Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK)
The Dutch Reformed Church (Afrikaans: Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, abbreviated NGK) is a Reformed Christian denomination in South Africa. It also has a presence in neighbouring countries, such as Namibia, Eswatini, and parts of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In 2013 it claimed 1.1 million members and 1,602 ordained ministers in 1,158 congregations.
| Dutch Reformed Church | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NGK |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Reformed |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Region | South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, parts of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia |
| Branched from | Dutch Reformed Church of the Netherlands |
| Separations | Afrikaans Protestant Church (1987) |
| Congregations | 1,158 |
| Members | 1,074,765 |
| Ministers | 1,602 |
| Official website | www.ngkerk.org.za |
The Nederduits in the denomination's Afrikaans name refers to the old nomenclature for the Dutch language, formerly written as Nederduitsch in Dutch. This not to be confused with the literal translation Low German, which is a dialect in the north of Germany. It is therefore correctly referred to as the "Dutch Reformed Church" in South Africa.
Originating in the 17th century from the Dutch Reformed Church of the Netherlands, the NGK is the largest denomination within South Africa's Dutch Reformed tradition. Along with the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NHK) and the Reformed Churches in South Africa, it is considered one of the three sister churches of South Africa.