Die verhouding tussen land en ekumene in die Ou Testament en die betekenis daarvan vir vandag

Abstract

The aim of this article is to determine to what extent God’s action with his people is determined spatially and to what extent focus on the land and ecumenicity are contrary, substitutionary, complementary or dialectic concepts. The following questions will be addressed. To what extent does land play a role in ecumenical relations? To what extent are these relations determined structurally or organisationally? To what extent is diversity or plurality accommodated? Old Testament material will receive special attention but the line of thought in the New Testament will also be touched upon briefly. Applied to current issues the article will inter alia pay attention to the question whether the aim of ecumenical reflection should be one ‘national church' with sister churches in other countries or one ‘world wide church'.