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Mail & Guardian

Dutch Reformed Church

latest news & developments
n this handout picture released by the John Templeton Foundation shows the 2013 Templeton Prize Laureate, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu during the Templeton Prize ceremony at St. George’s Cathedral on April 11, 2013 in Cape Town. South Africa’s Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has been awarded the 2013 Templeton Prize by the US-based Templeton Foundation for his work in advancing spiritual principles such as love and forgiveness. (AFP PHOTO /TEMPLETON PRIZE / Ilan Godfrey)
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH

Tutu’s dream of a church where all belong made real

Exclusion remains real for many LGBTIQ+ Christians – but there are committed activists trying to change that

  • Selina Palm
  • Laurie Gaum
8 min read
‘Just believe’: Siyabonga Mahlaba’s series of images of Dutch Reformed churches exlores his own relationship with the Afrikaner church
APARTHEID

The Portfolio: Siyabonga Mahlaba

The Reformed Structures photographic series marries Siya Mahlaba’s love for architecture and photography with his inquiry into segregation in the Dutch Reformed Church

  • Siya Mahlaba
3 min read
The church has fallen into the worldly trap of placing money and comfort above God.
COUNTRY

Church’s role is to build unity, equality

Religious leaders opposed apartheid and now, 25 years into democracy, they must promote justice

  • Sipho Mahokoto
4 min read
NG Kerk in Stellenbosch. (David Harrison/M&G)
BISEXUAL

Court to clarify NG Kerk queer ruling

The court overturned the policy that queer clergy have to be celibate and that barred the church’s clergy from officiating at same-sex marriages

  • Carl Collison
3 min read
NG Kerk of the Dutch Reformed Church.
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

NG Kerk is repenting for apartheid

It was only in 1986 that the NG Kerk welcomedSouth Africans of all races to worship under one roof

  • Lester Kiewit
3 min read
Certain sections of the penal code impose a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations. (John McCann/M&G)
CARL COLLISON

High Court rules church’s anti-queer policy unlawful

The Pretoria high court this morning overturned a decision by the Dutch Reformed Church forcing queer clergy to be celibate

  • Carl Collison
2 min read
The psychological bond between a cult leader or personality cult and the followers is strong.
CONSTITUTION

Queer rights battle is a fight for the right to religious belief

The Dutch Reformed Church’s about-face on sexuality is in court for being doubly unconstitutional

  • Melanie Judge 1
5 min read
Civil action: Ashwin Thyssen, Stefan de Klerk and Farren Watt want to make the church a more equal and inclusive organisation in terms of queer rights. (Supplied)
CARL COLLISON

Theology students back queer rights

Followers are suing the Dutch Reformed Church over its retrograde action on same-sex unions

  • Carl Collison
4 min read
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) denies that there was anything exceptional about January’s payment run. But many people have complained to #PayTheGrants and Black Sash.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Letters to the Editor: July 27 to August 2

Our readers write in about Global Citizen and the Dutch Reformed Church

  • Staff Reporter
6 min read
Resistance: André Muller started his own church.
CARL COLLISON

Pastors heed the homophobic call

Restricted by the NGK, gay people follow their calling by starting their own churches

  • Carl Collison
9 min read
The slow and steady death of the Dutch Reformed Church
CHARLES LEONARD

The slow and steady death of the Dutch Reformed Church

It was once described as the National Party at prayer. But the Dutch Reformed Church numbers are dwindling. Charles Leonard finds out why.

  • Staff Reporter
16 min read
BRIDGET HILTON BARBER

Simply hanging out at Sabie

Sabie is the undisputed outdoor adventure capital of the Lowveld. There’s an amazing choice of things to do. You can experience the adrenaline rush of the world’s highest cable…

  • Bridget Hilton Barber
5 min read
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH

Piet Koornhof cremated in Stellenbosch

Former Cabinet minister Dr Piet Koornhof has been cremated in Stellenbosch in what was apparently a hush-hush service, a media report said on Thursday. Koornhof died on Monday at…

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read
BELLVILLE REGIONAL COURT

Killers of homeless man ‘saw vagrants as threats’

Three men who, as teenagers, beat to death a homeless man sleeping on church premises two years ago, saw vagrants as a threat to their neighbourhood, the Bellville Regional Court…

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read