Reformed Churches of South Africa Value Unity

Rev. Risimati Hobyane and Rev. Henk Stoker traveled from Potchefstroom, South Africa to bring greetings to Synod 2017. Both men are attending synod as fraternal delegates from the Reformed Churches of South Africa (GKSA) and spoke to the annual assembly on June 13 as part of several ecumenical partner presentations.

“We appreciate this invitation because it reflects more than any other thing our ecumenical unity and fraternal fellowship over many years,” said Hobyane. “The most important reason for our presence is our firm commitment to our mutual confession of the unity of the church of Christ.”

The last time that this denomination sent a delegation to the synod of the CRCNA was in 2012.  Hobyane said that in the two synods his denomination has held since that time, they have struggled over the role of women in ecclesiastical office.

In the end, the denomination has decided that they understand scripture to only allow suitable men to the offices of elders and pastors. Coming to this decision has allowed them to lay the issue to rest and move forward together.

He said the Reformed Churches of South Africa has also been dealing with what they call a turn-around strategy to address their membership decline.

As he concluded his talk, Hobyane told delegates that his church is interested in the discussion about the Belhar Confession that the CRC would be having that evening.

“We were very clear on it in 2012,” he said, referring to his church’s caution against the CRC adopting it.

In the end, though, Hobyane’s main emphasis was on the unity that the CRC and the GKSA experience in the body of Christ.

“Although we are divided by deep seas and huge waves,” Hobyane said, “We are one in Christ.”

For continuous coverage of Synod 2017 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, reports, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.