Ten years before the collapse of communism, there were warning signs that the Soviet Union’s economy was becoming crippled. Soviet authorities controlled and influenced the Russian Orthodox Church and they jailed leaders of the church in all East European countries. The fall of the Berlin wall created a turning point in Christianity in 1989. More than 8 000 Russian Orthodox Churches were reopened between 1990 and 1995. The nineties could be described as a time of hope regarding religious revival in Eastern Europe. In this paradigm shift, freedom of religion became officially recognised as a basic human right and a multitude of denominations became free to compete for followers. In Prague, Cardinal Miroslav VIk had ministered clandestinely to Catholics while officially working as a window-washer during communist rule. He was known by the people as the “generous pastor.” After the Velvet Revolution, he became bishop and later cardinal in the Czech Republic. In many East European countries, religion and national identity are closely entwined. According to the Pew Research Centre report on Christianity, in Eastern Europe there was a sustainable increase in religious activities from the early 1990s until 2017. The fall of the Berlin wall had a significant influence on South Africa. It helped South Africa in its democratic process. The once dominating neo-Calvinistic control of society was replaced by a new paradigm of democratic freedom and an equal religious stance by the new government elected in 1994.

The future of the three mainstream Afrikaans Churches. The union of the three mainstream Afrikaans Churches encompasses inter alia a mutual origin, a mutual socio-historical contextualism, a mutual language experience and mutual Articles of Faith. These bonds form the foundation for greater cooperation and may even lead to future church unification. The Conventus of Reformed Churches is an exciting initiative that has developed over the last two decades. This organisation unites some 15 churches with a reformed background. Do the three Afrikaans mainstream churches take church unification seriously? Historically the Nederduitsche Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) in particular was cautious about church unification. The Interdenominational Church Council (TKR) presents a basis for cooperation, but the question arises as to the structure that would be supported by the three churches. Mainly after 1994 the Afrikaner started redefining its own identity. The tendency is that the three churches will decrease in size as the three are all losing members. The three Afrikaans mainstream churches definitely need one another, and in future this interdependency probably will increase. That is why it is important to focus on common ground and not on differences. Bearing the church unification of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PCN) in mind, together we can look forward to a bright future in the 21st century.

The future of the Afrikaans reformed churches in South Africa: possible, probable and desirable optionsIn 1994, South Africa experienced a radical paradigm shift which in some ways led Afrikaans reformed churches into a state of semi-paralysis. Over the past twenty-six years the church has had to deal with the resultant fallout. The fact that many setbacks had been overcome successfully, is an encouraging indication that the church has the potential of a brighter future. Bosch stated that as long as one lives and thinks within the patterns of a given paradigm, then that paradigm provides one with a plausible structure according to which all reality is interpreted. The quintessential question would be: what is the preferred future vision for the Afrikaans reformed churches? How is the journey to 2030 and 2040 mapped out? These answers will partly determine the outcome. When one evaluates the current situation, both positive and negative aspects have to be considered. The key question is, how can the positives be optimised, and the negatives minimised? With vision and scenario planning and the detailed consideration of possible, probable and preferable outcomes, an exciting future becomes possible. The challenges of membership, finances, consumerism and also Covid-19 can also be overcome. More informal church practises for those on the fringes are opening new opportunities globally – as expressed by for instance the Fresh Expression Movement. A new and vigorous focus on relationships, care, community involvement and friendship missions may result in fulfilling the vision of the Afrikaans reformed churches. With compassion in action, Afrikaans reformed churches can in some ways blossom over the next two decades.