The hermeneutics of reformed church polity
Die hermeneutiek van gereformeerde kerkreg
Andries le Roux du Plooy
School of Ecclesiastical studies, Potchefstroom Campus, North West University, South Africa
Die artikel het op die belangrikheid en noodsaaklikheid van 'n hermeneutiek vir die gereformeerde kerkreg gefokus. Die kerkregtelike dokument wat besonderlik ter sake was, is die kerkorde van die Gereformeerde kerke in Suid-Afrika, met sy besondere band met die Dordtse kerkorde van 1618 en 1619. Agtereenvolgens is aandag gegee aan die volgende aspekte soos (1) die eiesoortige aard van 'n kerkorde as 'n teologiese dokument en teks, in onderskeiding van regsdokumente; (2) die aard van die hermeneutiek van kerkreg; (3) enkele teorieë oor die interpretasie of uitleg van tekste, veral regstekste en (4) normatiewe vooronderstellings en reels vir die interpretasie en verstaan van die teks en artikels van die kerkorde asook besluite van kerklike vergaderinge. Die gevolgtrekking was dat weinig indringende navorsing gedoen is oor die saak van hermeneutiek vir kerkreg, hoewel dit noodsaaklik is. Duidelike hermeneutiese reëls is gesuggereer en verduidelik, wat sou kon meehelp dat kerke en kerklike vergaderinge die artikels van die kerkorde asook besluite en reglemente wat daarop berus het, kan interpreteer en toepas.
The article focused on the importance and urgency of a design for reformed hermeneutics on church polity. The Church Order referred to in the article is the Church Order of the Reformed Churches in South Africa, which are closely related to the Church Order of Dordt of 1618 and 1619. The following aspects received attention namely (1) the unique character of a Church Order, in comparison to and distinguished from legal documents and statutes; (2) the character and nature of hermeneutics of church polity; (3) theories of interpretation in the common law tradition and their relevance to church polity and (4) normative presuppositions and marks for the interpretation and understanding of the text and articles of the Church Order, as well as the resolutions of church assemblies. It was found that minimum research has been done on the topic of hermeneutics for reformed church polity. This contribution was an effort to suggest and explain a number of hermeneutical principles and guidelines, which may serve and encourage churches and assemblies to interpret, utilise and apply the Church Order in an adequate and responsible way.
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Dries du Plooy
Received: 09 Sept. 2011
Accepted: 22 Nov. 2011