Browsing by Author "Coertzen, Pieter"

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    350 Jaar Gereformeerd 1652-2002. Kerkreg en kerkregering in die NG Kerk gedurende die afgelope dekades
    (Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology, 2002) Coertzen, Pieter
    The article describes and evaluates certain aspects of the order in the Dutch Reformed Church during the past few decades. The aspects which are described and evaluated are: the nature of the church polity and government in the Dutch Reformed Church; developments regarding the Church Order; development with regard to the offices in the Church; labour relations, and church orderly development with regard to church unity.
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    Charters of religious freedom : the Magna Carta (1215), Ordinance No. 7 of 1843 (South Africa), and the South African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms (2010)
    (Church History Society of Southern Africa and Unisa Press, 2016) Coertzen, Pieter
    In June 2015 a conference was held in Oxford to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta (the Great Charter). In 1865 Ordinance no. 7 of 1843 was hailed as the Magna Carta of the Dutch Reformed Church. At the conference in Oxford a paper was given on the “Magna Carta and South Africa”. This article grew out of that paper. In the article, the historical development of religious freedom in different time periods are touched upon to end with the South African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms (SA Charter), which was signed by many religions in South Africa on 20 October 2010 – its Constitutional setting and background while the differences between the Magna Carta, Ordinance no. 7 of 1843 and the SA Charter are accentuated. The biggest difference between the three documents are that the Magna Carta and Ordinance no. 7 of 1842 were documents that originated from the authorities and were granted to the churches, while the SA Charter is a document that grew from the religious communities itself.
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    Dordt and South Africa : the nature and challenges for Reformed Church polity in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch University, Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, 2013-02) Coertzen, Pieter
    Under the title Dordt and South Africa – the nature and challenges for Reformed Church Polity in South Africa this presentation starts by sketching the context in which the Church Order of Dordt was drawn up and what the role and meaning of the Church order was for the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. Secondly attention is paid to the role of the Church Order of Dordt in the history of South Africa – given it’s context and meaning in the Netherlands. Given the background of the first two parts the presentation then goes on to identify new developments and challenges for Reformed Church Polity in South Africa such as the effect of the new SA Constitution that was accepted in 1994/1996; and the effect of guaranteed freedom of religion on matters like the debate between religions; the identity of the church and church unity.
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    Die Franse Hugenote : 'n inleidende studie tot hulle koms na Suid-Afrika in 1688
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1969-01) Coertzen, Pieter; Hanekom, T. N.; Brown, E.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
    AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
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    Die Franse Hugenote in Suid-Afrika : 'n kerkhistoriese studie
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1976-01) Coertzen, Pieter; Hanekom, T. N.; Brown, E.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
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    Freedom of religion : from the Church Order of Dordt (1619) to South Africa (2018)
    (AOSIS, 2018-11-01) Coertzen, Pieter
    This article is about freedom of religion as an integral part of the Reformation of the 16th century and how it was expressed in the Church Order of Dordt (1619) and later at the Cape of Good Hope under the rule of the Political Council. The article also traces the route of freedom of religion under the rule of the English and after 1910, under the rule of various political parties until the current situation (2018) with a Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion for every person in South Africa, and The South African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms.
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    Freedom of religion and religious education in a pluralistic society
    (Pieter de Waal Neethlingh Trust, 2002) Coertzen, Pieter
    Freedom of religion is a very important part of the new Constitution of South Africa. Up until its new Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, South African laws have never had a direct article guaranteeing freedom of religion. Now freedom of religion is guaranteed in article 15 of the said Constitution. The content of what this freedom of religion implies for South Africans still to a large extent, has to be developed. For this development different religions, religious groups, church denominations and the state have to co-operate. Religious freedom reaches very deep into the fibre of a people and their deepest convictions and its consequences for many fields of existence in the life of, for instance, a church has to be worked out – how does freedom of religion for instance affect the position in law of a church, its labour relations, its deeds of mercy and its calling to religious education. On all of these issues, and many more, clarity is needed. For this clarity churches can make use of their own traditions, they can look at the way in which these matters are handled in other countries, they can go into dialogue with other religious groups and denominations and they should also go into discussion with the lawmakers of the country to see whether consensus can be found in the filling in of freedom of religion. This presentation is an attempt to co-operation, to see if we can determine the meaning of freedom of religion with regard to religious education in a pluralistic society such as South Africa.
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    Freedom of religion in South Africa : then and now 1652–2008
    (AOSIS OpenJournals, 2008-02) Coertzen, Pieter
    This article is about freedom of religion in South Africa before and after 1994. It is often argued that the relationship between church and state, and the resultant freedom of religion, during 1652-1994 was determined by a theocratic model of the relationship between church and state. In a theocratic model it is religion and its teachings that determine the place and role of religion in society. This article argues that it was, in fact, a Constantinian model of the relationship between state and church which determined the place and role of religion in society between 1652 and 1994. In a Constantinian model it is the governing authority's understanding and application of religion that determines the place and role of religion in society as well as the resulting degree of freedom of religion. Examples from history are used to prove the point. The second part of the article discusses freedom of religion in South Africa after 1994.
