text:
HTS Theological Studies
On-line version ISSN 2072-8050
Herv. teol. stud. vol.67 n.1 Pretoria Jan. 2011
AGVA FESTSCHRIFT
Journey from isolation
Wim A. Dreyer
Department of Church History, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Since the Ottawa Consultation in 1982, the relationship between the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) was non-existent. In the NHKA it became progressively clear that it would be impossible to travel the road of faith alone. This article examined the factors which contributed to the growing isolation of the NHKA, especially nationalism, a particularistic ecclesiology and the rejection of Apartheid by international ecumenical bodies. It also reflected on efforts of the NHKA to return to the international ecumenical movement.
The South African debate on ecumenical relations, since 1954, is dominated by the issue of racism. Connected to this is the political system of pluralism or racial segregation, better known as Apartheid. Because of the support churches in South Africa gave to racial segregation and the division of churches along racial lines, their membership of international ecumenical bodies was suspended.
In this article the story of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA), her support of Afrikaner nationalism and Apartheid as well as the journey from international isolation is told.
Different views on Apartheid
Apartheid has its roots in the way Dutch and British colonial authorities exercised their political power. Fundamental to colonial rule was the political concept of pluralism (see Murray 1962).
For instance, the British colonial rule held the central power in hand, whilst leaving local chiefs and traditional leaders the freedom to exercise limited jurisdiction over their tribe. This policy was called indirect rule (Van Rensburg 1974:214). It created a system of central (White or colonial) government on national level, with indigenous (Black) leaders and structures limited to certain functions and certain areas. For more than two centuries, this model of segregation and limited political power to Black people became the excepted norm in many British colonies (including South Africa).
Concurrently with British colonial rule, White (Afrikaner) and Black Nationalism raised its head, inciting extreme patriotic and nationalistic fervour.
During the 20th century, indirect rule provided a model of segregation and pluralism, culminating in Apartheid. The first formal set of laws based on racial segregation and the establishment of self-governing Black (ethnic) reservations, was developed under leadership of prime minister J.B.M. Hertzog and the Afrikaner nationalist government in 1926 (Giliomee 2004:409). Segregation facilitated the self-determination and political freedom of the Afrikaner people in areas which were regarded as 'White areas'. The system of ethnic segregation became known as Apartheid, an Afrikaans word which means to be apart.
Apartheid is a theoretical concept which is difficult to define (Botha 1986:13). It is more than a political system based on the concepts of pluralism and indirect rule. It is intrinsically interwoven with an early pioneering way of life, with a strong emphasis on survival in Africa. In the 20th century it became progressively more ideologically driven, building on the nationalistic sentiments of political freedom and self-determination. In the euphoria of Afrikaner Nationalism, the Afrikaans speaking churches fell into the trap of giving Apartheid a religious foundation. This type of volksteologie, to my mind, has a lot of commonality with other better known liberation theologies.
Apartheid was not only a political theory, but also a practical system of government which led to violence and structural injustice. It is quite clear that those defending Apartheid (including churches) very often focused their defence on the political theory of freedom and self-determination, whilst the critics of Apartheid pointed out that the theory could not be removed from its practical implementation and the injustice it brought forth.
The leadership of the NHKA gradually realised that race relations would become the major issue in South Africa, not only in politics but also in the church. As early as 1929, the editor of the Hervormer, newspaper of the NHKA, started writing about great conflicts which in future will be racially motivated. Articles that appeared in the official publications and magazines reflect a growing concern with race relations (for an extensive overview of printed articles see Van Wyk 1978).
Not only did the NHKA speak and write about racial issues, but slowly a theology developed in which racial segregation was presented as a decent and normal way of existence.
The church leadership needed, at several stages, to send pastoral letters to congregations explaining and defending the NHKA's position on racial segregation.
A few examples can be mentioned in terms of how the NHKA thought about racial segregation (Apartheid) and how perceptions changed over time:
In 1973, the Commission of the General Assembly sent out a pastoral letter to all the congregations in which it gave an extensive exposition of Article III, which limited membership of the NHKA to White people (NHKA 1973:107–119). In the pastoral letter it is reiterated that the NHKA rejects any form of integration in church and state. Apartheid is described as the only honest and Christian policy that would prevent the domination of one group by another (translated from Afrikaans by W.A. Dreyer).
In the pastoral letter, segregation in church and state is presented as in line with general Scriptural principles. It states: 'The church wishes to state emphatically that these measures (i.e. segregation in church and state) are not temporary, but are permanent and unchangeable and founded on Scriptural principles' (NHKA 1973:111).
These general principles were, in short, the following:
the existence of different nations is part of God's creation
the development of an Afrikaner nation in Africa is part of Divine providence
the policy of segregation protects not only White people but also Black people from domination and exploitation.
It is further reiterated that Article III of the Church Order wishes to encourage the preaching of the gospel not only to Afrikaners in their own language, but also to Black people in their language. The NHKA saw itself as an ethnic church (volkskerk), called to preach the Gospel to the Afrikaner nation, not because the Afrikaner nation is more important than any other, but because the NHKA came into existence within the history and life of the Afrikaner nation.
Unity between churches of different races is not to be found in structural unity, but in Christ.
The NHKA supported mission work under all the nations in South Africa (Mt 28). The development of a separate Black church was seen as in line with acceptable missiological practices, in terms of churches becoming indigenous without unnecessary cultural transference. Because of language differences, it was obvious that separate church services would be held for different race groups.
It is clear that the 1973 pastoral letter tried to give a theological and ethical basis to segregation and per implication to Apartheid as political system.
In 1990, the General Commission sent out another pastoral letter called Church and Politics, which, in 26 pages, discussed the church's view on the state, government, race relations, human rights, education, communism, theology of liberation and the economy (NHKA 1990).
In comparison to the 1973 document, a fundamental shift was obvious in the sense that no mention was made of Article III or segregation. What remained was the focus on the NHKA as an ethnic church (volkskerk) as well as the issues of language and culture. At the same time, mission work amongst other nations was emphasised as an important calling.
In the same chapter any form of racism is rejected as contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On page 12 it is stated:
The Church rejects as incompatible with Christian responsibility any humiliating measures or acts between people ... as well as the over emphasis of own dignity, honour or interests at the expense of the happiness and prosperity of other people.
(Church and Politics 1990)
The maintenance of own identity should be done in such a way, that it would not constitute racism.
Although this careful formulation did not refer to Apartheid as such, the implications were clear: Racism in church and state is unacceptable. The Church would maintain a critical distance in its relation to the Afrikaner nation, but still minister to it in solidarity. It was obvious that the uncritical acceptance of segregation of the earlier years made way for a more dialectical approach which could be described as a critical solidarity.
In 2001, during the 65th General Assembly, another shift was made. The issue of a confession of guilt regarding the NHKA's role in Apartheid was discussed. Many delegates were vehemently opposed to any form of confession. In the end, the Assembly reached a compromise and adopted a resolution which reads:
The Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk wishes to call for a balanced, Biblical evaluation of the present and the past of our country's history. This balanced evaluation ... includes that the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk took notice of atrocities committed under the auspices of the Apartheid policy, even by this Church's own members. For that, the Church expresses its sorrow and remorse before God.
The Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk calls for a confession of guilt before God and fellow man and to a new life where the love of God determines our conduct towards all people. This General Church Assembly is deeply aware of our Church's sin, sin to its fullest terrifying extent as the Bible depicts it: Hate, animosity, rebellion, lovelessness, disobedience, and negligence towards God and fellow man.
The Church therefore calls upon all functionaries and members of the Church, but also all other Churches and people, to sincerely confess their guilt before God and towards each other, continually in public worship and in our personal lives, for everything that was wrong in the eyes of the Lord and in our lives. This confession of guilt must be supported by a new life without any animosity or hate.
The Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk calls upon all people, the government and citizens, to have faith in Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and the people, the Redeemer and Saviour of the world.
The Church knows that no other prospect of or hope for real peace, true redemption and total fulfilment exists on earth for mankind besides that given by God's message of salvation in Jesus Christ. From the Word, the Church knows the mystery of God's love, and the Church wishes to remain with strength and conviction the bearer of that mystery to the world, in spite of the pain caused by the Church's own guilt and disobedience to God.
The Church believes in God's forgiveness of all our sins and guilt on account of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. To know Him and to experience the power of His resurrection is the only way in which the evil within us and around us can be overcome. The Church therefore rejects the process that perpetuates the accusations about the guilt of the past. We should never put ahead of us that which God, in Christ, has put behind us. Let us rather with a Biblical attitude free ourselves from what lies behind us and reach out to what lies ahead. The Church prays for the divine grace to persevere in its only mission, to faithfully bring God's message to the world: In Christ's name, accept the reconciliation with God that He brought to pass.
(NHKA 2001)
The 2001 resolution on Apartheid seems inadequate, because it only mentions the implementation of Apartheid and individual acts of racism and violence. It neither refers to Apartheid as a political system built on the political principles of pluralism and racial segregation, nor does it refer to the NHKA's acceptance that different races are fundamentally irreconcilable.
However, in terms of the historical development, the 2001 resolution constituted a clear shift away from the legitimising of Apartheid (1973), to a position of neutrality (1990), to a position of criticism and a limited confession of guilt (2001).
The issue was again raised at the General Assemblies of 2004, 2007 and 2010, to which we will refer later. At this point it is enough to mention that the 2010 General Assembly of the NHKA rejected Apartheid as contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The 2010 resolution ended a 60 year debate on racial segregation and Apartheid.
Racial clauses in the church order
The Afrikaans speaking churches in South Africa exist as independent reformed churches since 1824. It was in that year that the British Governor of the Cape Colony, for the first time, gave permission to the Dutch (Afrikaans) speaking congregations to meet in a General Assembly (Algemene Kerkvergadering). This first General Assembly on African soil convened on 02 November 1824 in Cape Town.
