A new executive electoral system, vacant congregations (more than 40%) and restorative justice were among the issues dealt with during the recent 8th General Synod of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) writes rev prof LP (Leepo) Modise, newly re-elected moderator.

‘Fragility of social order and stability of Christian faith today: Jesus is Lord’ was the theme of the gathering held from 3-9 October in Stellenbosch that was attended by 163 delegates from around the country.

It was a very engaging synod that addressed the challenges and needs of the church and our society for a whole week. Besides the sessions for discussion, devotions and prayers, we also had excellent speakers that addressed delegates on various matters related to the theme of the synod.

A highlight of the synod was the realisation that the executive election system had to change to allow for greater inclusivity, especially towards women. Currently there is only one woman on the executive. Following a difficult conversation, the synod decided to change its regulations on election and apologised to the women of URCSA.

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The synod also decided to add an 8th member in the executive to represent greater diversity and gender equality. The General Synod executive (GSE) will implement this decision and inform the entire church.

URCSA remains committed to unity between the DRC and URCSA, an obligation they confess in the Belhar Confession and underscored by an MOA between the two sister churches. That a growing number of local congregations and presbyteries are joining each other in unity is encouraging and heartwarming.

URCSA is also moving in the direction of ecumenical partnership with churches outside the DRC. MOU’s have been signed with, respectively, the Marantha Reformed Church of Christ (MRCC), the Reformed Church of Southern Africa (RCSA) and the Calvyn Protestant Church (CPCSA).
Finally, the synod also looked at justice and how to restore injustices.

Vacant congregations are a real challenge with more than 40% of congregations vacant across the borders of Southern Africa. The situation was declared a crisis. The synod tasked the GSE and relevant ministries to address this crisis.

Justice could mean thinking of a central funding model for the remuneration of all ministers of URCSA so that rural areas, towns and cities can afford to remunerate ministers. In the meantime the possibility of using ministers who have reached pensionable age at a full-scale ministry, if their health allows, will assist in closing the gap in the short term.

Finally, restorative justice is needed within and outside URCSA. Restorative justice will address injustices that were created by the Apartheid regime. A restitution task team was nominated and approved by the synod to perform it together with Service and Witness ministries.

In conclusion, God has been so good to us. We managed to start the synod under his guiding Spirit and follow Him to the end of the Synod. However, to achieve all that is aimed to achieve, members of URCSA must empty themselves, the church must die, and the kingdom of God must live within and amongst us.