THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH AND THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

Piet Meiring

Abstract

For the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk [Dutch Reformed Church (DRC)] in South

Africa, the church that supported the policy of apartheid for many years, engaging

the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a painful and in

the end also a liberating experience. In his article Piet Meiring, who served on the

TRC, chronicles the dialogue between the TRC and the DRC, leading to the events

of the the Faith Community Hearing in November 1997 when the DRC, together

with all the other faith communities in South Africa, appared before the TRC to

explain its role during the apartheid years, as well as its commitment towards future

reconciliation. Meiring discusses the expectations as well as disappointments that

surfaced during the truth and reconciliation process, with regard to the Dutch

Reformed Church, offering a number of comments on viewpoints adopted and

actions taken by the church.