This double issue of The Journal of Reformed Theology opens with a collection of articles exploring the theological significance and legacy of the Belhar Confession. This confession, first drafted in 1982 and officially adopted by the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in South Africa on September 26, 1986, represents a watershed in the more recent history of Reformed theology. Some forty years on, its theological substance and implications for church and Christian public witness in society continue to ramify both within and well beyond the original context of Southern Africa. Derek Woodard-Lehman and Hanna Reichel, who have together curated for us these papers from their origins in recent conference events marking the Confession’s fortieth anniversary to this issue, offer a valuable introduction and guide to their form, scope, and content. We are delighted to be able to publish these important essays here in the pages of the JRT and hope that they will instruct readers as to the abiding provocation and summons that issues from this, the most modern of our globally significant Reformed confessions.
Two further regular research articles then follow. Both originate from the 15th Biennial Conference of the International Reformed Theological Institute, held at Duta Wacana Christian University in Yogyakarta from June 27 to 30, 2024, on “Peace among the Nations: Reformed Theology and Geopolitical Conflicts.” This conference addressed timely questions such as how Christians should relate to the government, what their political responsibility might entail, and whether and under what conditions the use of military force is justified. The two articles examine such questions relating to political theology, pacifism, and just war theory by reconstructing and evaluating theological reflections from both the early church and the Reformed tradition. The issue closes with four book reviews.
This first issue of 2026 also marks the transition of the Journal of Reformed Theology to new editorial leadership. Sara Mannen, our excellent Book Review Editor, is stepping away from this work after several years. We are grateful for all Sara has done for the journal in this important role. So too, both of us are stepping down as Editors-in-Chief, a job we have shared and enjoyed very much since 2022. Just as our association with the JRT preceded assuming the role of Editor-in-Chief, so too will it continue beyond our tenure as editors: both of us will continue to serve on the editorial board in coming years to support the important work of the journal. We are very grateful for all that it has been possible to achieve on the pages of the JRT over the course of these past four-and-a-half years. It has been a privilege to work with such an excellent team of desk-, copy-, book review and associate editors, as well as with so many authors from all around the globe.
We are delighted that Demaine Solomon and Maarten Wisse have agreed to serve as the Editors-in-Chief of the Journal of Reformed Theology. Both are very familiar both with the journal and the IRTI from which the journal originates. Maarten Wisse embodies the link with IRTI in his own person, serving as its new Director since 2025. The addition of Demaine Solomon to the team affirms both our serious commitment to theological excellence as well as the broad international scope of Reformed theology today. We welcome Maarten and Demaine to the editorial helm and wish them every success in guiding the journal through its next season!
Pieter Vos and Phil Ziegler