On the agenda of the first General Assembly was the adoption of a Church Order for the reformed church in South Africa. The Algemeen Reglement voor het Bestuur der Nederduitsche Hervormde Kerk in Zuid-Afrika was the result (Pont 1991:216).
Barely 12 years later, in 1836, a number of Afrikaners became dissatisfied with British rule. There were several reasons for this dissatisfaction:
the economic recession
safety on the borders of the Cape Colony and the continuing Xhosa wars
too little compensation when the slaves received emancipation
the forced usage of English in public life, schools and churches.
All these factors convinced some Afrikaners to search for political freedom outside the British sphere of influence. Many of the emigrants were filled with the republican ideals of the French and Dutch Patriots of the time, opposed to any form of monarchy (see Beyers 1967). The result was a mass emigration to the north, beyond the borders of the Cape Colony. This migration became known as the Great Trek, or in Afrikaans Groot Trek.
Less than 3000 pioneers settled north of the Vaal River. In 1852, Great Britain granted political independence to these settlers with the signing of the Sand River Convention and the official establishment of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR).
On 05 March 1858, the parliament of the ZAR passed a Constitution which included several articles on the church (see Volksraad van die ZAR Grondwet, SA Archives Tvl. No. 3/496). These articles stated clearly that the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk would be the officially recognised church in the ZAR and as such would function as a national church – a church for the people (volkskerk).
The ZAR Constitution was strongly influenced by the French, Dutch and American revolutionary politics of the time (see Du Plessis 1968), which focused on the people and the will of the people. It was extremely anti-British and anti-monarchy, as well as pro-republican and pro-people. Every article of the Constitution starts with the clause 'Het volk wil ...' [The people will/want].
The ZAR Constitution stated clearly that the indigenous tribes would have no equal rights with the White settlers, neither in church nor in state (Article 9). It meant that Black people would be ministered to by missionaries at mission posts, whilst the NHKA would serve only White settlers. The NHKA became, through the ZAR Constitution, legally bound to serve only white people. The church followed the social order of the time without any objections. Through the Constitution a situation developed in the ZAR where church, government and people (volk) became an organically interwoven body. For many years there were to be no separation between church and state. Politics was religion, and vice versa. It became a way of life.
During the brutal Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), the ZAR lost its independence and the Afrikaners became British subjects once again. The war all but destroyed the NHKA. Less than ten thousand members of the NHKA survived the war. The war resulted in the destruction of approximately 80% of all farmsteads that had to be rebuilt after the war. The death of approximately 25% of the population in British concentration camps and on the battle field decimated the church membership. Most of the church buildings were burned by British troops. Only three ministers remained to serve in the NHKA.
As a result, the NHKA had very little feeling for the British imperialist government, but retained an organic relationship with the Afrikaner people. In a certain sense, the Afrikaans churches (both the NHKA and the NGK) was seen to be carrying forward the ideals of Afrikaner nationalism and freedom, which was lost on the battle field and in the political arena. These sentiments had a profound influence on the future developments in South Africa, more specifically in the Afrikaans churches.
The new political dispensation, with British rule, made changes to the Church Order necessary. In 1904 a new Church Order (NHKA 1904) was adopted, in which – for the first time – an article appeared (Article II) which stated that only White people could be members of the NHKA. It is clear, with the end of the ZAR and its Constitution the Church Order adopted an article with limitations on membership. This was continued in the revised Church Orders of 1925 and 1937.
The period after the Second Anglo-Boer War was marked by fierce anti-British sentiments and growing Afrikaner nationalism and idealism. Nationalist Afrikaners, under British domination, spent a lot of time and energy on creating a social order and society (in Africa) where they could maintain their own language, culture and religion. The result was separate living areas, separate amenities, separate schools and separate churches.
In 1951 the NHKA adopted a new Church Order (NHKA 1951), in which a new approach was evident. Article III of the Church Order stipulated that the Church would create indigenous churches, because the NHKA deemed it the best way of adhering to the great commission of Christ in Matthew 28. Article III was maintained until 1997.
The theological basis for this formulation in the Church Order was found in Dutch theology which supported the idea of a national church (volkskerk). In the Dutch theology two, or rather three, distinct schools of thought existed (Van Ruler 1958:3): The first was the 'theocratic' volkskerk concept as was found in the vision of Hoedemaker, Van Ruler and Wormser; the 'apostolic' volkskerk as was put forward by Kraemer; thirdly those who did not want anything to do with a volkskerk, like Kuyper and later Hoekendijk.
In the South African debate, the most important theologians quoted in support of a volkskerk, was J. Calvin, P.J. Hoedemaker, A.A. Van Ruler, H. Berkhof and H.J. Langman (Botha 1989:3–29). In Van Ruler's terms 'volkskerk' is understood as a church, which in all her actions and in all her words remains involved in the life of the people, letting the light of the Word shine upon society, so that government – in governing the people – can walk in this light (Botha 1989:27).
The volkskerk built on the ideal that the church should reach every corner of Afrikaner society with the gospel. Education, family life, government institutions and public life should be Christianised. The idea of such an ethnic church appealed to the Afrikaners in their search for identity and their nationalistic struggle for political freedom. It became the dominant paradigm in the discussion of Article III and limitation of membership of the church to White people.
In the Netherlands, a national volkskerk could not be perceived as racist, whilst in South Africa a nationalistic or ethnic church would immediately appear racist, especially with a clause in the Church Order which limited membership to White people only. In the Netherlands, the volkskerk was never limited to White people. The Dutch volkskerk theology could not be transplanted without painful distortion.
For 35 years (1959–1994) the levels of conflict and racial tension increased in South Africa. The African National Congress started the armed struggle with civil unrest and military action, whilst reprisals and attacks by the Police and South African Defence Force escalated. With time and in this context, the debate in the church became more and more ideologically driven. It became almost impossible for the church to discuss racism, Article III and Apartheid without ending in a political debate.
It was only in 1997, after 8 years of preparation, that the NHKA adopted a new Church Order (NHKA 1997). In this Church Order race was no longer mentioned in terms of membership. Article III with its racial clauses was dropped and replaced with Ordinance 4, which articulates the NHKA's choice to be a volkskerk, a church which ministers to the Afrikaner people as well as all other people. It meant (theoretically) that anybody, irrespective of race or nationality, could become a member of the NHKA.
It speaks for itself that the racial clauses in the Church Order and the NHKA position on Apartheid would affect its relationship with international ecumenical bodies.
In 1951, a mission conference was organised in Bloemfontein. A representative of the World Council of Churches (WCC), J.C. Hoekendijk, attended the conference. He presented a report to W.A. Visser t'Hooft, secretary-general of the WCC who decided to visit South Africa in 1952. Since then, the international ecumenical world had taken a more direct interest in race relations, Apartheid and the segregated churches of South Africa.
Initially the Afrikaans churches participated wholeheartedly in the ecumenical movement. The NHKA representatives to the 1954 WCC Assembly at Evanston joined the discussions with enthusiasm. This would shortly change.
The Second Assembly of the WCC declared in Evanston its conviction that any form of segregation based on race, colour or ethnic origin is contrary to the gospel, and is incompatible with the Christian doctrine of man and with the nature of the Church of Christ. The Assembly urged Churches within its membership to renounce all forms of segregation or discrimination and to work for their abolition within their own life and within society (Berkhof 1954:577–578). The South African delegates were alone in their defence of Apartheid. This started a process which was marked by conflict and strained relations, culminating in total isolation.
All the Reformed and some Pentecostal churches in South Africa, in one way or another, defended Apartheid. English churches were not outspoken defenders of Apartheid, but in reality practiced segregation.
A break in relations came with the Cottesloe Consultation, held in Johannesburg in December 1960. The direct stimulus for the Cottesloe Consultation was the riots at Sharpeville (March 1960). Approximately 10000 Black people marched on the police station at Sharpeville to protest the carrying of passes. Amidst growing tension the police fired more than 700 shots, wounding 180 people and killing 69 people. This resulted in a flood of protest from churches and governments all over the world.
During the Cottesloe Consultation churches were asked to condemn Apartheid as contrary to Christian principles and unworkable in practice. The Afrikaans speaking churches were not prepared to condemn Apartheid outright and openly. The result was a middle of the road declaration, which asked for justice, a living wage, abolition of job reservation and so on.
The NHKA disassociated itself from the Consultation. This forced the NGK to react similarly, in fear of losing many members to the NHKA.
Shortly thereafter, the NHKA met in a General Assembly and on 20 March 1961 it decided to terminate its membership of the WCC. The NHKA regarded the actions of the WCC as based on humanistic ideology and its support of revolution as double morality.
At the same time, Dr H.F. Verwoerd, the prime minister, led South Africa from the Commonwealth, and after a referendum, declared the country a republic. The fires of nationalism and republican idealism burned high. The Afrikaner republic, which was destroyed during the Second Anglo-Boer War and lost with the treaty of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902, was restored on 31 May 1961. Against this background, it became virtually impossible for the Afrikaans churches to disassociate with Apartheid.
Some Afrikaners viewed the international ecumenical bodies as the enemy, part of a communist master plan to dominate the world. This perception of the ecumenical bodies that came to the fore in the context of the 1960 Cold War and Afrikaner politics was clearly ideologically driven.
In 1982, the process repeated itself with the NHKA's suspension from World Alliance of Reformed Churches by the General Council of WARC in Ottawa, and its subsequent resignation from WARC.
The Ottawa meeting opened in a dramatic manner, when some of the South African delegates refused to take part in Holy Communion with the delegates of the Dutch Reformed Churches, due to their refusal (in South Africa) to allow Black people to celebrate Holy Communion in White congregations. The negative sentiments continued during the first week's plenary sessions, Bible studies and open hearing on South Africa.
The themes of the Ottawa meeting were: 'The covenant and the mission of the kingdom; the power of grace and the graceless powers; the theatre of glory and a threatened creation's hope'. In all the discussions, South Africa and racial discrimination featured prominently.
