The Alliance Defending the Autonomy of Churches in South Africa (ADACSA), who appeared as a Friend of the Court in the case of Gaum versus General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, has filed an application with the Pretoria High Court to obtain clarity from the judges regarding their recent […]
Tag: religious freedom
Dutch Reformed Church won’t appeal judgment
The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) synod has decided to abide by a controversial Pretoria High Court ruling ordering the church to allow ministers in same-sex relationships and the solemnisation of same-sex civil unions. The decision followed a vote in which a “significant majority” of 48 synod members supported a proposal […]
Muslim majority Azerbaijan opens arms to Evangelical leaders
Originally published in CBN News The Shi’ite Muslim majority country of Azerbaijan recently invited more than a dozen evangelical pastors on an official visit to the nation. But why would the president of that country be interested in evangelical Christians? Azerbaijan is located on the Caspian Sea, bounded on the […]
‘New CRL Commission needed to rebuild trust between state, religious communities’
The South African government must wisely choose new commissioners for the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights (CRL) in order to regain the trust of religious communities, says religious freedom scholar Professor Christof Sauer. “The actions and attitudes of the Commission in the past five years […]
DRC judgment doesn’t force all churches to marry gays, but sets dangerous precedent
Last Friday a full bench of the Pretoria High Court ruled that a 2016 decision by the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) Synod to reverse its 2015 decision to remove the celibacy requirement for homosexual ministers and to solemnise same-sex civil unions, was both procedurally and constitutionally unlawful. While technically nothing […]
Proposal to outlaw physical discipline at home scrapped
In a major turnaround, a proposal which would have criminalised parents spanking children has been removed from the latest draft of the Children’s Amendment Bill which will be submitted to Parliament for consideration. Unlike previous versions of the Bill, the latest draft makes no mention of “chastisement” or “discipline”, which […]
CRL launches “astounding” new push for state control of religion
At a national summit for religious and church leaders at Rhema Church (Rhema Summit) two weeks ago, the CRL Rights Commission threatened church leaders that if they did not come up with solutions for the abuses and malpractices in the religious sector (and particularly in the church) on that day, […]
Religious leaders tell CRL they will sort out their own problems
More than 800 delegates attended a historic, national summit of religious leaders at Rhema Church, Randburg, yesterday to address the need for a self-regulation process to prevent religious abuses. The vast majority of the leaders represented the Christian church, with most of the major denominations, independent and indigenous structures well […]
Bill seeking to regulate churches raises emotions in Ugandan parliament
Originally published in UG Christian News A section of Ugandan legislators on Wednesday took a firm stand against a request to grant Hon John Baptist Nambeshe (NRM, Manjiya County, Bududa) leave to introduce a bill aimed at regulating religious and faith organisations in Uganda. Hon Nambeshe said the bill, entitled […]
Church, SA facing biggest threat to religious freedom yet, warns FOR SA
Religious freedom watchdog FOR SA warns that the Church and South Africa are facing their “most serious threat to religious freedom to date” in the form of a new bid by the CRL Rights Commission to push for the regulation of religion. Alerting Christian leaders to a national consultative conference […]

