Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa

UNITING REFORMED CHURCH IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

GENERAL SYNOD

All congregations

Resolution pertaining to contemporary issues as raised by GS 2016

1. The Confession of Belhar

Resolution 1

GS affirms the status of the Belhar Confession as a fully-fledged confession and not merely a theological statement or declaration. The Belhar Confession remains important both as a critical and self-critical reflection on the essence of the church in context.In light of the 30th anniversary of the Belhar Confession we as URCSA should reclaim and embrace the theology of the Confession anew in concrete ways. Therefore, GS instructs the Core Ministry for Proclamation and Worship to develop new material to be used within the congregational ministries at all levels as well as during theological studies, both as bible study, enrichment and as teaching material.

1. Diversity as a gift

In the process of reforming or transforming a mono-cultural/ethnic model of ministry and witness to a multi-cultural/ethnic one, it is critical for us as the URCSA to re-establish and re-affirm our motivation for inclusivity, which is the very mandate and imperative of the church being ambassadors of Christ.

Resolution 2

In light of this:

1. GS acknowledges and embraces the multi-cultural identity of the URCSA.
2. GS re-affirms the commitment of the URCSA to diligently work to establish and maintain internal unity despite the challenges presented to us by the multi-cultural composition of the church.
3. GS urges all structures within the URCSA to prioritize the motivation for inclusivity in URCSA through all core and support ministries of the URCSA.
4. GS instructs all core ministries to include in their strategic plans, in line with the strategic plan of the General Synod Executive, for recess specific actions and programs to promote the multi-cultural identity in the URCSA, and report back on its progress at the next GS.
5. GS instructs the MFTT to implement programs to help theological students learning at least one other African language.

1. Church Unity

The issue of church unification was deliberated upon during GS 2016 in the light of the URCSA’s understanding of and commitment to the Belhar Confession. In obedience to God and the Gospel of Jesus Christthe URCSA re-affirms her commitment to the unification process (with all three other churches of the DRC family) and has agreed upon a provisional church order to provide for an enabling environment for this.

Resolution 3

• It is of utmost importance that the DRC take cognizance of and respond to the following in the interest of an envisaged unity (taken from the decision register of GS 2016).

1. The GS requests the General Synod of the DRC to amend Regulation 24 as well as Article 44.1 and 44.2 of the Church Order of the General Synod of the DRC in totality in order to make church reunification possible.
2. The GS urges the DRC to confront recalcitrant members and congregations and regional synods of the DRC with the inescapable demand of the gospel that they should strive and indefatigably work towards the goal to become members of one non-racial reunited church.
3. The GS declares emphatically that restorative justice should shift hence on from the periphery to the axis of bilateral and multilateral talks of the DRC Family. Justice does not pass over wrongs. Wrongs in church and society should be faced and addressed in a comprehensive manner. In doing so the DRC Family will be able to overcome past divisions and find a new and richer unity. Without attending to the issue of restorative justice church reunification
4. The GS approves that the MOA is still the basis for our relationship with the DRC
5. The GS approves that the joint projects of our churches: Season of Human Dignity and Churches addressing Racism continue to assist in making unity a reality.

• GS wishes to express discomfort with the continuation of the use of language that maintains the impression of a hierarchical relationship with the DRC (e.g“mother church”, “Dutch Reformed”, even thoughit is a church in Africa).

1. Ecumenical Relations

Resolution 4

• GS expresses her gratitude for the mutually beneficial relationships between the URCSA and her ecumenical partners.
• GS requeststhat Executive of Synod, through regional synods and core ministries, actively maintain existing relationship and initiatenew partnerships particularly with family churches in other Southern African countries other than, but not excluding those, from South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia.

1. Just and inclusive communities

GS was again sensitized to the reality of gender-based violence and injustice through the presentation of prof. C Landman.

