Abstract

LOUWRENS, Carl  and  HENDRIKS, Jürgens. Faith discernment in the Eastern Synod of the DR Church during the resolution processes on the amendment of Article 1 of the Church Order. STJ [online]. 2018, vol.4, n.1, pp.297-319. ISSN 2413-9467.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17570/stj.2018.v4n1.a14.

During 2014, the DRC came to a point where they had to decide whether they would amend their confessional base to include the Belhar Confession as part of their official doctrine. The General Synod suggested amending Article 1 of the Church Order in order to expand the confessional base. An amendment of the Confession is possible after it has been approved by a two-thirds majority of each synod and two-thirds of all the church councils. In both cases it needs a two-thirds majority. 58% of the congregations in the Eastern Synod voted against the amendment of Article 1 in September 2014. In October 2014 the Eastern Synod voted in favour of the amendment of Article 1 with a majority of 73%. This article reflects on why the result of the spiritual discernment process was so different between the synod and the church councils of the Eastern Synod.

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