in sy eie sake selfstandig moet bly, te voldoen. Hierdie tussentydse reëling maak voorsiening vir ’n gesamentlike gemeente waarin wyksgemeentes saamwerk ten opsigte van werksaamhede wat in ‘n gesamentlike reëling omskryf is. ‘n Gesamentlike kerkraad behartig die gesamentlike bediening. Wykskerkrade behartig die eie regspersoonlike sake sowel as die leiding van die wyksgemeente en moet ook die besluite van die gesamentlike vergaderings bekragtig. Die NG Kerk se Ring van Wynberg het hierdie ooreenkoms ook goedgekeur. Die ooreenkoms het ’n model van die Protestantse Kerk in Nederland as uitgangspunt gebruik wat oor baie jare met groot sukses toegepas word.

Die oorspronklike ooreenkoms, soos wat dit deur die gesamentlike kerkraad op 2 September 2008 eenparig goedgekeur is, kan gelees word deur op die skakel Oorspronklik te kliek. Die NG Kerk se Ring van Wynberg het hierdie ooreenkoms goedgekeur.

Die gewysigde ooreenkoms, soos wat dit na terugvoering van die NG Kerk se Ring van Wynberg asook die kommentaar van Prof. Leo Koffeman, Dr. Plaatjies en Ds. Theron se dokument aangepas is, kan gelees word deur op die skakel Gewysigd te kliek. Hierdie ooreenkoms gee uitvoering aan die keuse wat die lidmate tydens 'n gesamentlike konferensie gemaak het.

Artikel: Samuels, who was not part of the creation of this document, agrees. According to him this model requires of the members of Wynberg URCSA and Wynberg DRC to have double membership, because they remain members of their original congregations as well as have membership of this new congregation. He says this is foreign to the practice in URCSA. He is also concerned by which Church Order this new church will function.

Reaksie: Die ooreenkoms is ‘n samewerkingsooreenkoms. Die naam “Gesamentlike Gemeente van Wynberg” verwys gewoon na die samewerkingsliggaam. Dubbele lidmaatskap is nie ter sake nie omdat 'n nuwe kerk nie gevorm word nie. Die kerkrade se gesamentlike reëling ten opsigte van die verkiesing van ampsdraers, die samestelling, arbeidsveld en werkswyse van die gesamentlike kerkraad en die versorging van die totale vermoënsregtelike aangeleenthede word in 12 bladsye uiteengesit. Dit is in ooreenstemming met beide kerkverbande se kerkordes opgestel.

Artikel: Rev Samuels’s other concern lies on the confessional level. This new congregation will function with two different foundations of faith because the Belhar Confession is not part of the DRC. The agreement provides for a dual faith foundation. Belhar is included, but for DRC members confessing Belhar was a free choice. The agreement, however, envisages the day when all members in the joint congregation can confess Belhar in accordance with Scripture.

Reaksie: Prof Leo Koffeman, dosent in kerkreg aan die Protestantse Teologiese Universiteit in Utrecht, het ingestem om die Protestantse Kerk in Nederland se eenheidsproses en samewerkingsmodelle tydens ’n konferensie te bespreek wat op Woensdag 5 November 2008 by die NG Kerk Wynberg in samewerking met Communitas (Universteit Stellenbosch) aangebied was. Lidmate, kerkraadslede, predikante en kerkleiers was uitgenooi om dit by te woon. Hy het dit ook op 6 November 2008 met moderatuurslede en lede van die regskommissies van die NGK en VGKSA behandel. Die belydenisgrondslag het ook aandag gekry. Hoewel die kerkraad en lidmate van die NG Kerk Wynberg reeds in 1997 goedgekeur het dat die NG Kerk die Belydenis van Belhar aanvaar, mag hulle kerkregtelik nie by wyse van ’n ooreenkoms verplig word om dit te aanvaar nie omdat hul kerkverband dit nog nie aanvaar het nie. Slegs ’n kerkverband (die Algemene Sinode) kan ’n nuwe belydenisskrif aanvaar, en dan volgens voorgeskrewe riglyne. Prof Koffeman het die betrokke formulering voorgestel en die aanwesiges het hul instemming betuig. Die actuarii van die regskommissies het hom aan die einde bedank en aangedui dat hulle sy aanbieding as besonder insiggewend en positief beleef het.

Die formulering klop ook met punt 3 van die VGKSA se besluit betreffende die moratorium:

That the conviction of the church remains that the Confession shall not be forced upon anyone and should be willingly and gratefully accepted by those convicted by the truth that it embodies.

Artikel: Samuels expressed his incomprehension of the "unnecessary haste" by the DRC with this joint congregation. He also questions the commitment of Wynberg DRC members to this joint congregation. According to him, whenever a joint service takes place in Wynberg URCSA, the attendance of DRC members leaves much to be desired, while it is the other way round for URCSA members. URCSA members, he says, always occupies the pews to capacity at both churches.

