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News - Date: 21 September 2007
In an important development in the history of the Reformed Churches in South Africa, two Classes were fused together and a new one born on Tuesday (September 18).
A Classis is a term in Reformed church policy for the gathering of churches of Jesus Christ in a certain region, which is represented at a meeting twice a year. The fusion of the two Classes was decided on in principle as part of a resolution which was passed by the National Synod of the Gereformeerde Churches in South Africa last year.
The resolution concerned the unity of all Gereformeerde churches in South Africa.
The two Classes which were fused were Classis Capricorn and Classis Soutpansberg. Classis Capricorn consisted of the churches from the Venda-, Tsonga- and Sotho-speaking believers. Classis Soutpansberg consisted of the Afrikaans-speaking believers, as well as the churches in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The name of the new Classis is Classis Limpopo and the following congregations are gathered within its region: Chinoyi, Confession Church in Zambia, De Hoop, Dendron, Gweru, Hoedspruit, Laeveld, Louis Trichardt, Lusaka, Magalakwin, Mahwelereng, Malamulele, Messina, Middel Letaba, Musina-Nancefield, Phalaborwa, Pietersburg, Pietersburg-Noord, Pietersburg-Suid, Potgietersrus, Potgietersrus-Wes, Songozwi, Soutpansberg and Trans Letaba.
The purpose of a Classis is to create an opportunity for churches to help each other in matters that concern all the churches and in matters where a church may need guidance. What is special about this new Classis is that believers from different cultural backgrounds, unified on the basis of faith in Christ, strive to discuss matters which can serve to build up the churches and expand the Kingdom of Christ.
The question of language at this special meeting did not produce too many barriers. Matters were discussed in both English and Afrikaans and the meeting was closed with a prayer in Venda.
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