FEDERAL COUNCIL OF DUTCH REFORMED CHURCHES

As is clear from the background, the Swaziland Reformed Church grew from the missionary work of the Dutch Reformed Church and is therefore inseparable
from the Dutch Reformed Church as well as the other churches which also originated from the missionary work of the Dutch Reformed Church. All these churches belong to the family of Dutch Reformed Churches. Most of these churches, though not all (as indicated in an article written by Martin Pauw), are united in the Federal Council of Dutch Reformed Churches in Southern Africa. This is a body where matters of mutual interest are discussed.

At present the future of the Federal Council is not quite clear. Some indications are that the Federal Council is not playing an active enough role in uniting the member churches and some people have even indicated that the time may have come to dissolve the Federal Council. However, during a meeting of this council, held in Indonesia in July 2000, all member churches present indicated that the Federal Council should continue to exist.

Although the Federal Council is not very active at present, the Swaziland Reformed Church is a member of this council and therefore closely tied to the other members of the family of Dutch Reformed Churches.