Free Reformed Churches of South Africa

The Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (also known as the Vrye Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid Afrika) is a bond of Protestant Christian churches. It follows Reformed Calvinist theology and has adopted three forms of unity as its doctrinal standards: Canons of Dordt, Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism and subscribes to the three Ecumenical Creeds: The Apostles' Creed, The Nicene Creed and The Athanasian Creed.

The first church was established in Pretoria on 8 October 1950. Eventually other churches were established; they are, in order of institution:

  • FRC Pretoria, 1950
  • FRC Cape Town, 1952
  • FRC Johannesburg, 1957
  • FRC Bethal, 1995
  • FRC Pretoria-Maranata, 1997
  • FRC Mamelodi, 2002
  • FRC Soshanguve North, 2003

The FRC's Church Order is based on that which was written at the Synod of Dort 1618/19.

The Churches have sister-church relationships with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated), the Canadian and American Reformed Churches, the Presbyterian Church in Korea and the Free Reformed Churches of Australia.

Brotherly contacts are also maintained with the following churches:

  • The Free Church of Southern Africa (Suid Afrika)
  • The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (Malawi & Zimbabwe)
  • African Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Kenia)
  • Reformed Church in East Africa (Kenia)
  • Church of Christ in Sudan amongst the Tiv

In addition to these contacts the FRC is also a member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC)

Famous quotes containing the words free, reformed, churches, south and/or africa:

    Agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and navigation, the four pillars of our prosperity, are then most thriving when left most free to individual enterprise. Protection from casual embarrassments, however, may sometimes be seasonably interposed.
    Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)

    To what a bad choice is many a worthy woman betrayed, by that false and inconsiderate notion, That a reformed rake makes the best husband!
    Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)

    By 1879, seven churches of various denominations were holding services, which led the local Chronicle to comment, “All have but one religion and one God in common; it is the Crucified Carbonate.”
    —Administration in the State of Colo, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    You can forget what I said about buying the gun. You’re a tenderfoot. Liberty Valance’s the toughest man south of the Picket Wire—next to me.
    Willis Goldbeck (1900–1979)

    I know no East or West, North or South, when it comes to my class fighting the battle for justice. If it is my fortune to live to see the industrial chain broken from every workingman’s child in America, and if then there is one black child in Africa in bondage, there shall I go.
    Mother Jones (1830–1930)