6.1.1 At its General Synods in 1986 and particularly 1990 the Dutch Reformed Church formulated its stance on apartheid clearly. Whoever perceived a lack of emotion and drama in the ecclesiastical language of the synod found it in ample measure at the Rustenburg Conference of Churches, where the decisions of the 1990 General Synod were, so to speak, trumpeted throughout the world.
6.1.2 But there remained those who doubted the earnestness and sincerity of the Dutch Reformed Church. Even they must surely have been convinced by the decisions and actions of the General Synod of 1994. This synod, at which Ds F Swanepoel was elected moderator, was not dubbed the "Synod of Reconcilation" by the press for nothing.
6.1.3 On 13 October 1994 the president of the Republic of South Africa, Mr NR Mandela, visited and addressed the General Synod. He said, amongst other things: "Apartheid was a scorched-earth policy against the majority of people in our country. Apartheid was fundamentally wrong and sinful. I do not say these things in order to rub salt into the wounds, because I am aware of the long struggle in the Dutch Reformed Church concerning apartheid and the profound inner struggle which many members have gone through. Kerk en Samelewing was an important milestone, but it was not the beginning of the long road which has brought you to this synod, neither can it be the end, because the quest for enlightenment and truth always continues ... With the Dutch Reformed Church's acknowledgement that apartheid was wrong, a special prophetic task now rests on your shoulders. Having searched your own hearts, you must now join hands with all the rest of us to ensure that the Reconstruction and Development Programme succeeds" [translation] (Handelinge [Proceedings] of the General Synod 1994, p 536).
6.1.4 In an unopposed motion after Mandela's speech the General Synod assured him of their unceasing prayers and continued: "The Synod has noted with interest the Government's White Paper on the Reconstruction and Development Programme for South Africa.
"it is also the desire of the Dutch Reformed Church that dynamic work will be done to bring about a radical improvement in the living conditions and future opportunities of people in South Africa who have been deprived of so much for many years. The Dutch Reformed Church will therefore study the RDP thoroughly and indicate, in the near future, how it can make a meaningful contribution to reconstruction and development.
"The Synod expresses its earnest hope that the Government's policy will make ample allowance for the upholding of those Christian values which are of paramount importance to so many people in this country." [translation] (Handelinge [Proceedings] of the General Synod 1994, p 443)
6.1.5 Prof B J Marais and Dr CF Beyers Naude visited the General Synod on different days. Both received a hearty welcome, and the following resolution of the Synod was presented to them: "In view of the charge of political expediency on the part of the Dutch Reformed Church, the General Synod directs members' attention to the fact that throughout the years past there were always members, office bearers and even ecclesiastical assemblies that were critical of apartheid and of the church's decisions in that regard. The General Synod acknowledges with regret that in the past the church often dealt with such persons in an uncharitable and inappropriate way" [translation] (Handelinge [Proceedings] of the General Synod 1994, p 374).
6.1.6 The General Synod of 1994 adopted an important resolution on unity in the Family of Dutch Reformed Churches which also bore the stamp of reconciliation:
"1 . It is with great pleasure that the General Synod takes note of the progress made in the most recent discussions aimed at finding a way of giving the process of church unity greater momentum.
2. The General Synod expresses its earnest desire
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to co-operate with the other members of the Family of Dutch Reformed Churches in establishing one denomination on the basis of an approved church ordinance;
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to co-operate in the appointment of a joint commission to begin drawing up a draft church ordinance for this prospective denomination" [translation] (Handelinge [Proceedings] of the General Synod 1994, pp 440-442).
6.1.7 In a leading article published after the sitting Die Kerkbode wrote: "The ninth General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church which ended last week in Pretoria was characterised by a spirit of reconciliation and was undoubtedly one of the most remarkable synod sessions since the first meeting of the General Synod in 1962.
"Not only was the hand of reconciliation extended to people such as Prof Ben Marais and Dr Beyers Naude, but a reconciliatory spirit was also displayed by Prof Evert Kleynhans, a former moderator, who in recent years had frequently expressed strong opinions on some aspects of the Dutch Reformed Church policy document Kerk en Samelewing 1990. Dr Sarel Eloff, known for his conservative convictions, played a mediating role and made an important contribution which helped enable the General Synod to take crucial decisions on unity in the Dutch Reformed Church Family.
"Similarly, the visit of President Nelson Mandela to the General Synod reflected the spirit of reconciliation" [translation] (Die Kerkbode, 28 October 1994).
