Hondered Jaar Kerk en Teologiese Opleiding: ‘n Kroniek van die Hervormde Kerk

Abstract

The Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria is the oldest university faculty in theology in South Africa. It was founded in 1917 as a multi-ecclesial academic institution, with the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCA) as one of the founding church partners for the scientific training of pastors. However, the initiatives for the establishment of a theological faculty in Pretoria, South Africa are rooted in a synodic resolution of the NRCA in 1909, with the institutionalisation of a Curatorium as an ecclesial executive board responsible for the strategic planning of the Faculty of Theology at the then Transvaal University College, which became the University of Pretoria. In 2009 the NRCA celebrates the centennial anniversary of the Curatorium with the publication of a Chronicle, authored by Professor J.P. Oberholzer. It is published as Supplementum 9 of the HTS Theological Studies, South Africa’s oldest theological scholarly journal. The Chronicle consists of 10 chapters: the beginning (1909-1916); the formative stage (1916-1933); multi-ecclesial partnership (1934-1940); internal ecclesial conflict (1941-1953); political tension because of apartheid (1954-1960); ecumenical isolation and internal discord (1961-1970); self-evaluation (1971-1980); growth, retrospection and prospection (1981-1987); rationalisation and optimalisation (1988-1997); multi-ecclesial partnership restored (1998-2009).

Die Fakulteit Teologie aan die Universiteit van Pretoria is Suid Afrika se oudste teologiese fakulteit. Dit het begin as ‘n veelkerklike instelling met die oog op die wetenskaplike opleiding van predikante. Die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) is een van die stigter kerklike vennote. Die eerste inisiatiewe vir die daarstel van ‘n teologiese fakulteit in Pretoria gaan terug na die sinodale besluit van die NHKA in 1909 om ‘n Kuratorium te vestig wat as statutêre liggaam vir die strategiese beplanning van teologiese opleiding aan die destydse Tranvaal Universiteit College wat later die Universiteit van Pretoria geword het, verantwoordelik is. Die NHKA vier die honderdjarige bestaan van die Kuratorium in 2009 met die publikasie van ‘n Kroniek, geskryf deur professor J.P. Oberholzer. Dit is gepubliseer as Supplementum 9 van die HTS Teologiese Studies, Suid-Afrika se oudste vaktydskrif in teologie. Die Kroniek is uit 10 hoofstukke saamgestel: die begin (1909-1916); die formatiewe fase (1916-1933); veelkerklike vennootskap (1934-1940); interne kerklike konflik (1941-1953); politieke spanning as gevolg van apartheid (1954-1960); ekumeniese isolasie en interne stryd (1961-1970); self-interpretasie (1971-1980); rasionalisasie en optimalisering (1988-1997); veelkerklike vennootskap herstel (1998-2009).