World Alliance of Reformed Churches News Release 150 Route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel. +41.22 791 6243; Fax: +41.22 791 6505; Email: jas@warc.ch
JOINT WARC/NHKA MEDIA RELEASE
A seven member delegation of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) visited the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) from 5 to 8 June 2006 in Pretoria. The visit flowed from the NHKA's application to have its membership of WARC restored, and was aimed at gathering informatio n and input from various stakeholders.
The delegation included representatives of the WARC Executive Committee, two WARC member churches in South Africa, and a representative each of the Reformed European South Africa Consultation (RESAC) and the Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches. During the week, discussions were held with the NHKA Moderature and General Commission, the church's lecturers at the Theology Faculty of the University of Pretoria, the NHKA's Ecumenical Council, the leadership of the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika (HKSA) and other WARC member churches in South Africa.
According to Dr Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of WARC, the Executive Committee had embarked on a two-year process with the NHKA to restore the latter's full privileges of membership of WARC. "The outcome of this visit is a report that will be submitted to the WARC Executive Committee at its next meeting in October 2007. A decision regarding the restoration of the NHKA's membership will then be taken."
Both WARC and the NHKA agree that the discussions were fruitful, and they affirm that much progress was made towards meeting the requirements laid down by the WARC General Council when the NHKA was suspended as a member in 1982.
Prof. Johan Buitendag, Moderator of the NHKA, reflected on the visit by stating that "the NHKA and WARC are looking forward to continuing the discussions, and completing the work required in preparation for the latter part of 2007 when both the WARC Executive Committee and the NHKA's General Assembly will convene their separate meetings."
For further information on the WARC process, please contact Dr Setri Nyomi: WARC, PO Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, e-mail: pbl@warc.ch
John P. Asling Executive Secretary, Communications World Alliance of Reformed Churches web: www.warc.ch