Die NG gemeente Kovsiekampus aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat: 'n Historiese perspektief 1981-2004

Abstract

The Dutch Reformed Congregation of the Kovsie Campus is in the unique position to be the only student congregation to dispose of its own church building on a university campus (the University of the Free State) and to be run, almost exclusively, by the student leaders of the church. The congregation was part and parcel of the Universitas Congregation until 1986, when it became independent. Despite the concern expressed in the local student press and in church publications about the decline in student attendance figures, not only in the country generally, but also in the Dutch Reformed Congregation of the Kovsie Campus, the church council successfully reorganised the presentation of its services and vocal music to satisfy the spiritual needs of both the traditional church-goer and those students who prefer an innovative church liturgy. In the ensuing process the church council also reformed the organisation of its services (including its multicultural services) in the university hostels, the suburbs and in the city where the students have their dwellings. The outcome was an increase in service attendance figures and the expansion of the activities of the service groups to meet the aims of successful congregational building.