AP

The PCA is in fraternal relationship with The Reformed Churches in South Africa (Die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika, GKSA). Rev Stefaans De Bruyn, Scribe of the GKSA’s Ecumenical Deputies, visited our PCA national assembly (General Assembly of Australia, GAA) last month. He reviewed the history of the relationship between our Churches and made various prayer requests for their Church and nation. We commend the following to you for your information and prayers.

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for the opportunity to bring you greetings from your brothers and sisters in the Reformed Churches in South Africa. I structure my message around three points. First I want to say some things about the history of the relationship between our two church federations. Then I will say some things about the situation in our country. And thirdly I will say some things about our churches.

The history of the relationship between our two church federations

In the report to our synod of 2009 we stated the following: a letter was received from the Presbyterian Church of Western Australia stating the need for closer cooperation with the GKSA with a view to the ministry of Afrikaans speakers in Perth. Following the letter, Rev Stuart Bonnington of the PCWA visited South Africa and held discussions with your deputies. From the discussions it became apparent that the PCWA has much in common with the GKSA. However, the PCWA has no ecumenical unity ties with other churches.

Our synod 2009 decided that further discussions be held with the PCWA with a view to ecumenical unity ties. Three years later, in our report to synod 2012 the following is mentioned: Discussions were held with members of the commission on relations with foreign churches of the PCA under the chairmanship of Dr Allan Harman. The national moderator, Rev Robert Benn, was present, among others. The PCA members are also positive about possible cooperation between churches in South Africa and churches in Australia in an outreach program. During the PCA General Assembly of 14-16 September 2010 Dr Douw Breed brought greetings on behalf of the GKSA. Dr Henk Stoker was given permission to speak in which the focus was on the cooperation between the churches in South Africa and the PCA, especially with a view to the integration of South Africans in Australia, as well as assistance with missionary work and training of church leaders in Africa. The PCA is eager to strengthen their ecumenical ties with the GKSA. Although they use the Westminster Confession as their Confession, they also accept the three forms of unity and see their teachings as fully in line with it.

Synod 2012 decided that the GKSA offers Ecumenical unity to the PCA and that efforts are made to work with the PCA in various areas and to attend and provide input during synods.

To Synod 2015, three years later, it was reported: Dr PJ Buys attended the General Assembly of the PCA from 8-12 September 2013 and conveyed greetings to the meeting. The meeting noted with gratitude the 2012 decision of the GKSA to enter into full ecumenical unity with them. An impression from the meeting is that the PCA takes the authority of Scripture and fidelity to the confession seriously. The PCA has a clear vision for and interest in evangelism, mission and church planting in Australia and in other countries, especially Malawi, Zambia, Kenya and South Sudan. The PCA is also involved in Timor, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and places in India and Indonesia. Synod 2015 decided: that the unity between the GKSA and the PCA be noted with gratitude; that cooperation between the GKSA and the PCA be expanded; and that an effort be made to assist the churches of the PCA in the follow-up and possible integration of former South Africans – especially those of the Reformed confession.

At our synods 2018 and 2023 we could only report of conversations with individuals (Rev Stuart Bonnington and Rev Cornelius Nel) during visits to Australia and South Africa. And then in January 2026 we were please to receive your Moderator General at the time, Rev David Burke, as delegate to our synod. It was the first official visit to our churches by a delegate of the PCA. We appreciated his warm greetings and encouraging words. He gave us an overview of your Church federation and the work of the PCA. We were therefore also glad to receive an invitation to your General Assembly and that we could sent a delegate to it.

Thus far the history of the relationship between our church federations.

Some things about the situations in South Africa

You may well know about the difficulties in our country and I do not want to say to much about that. Up to now the country was not as successful as our national rugby team. We do hope and pray that the country will catch up.

In May 2024 the ruling party of 30 years was dealt a blow in the general elections. They only received 40% of the votes and were forced to seek cooperation with the other parties in parliament. In the past it seemed that they flat out ignored the inputs from the other parties. We now had a government of national unity that include ministers from the smaller parties in the cabinet. We have local elections that is due for November 2026. We do pray that after the election we will have more capable and less corrupt local governments.

However, our trust is not in men and in political parties and solutions. Our trust is in the Lord. As Christians He calls us to be light and salt where He placed us. It is our duty to proclaim His gospel and His Kingship and in doing that, He uses us in the coming of His Kingdom.

Some things about the Reformed Churches in South-Africa

According to our latest statistics, we are 52,374 confessing members and 14,429 baptised members, in total 66,771 members. Those members are shepherded in 378 congregations by 225 ministers. What the statistics unfortunately also tell is that we are 1,431 members less than the previous year. The Reformed Churches in South Africa are not growing in numbers. We ask your prayers in this regard. We do feel the results of secularization, post-modern thought and a consumer mentality although we are living in Africa and not in a first world country.

I would like to say something about two decisions of our synod 2026.

One matter is the decision about churches who did not uphold synodical decisions in regards to women in the office of elder. Despite the decisions of previous synods (1988 and 2009), a small number of churches have appointed women as elders. Because we have no collective decisions on how to discipline a church, we had appointed deputies at Synod 2023 to advise us on how to proceed in this regard. Synod 2026 received two reports from the study deputies and decided that churches that do not upheld the decisions of synod in regards to women in the office of elder will be given a year to repent from there practice. If they do not repent within the year of their practice, they will be considered to have disassociated themselves from the church. We ask your prayers in this regard.

The other decision of Synod 2026 is in regards to our theological training. To give a little bit of background: The GKSA has one seminary, situated in Potchefstroom, known as the Theological School Potchefstroom (TSP). It has a long history of collaboration with the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. The University originated from the Theological School of the Churches. Due to a change in higher education legislation in South Africa, the agreement between the North-West University and the Theological School Potchefstroom had to be revised. The new agreement on which the University wanted to settle would, among other things, entail that the content of the curriculum for theological training would rest entirely with the University. Theological students would also not necessarily be taught by Reformed professors or lecturers, and the GKSA would have no say in the appointment of professors as agreed in the current agreement. Synod 2023 judged that these conditions are not in line with the Scriptural approach to theological training, which underlies the training of the GKSA’s ministers.

The practical consequence of this decision was that the existing agreement with the North-West University will end at the end of 2026 and that a new institution of training should be in place. For this purpose, the GKSA decided to set up a private higher education institution and to register it in accordance with legislation, where student can receive accredited theological training in the future. The name of this institution is the Reformed Theological Academy. The synod voiced their confidence that the hand and the blessing of the Lord would be on this endeavour, such as it was more than 150 years ago when our Theological School was established.

At the moment we do have a lot of challenges in regards to the registration and accreditation of the courses of the Reformed Theological Academy and we would appreciate your prayers in this regard.

Conclusion

I am moving to the end of my message.

The church exists because of what God has done in and through His Son and because of what God is still doing through His Spirit. He saves, He builds, He enables and encourages and comforts us. May the Lord encourage your churches. May you keep your eyes on Him. And may He enable you to do what He commanded us to do.

Thank you for sending brother David Burke as delegate to our synod of 2026. He represented you very well and we value his inputs. Thank you for your invitation to your General Assembly. I trust that our relationship will be strengthen. On a more personal note: Thank you for your hospitality. For me it is a joy being here among you. With this, I greet you on behalf of the Reformed Churches in South Africa.

– Rev Stefaans de Bruyn