Youth participation in church governance and administration in the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa

Abstract

In the period before 1994 many youth members of the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) and Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) never had the opportunity to participate in the governance and administration of their church. The contemporary system used local church councils (plaaslike Kerkrade) who were allegedly accountable to the white missionaries. However, the birth of Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa (URCSA) brought with it significant changes in that its Church Order and Supplementary Stipulations (article 1, stipulation 1) make provision for the large scale participation of stakeholders in the church. This approach entrenches principles and values in the governance of the church. This article attempts to examine participatory church governance in the context of democracy and emphasises the need for a bottom-up approach to church governance within the democratic style of church leadership. The point made is that, without active and effective youth participation in the church, effective leadership in URCSA may degenerate into a ‘facade-governance’ where democratic principles are not observed. The smart research question is, therefore, relevant: How crucial is youth participation to church governance and administration in the Uniting Reformed Church? The article also argues that, should youth participation be neglected, misuse of power and positions in congregations by ministers, evangelists, church councillors and deacons Lesiba Matsaung may go back to the days of the missionary enterprise. The intention of this article is, therefore, to advocate the cruciality of youth participation in church governance, which will help to keep unbridled power in check and to prevent individuals from making policies which might be detrimental to the general wellbeing of the church – congregations in particular. Clearly stated, all the stakeholders, including the Church Council (Kerkraad) which has the responsibility to control and oversee the congregation, are required to account for their functions in the church. Therefore, the inputs from the youth in congregations are essential and cannot be brushed aside lightly or simply ignored.