Racial integration in the church of apartheid : a unity only God wants / by Marthe Hesselmans.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hesselmans, Marthe, author.

Series:

Studies in Reformed theology ; 1571-4799 v. 36.

Studies in Reformed theology, 1571-4799 ; volume 36

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika.

Apartheid--Religious aspects.

Apartheid.

Race relations.

South Africa--Church history.

South Africa.

Church history.

Physical Description:

xvi, 270 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden : Brill, [2018]

Summary:

Back cover: "In Racial Integration in the Church of Apartheid Marthe Hesselmans uncovers the post-apartheid transformation of South Africa's Dutch Reformed Church. This church once constituted the religious pillar of the Afrikaner apartheid regime (1948-1994). Today, it seeks to unite the communities it long segregated into one multiracial institution. Few believe this will succeed. A close look inside congregations reveals unexpected stories of reconciliation though. Where South Africans realize they need each other to survive, faith offers common ground - albeit a feeble one. They show the potential, but also the limits of faith communities untangling entrenched national and racial affiliations. Linking South Africa's post-apartheid transition to religious-nationalist movements worldwide, Hesselmans offers a unique perspective on religion as source of division and healing".

Contents:

Part 1 Divine Divisions

1 The South African Context: A Torn (Hi)story p. 29

1.1 Afrikaner Civil Religion and the Road to and from Apartheid p. 30

1.1.1 A Christian-Nationalist Alliance: Church, Party and Broederbond p. 30

1.1.2 From a Movement for Unity to a System of Separation p. 33

1.1.3 A Changing World, an Untenable Idea p. 39

1.2 South Africa Today: Class, Race, Culture p. 46

1.2.1 A Divided Nation, Once Again p. 47

1.2.2 Post-Apartheid but Not Post-Race p. 50

1.2.3 Global Citizens Caught in Cultural Identities p. 55

2 Once We Were One: Church (Dis)unity from 1948 Until Today p. 65

2.1 Pre-1994: Modeling Apartheid p. 66

2.1.1 A Family Story p. 66

2.1.2 Schism versus Unify in the DRC p. 68

2.1.3 Unity versus Independence among the Black Churches p. 71

2.2 Belhar: A Symbol of the Past as Basis for the Future p. 77

2.2.1 A Torch of Unity p. 77

2.2.2 A Source of Division p. 80

2.3 Post-1994: Struggling to Join a New Era p. 84

2.3.1 URCSA'S Rocky Start p. 84

2.3.2 Two Decades of Unity Talks p. 88

Part 2 United in Christ Alone

3 Talking Unity, Living Apart p. 99

3.1 Analyzing Identity Discourse p. 100

3.2 The Party Line p. 102

3.2.1 Love the DRC, and Please Do Not Leave It p. 103

3.2.2 URCSA between Devotion and Distrust p. 111

3.2.3 Two Churches Inching towards Unity p. 117

3.2.4 Our Cultural Homes p. 124

3.3 Into the Debates p. 126

3.3.1 A Church for the Locals p. 127

3.3.2 A Church for the World p. 136

3.3.3 Divided Identities p. 144

4 Joining in Prayer, but Not In the Pews p. 149

Overview Congregations and Church Organizations p. 150

4.1 Religion, Race and Integration: A Critical Debate p. 151

4.2 Faith and Frustration on the Cape of Good Hope p. 157

4.2.1 In Relative Proximity p. 157

4.2.2 The Story of Stetlenbosch: Uniting Structures, not Communities p. 160

4.2.3 The Wynberg Affair: Grassroots Integration, Structural Barriers p. 171

4.2.4 Bridging Communities, their Leaders and Members p. 180

4.3 Stuck Together in the Free State p. 183

4.3.1 A Daunting Backdrop p. 183

4.3.2 City Tales: "We are Open" p. 187

4.3.3 In the Country: "People Can No Longer Avoid It" p. 197

4.3.4 Diversity, hut Only on My Turf p. 207

4.4 Serving God Together, Separately p. 210

4.4.1 "Mission in Unity and Unity in Mission" p. 210

4.4.2 From Daughters to Sisters p. 214

4.4.3 From Church to Non-Profit p. 221

4.4.4 Between Model and Symbol p. 228.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9789004364639

9004364633

OCLC:

1043567969