In the end, the General Council adopted a statement which condemned racism and Apartheid (Resolution on racism and South Africa).
The statement showed that Jesus Christ had affirmed human dignity and that the Gospel demanded a community of believers that transcended all barriers of race and that racism was a form of idolatry; it states:
Without denying the universality of racist sin, we must call special attention to South Africa. Apartheid (or Separate Development) in South Africa today poses a unique challenge to the church, especially the churches in the reformed tradition. The white Afrikaans churches of South Africa through the years have worked out in considerable detail both the policy itself and the theological and moral justification for the system. Apartheid ... therefore is a pseudo-religious ideology as well as a political policy. It depends to a large extent on this moral and theological justification. The division of Reformed churches in South Africa on the basis of race and colour is being defended as a faithful interpretation of the will of God and of the Reformed understanding of the church in the world ... The General Council of the WARC in Ottawa declares: The promises of God for his world and for his church are in direct contradiction to the Apartheid ideals and practices ... Therefore the General council declares that this situation constitutes a status confessionis for our churches, which means that we regard this as an issue on which it is not possible to differ without seriously jeopardizing the integrity of our common confession as Reformed churches ... We declare with Black Reformed Christians of South Africa that Apartheid is a sin, and that the moral and theological justification of it is a travesty of the Gospel and ... , a theological heresy.
(See WARC Ottawa Resolution)
The General Council further pointed out that the system of Apartheid created havoc by large scale deportation and forced removals, destroying families and community life. It constituted nothing less than oppression and injustice. As a result, the Ottawa Consultation declared a status confessionis with regard to Apartheid. Blei (1994) interprets it as follows:
Literally, status confessionis means a situation of confessing, a situation in which the confession of Jesus Christ is at stake. As it was stated in the Ottawa resolution itself: Declaring that a situation constitutes a status confessionis means that we regard this as an issue on which it is not possible to differ without seriously jeopardizing the integrity of our common confession. The Seoul general council dealt more elaborately with the status confessionis issue as such. 'Any declaration of a status confessionis stems from the conviction that the integrity of the gospel is in danger ...' It demands of the church a clear, unequivocal decision for the truth of the gospel, and identifies the opposite opinion, teaching or practice as heretical.
(Blei 1994)
The Ottawa Consultation also passed a resolution to suspend the membership of the NHKA and the NGK, and would only reconsider the reinstatement of membership if the Afrikaans if Black Christians would no longer be excluded from church services and Holy Communion; concrete support is given to those who suffered under Apartheid and an unequivocal synodic resolution rejecting Apartheid as sinful.
The NHKA General Commission met on 17 September 1982 and decided to resign its membership from the WARC. In a letter the secretary of the WARC, dated 06 October 1982, the General Commission not only withdrew the NHKA from the WARC but delivered a scathing attack on the WARC.
Resolutions by the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika on ecumenical relations
The NHKA General Assembly, over the years, passed several resolutions on ecumenical relations. A summary of some are presented here in an English version. The original resolutions are all in Afrikaans and can be found in the minutes of the various General Assemblies. These minutes are available in the NHKA Church Archive in Pretoria.
After 15 years of international ecumenical isolation, the General Assembly of the NHKA adopted a new Church Order in 1997 (NHKA 1997), which states clearly in Ordinance 6 the view of the NHKA on ecumenical relations:
The Church, as manifestation of the one, holy, catholic and Christian Church, keeps up ecumenical relations with other churches.
The Church gives expression to its fundamental and essential unity with other churches in the Reformed tradition by
maintaining good relations
consulting each other on faith, teaching and obedience to God
cooperation in ecumenical bodies and councils
celebrating in joint worship
the Church maintains consultations with churches and groups from other ecclesiastical traditions by explaining and defending its teachings, coming to a better understanding and support of each other
the Church is assisted by committee, which maintain consultations, do research and advise official assemblies.
(Ordinance 6)
The General Assembly of 2001 adopted the following resolution:
To take a positive stance to a more actual connection with ecumenical bodies namely WARC, the REC and the SACC;
The Ecumenical Board take up talks with the SACC;
To start corresponding with WARC;
To have talks with churches that are members of WARC and the REC;
To send observers to the SACC.
To take up correspondence with the Reformed Church in the Netherlands.
(General Assembly 2001)
The General assembly of 2004 took the resolution to further ecumenical contact by:
Applying for the reinstatement of its membership of WARC and the REC.
Applying for observer status of the SACC.
To take up relations with the Uniting Church of Australia.
During the 2004 meeting of WARC in Accra the NHKA sent two observers to Ghana with the instruction to explore membership of WARC and during 2005 a delegation of five members attended the Synod meeting of the REC in Utrecht during which the NHKA applied for membership that was unanimously accepted.
More recent developments
Against the background of the resolutions passed by the General Assembly of the NHKA as well as the articles of the Church Order, the General Commission of the NHKA started a process of rebuilding ecumenical relations. The re-evaluation of ecumenical relations led to an expansion of ecumenical activities by the NHKA. In recent years, several developments took place in terms of establishing ecumenical relations:
The NHKA maintains a close relationship with the Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ.
The NHKA is a founder member of the Tussen Kerklike Raad, which involves the NGK, Gereformeerde Kerke van Suid-Afrika as well as the NHKA.
The NHKA is a founder member of the Konvent van Reformatoriese Kerke van Suid-Afrika.
The NHKA established correspondence with the Presbyterian Church of South Africa, and is involved with the PBSA and the NGK in theological training at the University of Pretoria.
Correspondence and mutual visits were established with the Reformed Church of Australia.
The NHKA became a full member of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod in 2005.
Various contacts were built up with the Presbyterian churches of Uganda, Ghana, the Lutheran Church of South Africa as well as the Roman Catholic Church.
The single most important development was the request of the NHKA to the WARC Executive, that its membership of this body should be reinstated. The WARC Executive responded positively and a letter the NHKA received in 20051 the Executive Committee of WARC resolved to:
begin a two year process with the expectation that a recommendation can be made on the readmission of the NHK to the next Executive Committee in 2007
in the process, the Executive Committee advises the NHK to undertake the following steps within two years:
NHKA needs to demonstrate to the churches in South Africa and the world that NHKA fully and completely rejects apartheid as sin and the theological and biblical justification of it as heresy. This will include a full public recognition of the sinfulness of apartheid and its biblical and theological justification that were used to support it as heretical. In this light we would like to see the full text of the adopted resolution from the NHKA General Assembly on the heresies of Apartheid.
The NHKA needs to strengthen ecumenical ties among churches in South Africa and begin the reconciliation process at the local and national levels. If NHKA is still not a member church of the South African Council of Churches, then WARC would like to see NHKA taking steps in becoming a member of SACC.
The NHKA needs to demonstrate steps in becoming a key player in contributing to the transformation of South African churches by bringing racial integration and harmony. A good example is for NHK to make public commitment in church union with black churches with which it once belonged together.
The executive committee authorizes a visit to NHKA and its key partners during the twelve months before the next Executive Committee meeting in 2007.
The 68th General Assembly (2007)
The process, as set out in letter of the WARC, was implemented in the course of 2006. A delegation from the WARC, including representatives from South African churches, had long discussions with several churches in South Africa, but especially the General Commission of the NHKA.
During the discussions the delegations of the WARC and the NHKA agreed that the NHKA had met the first two conditions of the Ottawa resolution. The outstanding issue was the question of a public confession on Apartheid.
The previous Commission of the General Assembly agreed to put these additional conditions to the 68th General Assembly and formulated different proposals to this effect.
The Church was informed of the history behind the proposals and the need for accepting the proposals in various meetings and conferences, facilitated by the Commission of the General Assembly. The following Joint Resolution was presented to the General Assembly:
Both the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) express their desire to restore the membership of the NHKA after their withdrawal from the Alliance in 1982 following their suspension by the 21st General Council, and to see the NHKA warmly welcomed back into active membership with full privileges in the family of WARC.
1. As part of this action, the Alliance reaffirms its repudiation of any theological justification of apartheid as a matter of status confessionis for the churches inasmuch as such a theological justification is a travesty of the gospel and in its persistent disobedience to the Word of God, a theological heresy.2
2. As part of this action, the NHKA through its General Assembly, meeting in 2007, within the framework of the decision of WARC (paragraph 1 above), assures the Alliance that it rejects apartheid as wrong and sinful not simply in its effects and operations but also in its fundamental nature.
3. WARC pledges to continue to work pastorally with the NHKA and other churches in Southern Africa in the process of unity and reconciliation.
4. Upon visible concrete changes expressed clearly in all NHKA instruments of governance and intent for church unity called for in the WARC team visit of June 2006 by the NHKA General Assembly of 2007, and after the WARC Executive Committee of 2007 is fully satisfied that is the case, the NHKA will be re-admitted into WARC
Both WARC and the NHKA give thanks to God for this act of reconciliation and pray that it will strengthen the joint witness of all Reformed Churches both in Southern Africa and throughout the world.
(NHKA 2007:178)
The Commission of the General Commission, in a letter to the WARC Executive (dated September 2006) inter alia undertook the following:
The Commission of the General Assembly would like to reiterate the importance of our ecumenical relations with other Reformed Churches. We are convinced that it is necessary for the NHKA, in our search for the Truth, to not only to listen to the Holy Scripture but also to the voices of other churches. We recognise the importance of these voices for our understanding of issues such as Apartheid.
The General Commission respect the delegation's interpretation that the NHKA did not yet meet the three resolutions adopted by the Ottawa Conference for the Church's readmission to the WARC. However, the General Commission interpreted the recent events and resolutions passed by the General Assembly differently, as became clear in the opening address of the Moderator.
In spite of different interpretations, the Commission will present this matter to the 68th General Assembly for discussion. The exact wording, as proposed by the WARC delegation, will be part of the agenda and the General Assembly will take its decision based on that wording.
