Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ

The Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ (MRCC) is a Christian Reformed denomination founded in 1923, in South Africa, by former members of the Free Church of Scotland, due to disputes relating to the administration of the sacraments.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationContinental Reformed
TheologyCalvinist
GovernancePresbyterian
AssociationsWorld Communion of Reformed Churches[1]
RegionSouth Africa
Origin1923
Separated fromFree Church of Scotland
Congregations68 (2004)[2]
Members23,940 (2004)[2]

History

In 1923, the Free Church of Scotland congregation of KwaZulu-Natal allowed unordained missionaries to administer the sacraments. This generated revolt among the members, so that 400 people split from the denomination and formed the Zulu Reformed Missionary Church, which grew up among the Zulu. From the planting of churches and the joining of others, the denomination spread to various parts of the country. Therefore, the name changed to Bantu Reformed Church.[3]

In 1977, the denomination's first general assembly was organized and its name was changed to Reformed Church in Southern Africa (in Afrikaans Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Africa). In 2006, the denomination changed its name again to Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ (MRCC).[3]

As a predominantly black church, it has never merged with other white-majority Reformed denominations, but has worked closely with the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NHK) since its founding.[3][6][7]

Doctrine

The denomination subscribes to the Heidelberg Catechism and Canons of Dort as its symbols of faith. Furthermore, it recognizes the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, Apostles' Creed and Athanasian Creed as faithful expositions of biblical doctrines.[2]

Inter-Church Relations

IRMC is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[1] In addition, it has close relationships with the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NHK) and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa.[4][5]

References
  1. "World Communion of Reformed Churches: Members". Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. "Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Africa". Reformier Online. February 27, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  3. Jhoseph Modisaotsile Motloba (May 2016). "House visitation in the Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ: bane or boon?: Historical development of the MRCC" (PDF). Pretoria: University of South Africa. p. 27. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  4. Leepo Johannes Shepherd (2019). "A Quarter Century of Democracy and the United Reformed Church in Southern Africa". Pretoria: University of South Africa. ISSN 2412-4265. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  5. Wim A. Dreyer (2014). "When one becomes two: a perspective on recent events at the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika". Pretoria: University of South Africa. ISSN 2072-8050. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  6. Ignatius William Charles vanWyk (2000). "Ecclesiastical unity between the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika and the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelik Afrika" (PDF). University Pretoria. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  7. Matsobane Jacob Manala (November 2016). "The church's ministry to the sick in a black south africa context:Conduct of members of the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika in the face of illness/misfortune" (PDF). Pretoria: University of South Africa. p. 151. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
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