URCSA Logo

The two symbols from the former Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) are jointly used in the logo of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) to showcase our common background and identity.

#NAME: The name of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (which is in the continuous tense) and its logo (which is an incomplete circle) reflects the emphasis on unity and URCSA’s hope for an even greater church unification within the reformed family in Southern Africa.

#LIGHTHOUSE: The lighthouse symbolizes justification is by faith alone (Latin: sola fide), not faith plus anything else. The lighthouse was part of the logo of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church. We as Christians are called to be the light of the world so that others can see, by the grace of God, the way to eternal life through Jesus Christ.

#BLANKET: The blanket with Africa design is indicative of multi-ethnic-multicultural character of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa which consists of the language and cultural groups in South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho. ‘So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ (Gal. 3:26-28).

#BIBLE: The Bible showcases the centrality of the Word of God. The Bible symbolizes that Scripture alone is the standard for our beliefs (Latin: sola Scripture). The Bible showcases the centrality of the Word of God. The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa as a reformed church places the Word of God and the preaching of the word in the centre. ). ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible alone is therefore the ultimate authority.

#ANCHOR: The anchor symbolizes atonement through Christ alone (Latin: solus Christus). One of the oldest of the symbols of the cross is the anchor. The anchor was part of the logo of the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa. The anchor is an early Christian symbol. ‘For there is one God and one mediator also between god and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at a proper time (I Timoty 2:5-6)

Credit: URCSA Centurion