The Commission took notice of the view expressed by the WARC delegation, that the confession of guilt as professed by the 66th General Assembly was inadequate. As a confession of guilt is an extremely important matter to the NHKA, the Commission will present the confession, which formed the basis of the confession of guilt professed by the NG Church and formulated by the WARC, unaltered to the 68th General Assembly.
(Letter from the General Commission to WARC, September 2006)
Parts of this letter were also included in the Agenda of the General Assembly 2007 (pp. 179–180). After extensive discussions, the Commission of the General Assembly formulated the following proposal to the General Assembly (NHKA 2007:181, translated into English):
The 68th General Assembly concludes that Apartheid cannot be justified and that we reject Apartheid because it:
is contradictory to the gospel of Jesus Christ
is based on the idea that people cannot be reconciled
sanctions injustice
scars the image of God in people.
We confirm the theological character of this resolution.
(NHKA 2007:181 [translated into English])
The proposal was vigorously debated and eventually dismissed by a very slim majority of 262 votes against 260. The General Assembly, however, requested the General Commission to continue with discussions with the Executive Committee of the WARC. The agenda of these discussions were the conditions which the WARC had set for the re-admittance of the NHKA. The 69th General Assembly would then take a final decision on the matter.
During the 68th General Assembly, the Commission of the General Assembly also proposed a change to Ordinance 4 of the Church Order, which would remove any reference to the NHKA as a volkskerk (ethnic church) for the Afrikaners.
It is important to note, that the General Assembly accepted this proposal, but without the sufficient percentage (66%) to change the Church Order. This represents a significant vote and reflects a changing attitude.
The General Assembly also affirmed its commitment to and good relationship with the Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ (MRCC). A translation of the decision taken by the General Assembly is as follows:
The General Assembly professes the unity between the NHKA and the MRCC which already exists in Jesus Christ.
The Assembly is grateful that this unity could be maintained over a period of 80 years and prays that it will become more visible in future.
The Assembly wishes to support congregations of the NHKA in their missionary witness to the world, in partnership with congregations of the MRCC.
In obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Assembly requests the Commission of the General Assembly to continue with a process of structured co-operation, so that the unity that already exists in terms of the churches' confession, theological training, mission work, diaconia, finance and administration can become more visible, with the understanding that the particularities of the two churches will be respected.
The Commission of the General Assembly receives instruction to re-examine the NHKA's understanding of church unity and the way in which it manifested in the past in relationship with other churches. This includes discussions with the sister churches as well as the MRCC on unity and models of church unity. The Commission will inform the Church on progress and will stimulate debate on this matter.
The 69th General Assembly will take further decisions on structured co-operation as well as structural unity.
The 68th General Assembly also confirmed the previous General Assembly's decision to apply for observer status at the SACC. This has been granted officially, in writing, by the SACC. The implication of this is that the NHKA is member of all the major ecumenical bodies in South Africa, as well as the REC but not of the WARC. After the 68th General Assembly, the NHKA was informed by the WARC that:
The Executive Committee received a report on how close the NHKA General Assembly came to passing the recommendations that would have made it possible for WARC to readmit the NHKA. The Executive Committee received this with much pain, because we looked forward so much to the readmittance of the NHKA. Unfortunately, with this trend of events, the Executive Committee had no other choice but to retain the status quo – which is to remain in the state of suspension.
(NHKA 2007b)
During 2009, the WARC Executive paid a visit to the NHKA in Pretoria. This meeting ended in a dead-end street with very little progress. In response to the negative outcome of the discussions between the NHKA General Commission and the WARC delegation, five NHKA theologians (A.G. van Aarde, J. Buitendag, Y. Dreyer, E. van Eck and J.A. Loader made a public announcement in which they rejected Apartheid as contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This resulted in a renewed debate in the NHKA on Apartheid.
In the declaration (see NHKA 2009:16–18) the five professors stated that a moment of truth has presented itself, through the work of the Holy Spirit, to the NHKA. The moment of truth pertains to an unequivocal rejection of Apartheid as contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they declare (in translated form) that Apartheid, in practice and essence, is a sin and any theological justification of it a grave error. The declaration continues by discussing the implications of a gospel of love as well as unity and diversity in the church. The declaration ends with a prayer in which the guilt of the church is confessed and an invitation to other ministers to also sign the declaration.
The actions of the five theologians resulted in several congregations sending letters to the General Commission, in which they express their disproval. Formal charges were laid against them. The General Commission attended to the matter and diffused the situation by referring it to the 69th General Assembly (26 September – 02 October 2010). This was done by submitting the same proposal to the 68th General Assembly (NHKA 2010:343–344). In this proposal it is stated that Apartheid is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ, based on the idea of human irreconcilability, sanctions injustice and damages the image of God in people.
After intense debate, the proposal was passed as Resolution 54 by a majority of 245 against 173 votes.
The proposal to remove the term volkskerk from the Church Order was also accepted with a majority of votes, but less than 66%.
The joint WARC and the REC Consultation (Grand Rapids 2010) approved a proposal to merge. A new ecumenical body, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, came into existence. The NHKA remained excluded from membership from the newly formed WCRC.
In the next few years, a process of consultation will have to take place between the NHKA and the WCRC to plot a way forward which could end 30 years of international isolation.
Berkhof, H., 1954, 'Evanston', Wending 9(9), 577-578. [ Links ]
Blei, K., 1994, 'Apartheid as a status confessionis', Studies from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Volume 25, viewed n.d., from http://www.warc.ch/dcw/bs25/11.html [ Links ]
Botha, A.J., 1986, Die evolusie van 'n volksteologie, LWK Drukkery, Bellville. [ Links ]
Botha, S.J. (ed.), 1989, Belydende Volkskerk, Pretoria, Kital. [ Links ]
Dreyer, W.A., 1995, 'Kerk, volk en owerheid – 'n Hervormde Perspektief', unpublished DD-dissertation, University of Pretoria. [ Links ]
Du Plessis, T.A., 1968, 'Jacobus Stuart', in W.J. De Kock (red.), Suid-Afrikaanse Biografiese Woordeboek, I, Tafelberg Uitgewers, Kaapstad. [ Links ]
Giliomee, H., 2004, Die Afrikaners, Tafelberg Uitgewers, Kaapstad. [ Links ]
Murray, A.H., 1962, The political philosophy of JA De Mist, HAUM, Cape Town. [ Links ]
NHKA, 1904, Kerkwet en Bepalings, NHKA Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 1951, Kerkwet en Bepalings van die Ned. Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, NHKA Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 1973, Herderlike Skrywe aan die lidmate van die NHKA met betrekking tot vokere verhoudings in die RSA, Akte van Kommisie van die Algement Vergarding, NHKA Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 1990, Kerk en Politiek, NHKA, Kerk Argiewe Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 1997, Kerkorde van die Ned. Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, NHKA Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 2001, Notule van die Algemene Kerkvergadering, NHKA Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 2004, Agenda van die Algemene Kerkvergadering, Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 2005, Correspondence WARC / NHKA, Acts of the Commission of the General Assembly, NHKA Church Archives, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 2007, Besluitebundel van die Algemene Kerkvergadering, NHKA Church Archives, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 2007b, Correspondence WARC / NHKA, Acts of the Commission of the General Assembly, NHKA Church Archives, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 2009, Notule van die Handelinge van die Kommissie van die AKV 4–5 Junie 2009, NHKA Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
NHKA, 2010, Agenda van die 69e Algemene Kerkvergadering, NHKA Kerkargiewe, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Pont, A.D., 1991, Historiese Agtergronde van ons Kerklike Reg Deel 2, Kital, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Van Rensburg A.P.J., 1974, Aspekte van die geskiedenis van Afrika, Pretoria, HAUM. [ Links ]
Van Ruler, A.A., 1958, Heeft het nog zin, van 'Volkskerk' te spreken?, Geschriften betreffende de Orde der Ned.Herv. Kerk, No. 8 H. Wageningen: Veeneman & Zonen. [ Links ]
Van Wyk, D.J.C., 1978, Volkerevehoudings in Suid-Afrika, HAUM, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Volksraad van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, Grondwet, SA Archives Tvl. No. 3/496. Government Press, Pretoria. [ Links ]
World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 1982, 'Ottawa 1982', viewed n.d., from http://www.warc.ch/dcw/bs25/03.html [ Links ]
Wim Dreyer
Postal address: 19 Elephant Street, Monument Park, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Email: wim.dreyer@up.ac.za
Accepted: 01 Sept. 2010
1. The complete correspondence between the WARC Secretary-General and the Commission of the General Church Assembly of the NHKA is available at the Archives of the NHKA in Pretoria.
2. For the purposes of this resolution, the word 'heresy' is to be interpreted in terms of the following extract from the pastoral letter to the Dutch Reformed Church from the Alliance: 'There has been some confusion over what the Ottawa General Council meant when it called the theological justification of apartheid "heresy". This term should not be understood to imply "excommunication". WARC is not a church but a fellowship of churches; therefore, it possess no authority to excommunicate. WARC does not presume to judge whether those who in the past taught the rightness of apartheid will be damned or saved. Reformed people leave the dead to the merciful judgment of God. WARC intended to convey its profound concern for the responsibility of the living church to teach faithfully the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the teachers of the church stand under God's judgment, accountable for their stewardship of the mysteries of God. "Heresy" is persistent and deliberate teaching of false doctrine after the error has been pointed out by the wider church. This term conveys WARC's conviction that the theological justification if apartheid was not simply an "error" in stating doctrine or a disagreement in matters where there is freedom to disagree but rather a fundamental perversion and deformation of the heart of the gospel.'
AOSIS Publishing
Postnet Suite #110, Private Bag X19, Durbanville, Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA, 7551,
Tel: +27 21 975 2602, Tel: 086 1000 381
publishing@aosis.co.za


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firema, we don't give words, we give clues, but we usually don't give clues until later when we have more words found.
hay, Fran - the icon is a pic of my new niece and nephew - born this morning!
de 9 - woo hoo!
how cool TnC! are they identical or fraternal?
