A church judicial analysis of the office of the deacon in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe

Date
2016-03-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research study analyses the office of the deacon in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ). This is done by taking the Scriptural and Reformed church polity understanding of the office of a deacon into account. Chapter 1 deals with the research background of the study. This chapter serves as the general introduction to the main thrust and objectives of the research. The main aim of this study is to analyze the function of the office of the deacon in the RCZ in the light of Scriptural and Reformed church polity understanding of the office of a deacon. Chapter 2 deals with the office of deacon in the RCZ. Firstly, this chapter describes the social, economic, cultural and political setting of Zimbabwe. Secondly, it attends to the historical background of the RCZ and lastly, attention is given to the development of the offices in the church, predominantly the office of the deacon. Chapter 3 deals with the Scriptural basis for the office of the deacon. Chapter 4 provides a church judicial reflection of the office of deacon. Different views of Church polity experts will be dealt with. Attention will be given to articles regarding the office of the deacon in the church orders of the Reformed Churches in America, Christian Reformed Church in Canada, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America and the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Chapter 5 deals with the recommendations proposed to the RCZ regarding the office of the deacon in order to ensure that the RCZ will adhere to a Scriptural and Reformed church polity understanding of the office of the deacon.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsstudie analiseer die amp van die diaken in die Gereformeede Kerk in Zimbabwe (GKZ). Dit word aangepak deur die Skriftelike en Gereformeerde kerkregtelike verstaan van die amp van diaken in ag te neem. Hoofstuk 1 hanteer die agtergrond van die navorsingsstudie. Die hoofstuk dien as ‘n algemene inleiding met betrekking tot die hooffokus van die navorsing. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing is om om die amp van die diaken in die lig van die Skrif en Gereformeerde kerkregtelike beginsels te analiseer. Hoofstuk 2 fokus op die amp van die diaken in die GKZ. In die eerste plek beskryf die hoofstuk die sosiale, ekonomiese, kulturele en politieke konteks van Zimbabwe. Tweedens, word aandag geskenk aan die historiese agtergrond van die GKZ. Laastens word daar ook aandag gegee aan die ontwikkeling van die ampte in die GKZ, met spesiale fokus op die amp van die diaken. Hoofstuk 3 konsentreer op die Skriftelike basis vir die amp van diaken. In Hoofstuk 4 word ‘n kerkregtelike analise gegee van die amp van diaken. Die verskillende standpunte van kerkregkundiges sal in hierdie hoofstuk onder bespreking gebring word. Aandag word in die hoofstuk verleen aan artikels wat betrekking het op die amp van die diaken in die kerkordes van die Gerformeede Kerk in Amerika, Christelike Gereformeede Kerk in Kanada, Protestantse Kerk in die Nederland, Presbiteriaanse Kerk van die Verenigde State van Amerika en die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika. In Hoofstuk 5 word beskrywingspunte voorgestel, gebaseer op die Skriftelike basis en Gererformeerde kerkregtelike beginsels, om die Kerkorde van die GKZ te wysig.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Christianity and culture -- Zimbabwe, Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, UCTD
Citation