Position

Apartheid exists where the following are conditional upon racial or national identity: citizenship in a state; membership in a church and participation in the Lord's Supper; participation in the economic, educational, or social function of a community; and the official status of persons. The practice of apartheid is sinful, and the theological justification of it is heretical. Any church that fails to vigorously oppose apartheid is guilty of disobedience to God's Word.

History

Synod 1985 appointed a committee to deal specifically with the RCSA and apartheid, awaiting its recommendation rather than acceding to overtures to sever ties with the sister church. In 1989 this committee did recommend suspension of ties of ecclesiastical fellowship, and synod agreed. That suspension was in effect until 1996, when synod lifted the suspension because of changes in the RCSA's position and practices re apartheid and the changes in the political and societal situation in South Africa.

References

Acts of Synod 1959, pp. 82-84
Acts of Synod 1960, pp. 104-06
Acts of Synod 1974, pp. 45, 338
Acts of Synod 1976, pp. 58-59, 674-75
Acts of Synod 1982, pp. 61-62, 620
Acts of Synod 1983, pp. 153-54, 576, 711-13
Acts of Synod 1984, pp. 172-79, 531, 601-04
Acts of Synod 1985, pp. 195-99, 209-11, 212-13, 279-80, 285, 729-32, 753-54, 755-57
Agenda for Synod 1986, pp. 185, 188, 202-03, 228, 480-82
Acts of Synod 1986, pp. 615-16
Agenda for Synod 1987, pp. 166, 202-03, 244, 466-67
Acts of Synod 1987, pp. 590-91
Agenda for Synod 1988, pp. 179-84
Acts of Synod 1988, pp. 560-61
Agenda for Synod 1989, pp. 172-73, 180-83, 217-19, 221-22
Acts of Synod 1989, pp. 360-74, 396-98, 488-89, 495-96
Agenda for Synod 1992, pp. 156-57, 159, 162-69
Acts of Synod 1992, p. 217
Agenda for Synod 1995, pp. 220-21, 244-46
Acts of Synod 1995, p. 700
Agenda for Synod 1996, p. 190
Acts of Synod 1996, pp. 385-86, 526-27
Acts of Synod 1997, p. 640
Acts of Synod 1998, pp. 294-95