Karen, Are you in here?
they are fraternal, the left is Maria and the right is Jackson.
cybernan -- is your icon an image of Handel?
didn't you say niece and nephew a while back?
oh, I did - I am tired!
my best friend has twin boys, fraternal, and peple arguw with her all the time that they can't be twins because they don't look alike!
including the nurse at her pediatrician's office!
I have twin nieces, believe it or not they are fraternal--one is blonde and blue; the other brown and brown.
LOL Fran .... I love this grid! Busy busy, not watching what I'm doing.
i know, finally a fun one!
And for all you ladies - join me for gi 4/6 and lemon?
thanks for that reminder angel!
don't mind if i do angb!
Hi my dear babble buddies!
what an improvement this is over yesterday's grid!!
morning oggie -- you're up bright and early!
late flip -- and another monster -- too tired to even think about it.
Jilli it's lovely. Have a go !!!!
Fran you reading my mind again?
maybe so angb...are you thinking of a fruit smoothie?
hugs, is that a second de8?
yes, I know. I was answering what I thought were hugabugs questiongs.
Karen, you didn't say goodbye.
we don't type words into the chat rainwaker, only clues.
Nice ... it's summer it's meant to be ... no snow or sleet here - just pure blue skies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No - silly enough be were inside - ten pin bowling.
W8 is probably mentioned already?
Too true you need air con in this heat.
nope, just started, I have 1 W8.
how many sh 7s are there?
hi kier sprite & eveyone I missed!
oh sprite! 10 K words!
Did I ever mention I hate K words?
speaking of psycho, i was watching "the watcher" the other day kier.
K's are done and so am I! niters, everyone!
OK FOR THE RECORD I AM NOT SAYING KEANU IS THE BEST ACTOR IN THE WORLD.
does anyone know how many in this cube?
All the best for you and yours too!
Nope, no winter here, just eternal autumn. We have rain, rain, rain, storm, rain and some more rain.
oh -- rose. very beautiful!
want to go for -10?
I'd love some snow and ice, preferably with subzero temperatures during the day and a nice, sharp winter sun to go with it.
no nan, we do NOT want to go for -10!
oh man, it rains here way more than i am comfortable with!
What I don't like is that the ed7 is valid, but the ad7 is not.
yay! -- greyed the k box!
must take care of my kids for a little bit, back soon.
we have had 15 major storms and ONE full day of sun since Halloween. Snow is still on the ground although melting but more is forecast for tomorrow. Bah.
jillibus are you on teh coast side of BC?
forecast here is for snow also jilli -- ugh!
nan -- who is your historical figure?
Oh what is the theme?
kier - you crack me up!
ya'll are so creative. i can't decide on a favorite so i went with my standby.
dumb di6, i've never seen this spelling, but i guess i shouldn't be surprised.
okay, i looked up the di6 and it makes sense now.
A real gentleman and very humble. As well as being famous in NZ if not further afield.
Angb -- good choice, and a Kiwi too!
hugs, you are on fire tonight!
Nan why did you chose handel?
nan -- you still haven't said who your choice is -- or did I miss it?
very nice kier! except i wasn't complaining about keanu!
i sure hope he wasn't killed by the Filipinos too.
Helen -- one of our Dane litteres contained a pup who kept leaping off things and we called him Evel (Knievel) -- his new owners didn't understand and didn' t like thename.
100 - 1 -7, no 8's & no 9's !
I used to have this sweet but psychotic cat who would zoom around the house 90 mph... I called her Mario (Andretti). People always called her "him".
most of the big ones share a common ending so once you find one, you'll be trucking along again helen.
My dear old cat has quite a vocabulary -- she Mrrps and says Hewwo and yells sometimes and then says oh when I tell her to be quiet.
this is such a fun grid!!
abe lincoln? what did he do?
volley -- it was a busy day -- library shift and then grocery shopping - didn't get supper until 8 pm, many phone calls -- yes, I'm beat!
poor thing! I hope tomorrow is better for you!!
don't take this the wrong way jilli, but you really should go.
let's all shun jillibus until she goes to bed.
yay... K's, W's and G's all done and 100 left. good stopping point.
you still in the middle of the Pacific?
lol sprite! now i can give you clues.
I have ka4, kh4 x 2, ki4, ki5. And I tried about 9,532 other ones.
Hello KH. Are you still here?
ka4 and ka5, kh5, ki6 and kr4 are what you're missing sprite.
I don't have a split personality. My wife's visiting her parents in Nevada, and she's logged on under my name also.
I just tried kihi. Does that mean I am desperate or just creative?
hah - i finally found the key to the biggies!
She's the k in mkl.
Thanks Fran, only the Ki6 left to find, thanks to your clues.
Hi all can I get a word count today?
yay sprite! Ks conquered again!
Somehow my usual eye-for-words goes completely blind when the word starts K. I should have seen that Ki6 a long time ago of course.
sprite - you inspired me, i just greyed the k!
kier - how do you know?
says she is still online... that insomniac!
she just doesn't log out kier, neither do i.
i have 105 left, but i have to go do some page layout stuff. i'll see you all later!
remind me - the hairy dolphin?
i4 babblet, Angb. Hairy-nosed dolphin.
For some reason that word always makes me smile.
I know the feeling, diem! Hi, just look for a promising ending and you will feel better.
lol kier! That is scary.
We have our own language!
yep, babble puzzle archive number 952.
lol Angb, isn't that the truth!
lol Angb, sorry to hear that!
ok, let's try this: it starts with 'raised platform', followed by 'to walk' with other last vowel.
da7 is the 'normal' spelling, by the way.
Glad you found it, Angb.
Have you the in 7 that USers do to their presidents?
Yes, thanks! It helped me find in7 and in8 too.
in7/32 latin plural, in8/50 past tense.
the in7 that USers do to presidents?? heh?
ok i am getting 6 more words and then going to bed.
Yes, it is almost the same word. You need to insert a vowel after the in.
are there any other Brits here?
Oh, and Angb, your in7 has an en7 brother.
holy bajoles, i got the 9 all by my lonesome!
wtg kier! That's such a kick, isn't it.
yes, and such a rare rare occurence for this babbler!
Me too kier. I spend 1/2 hour each day at flip trying to ignore the clues hoping that I will get the odd 8 or 9.
OK where are my words going?
We had the usual 2.00 am hiccup of the site, guys, it is over now.
Would someone care to clue the sh8?
mkl, it starts with a part of your underleg that hurts like hell when you bump it against the bedpost... and it is a past tense verb.
Crap. I have all the words around it. It should stick out like a sor thumb. Can't find it though.
ren8, good morning to you from an equally yucky holland.
we have torrential rain and 80mph winds today, how nice!!
ok, enable again. All I have left are W words. Hunting them down monkeying brought me Wi5/20, no def found wherever.
Best way to clue it is "I wi5 a merry christmas"
Does any of you know what it means, beside being an anagram? I googled it and all I found was it being used as soundword for the sound willowtrees make.
Yay sprite. Gee well done. I still have 97 left. Will need now to wait till tomorrow.
One entry found for wisha.
I am so lucky that the flip is at 7 am here.
Oh oh oh SummerBreeze.... that is posting a word twice!
Morning diem :-) Hope you are OK. I've booked the venue for the wedding and put on offer in on a house, that will teach mum to be away for a fortnight!!
The wedding is on the 3rd of May 2008 which is a saturday :-) Now the saving begins!!
The house is about 5 mins from Mums and really handy for the motorway which is ideal for both of us.
I couldn't believe it myself. I was expecting a call from him last night but he was probably 'tired and emotional' by that point.
Katie when will you know about the house?
I'm being serious here, but we play them on Saturday, not good timing! we are going to sort out the finances tomorrow.
Gotta go and do some work. See you later.
Good morning/evening all - this looks like a nice grid.
Hi Haz.....I'm here for a while...got to go out !!!
of course you didn't Fran...there wasn't one was there ?
there's supposed to be a sh8 that starts with the leg part, still haven't found it.
thanks sugar! i never see that one.
i have all the Ks if you get stuck on those andree.
have a go at the k,s Andree, I did and managed to find 7 of them. If I can, so can you!
saving 73 for tomorrow. good night everyone!
Fran sh8 got 1st 4 letters seen the clues been at it for ages any different clues ?
It's a past tense, diem, if that's any help.
what does the 9 start with??
morning everyone - how goes it with you?
Good morning Denny - cold, windy, but a nice grid to compensate.
Roof is intact so far. And I'm not going to investigate any further.
It's an easy grid today with all of these delicious suffixes.
Taking a quick housework break.
You are exactly right :D I thought that myself several times.
does anyone have all the Gs?
gi4, 6 and another 4?
ahh that was the one I needed - do you have the gi4/7?
Babble, your quote by William Styron is very accurate... unfortunately.
Been there. Just can't give up.
lol, not sure yet. Just started!
good morning everyone. Been here for a while, but just got through the first run through. Nice grid!
sunny, you are welcome to e-mail me. I have similar difficulties. Sometimes it is good to chat to someone who "understands".
hi sugar. How are things?
Good tx Biltong, has your daughter gone back now?
Yes. Unfortunately, it is jut a memory now. She was only here for two weeks. Went back on the 30th Dec already.
Never mind, thats 18 days less to the next visit!
lol, you're right! I might have to go to SA in April to sort out a few things. Here's hoping!
Super! Is this your first time going back?
oh, I see. Don't know why, but I thought you'd been here longer. I am sure I'll see you in the chat before you go but, just in case, take care and have a fab time.
tx Biltong, let me know if I can post anything from the Cape for you, or perhaps contact anyone by phone?
Does anyone have clues for the top right o's, please?
Although I am sure I won't have to take you up on your kind offer.
ok, down to some serious hunting now.
and tx to Une as well!
nite all. Hubby has tim-tams and coffee for me. Need a good cuddle! May take you up on your offer Biltong..... Thx for the peace Babble.
Please do sunny. I could also do with a chat. Sleep well.
