Die kerkregtelike posisie van die ouderling en diaken in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika in die lig van die vraag na nuwe bedieningstrukture

The position of elders and deacoas in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika in the light of the question as to whether new structures are neededThe purpose of this study is to determine whether the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk needs new structures to administer the reconciliation between God and mankind. The current structure in which elders and deacons fulfil their duties is the presbyterial-synodal system of church government. The conclusion is that no new structures are needed, but that the current structure must be known and implemented to the full

Improved timing recovery in wireless mobile receivers

The problem of timing recovery in wireless mobile receiver systems is critical. This is partly because timing recovery functions must follow rapid parameter changes inherent in mobile systems and partly because both bandwidth and power must be conserved in low signal to noise ratio communication channels. The ultimate goal is therefore to achieve a low bit error rate on the recovered information for improving QoS provisioning to terminal mobile users. Traditional timing recovery methods have over-relied on phase-locked loops for timing information adjustment. However, associated schemes do not exploit code properties. This leads to synchronization difficulties in digital receivers separated from transmitters by lossy channels. In this paper we present a soft timing phase estimation algorithm for wireless mobile receivers in low signal to noise ratios. In order to develop a bandwidth and power efficient timing recovery method for wireless mobile receivers, a raised cosine filter and a multilevel phase shift keying modulation scheme are implemented and no clock signals are transmitted to the receiver. In the proposed method, the receiver exploits the soft decisions computed at each turbo decoding iteration to provide reliable estimates of a soft timing signal, which in turn, improves the decoding time. The derived method, based on sequential minimization techniques, approaches the theoretical Cramer-Rao bound with unbiased estimates within a few iterations.Key Words: discrete polyphase matched filters, maximum likelihood estimators, iterative turbo receivers, log-MAP b

Church-denomination : a nineteenth century attempt to reformation

The view exists that the term denomination is especially evident of the nineteenth century Netherlands at the time when an attempt was made to accomplish change in the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk. The decay in the Church at the time can mainly be ascribed to the influence of the authorities on the church, material welfare, as well as the climate of thought which originated in the Aufklärung. During this period two theologians were prominent, namely P J Hoedemaker and A Kuyper. The latter protested against the synodic structure of the existing Church and proposed an alternative locally free church in its place, consisting of chosen, reborn members of the church who become part of the church by confession. At the time denomination had a prominent function in the integration of all local churches into a single denomination with the confession being the common source of fellowship

Die kerkorde en die kerklike reg in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika aan die hand van die Presbiteriaal-sinodale kerkbegrip (Afrikaans)

This dissertation presents a contribution to measure the church order and ecclesiastical law in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church of Africa against the Presbyterial-synodal understanding of church government. The latter forms the canonical outline of Biblical Reformative Theology as an indication of the theology currently practiced in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church of Africa. At the outset a historical overview is given on the origin and development of the Presbyterial-synodal church government that was mainly shaped by Calvin in Geneva and later elaborated upon in Paris, and then further developed in the Netherlands. Reference is also made to the Algemeen Reglement of 1816, the 1951 church order of the Nederlandse Hervormde Church, as well as the 1951 church order of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church of Africa. A description is given of what is understood by Biblical Reformative Theology as a revelation theology, which objectively assesses man as a sinner redeemed by grace through Jesus Christ. In this regard the church is willed by God and exists in eschatological expectation when Jesus will be everything in everyone. An exposition of Presbyterial-synodal church government calls attention to the church's existence from the beginning of time, founded by God, and it is therefore of a covenantal nature. Offices are seen as gifts from God to mankind to bring those who had been saved by Jesus Christ to faith in Him. Office bearers gather together in an assembly of offices to govern the church according to the Word of God. The church is a confessing church who confesses its faith with the church of all ages, as summarized in the ecumenical creeds and the three formularies of unity. Reference is also made here to the sacraments, ceremonies, church festivals and days of remembrance. The chapter concludes with a reference to church discipline as well as the relationship between church and state. Finally the church order and ecclesiastical law in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church of Africa is measured against the previous definition of the Presbyterial-synodal understanding of church government.Thesis (PhD (Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Church History and Church Policyunrestricte

The relationship between Colossians and Ephesians as a synoptic problem

Research by different scholars concluded that some letters traditionally ascribed to Paul were probably not written by him and drew a distinction between Pauline and Deutero-Pauline letters. The majority of scholars nowadays are of the opinion that the letters to the Colossians and the Ephesians are Deutero-Pauline and that Ephesians, at least, was surely not written by Paul. The results of research on the synoptic problem can be used and applied to the two letters under discussion because a comparison shows that there are striking similarities between the two. The most recent research shows that Ephesians made use of the letter to the Colossians but not without redactional changes to suit the author’s literary purpose. This method is exegetically known as redaction-criticism, linked to the social-science viewpoint that the author of the letter to the Ephesians acted as a change agent on behalf of a change agency.http://www.hts.org.zaam201

Deeltydse predikante in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika

Part-time ministers in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church in Africa This article points out that the Polity of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church’s has a definite background which can be described as Biblical Reformative Theology. It finds its typification in the Presbyterial-synodal church order. With special reference to the Presbyterial-synodal church order, the office of the pastor is seen as a full-time, functional ministry, based on the calling of God. Pastors dedicates themselves to their full-time ministry. The article refers also to the clause with regard to the appointment of part-time ministers. It concludes that practical considerations were decisive and not the principles of the Biblical Reformative Theology and its Presbyterial-synodal background

"If a brother sins against you ..." : certain aspects of church discipline from the Church Ordinance of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa

Church discipline has been a substantial part of Church Ordinances since the Geneva Church Ordinance of 1541, and was pursued and developed in the Netherlands and consequently also in South Africa. For obvious reasons church discipline forms part of the Church Ordinance of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa. An effort is made to partly rewrite the church discipline and also to alter and to make the existing appeal possibilities more accessible, particularly with regard to the verdicts of the Synodical Commission

Church polity? The position of church polity and church government

It is generally accepted that John Calvin can be referred to as the founder of the presbyterial-synodal form of church government which is found in the Reformed Churches. It would therefore be appropriate to focus on his views and to indicate to what extent he influenced the notion that Jesus Christ is Head of the Church and Lord of the world. If it can once again be concluded that there is a close relation between Church, Confession and Church Ordinance, then it is quite evident that Church polity occupies a fundamental place in the Reformed Churches which must be treated with greater concern