Abstract

WILLIAMS, Donald Murrell  and  BENTLEY, Wessel. The covenantal relationship between the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and her Presbyters: an ethical appraisal. Studia Hist. Ecc. [online]. 2016, vol.42, n.2, pp.14-29. ISSN 2412-4265.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/1219.

The term 'covenantal relationship' is used by the Methodist Church of Southern Africa¹ to describe the nature of the vocational agreement between this denomination and her ministers (Presbyters). This relationship differs substantially from what we understand to be a secular contractual agreement between an employer and an employee. In recent times the covenantal relationship has become a source of contention, especially when a dispute arises between a Presbyter and the MCSA, or vice versa. This article describes this covenantal relationship, and seeks to measure the ethical implications of it. The authors employ Kretzschmar's DECA method² (see Ally, Bentley, Cloete and Kretzschmar 2010, 64-77) in the appraisal thereof.

Keywords : Methodist Church of Southern Africa; covenantal relationship; Presbyters; ministers; labour law; ethics.

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