Kerkwees in die voetspore van Christus volgens Efesiers 4 en 5

This contribution contains a sermon delivered as opening address to the 71st General Assembly of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA). For the last twenty years the NHKA had been involved in a process of ecclesial transformation, based on fundamental shifts in ecclesiology. This opening address reflects on the nature and calling of the church in light of Ephesians 4 and 5, with the specific focus on ‘being church in the footsteps of Christ’. Much emphasis is placed on the verb ‘peripateo’ which appears five times in these two chapters. It is suggested that it could be translated as ‘following in the footsteps of someone’ and that this has very specific implications for being church in the 21st century. Ephesians 4 and 5 articulate being church in the footsteps of Christ in terms of unity, holiness, love, light and wisdom.In 2017 vind die Eeufees van die Fakulteit Teologie plaas. Die Ned. Hervormde Kerk van Afrika lei sedert 1917 sy teologiese studente aan die Universiteit van Pretoria op. Prof. J. Buitendag, Dekaanvan die Fakulteit, ontvang tydens die 71ste Algemene Kerkvergadering die HCM Fourie Erepenning vir die bevordering van reformatoriese teologie.This article is a reworked version of the opening address delivered at the 71st Assembly of the Netherdutch Reformed Church on Sunday, 02 October 2016.http://www.hts.org.zaam2018Church History and Church Polic