Resolution 5

GS acknowledges the painful and devastating reality of gender-based violence and injustice, and commit to:

1. The active advocacy against all forms of gender-based violence and injustice.
2. The continued reflection on the role of the URCSA and the church in general with regards to the unmasking of structural factors that maintain the culture of injustice, inequality and abuse on the basis of gender identities.
3. Actively engage with our congregations on the realities of gender-based violence and injustice and provide pastoral guidance and care in dealing with the effects of this.

Resolution 6

The presence and active participation of proponent Betty Wanza, the first deaf person licensed in the URCSA, greatly helped us to contextualize the reality of people living with disabilities and our inherent reluctance to acknowledge and address there challenges. Therefore,

1. GS instructs the MFTT and Core Ministries of Proclamation and Worship, to ensure that all theological students, during their theological studies, are expected to minister to people with various disabilities.
2. GS requests all congregations to embrace people with disabilities and ensure access to faith formation and care.
3. GS further urges the CMPW and the SMCP to source and/or develop material that will assist people with disabilities in their formation.

Resolution 7

• GS takes note of the seriousness of the situation regarding stateless people (refugees) and re-affirms, in the light of the assertion of the Belhar Confession that God stand with those in need, that the URCSA, together with the rest of the church of Christ, is called to stand with the stateless on our continent.
• GS request the CMSW to regularly make available information on this growing challenge to congregations and provide guidance for prayer and witness activities.

With regards to the Israel-Palestine situation and the phenomena of Christian Zionism GS decided the following:

1. Based on the principles of the Belhar Confession, unity, reconciliation and justice the General Synod of URCSA calls on all congregations and regional synods

Decision taken by GS:

1. GS decides that URCSA encourages Bible studies that unpack issues of Christian Zionism, anti-Semitism, to make sure we as Christians in URCSA are not unknowingly or unintentionally support an ideology that resemble the nature and features of apartheid.
2. GS decides that URCSA on the basis of the Belhar Confession critically condemns any justification of Christian Zionism or religious/theological/biblically interpretations that equates the present Israel with the Old Testament Israel and preaches it.

Resolution 8

• CMPW and CMSW should ensure that information on the Israel-Palestine situation be distributed to congregations in order to sensitize congregations and maintains a call for prayer and witness on this.
• CMPW must develop and/or source material on the envisaged bible studies related to the Israel-Palestine situation and that of Christian Zionism.
• Core Ministry for Service and Witness, together with the Executive Committee of Synod, will take responsibility to promote inter-faith dialogue and cooperation with Jewish and Muslim partners on the pilgrimage of justice and peace in South Africa.

On the issue of the church addressing racism/hate speech and incitement of violence GS decided the following:

Executive Report 2016 Recommendation 6: WCC: Religious leaders from Africa region on preventing incitement that could lead to atrocity crimes

1. The General Synod of URCSA affirms based on the Belhar Confession the human dignity of all notwithstanding race, class, culture and affirms resistance to hate speech, incitement, institutional racism, state-sanctioned violence in all of its forms. Noted
2. The General Synod of URCSA takes note of the upsurge of racism worldwide as well as in South Africa. Noted
3. The General Synod of URCSA takes note of the Blacks lives Matter movement.
4. The General Synod of URCSA takes note of the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders from Africa to Prevent Incitement to Violence that could lead to Atrocity Crimes. Noted
5. The General Synod of URCSA affirms to protect and to promote universal human rights and human dignity.
6. The General Synod of URCSA affirms to prevent and counter incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence
7. The General Synod of URCSA affirms to reinforce interfaith alliances and networks and, when necessary, release joint press statements and carry out joint missions.
8. The General Synod of URCSA affirms to confront any ideology that promotes violent extremism
9. The General Synod of URCSA affirms to prevent and counter incitement to gender-based violence
10. General Synod of URCSA affirms that religious leaders and actors should work to ensure that government demonstrate respect for all religions and do not discriminate against any religion, or the practitioners of any religion.

Resolution 9

• Executive must ensure that programs against racism remain intact within the structures of the URCSA.
• Executive ensure the implementation of the decision of GS to engage with the Minister of Basic Education with regards to the development of a curriculum on racism.
• Executive and the CMSW and the CMPW provides guiding material to congregations on how to actively work against racism on a local level.

