A relevant liturgy for the Reformed Churches in Synod Midlands

Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.One of the most important yet most undermined aspects of the Reformed Churches in the resort of Synod Midlands is its liturgy. Little study has been done on liturgy and few Church Councils make liturgy their concern. Consequently most of the Reformed Churches in Midlands are faced with the problem of syncretism, secularism and modernistic trends in the liturgy. All human beings are religious people. All humans beings are believers yet it depends whom and how people worship and in whom or what they believe. People have different cultures and in some instances, as is the case with the African religion, culture and religion are not easily separated. Liturgy has an indispensable task in transforming culture. This study aims at scrutinising the manner of worship in Reformed Churches in Synod Midlands. It is divided into three sections. The first section focuses on basic-theoretical principles, the second on meta-theoretical guidelines and empirical findings and the third on a critical-hermeneutical interaction between the basis-theoretical principles and the meta-theoretical guidelines. This study indicates that the Reformed Churches in Synod Midlands need a relevant liturgy that is suitable for the African members but also a liturgy that is not easily influenced by culture and by the world. Liturgy has to shape culture and culture has to be accommodated in the shape that liturgy takes. This does not occur at the same level. The gospel preaches to culture and leads it to repentance. The sermon, however, is presented within a certain culture, context and language. This is where culture fits in and contributes to the shaping of the liturgy. A relevant liturgy for the Reformed Churches in Synod Midlands would be a dynamic liturgy that displays an interactive communicative character. There has to be a dialogue between God and His children. The liturgist should not be an individual standing between God and humans, blocking the dialogue-related character of the liturgy. All members have to be participative and should follow the liturgy. This study therefore calls upon a free liturgy because African people are spontaneous. However this liturgy should also be characterized by the necessary order.Doctora