Reaksie: Die lidmate het tydens die gemeentekonferensie van 1 Junie 2008 in die verklaring van voorneme versoek dat die gemeentes teen 1 Januarie 2009 ’n gesamentlike gemeente moet wees. Hoe langer die gemeentes wag, hoe duurder word die proses as gevolg van die ontwrigting.

Die NG lidmate se bywoning van eredienste in die VGKSA-kerkgebou kon beslis beter gewees het. Dat dit egter geen refleksie van hul verbintenis tot die herenigingsproses is nie, blyk uit hul antwoorde op ’n vraelys waarmee die kerkraad gedurende Julie en Augustus 2010 na al die lidmate gegaan het: 88% van die lidmate het aangedui dat hulle graag wil sien dat die herenigingsproses moet voortgaan, maar dat dit nie meer die gemeente moet ontwrig nie. Slegs 2 lidmate het aangedui dat die proses gestaak moet word. Ds. Samuels het reeds kennis geneem van die redes wat aan die NGK Kerkraad bekend is oor waarom NGK lidmate die dienste in die VGKSA-kerkgebou swak bygewoon het. Dit is op sy versoek in die belang van versoening en heling van hierdie webwerf verwyder.

Kommentaar op tweede artikel:

Die Kerkraad van die NG Kerk Wynberg het reeds twee briewe aan die VGKSA Ring van Wynberg gestuur waarin die Ring versoek word om sy aantygings te staaf. Dr. Nel was nie betrokke by die skrywe van die versoek nie omdat hy deur die bewerings geïmpliseer word. Die eerste versoek van die Kerkraad, gedateer 16 Augustus 2010, lui soos volg:

Dankie vir u skrywe van 12 Augustus 2010. Ons verneem met onsteltenis van u aantygings teen ons leraar, Dr D.Nel, naamlik inmenging in die sake van die V.G.K. Wynberg, onetiese en paternalistiese gedrag, uitlatings wat die V.G.K. in ‘n slegte lig stel en optrede wat verdeeldheid in die hand werk.

Hierdie is ernstige aantygings en, indien waar, sal ons as kerkraad wel sekerlik dit moet aanspreek, soos ook deur u versoek. Ons as kerkraad is nie bewus van enige sodanige optrede deur Dr Nel nie, en daarom versoek ons u vriendelik om vir ons voorbeelde en stawende bewyse te lewer. 

Ons is wel bewus van baie dankbare lidmate in die V.G.K. Wynberg-gemeente, wat Dr Nel se betrokkenheid by hulle nog altyd baie waardeer het. Ook het ons kerkraad die afgelope paar jaar ‘n wonderlike en geseënde vehouding met die V.G.K. Kerkraad gehad. Die notules van hierdie vergaderings is beskikbaar. Daar is verhoudings gebou wat vir ons van onskatbare waarde is. Die Wynberg N.G.K. bly volkome verbind tot samewerking met die Wynberg V.G.K., uiteindelike hereniging, en hereniging op sinodale vlak. Ons onderskryf die Belydenis van  Belhar. Ons verwys u na ons skrywe van 24 April 2010 aan die V.G.K. Wynberg.

U sal verstaan dat hierdie versoek van u aandag geniet en dus sal ons u spoedige respons waardeer.

Die VGKSA Ring het op 2 September 2010 gereageer deur ’n ontmoeting met die Kerkraad van die NG Kerk Wynberg op 14 September 2010 in Retreat voor te stel. Die Kerkraad het gereageer deur sy versoek te herhaal aan die VGKSA Ring:

Alvorens ons vergader verwag ons kerkraad tog ‘n antwoord van u op ons brief van 16 Aug 2010. Hierin maak u ernstige aantygings teen ons leraar, dr D Nel, maar sonder enige stawende bewyse of substans.

Ons wil u aandag ook vestig op ‘n vorige versoek van ons wat nog nie deur u beantwoord is nie. U ring het in Okt 2008 by monde van Ds A Rust n verklaring aan die media uitgereik waarin dr Nel beskuldig word dat hy verkeerde inlgting aan die lidmate gee en dat sy motiewe nie suiwer is nie (weereens sterk woorde).

Ons het toe ook u ring gevra om hierdie bewerings te staaf en op 5 Mei 2009 het die gesamentlike kerkraadsvergadering ook die konsulent, (ook die voorsitter van die ring) daartoe versoek – met nog geen respons tot vandag toe.

Hierdie is ernstige en ontstellende aantygings teen ons leraar en ons as kerkraad moet hierdie saak aanspreek voor ons met u kan vergader. Daarvoor het ons ‘n antwoord met spesifieke voorbeelde en bewyse van u nodig.

Hierdie is n vriendelike dog dringende versoek dat u nou spoedig sal reageer.

Daarna sal ons graag met u vergader. Wanneer dit gebeur, sal ons verkies dat beide kerkrade, leraars en ringe teenwoordig moet wees.

Die VGKSA Ring het tot op datum nog geen voorbeelde gegee nie. Die Ring het weereens sy eie gevolgtrekkings in die pers laat publiseer sonder om aan die leraar of die Kerkraad van Wynberg ‘n billike geleentheid te gee om op skadelike bewerings te reageer.