I hope this grid is gentler with me than yesterday's. A word total please?
The sun is just rising here, and all manner of orange colors. Cery pretty against the (yuk) snow.
hi all... any help for the upper left R pls?
ah...thx guys...those were killing me.
not all k words, chiley!
No re words, so that's nice!
hi kate, how you doing today?
Hi Kate. where are you?
What about the childs toy?
that's it kate, be strong!!!!
and thank you kanga, thats the k's greyed out!
Hello Scrabbler - was on earlier and enjoyed the first part of the grid. My house is now clean, so my conscience is clear to start finding the rest.
How are the temperatures now, lynxxx? Any improvement?
Mousey--have you turned yourself into a third inge????
mousey whats your dogs name?
Too bad, lynxxx - I had hoped things were improving.
You are TOO funny, mousey. So, are you studying German too? Inge and Inge2 speak German, kleine Jungen. Auf Deutsch BITTE!
okay you passed my test. Why arn't you at school?
there was a report in Queensland today that a guy tried to grab a 16 yo girl but her dachy attacked the man biting him on the legs causing him to flee.!! Yay for Dachies!
bye, and do come back!
thats brilliant lynxxx, go sausage doggies!
Does mousey know that inge is a girl's name? Or is that part of the intrigue?
I don't think he knows.
hodag, he's your grandson, right?
yes he is and a very good one I might add.
He is an adult trapped in a boy's body.
oops 2nd graders in reading because he has a 4th grade reading levle,he is also a second grader!
Is he even the least bit challenged academically at school? I worry about the bright, gifted kids getting the "special education" that they need but don't often get in schools because of budget constraints or teachers that don't know what to do with these kids.
at times but he works well with it and he is still alittle boy and he acts like one.
I have 2 8's so far--anybody find the 9?
I have the 9, want me to clue it?
TY Hazel, lynxx, and chiley--got all 3!
Anyone got the i from the top row?
Yes, just let me check.
sorry - I come from Africa, but I don't know it!
Scrabbler, yes, that's the one.
Bye Scrabller, have a good day.
very well thanks - you?
pretty good, evan, how be you?
I am good, and you, Evandine?
rather chilly, but otherwise well -- TGIalmostF!
foggy as the weather this morning, evanadine.. hello, all... how's the grid today?
Gotta scoot and get busy. Be back later this afternoon. Have a good day everyone!
how did you all do last night? I fell asleep on my first ever game!!! Figured out how it all works a wee bit too late in the game lol. Tx for all your help.
hi adhd.. welcome to Babble!!!
Okay, what dense thing am I missing with the hi 7 please?
mom... how do you google a clue?
i was not thanking all of you for feeding my addiction lol. i meant thanks for the welcome.
how do u google a clue?
can someone tell me how to google a clue?
Copy the clue text into google and hey presto!
copy it, bring up google and paste it in.hi all!
where is the clue text?
AD, for instance, earlier chiley clued the da 7, African garb, thus, I assume african garb was Googled.
THERE IS CLUE TEXT????? WHERE?????
Sorry, didn't mean to yell!!!!
oh boy, hello to all joining..
i am confused (easy to do) about the scoring... how come some words r worth more if they have the same amount of letters?
no bother, sorry if i came off that way!
its just a lot easier to point you there, since it will probably answer all of your questions.
my monkeys must be gone.
got it tx... i hear that horse. gotta go put him back in the stall.
is it just me, or is there a HELL of a lot of -ing words today?
what are you talkING about? i keep lookING and i am not findING too many. if you are seeING lots of the, would you consider passING them my way?
ings and esses make me happy!
try adding all of the consonants surrounding that A tile onto the beginning for many more words!
what is the common ending?
evaN, was you birthday the ninth?
good mornin all! Hows the grid today?
off to babysit for a few hours. catch y'all later. have fun. i wonder if there is anyway for us to have a common website (our own) to post clues as we find words for us all to share.
fire residue plus today's popular end***.
tx Wolvie, tried everything BUT that!
brb, off to get another cup..
what is the theme today??
so many i's and d's, and yet no "idiot"
sugar, I'm right behind you!
STOP your guys are NOT Idiots!!
okay, evan, is your birthday 2/9? do we have a big celebration on that day?
evan, the countdown will continue!
its funny because the same day is my BFs friends bday -- and the friends GFs bday is the same day as my BFs!
Yes Peri, just like you!
that's the spirit, Peri (no pun intended)!!!
peri -- youve got 2 more 8s than i do!
katie -- what you fly in the sky.
well why didn't anyone acknowledge it then?
KH4 = KH + present tense of "to be"
never mind annie, think of all the angst you've saved them!
peri, clue for the sh8?
movie, don't fight with us, we were just busy in the grid!
dpo -- i think its spelled "waning"
is there 42 ing endings?
aloy...did you get the past tense of the de6/21 that formed the de9/72?
you should have 4 8's now that were just clued.
feel free to clue it, movieman!
ty, mm... needed that one!
ok, thats 6 for me now!
peri -- trade the past tense ending for the ever-so-popular one!
did I miss a clue for the da8?
*whew* that all my 8s done!
careful pappa -- its an -ING mess today!
do you have the pl, fit1?
Thanks, une. I'll ne4/5 it!
good luck with that , Jac - wear thick gloves!
Going to get padded and gauntleted. BBL.
I had to ask for help on a four letter word yesterday!!!!
aloy said a woooord . . .
Jeez, finally got it. I was like a deer in headflights, couldn't see it for looking.
ty, wolvie... missed that one..
une -- are you listing all of your 7s?
that's a de7/32 isn't it?
the de6/21 ISN'T the "keeping someone against their will" one then?
tiny...the progressive of the at 5. remember to drop the vowel before adding the suffix!
whoa wolvie...would never have got that one..thanks!
ooh that's going back in time! no stats up today or something?
good afternoon, Wolvie, and thanks.
bless you, babbler, feel better!
ty for the 8 too!
I spent an undue amount of time trying to get the in 7 & 8. Felt good though!
2xin/7 movieman, which one have you got?
i dont' have either in7...could you clue both please?
Thx, easy today ... NOT!
lori...did you clue a different in6 then 8?
hi all, are there any gn words?
got yours sugar...but still can't figure out lori's 8.
why rae? are you feeling well?
movie, do we both still need 2x7's?
:) yay someone else was up too!!
toss and turn toss and turn - finally got up and played Scrabble on line.
why are you yelling T Owl?
checking a paper for errors?
morning all. the gird was fun today! Fireworks for me.
Hi Angel - Congrats - although I can't agree with you!
*grid, I meant to say. monkeys get a little nuts sometimes.
ok now i am lost: i need to ad de to an ed 4/5 then b**?
TO -- no, that was a misclue.
got all the 7s.......at last!!!!!!!!
my phantom word for today -- "shitake"
my phantom word for today - "rickshaws"
ok..i need the 22. clue please?
dispatch -- hints for your first K5?
*whew* got all the Ks now...thanks!
the d's and t's seem to be the most troublesome today.
I was called away and am still needing the ta/7 with the scottish beginning, please?
is it impossible to clue, hurshy?
what does the 9 start with, please, and is it a plural?
i need a couple more 8's, too. got de, id, in, sw, sw, wi. help?
still not getting the ta/7?
is the sh one of these lovely participles?
Could someone help me with the ea6/24?
Oh my....and I missed THAT?
the bottom middle S, are all 5 of them SN?
well, i have a babblet, a 5, and 2 4's i know.
ENGLISH ......A wonderful and expressive language.
§ I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
§ The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.
§ To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
§ When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.
§ A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
§ Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.
§ We'll never run out of math teachers because they always multiply.
§ When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U C L A.
§ The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
§ If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.
§ A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.
§ A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
§ Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
§ A backward poet writes inverse.
§ A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
§ If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.
§ With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
§ Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.
§ When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
§ The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
§ You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
§ He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
§ A calendar's days are numbered.
§ A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
§ A boiled egg is hard to beat.
§ He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
§ Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
§ When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
§ When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
§ Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
§ Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
§ Acupuncture: a jab well done.
Hursh, 3 4's, 2 5's.
hiya - i'm a day person for a while - need my rest - 5 weeks post-op today.
shalom ARB - how does onesay good afternoon?
oh dear. serves me right for ignoring the k.
or are you clear into "erev tov"?
erev tov, then. glad I caught you.
Sorry, hello to all. Had to flip laundry and re-fill coffee.
How are you feeling Melon? Stronger, I hope.
ARB, i may have tried to bounce back to gast. seeing the doc today because i have a tummy that feels like a water balloon. probably normal recovery, but i need reassurance.
It's a strange looking word, flosey.
l'hit smooth papa - that was such a lovely goodbye to ARB.
gi4, gi6... more gi, or need i find gn's?
gi6 - plied with a clear drink?
so, what's the fourth one?
Buttonman do you have da4/5? It's the starting point and is an anagram of the past tense of say.
gi4 - mixed up French novelist in the past?
is that ta 7/28 the only T7?
Okay, Buttonman. Now think of a word that means a stiff walk through the countryside. It rhymes with a type of fish and a two-wheeled mode of transport. Add it to the da4/5, BUT change the final vowel for another one.
Back for my last few words. Perhaps lunch helped.
nobody got my Andre Gi** (mixed up) clue????
I had the word, but got your clue, melon.
OOOOOOOOOOOO such great clues! Thank you one and all!
ah, tx bunny, what would I do without you?
can someone clue the ta6's please?
or just the first one.
oh, i just realized that the 6/7 combo are the only ta's i have!
and can you clue whatever other ta6 you have?
thanks hurshy...i don't have the other one yet...i just didn't want to be too greedy...sorry.
i thought it was a tropical island mentioned in "kokomo"
i have reached the dreaded 14!!
it may be but I buy it at the Deli !
