Obedience and Servant Leadership: Apollis, Appies, Buti, Buys

Abstract

In celebrating a quarter of a century of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URSCA) (1994 2019), quite a few well-organised activities and events took place. These activities reflect a mix of serious academic seminars and liturgical celebrations of which the ones in the Cape, both in Belhar and at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) warrant special mention. In his sermon based on John 17 at the closing liturgical celebration at UWC, Prof Daan Cloete raised several pertinent issues pertaining to unity and justice as a challenge to the leadership of URCSA. Despite all the significant events taking place throughout the year (2019), there has been a major deficit. Attempts at serious historiography are few and far between. This book is an attempt at starting such a study process. However, to put it modestly to contribute to the writing of the history of the URCSA. It has been resolved to start right at the beginning: the founding synod of URCSA with a specific focus on the constituting moderature. The book discusses the issues that were looming large at the founding Synod in 1994 which captures the ‘miracle’ and the euphoria that emerged amidst some delicate matters and issues that would have posed some serious impediments that would have jeopardise the unification before it even started. In calling into service the pastoral or praxis cycle the contributions of the first moderature of URCSA: Rev Nick Apollis (moderator), Rev Leonardo Appies (Scriba Synodii) Rev Dr Sam Buti (Assessor) and Rev JD Buys (Actuaris), of the 1994 General Synod elections are presented in this book. The authors were interested in answering the question: In what way did the moderature members of URCSA assist in the transformation of church and society? The book showcases, how not only systems and structures are essential in transformation processes, but people - who take up the task in obedience and servitude.

Liturgy as an anti-racist praxis for Reformed Churches in South Africa

“…The URCSA embarked on such a process of internal unity in 1994 and subsequent synods (cf. Baron & Botha 2020). Secondly, the authors reflect on the road of anti-racism in the Reformed Churches in South Africa, and in the Afrikaans Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid Afrika (GKSA), henceforth RCSA.…”

“…Since the inception of the URCSA (1994), the first moderator Nick Apollis has also articulated in his first moderator's address to the first Synod of the URCSA in Bloemfontein (1998), that internal unity would be a key concern in the future of the URCSA (URCSA 1997, cf. Baron & Botha 2020). Though the unification with the white congregation (DRC) remained a priority, Baron (2020) attests that internal unity has been an issue even in the initial stages of the unification, and has since then not received proper lamenting and action.…”

“…The former Moderator of the URCSA, Rev. James Buys, the local minister at URCSA Wynberg, established, for example a joint agreement with the DRC Wynberg and functioned as one church, which was the first of its kind in the URCSA (Baron & Botha 2020). Sadly, this joint relationship between the URCSA Wynberg, and the white congregation DRC Wynberg, was abolished.…”

“…However, in interviews with some of his (James Buys) African colleagues, they made no secret that they were 'brothers and sisters' and that moving towards a fullyfledged cultural sensitivity and a non-racial church, was a priority, especially since Buys' tenure (Baron & Botha 2020). James Buys was always concerned about their (African ministers and congregations') financial welfare while also showing sensitivity towards their culture (Mbenenge 2020).…”

The shaping and formation of a missional ecclesiology of township congregations in the Mangaung Metro Municipality during COVID-19

“…Moreover, it was evident that it was not only a conceptual clarification, but also a prophetic stance that was taken during such crises. In a recent book, Baron and Botha (2020) also discusses the role of four members of the first moderature on the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), and classified their role -against the vicious system of apartheid -as missional. Baron and Maponya (2020) would equate such a missional role as a prophetic role, because it is in nature a matter for the church of being a witness of God in the world.…”