The sustentasi problem in the reformed churches of South Africa : unmasking the dilemma facing black theologians

Abstract

Is the financial dependence of poorer black churches in South Africa compromising their theological message? Are black ministers diluting their sometimes critical views of so- called ‘white mother or sister churches’ because their ministers depend on the latter for their livelihood? Are black churches afraid of biting the proverbial hand that feeds them? Is the financial assistance (Afrikaans ‘sustentasie’) that wealthier churches offer to poor churches having the effect of ‘colonising’ the minds of black theologians, causing them to embrace Western theology that they may not subscribe to or believe in. This article aims to address some of these issues. The article attempts to address the issue of the financial support from the white Reformed Churches as a strategy that has been used as the hegemony of colonising the theological critical thinking of black theologians as well as subjecting them to blindly accept white views on theology.