Dutch Reformed Church in Namibia

{{Infobox Christian denomination

| name = Dutch Reformed Church in Namibia

| native_name = Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Namibië

| native_name_lang = af

| image = DRCN logo.jpg

| imagewidth =

| caption =

| main_classification = Protestant

| orientation = Reformed

| polity = Presbyterian

| leader_title = Moderator

| leader_name = Schalk Pienaar

| founder =

| founded_date = 1957

| founded_place =

| separated_from =

| parent =

| merger =

| separations =

| associations = Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK)

| area = Namibia

| congregations = 44

| members = 22,500

| footnotes =

| website = {{url|www.ngkn.com.na}}

}}

The Dutch Reformed Church in Namibia (DRCN; {{langx|af|Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Namibië}}) is a Christian denomination in Namibia. It is one of ten synods of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK), and the only one outside South Africa. It covers all of Namibia except for the Eastern Caprivi Strip.{{cite web|title=Sinodes|url=http://ngkerk.org.za/wp/index.php/sinodes/|publisher=Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa|accessdate=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127115120/http://ngkerk.org.za/wp/index.php/sinodes/|archive-date=27 November 2016|url-status=dead}}

The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa began mission work in Namaqualand in the 1880s, and the first congregation in German South West Africa was established in 1898.{{cite web|title=A synoptic introduction|url=http://www.ngkn.com.na/?page_id=697|publisher=Dutch Reformed Church in Namibia|accessdate=7 November 2016}} The DRCN became an autonomous entity in 1957, when it held its first synod.{{cite web|last1=Buys|first1=G. L.|last2=Nambala|first2=S. W.|title=History of the church in Namibia, 1805 - 1990. An introduction|url=http://www.namibiana.de/de/history-of-the-church-in-namibia-1805-1990-an-introduction.html|accessdate=7 November 2016}}

File:Otjiwarongo Church 2013.JPG.]]

The DRCN has 44 congregations, 22500 members (including children) and 60 pastors. The moderator is Schalk Pienaar, and the general secretary is Clem Marais.{{cite news|last1=Heita|first1=Desie|title=Namibian churches battle with LGBT issues|url=https://www.newera.com.na/2016/09/23/namibian-churches-battle-lgbt-issues/|accessdate=8 November 2016|work=New Era|date=23 September 2016}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The DRCN has been a full member of the Council of Churches in Namibia since 2000.{{cite web|title=Members of CCN|url=http://www.ccnnamibia.org/page.php?pn=members|publisher=Council of Churches in Namibia|accessdate=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319164325/http://www.ccnnamibia.org/page.php?pn=members|archive-date=19 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

As a synod of the NGK, the DRCN adheres to the Ecumenical creeds (the Apostles' Creed the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed) and the Three Forms of Unity (the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort).{{cite web|title=Confessions of Faith|url=http://ngkerk.org.za/wp/index.php/english/documents/archive/|publisher=Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa|accessdate=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127114949/http://ngkerk.org.za/wp/index.php/english/documents/archive/|archive-date=27 November 2016|url-status=dead}} The General Synod of the NGK stipulates things such as Bible translations, liturgical forms and hymnals.

In 2015, the NGK voted to recognise same-sex unions. This decision did not extend to the DRCN, since Namibia does not recognise same-sex relationships.{{cite news|title=Dutch Reformed Church to recognise gay marriage|url=https://www.enca.com/south-africa/dutch-reformed-church-recognise-gay-marriage|accessdate=8 November 2016|work=eNCA|date=10 October 2015|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411195115/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/dutch-reformed-church-recognise-gay-marriage|url-status=dead}} The General Synod also resolved to ordain LGBT clergy, and to remove the requirement for them to be celibate.{{cite news|last1=Ngubane|first1=Sphelele|title=Dutch Reformed Church's radical gay ruling|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/dutch-reformed-churchs-radical-gay-ruling-1928889|work=Independent Online|accessdate=8 November 2016|date=13 October 2005}} The DRCN continues to hold to the celibacy requirement, and has stated that they "undertake to admit theological candidates who have a same-gender sexual orientation and who live celibate to the ministry."