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    The Huguenots of South Africa in documents and commemoration
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2011) Coertzen, Pieter
    This article is about the image of the Huguenots of South Africa that we find in documents and how they were commemorated in South Africa. The article proposes inter alia to investigate when the first anniversary of the Huguenots in South Africa occurred and when the name “Huguenot” gained acceptance in South Africa. It also tries to answer the question what the real contribution of the Huguenots to South Africa was. This is done against the background of the statement that Afrikaans speaking people merely created the “myth” of the Huguenots for their own identity, notably in 1994 after losing the leadership in the government of the country. The article shows that the contribution of the Huguenots to South Africa and its people is much more comprehensive and material.
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    Kerkorde of Arbeidswet : die posisie van predikante en ander persone wat in die NG Kerk werk
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2003) Coertzen, Pieter
    The article discusses changes that have taken place in the labour relations of the Dutch Reformed Church. It contents the view that the Church through the changes accepted the Labour Laws as the regulating laws for labour relations in the Church. In the light of freedom of religion and the essence of being church, the church formulates the rules for its labour relations in the Church Order.
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    Laat u koninkryk kom : die publieke getuienis van die kerk
    (Stellenbosch University, Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, 2004) Coertzen, Pieter
    The article is about the public witness of the church – a topic which is much discussed in theological literature in these days. It is argued that the church must give a public witness. Various reasons can be given why churches must give public witness: for the sake of the Kingdom of God; because of the power of religion; the reality of pluralist societies and the opportunities guaranteed by freedom of religion. There are however certain conditions for the public witness of the church i.e. the church must always retain its own identity, not only the church as an institution must give public witness but all the members must also be equipped to give such a witness. There must be clarity on who speaks on behalf of the church, theology must help the church to give an informed witness, churches and religions will have to talk to each other. Lastly a case study on the public witness of the church is given.
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    A perspective on marriages and civil unions in South Africa (part one)
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2014) Coertzen, Pieter
    The aim of this article to take a look at and assess the current situation in South Africa regarding marriages and civil unions from a Christian theological and historical perspective. The question to be answered is: Where do churches stand with regard to marriages and civil unions? Are they merely to accept the way current laws on face value arguing that the state has the right to make laws and to enforce them and churches just have to obey the laws of the state or does the human rights of freedom of religion and freedom of association as part of state legislation give churches the options to exercise their faith identity in the matters of marriage and civil unions?
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    A perspective on marriages and civil unions in South Africa (part two) : civil unions
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2015) Coertzen, Pieter
    The article argues that churches/religions ought to fully accept homosexuals as full members with all the rights that go with that, and treat them with Christian love, compassion and respect. But it also argues that if homosexual members do not abide by the official viewpoints of the Church and do not comply with the church’s requirements for membership and thereby threatens the faith identity of a church or a religion, church’s and religions have the right to terminate the membership of such members. Church’s and religions have a right to their faith viewpoint, to express that viewpoint and to expect from all their members to accept that viewpoint if they want to remain members of that church/religion. Just as churches and religions should show love and respect to homosexual members they can also expect from the homosexual members and outside pressure groups to respect the faith convictions of the church that the practising of homosexuality is in contradiction with what Scripture teaches in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and in many other parts of Scripture.
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    Religion and the common good in a pluralistic society : reformed theological perspectives
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2010) Coertzen, Pieter
    This article is about religion and the common good in a pluralistic society. It is argued with the pluralistic society of South Africa in mind. The theme is further argued against the background of reformed theology and asks about the contribution that reformed theology can make towards the common good in a pluralistic society.
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    The road of unity in the family of Dutch Reformed Churches in South Africa since 1994 : a Dutch Reformed perspective
    (Department of Old and New Testament, Stellenbosch University, 2003) Coertzen, Pieter
    This paper is about the view of the Dutch Reformed Church on the ground covered in the process of unity between the Family of Dutch Reformed Churches from 1994 to January 2003. Most probably some of the other churches will have different views on some of the matters mentioned in this paper. The paper is an attempt to describe the road travelled form official documents of the DRC, much of which was also brought before councils of the other churches for their approval. Some of the information also comes from official documents of the other churches. Other information comes from personal knowledge through official involvement in the process since 1994 and also from the interpretation that some other people gave of the relationship between the members of the Family of Dutch Reformed Churches. May this attempt to draw a map of the ground covered help us to chart the route for tomorrow and the days after.