Done. Wasn't too bad, a lot of them build off one another.
and just two ig's also, right?
got the io4, hints on the other?
hmmm, what in am i missing then?
in8, please? i have all the other 8s & want to take a nap!
i have the in7/36 but not the 32 - further hint????
bunny -- finally get to see your pirate bunny today -- *SO* cute!
ooooh, a bunny pirate! hide your carrots!
the IN words... have... 2 of each length up to 7?
I've whiled away most of my morning. Cool. Have a great day all!
oh. that's not so bad. it's weird.
Were you born in Milwaukee?
It's a great place to have left!
No, but then people travel!
aha! may i have a clue for it?
Sisters can be sisters from different parents, you know.
It's like what a horse says past tense, whi*****.
phew, 7's done. thanks bunny.
I guess not really says...unless it's Mr Ed.
da8 - if you have the da4/5 - small platform, add a stiff walk through the countryside, but change the final vowel. The stiff walk rhymes with a two-wheeled vehicle.
anyone got any weird non-plural W5's?
Duh, that's a plural . .
what about weird D5's (non-combo)?
ahh, got all my Ws now!
clue for the first ha6/27, please?
tx haz, so simple when you put it that way!
2 si words, or 3?
you can plural THAT one??? good golly.
and even he sa4, she sa4!
Buttonman - da4/5 IS the small platform. da plus I am , you are , he **.
Then add the ending to make it da8. All you are doing is adding one vowel to the da7.
Am I the only one who wore a da7/52 in the 70's???
I'm sure you cut a fine figure, torgone.
bunny how are my adopted grandchilden??
ALL in school! Fig and Chops started last week, I'm free!!
hi everyone, nice grid today.
Ok, maybe a little bit. But it's nice getting in and out of Wal Mart in under an hour.
I dontwant to stop you magzel!!
Good clue bunny I couldnt think of one!!
Leave off vowel and past tense for the in 8.
good morning, everyone -- once again the weatherman has proved correct and we are enveloped in a cocoon of snow -- visibility is about half a kilometer at the moment.
Haz are you still there?
We actually had a little snow Cyber, but nothing like that. I'm watching it melt. Hope you don't need to leave the house.
Mag, this is easier, ka 4/9 & kh 5/22 are the same.
thanks bunny, now how did you know i needed that?
sounds bad, cait -- we will probably just have lots of fender benders today.
Yuck. We had all our fender benders Monday. Lotsa ice. No storms thankfully. Poor guy, had to be some strong wind.
You all cope with the snow better than the UK ..we just grind to a halt as soon as we have any!!!
No, it's like that in Texas. People wig out when ice or heavy rain comes. They dont' understand the concept of - don't go out unless you have to, drive slow. We hardly ever get snow, let alone snow storms.
Portland was at a stand-still over the past 2 days over the 5 inches of snow we got Tuesday morning.
Isnt it strange how our concept of places are...I always think of Texas as a hot dry state..I cant imagine you having co;d weather!!
After going to school in Iowa for 4 years and never having a snow day (in spite of multiple feet of snow), I found it amusing when class was cancelled.
Oh it's hot and dry, summer is awful sometimes. Winter is about a month long, this is odd weather here.
TY, I love yours too, literally.
Nappy time for me. Kids being gone have turned me into a sloth! See ya'll tomorrow.
how many words for this puzzle?
ri and the first 3 letters of another name for pooh!!
can i get a clue for the sh8/50 please?
thanks cait -- is that the only ri -- is the other from that r an rh?
majom...are you ca***** your paycheck today?
what list r u talking about?
thanks cait...i'll work on it.
is it the list that says what u have left to find?
hi bloodaxe! how are you??!!
i'm on lickety's now and there are the first 2 ltrs of each word. r there any other clues anywhere else?
Is that a canadian thing in March?????
You're not stoopid, just short-sighted ..
da 4/6 (first one) ? -- thought I'd monkeyed all possibles, but apparently not!
F E U E R W E R K ! ! ! !
Which ca clue did you need?
can i get a clue for the in7 and the id6 please?
that t is really hard to clue.
ta6 sounds like a tropical island, with different cons at the end.
rae u r a wonder!
it has a pettern of c.v.c.v.c.v.
how long did it take u?
i've been working on the grid off and on all day.
ta + hi4/6 minus D + single letter meaning "me"
dsp - ta+ the language people from India speak, minus the D.
haha..thanks ADHA...but i think it's more of an addiction than a skill.
lol...that's how often I get complimented!
very much, how many words u got?
whats your most point word?
i mean how many points?
I mean what is the most points you got for a word?
H ah ha mine is 75!
can someone clue me for and 8? i have in/50, sw/75 x 2, and wi/75.
where do you click to get the table with the two letters and numbers? Do you know what I mean?
Rae i am struggling today..i cant open another link to lickety because I am on a wierd computer so i am flailing aroung in the dark a bit.
no probb, happy to help!
Clue for the in 6, 24 pls?
just went out to sweep the snow away from the back door --- we've had over 6" already!
gwen: phantom word? those words can't be made on the grid, and on my computer aren't being recognized...so what's the problem?
Sorry Cybernan, I don't have it.
oh that was 6/21 -- the 6/18?
a clue for either of the ri words?
10 left -- better go and tackle the driveway first!
hi, I'm back, any clues for the 2nd in5/12, please?
oh hell ADHD, just go with a heavy weight!
I know the feeling Pab, any chance of the 2nd in5/12?
any luck with the weighty one ADHD?
how about the 1st te 6/21?
thank you all for your excellent clues, see you again tomorrow!
ah, thank you pab, silly me!
indeed sugar, but we're learning!
monkeys are tired, no bananas left!
did you get that sugar?
how pathetic is this? I can't find the 1st te4/5! somebody please help!
can I clue for anyone?
we have to speak with many dialects here !!
you got that right flosey!
thks everyone - fireworks!! I got that last te - it was a plural, DUH!
wtg, strider... am back just in time to congratulate you.!
ty, sugar... saw you this am.. are you finished?
yes aloy, lots of interruptions, but finally done!
hey, wolvie... we must be on similar schedules!
tx aloy, I'm staying to clue for a bit, so if I can help?
get better soon flosey, enjoy the fresh air!
sugar, I am glad to see you online! just woke up (sick today) and saw the headlines about the huge storm over there... hi all!
hi stid, sorry you are not well..
thanks for the sympathy :-) I am not even going to start the grid, I think -- just looks too big.
headlines on huge storm...scotland too?
sorry to hear you're sick stid, nothing serious, I hope?
long time no talk to you tor!
in6/24 very easy in**** !!!
have you been lurking all the time babrab?
gi 6 -- card game. to lay the cards down to win.
you see, there's the difference - babrab has the correct meaning of the word!!!
hi peri, nice to see you again!
stidmama, I am making a soup from the website you gave me: Swiss Cabbage Soup with Rice.
sorry, I drifted off -- glad to hear at least the midlands weren't too bad!
that sounds lovely, peri! I'll have to look it up (have cabbage have rice!).
..and some onion slices too..
okay, going to lie down again. I'd hug you all, but you don't want this one... see you tomorrow!
Take it easy, stid ..
feel better really soon, stidmama.. sending some Fla warmth your way... whoosh..
oh stid, do you have this nasty cold?
ooooh stid, I had that - couldn't babble for 3 DAYS!
okay guys, last clues before I go?
no problem ADHD, it's easy to get stumped on the short words!
can someone clue to 5/12 pls?
it's a 4 letter word wolvie?
ri 5 - ri then first 3 letters of what the sun does - sun ***ne.
is there a clue for the 9 pls?
I'm so stuck in the Ts!
in 6/21 and 7/36 any hints?
yep..just got it BR thx.
clues for the O's? Will I need a fish?
well, wolvie says it is salmon today, so that aint all bad..
Hello again everyone. Can someone clue the gi6,27?
and too many T words!
do you have the hi6/30?
oooohh... i have these 8's... da..de..id..in..sh..swx2..
Tor, yes, fireworks, thank heaven I found the words on my own before someone had to hit me with a giant fish. So easy.......any warmer out there? We hear that the orange crop is ruined for this year.
Tor, Do you partake of the orange???
I drink a lot of juice ..
Our oranges go mostly for juice. Might have to go with Florida orange juice this year. Can you get it out there? We get Cal oranges here. sh8........up a pole.
I think most of the juice here is from Florida ..
Aloy, it seems to me to be a very precarious endeavor to make a profit on the orchards.
this grid turned out to be fun after all. Yes, nancy, you are SO right... we have a worker shortage, so getting the oranges picked is a challenge.
Did someone clue the 1st di6/27?
Thanks Babblerabble. Spent a lot of time on that on before I asked. NEVER would have found it.
hello, reallymousey. how did school go today?
did you have to tutor, reallymousey?
Gkmandy, have you read through the help at Angelsong's site?
is the hi6/27 an exention of the hi4/6 before it?
got it...thanks wolvie and babble.
good - yourself? feeling better?
how is the weather babble?
it just never seems to end.
sorry minski, i was just about to attempt to clue them too.
i guess the 10 second rule still applies.
Above zero and not much wind.... put on some suntan lotion and took a leisurely walk.
still missing the 5/12 & 6/21 if you have those bloodaxe.
the 6 is the pl of that.
did i spell froid wrong? it doesn't look right.
I have the froid one. Is there another one please?
Thanks guys. I wouldn't have found that one.
The Ws and Ts are greyed out now!
Hey, Peri, the apple crustada is luscious and so easy to make. Thx.
Hello, Bloodaxe. Did I see you say you've been ailing? I hope you feel better!
You're welcome CJ, glad you liked it.
i think my body is falling apart.
hey babble, are you going to the Winter Carnival this year?
must be off to do some chores - see you all tomorrow!
I think you're a little young for falling apart. Your body must be just going through a slump. In any case, save all the parts that fall off!
ditto on the recipes Peri. The quicker the better. THe crusts I bought come in packages of two, so I'm going to make another one tonight or tomorrow.
hahaha...thanks for the tip vic.
can i get a clue for the gi6/27?
