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The following discussion took place on November 3, 2011 at Bethel CRC in Lansing, IL.

Hosted by Classis Illiana, speakers Rev. Peter Borgdorff and Rev. John W. Cooper discuss the pro and con of adopting the Belhar Confession as a fourth confession of the CRCNA. Adoption of the Belhar Confession was proposed by Synod 2009 and is to be decided by Synod 2012. Watch and discuss by adding comments below.

Attached Media
Remote video URL

Comments

I just listened to this debate/discussion this evening. One of the things that particularly caught my attention was Peter Borgdorff's recitation of the supposed parallelisms between South African and American racial issues.  The one point I didn't buy too much on that, was that the 1960's represented a time when both race issues and apartheid issues came to the political fore in both countries. Well, the US fought a Civil War over this in the mid-1800's, so its a bit of a stretch to say there was a 1960's parallel.

But my question: does anyone know anything about connection between the "American Reformed Churches" (CRC included) and South African apartheid?  Or, for that matter, between the "American Reformed Churches" and slavery or racial oppression in the United States?

I ask for this reason.  If the CRC were complicit in any way, or even supportive of in any way, apartheid in S Africa, or slavery or racial oppression in the US, I would see reason for the CRC to now "say something about that" (although not necessarily by adopting the Belhar).  But the reason I haven't thought of that before is because I don't know of a connection between the CRC, institutionally or as a practical matter among its members, and either apartheid or racial oppression in the US.  Still, my not knowing doesn't make so.  Thus, my asking for info from others.

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