1. Access to free, decolonized and quality education

General Synod is painfully aware of the current plight for free, decolonized and quality education by students in SA. General Synod decided the following:

"Due to our prophetic calling we should respond to the demands of the Gospel. The Belhar Confession inspires us to act in accordance to the Word of God and adhere to the Biblical imperative to stand where God stand and to walk with God. Therefore, GS declare that we:
• Believe tertiary education is not a privilege, but a right enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa;
• Condemn all forms of violence;
• Also condemn the violence of poverty towards the poor students of South Africa;
• Continue to fundraise for students as funds are available;
• Affirm the issue of equity when addressing the struggle of students pertaining to student fees;
• Support that parents who are in the position to contribute proportionally to the paying of fees, do so;
• Support fully that free education be made available to all financially needy students as well as the lost-middle

Immediate action proposed:

• The Executive of URCSA meet the student leadership of #feesmustfall before the end of 2016;
• To act on our Confession that calls us to physically stand with the oppressed and the marginalized"

The questions of restorative justice and equality are questions inherently implied by the Confession of Belhar and cannot be ignored by the church of Christ.

• To call on congregations close to campuses to specifically institute pastoral and support structures to student communities and lectures to talk through the matters of students protests.
• The GS to arrange a meeting with the minister of higher education and university principals to discuss the spaces that can be created for honest debate and dialogue and to explore this in collaboration with all ecumenical structures.
• The GS and all Regional synod condemn in a strongest possible terms the violent character of the police conduct and call on SAPC as well as the university management to restrain the security personnel in the handling of the student protest.
• That a call be made to students to engage all agencies who have the interest of their protest and struggles at heart and to also act with restrain when it comes to the issue of respecting properly at institutions of higher learning.

Resolution 10

• GS requests the Executive of GS to actively pursue a mediatory role in the crisis relating to the #feesmustfall movement and the plight for free, decolonized and quality education.
• GS requests that the MFTT actively engage with theological training centers on the development of an Africanized and Inclusive curricula that addresses the issues of our contextual realities and integrate the vast wisdom of African theological perspectives into such curricula.

1. Nuclear Energy

Synod took note of the plans of the Government of the Republic of South Africa to go ahead with a nuclear procurement plan. Synod realizes that this is a complex matter that cannot be dealt with in a superficial manner. As a church who confess to the Lordship of Christ and who embrace the God-given mandate for stewardship of the created environment, the URCSA wish to express her resistance against the current plans to erect nuclear power plants in South Africa, especially since other alternatives could be explored. However, Synod does not condone the continuation of the current coal-dependent energy generation paradigm. Synod further expresses concern with regards to huge costs for such an exercise as well as with regards to issues related to safety and the safe disposal of nuclear waste. In addition to this, Synod pleads for a transparent process to be followed in every step during this process.

GS decided at this meeting the following:

• The GS calls on the Faith Community and Civil Community in Southern Africa to oppose the governments’ nuclear programme.

Resolution 11

• URCSA align herself with the Astana declaration.
• GS tasks the Executive Committee of GS to engage with the governments in the regionon the issues of cleaner and affordable technology in energy generation.

1. The position of the URCSA regarding homosexuality

Resolution 12:

• GS expresses appreciation for the atmosphere within which discussion were conducted on the matter of homosexuality.
• GS decided to refer the matter regarding homosexuality back to congregations, presbyteries and regional synods for dialogue and engagement.
• GS request that the Executive Committee of Synod, together with regional synodical executives ministry task teams give effect to the process position as described in it the approved report of the Homosexuality Task Team.

Rev W J Julius

Scribe: General Synod

Vision: A Committed and United Church in service of unity, reconciliation and justice to all people through Christ

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Executive members: Prof Leepo Modise, Rev Motlalentwa Betha, Rev W Julius, Rev DP Carelse, Prof Christina Landman, Rev Thamsanqa Ngema, Rev Langa Fokase