Could I get a clue for the ai6/27 please?
ai6/27 - if we give you a clue, we'll be ai6 you to finish!
The Ss are all greyed out!
Got the Rs and Os too!
73 words left to find.
I have had a productive day thus far. Only fallen off my chair twice.
Maybe I need to try harder?
60 words left to find.
wtg minski, i've got a round 100 to go!
Why did the man hit the fortune teller when she started laughing?
He was striking a happy medium.
thank you, rabble -- about the only think I didn't monkey!
Cybernan, who's your historical figure?
How do we find out what the theme for the day is?
Clue for the da8/70 please?
A friend in ne4/5 is a friend in6/24.
what do you do when you alter a manuscript for the better?
You know the 1st 6 letters, just play with the endings.
I see you're north of Boston, Minski. I'm east of Boston. There are quite a few of us around here, I think!
can i get a clue for de5/16 please?
Vic and Min I am south of Boston so we have the bases just about covered!!!
Oops, I'm west of Boston. If I were east, I'd be very wet!
You live in the ocean vic?
No, I caught myself, Minski! See, 4:08?
Maybe I'm really a mermaid!
hee hee. I didn't see that vic.
BabbleR, are you in the neighborhood, too, or just familiar with the airport?
on my way to shovel more snow --- you can have ours, minski!
the whole foot of it!
Well, normally I'd be right with you, Minski. But seeing as this morning our heater stopped working, I'm not quite so happy about the cold today!
Speedfreak my Aunt is a special ed teacher in Brockton public schools. What town do you work in?
Goodbye, and go enjoy some water music or something, cybernan!
We drive through there on the way to the CApe and there's a nice mall there. That's about all I know about Kingston. I grew up in Hingham.
How about some help with the IG6&7 please?
thanks for the clue minski, but i don't get it.
why don't i have a US flag w/my name?
Blood, will you de5 to accept my humble clue?
now that's a clue I can work with minski...thanks.
hmmm, let's see if my flag's working!
Kaz & ADHD--did you complete your profiles?
just for the newbies, mom, yours is working fine!
Clue for the very first di6/27 please?
first fireworks of the year....it feels pretty good.
um, can you clue it, minsk?
why do we put ourselves through this, day after day?
something my kids ask as well, mom!
37 words left to find.
hubby's got supper ready, so more later!
Bittong and Babble, thank you so much.
yay, got the second computer working!
26 words left to find and baby woke up from her nap. bbL8r.
bye everyone. Thanks for the clues.
gi6 - make the drink into a verb and past tense it.
that's what I was going to say, but I'm still curious, what does it mean? the dictionary link had nothing.
hi peri is on of the inge`s on?
Hello Andree - good morning!
And Kazzer has gone pro!
It does have its advantages!
Or poem and long times?
inge2 im inge3 didnt i just tell you?
why did you say she?
oh, but it is, mousey!
there 2 girl that would be inge...inge2 but i have the right to say that its a boys name too!
isn't there a football player with the name Inge, rhymes with hinge? Inge (sort of rhymes with zinger) is a girl's name, German extraction.
well, that you do, mousey.
It's the LAST name of the guy called Inge, rhyming with hinge.
yes, wurdy, that's what I thought.
I have 108 yet to find so can't be of much help!
id - think the I**s of March and the past tense of eat. Plural for the 7.
wurdy, there's an image to conjure with!
NO...I STAY WITH INGE3 I CAN SAY IT IS NOT JUST A GRILLS NAME OR GIRLS I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT EVER I WANT DO YOU HERE I SO HAVE THE RIGHT TOOOOOOOOOOO SAY A DIFFERENT OTHER WISE! STAY BACK!!!
It's a girl's name, always has been, always will be.
thanks Kazzer and congrats on going pro!
To hold back from freedom or punctuality.
Kazzer - check Angelsongs for themes I think, or click on babbler's profile.
de6 - to hold back. Build off of that for the 8, 9, and 7.
in - past tense of the motel?
yw, by the way, how many words today?
I thought I was doing good. I only have 96!!
yay kazzer is a pro ( : hi everyone!
I so want tahiki to be a word! sounds so tropical!
Yay Kazzer you have a flag!
oh darn wurdy, why did you fall?
it sounds hawaiin, but I think it's a rice?
then how can it be hummus?
oh Peri, you are too funny.
right, that's why I asked how could it be hummus if you leave out the ta****?
then you are finished egbok, there are 235 words in todays puzzle, congrats on finishing!
I will Grammaterri. I don't mnd the ironing.
one confused kanga finally gets it, thanks all!
wasthis your first game egbok?
oops, I was looking in the wrong place! I need 163 more.
de 5/16 rhymes with what it does when drops fall from the sky. Then plural.
why isn't dane (as in great) accepted?
Because Dane would have capital letters and is not recognised as valid by the dictionary (enable) that rules here.
Don't worry about it, kanga!
to5/12 - means that it is a five letter word that yields 12 points.
If you care to look at Angelsong's Babble page (listed under friends of babble, bottom left of page), it gives lots of information about the game, the scoring etc.
personal, but musing on my own state ak!
egbokmom - just try to find as many words as you can. They have to be at least four letters long and touching.
ta6/18 - places an extra vowel in te5/10 if you have it?
The beach has the same structure but begins with b.


Over the course of his 20+ years in the industry, Dan has filled a diverse range of roles—he's worked in architecture, he's managed projects as an owner's representative, and he's run his own historic restoration and custom carpentry company. As a Senior Construction Supervisor at Chapman, Dan is able to draw from all of his previous experiences and bring a well-rounded approach to the construction process. When Dan is not overseeing his jobsites, you can find him spending time with his wife and two children or tinkering in his barn workshop.


text:
Accident : 17 Wedding Guests Die Along Kano Kaduna Expressway
CKN NIGERIA Published: June 07, 2021
Seven wedding guests who died in a motor accident on Saturday have been buried in Kano.
A total of 17 guests died on Saturday aboard a Kano Line bus on their way from Zaria to Kano after attending a friend's wedding.
The funeral prayer for the deceased was conducted at 8.30 am Unguwar Gwale burial ground.
Sani Mai Nagge Ward Head, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Nababa told journalists that although many said 17 people died in the accident, eight of those who died are from Sani Mai Nagge.
Meanwhile, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in a statement on Sunday, expressed his shock over the great lost of the 17 men and send condolences to the family.
"Their death came to us very shocking. This is a great loss not only to their families or to the people of Sani Mainagge, of Gwale local government where they came from, but to all of us, the government and the people of Kano state," he said.
"I am, on behalf of the government and people of Kano state, commiserating with their families, people of Sani Mainagge, Gwale local government, friends and well-wishers. Ours is to continue praying for the departed souls. Allahu Akbar," he said.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


On June 18, 2018, Laura Ingraham referred to the public outrage over the forced separation of immigrant children from their parents as "hilarious" and the makeshift detention centers for immigrant children as "essentially summer camps." The next day, Parkland survivor David Hogg called for a second advertiser boycott of Ingraham's show.
Quote "If we get these advertisers pulled maybe @Ingraham will have to become a camp counselor and learn how wrong she is.
David Hogg first called for a boycott of Ingraham's advertisers the end of March 2018. Over 25 advertisers left during the boycott have not returned. Today, the quality of Ingraham's advertisers continues to be below the norm.
In the month of May, Sandals Resorts (advertising both "Beaches" and "Sandals" resorts) made up an unusually large portion (20%) of her advertising. My Pillow and Ace Hardware rounded up the top 33%. Notably, Ace Hardware had agreed to stop advertising back in April but later reversed their decision and continues to advertise; My Pillow's founder is a Trump supporter and refused to pull advertising.
Update 6/21 – Politico reports that IAC (Angie's List, Home Advisor, Match) has pulled their ads. Other advertisers have declined to comment to multiple reporters on their advertising plans. One news outlet equated the companies refusal to comment to there being "no advertiser boycott". However, this appears inaccurate.
Over 25 advertisers have pulled their ads after Hogg's first boycott in March and nearly all have not returned. Also, when you look at the top advertisers of Fox News in May 2018, only 2 out of the 36 top advertisers ran commercials on Ingraham's program since her repugnant comments on Monday.
Are advertisers quietly pulling their ads, redirecting them to other programs, or avoiding Ingraham outright? We can't say. However, we can observe that the overall quantity and quality of advertisers on Ingraham's program continue to be below the norm.
Last week, one advertiser made up a whopping 30% of all commercials airings on Ingraham's show. The top 5 make up about 60% of all commercials.
Notably Ace Hardware and Cabela's, and Takl did not appear this Monday or Tuesday; CarFax and John Deere have not appeared in over a week ever since David Hogg announced a second boycott. IAC pulled their ads last week. My Pillow's founder is a Trump supporter and will not pull his ads.
Ingraham escalates her race-baiting to new heights with a monologue that was endorsed by KKK David Duke and was swiftly met by strong calls for an advertiser boycott on social media, and harsh criticism across news outlets.
Many advertisers from the previous week did not appear this week. My Pillow's founder is a Trump supporter and will not pull his ads.
Summary will be posted sometime after Friday's 11 PM show. Here are the daily list of advertisers.
Notably absent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdary are Applebee's/IHOP, eHarmony, Enterprise/National, Mitsubishi.
Ingraham's ad volume and quality continue to be down substantially – Roughly 50% compared to February before David Hogg called for the first boycott.
@AceHardware(2X)(Major Sponsor), @Bayer+@BayerUS+@MonsantoCo(2X)(Major Sponsor), @Cabelas+@BassProShops(Major Sponsor), @soclean(2X Major Sponsor),@ClearChoice, @coventrydirect, @HomeToGo , @JennyCraig, Purple Mattress, Takeda (pharma), @vandapharma(pharma), @WaxRx, My Pillow(Major Sponsor, Won't pull ads), 21st Century Fox (FX Channel, Nat Geo), and films Mile 22 and Peppermint.