Theology Centenary Timeline: 1917 - 2017

1889		ZAR government proposes a University in Pretoria with three faculties: Arts, Law and Theology – Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (NHKA) approached in this regard
1908		Transvaal Technical Institute changes its name to Transvaal University College Pretoria (TUC) Professor AC Paterson, one of the first four lecturers appointed Plea by some Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) ministers to establish a theological faculty at UP went unheeded
1917		Faculty of Theology established by Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (NHKA) and the Presbyterian Church of South Africa (PCSA) – first theological faculty in South Africa (Dr JHJA Greyvenstein and Rev. E MacMillan). Professor Paterson acts as third lecturer for Old Testament subjects
1921		Dr SP Engelbrecht becomes fourth lecturer
1924		JHJA Greyvenstein: first Dean (1924–1926)
1927–1928		Faculty survived an attempt by a commission of Minister DF Malan to absorb Theology into other faculties
1930		The TUC becomes the University of Pretoria (10 October)
1937		Proponent Ben Marais becomes the student minister of the Nederduits Hervormde of Gereformeerde Kerk
1938		Nederduitse Hervormde of Gereformeerde Kerk (NH of G Kerk) joins University of Pretoria 16 March and forms Section B of the Faculty. The NHKA was Section A of the Faculty.
1948		Ds CFB Naudé becomes student minister for NGK students
1960		*Professor AS Geyser of Section A of the Faculty co-published Delayed Action* (‘Vertraade Aksie’), a Christian criticism against apartheid**
1966		Deptartment of Practical Theology established as separate department
1979		Institute of Missiological and Ecumenical Research (IMER) established
1981		Yolanda Dreyer becomes the first ordained female minister in the Afrikaans churches
1983		DRC Centre for Continued Theological Training (CCTT) established; Professor M Nel: Director Theology building officially handed over to the Faculty
1989		Dr Hara (Malawi), first black student to receive a doctorate in Theology Seven female students registered
1996		PJ Meiring appointed to Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
2000		1 January: NGK and NHKA merged to form a multi-ecclesial Faculty Hervormde Teologiese Kollege established / agreement CJA Vos: Dean (2000–2009)
2001		Desmond Tutu chair conceptualised in collaboration with the University of the Western Cape and the University of Dar-es-Salaam
2002		Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (UPCSA) becomes a Faculty partner Centre for Contextual Ministry relocated from Vista University to UP
2010		J Buitendag: Dean (2010–current)
2012		URCSA joins Faculty as a partner
2017		Faculty celebrates Centenary

Share this page