Die Kerkpad
"Laat ons wandel in die lig van die Here"
(Jes 2 ; 3 - 5)

Jaargang 5  No 1 Januarie 2001

KERKLIKE JOERNAAL

Die Gereformeerde Ekumeniese Raad (Reformed Ecumenical Council) het vanaf 14 tot 28 Julie 2000 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia byeengekom. Prof Koos Vorster en ds Ben Fourie het namens die Gereformeerde Kerke dit as waarnemers bygewoon. Die NG Kerk was met tien afgevaardigdes daar teenwoordig en het as lidkerk voluit deelgeneem met Prof Pieter Potgieter in verskeie leidinggewende funksies. Laasgenoemde is ook verkies as die eerste Sekretaris (First Clerk) van dié Raad. In die Adviserende Komitee oor Rassisme en Etnisisme bestaande uit veertien lede, het onder andere die NGK professore Pieter Coertzen en Fanie Snyman gedien.

Van die besluite wat daar geneem is, handel baie oor nie-kerklike sake. Ook was 'n groot aantal kerke verteenwoordig waarmee die GKSA geen kerklike korrespondensie voer nie.

Artikel 58 van die notule (in Engels) vermeld die volgende: "GREETINGS: Greetings were received from Rev Koos Vorster from the Reformed Church of South Africa."

Ander sake van behandeling waarvan kennis geneem moet word is die neiging na valse ekumeniese toenaderings en kontakte (in stryd met die geloof aan die enige katolieke of algemene kerk, soos uiteengesit in die artikels van die Nederlandse Geloofsbelydenis, besonder art 29, wat handel oor die kenmerke van die ware en die valse kerk: "Ons glo dat ons sorgvuldig en met groot oplettendheid uit die Woord van God behoort te onderskei watter kerk die ware kerk is, aangesien al die sektes wat daar vandag in die wêreld is, hulle ten onregte die naam kerk toeëien".)

Let op die volgende (volgens die notule in Engels):

ART ICLE 63: WORLD ALLIANCE OF REFORMED CHURCHES (WARC)

The Moderamen moved that the Assembly adopt the following recommandations:

1. That the Assembly receive this information, and that the next executive committee be asked to continue the converstaions with the WARC.

2. That the assembly authorize the Executive Committee to appoint a person to join/observe in the Reformed Pentecostal dialogues organized through the WARC.

Recommandations were adopted.

ARTICLE 64: WORLD EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP (WEF)

The Moderamen moved that the Assembly accepts the following recommendation:

That the assembly request the next Interim Committee to evaluate the possibility of associate membership in the WEF.

Recommandation was adopted.

ARTICLE 65: WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (WCC)

The Moderamen moves that the Assembly accepts the following recommendation:

That the REC maintain contact with the WCC trough its secretariat.

Recommendation was adopted.

ARTICLE 66: THE FORUM OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND ECUMENICAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Moderamen moved that the Assembly accepts the following recommendation:

That the REC participate in the Forum of Christian Churches and Ecumenical Organizations as it is able.

Recommendation was adopted.

Ander vir die GKSA omstrede sake waaroor besluit is, raak die betrekking van jongmense in die aksies van die GER.

Increasing Youth in Leadership (Apendix B)

Recommendations:

3. The sacraments: One way of improving the situation is the involvement of children and youth in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. This is a good way of telling them they are important. In some cultures it is not just the parents who have the responsibility to raise their children. These are the same promises we make at the baptism of a covenant child.

5. Stewardship: Member churches of REC should make room for their youth at all levels of their structure so they can exercise all that God has given them to use for his glory.

8. REC delegates: The youth of REC plead for each delegation to include a promising young person from their denomination for the sake of their own well being and for REC. Making more room for youth in church leadership means more than just having them present, but also involving them and encouraging their participation. REC needs to formalize the presence of the youth delegates at our assemblies and involve them more in 2004.

9. Communication: There needs to be more communication to and with the youth of REC. The youth delegation need more interpersonal communication between themselves. We need funds to develop a REC youth chat room and clearinghouse (with WARC?).