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In South Africa, Methodist, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, and Dutch Reformed churches are negotiating reunification with the Anglican Church, while the Anglican Church is grabbing the hand of Rome.i
In 1969, during Pope Paul's visit to the headquarters of the World Council of Churches, Presbyterian Eugene Carson Blake, general secretary of the World Council, acknowledged the historic importance of the meeting. He told the Pope that his visit "proclaims to the whole world that the ecumenical movement flows on ever wider, ever deeper toward the unity and renewal of Christ's church."ii
Bishop Stanley Mogoba, chairman of the Methodist Church in South Africa, said that the great challenge of the different churches is to speak with one prophetic voice to the State. He said that a strong, common base still existed between the churches. Dr. Bam of the Dutch Reformed Church made the following statement:
The time is more than ripe to look at what we have in common, and not only at what separates us.iii
Professors Heyns, head of the Synod, supported her in this. Pastor Justice du Plessis, known as Mr. Pentecost, and one-time leader the World Council for Charismatic Churches also urged the churches to join forces with the Roman Catholic Church.
In addition to the existing South African Council of Churches, the Church Alliance of South Africa (CASA) was formed in June 1988 to encourage Church unity and act as the government’s conscience. An article in the CASA newsletter says, "The Time has come for the children of God in South Africa to realize that they are all - in spite of differences in denomination, language and culture - part of the body of Christ in this beautiful country."iv
Just what is causing this wave of reunification? The 1972 article "Charismatic wave of unity among South African churches” says this:
An unprecedented spirit of unity between Roman Catholic, Protestant and Pentecostal churches in South Africa was said this week by churchmen to be spreading. On our own doorstep there has been a tremendous response from Roman Catholics and Anglicans far beyond our thinking and asking. Suddenly there has appeared an open door at which members from two different poles-the Pentecostals and Orthodox churches are finding a point of meeting.v
Ahead to The Orthodox Church
i. Protestant Reveille (1977).
ii. Die Bürger (January 1990).
iii. Brigalia Bam.
iv. CASA Newsletter (January 1990).
v. "Charismatic wave of unity among South African churches,” The Argus (August 1972).
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This article is adapted from Truth Matters by Professor Walter J. Veith, an international speaker who has studied Biblical issues in-depth in his quest for truth. His popular series Genesis Conflict brings the debate between Creation and evolution to a new climax as he dissects the arguments with a scientific eye. His highly-acclaimed series Total Onslaught sheds light on the state of the world today as we move to a one-world government and an anticipated apocalypse.
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