09/04/2024
URCSA celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, marking three challenging decades filled with significant milestones.
URCSA stands today as a multicultural and multilingual church, with congregations spread across South Africa, Namibia, and Lesotho. It holds a prominent position in terms of membership, having historical connections with the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC).
URCSA's inception dates back to 1994 when the long-standing Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC), established in 1881, merged with the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA), founded in 1963 in Kroonstad, Free State. As a continuation of the DRMC, URCSA is the second oldest church within the broader (Dutch) Reformed Church family.
Notably, URCSA embodies the Confession of Belhar of 1986, emphasizing its commitment to unity. The term "Uniting" in its name signifies an ongoing process of unification; URCSA continues to strive for greater unity, both within the DRC family and beyond.
From April 10th to 14th, URCSA commemorates its 30th anniversary in Durban through an ecumenical partnership conference hosted at the Riverside Hotel in this coastal city. The conference theme, "Fragility of the social order and stability of the Christian faith today," underscores the contemporary challenges faced by the church.
Distinguished speakers include moderators from URCSA Regional Synods, such as Rev. Hendry Tromp (URCSA Regional Synod Cape), Prof. Christina Landman, and Rev. Jan Lubbe, moderator of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Read more about URCSA: https://rff.christians.co.za/the-uniting-reformed-church-in-southern-africa-urcsa/