Thesis (M.Div. (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Identity refers to the beliefs and values, the lifestyles, character, style and history of a congregation. A person has an identity, so a congregation develops an identity which is in a very close association with its members, their circumstances and history. The Kwe San and their unique history and circumstances have contributed to their current identity. This identity also determines the way in which the ministerial praxis is tailored for a specific congregation and community. The Kwe San’s current context has a practical theological response which is contextually based. Their traditional free-roaming abilities have been limited by the Tsumkwe Constituency, a prior homeland. The various original social organizations which form an integral part of the Kwe San’s life within their System Two, forms an integral part of their current life. These aspects need to be taken into consideration when formulating a congregation’s ministerial praxis. Within this community the practicality of theological ecclesiology has become important. This is due to the change in context of the Kwe San. To have a better understanding of the present ministerial praxis I have incorporated the Gestalt theory principles which help us to address the current situation and also the System Theory, in order to understand the current contextual nature of the Kwe San people. Any form of a holistic ministerial approach requires that we understand the interdependence of people and nature. It also emphasizes the fact that we are all connected to one another and that the church needs to raise to the occasion and play its part within each segment of the community. It needs to be an active participant within different interdependent or interrelated parts within the society in which we interact with one another, interact with nature and interact with God.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Mission is probably one of the most visual acts which the church took upon herself and can even be seen as the factor which brought the church to being. Mission was through the ages very positive for the church but also very negative. Especially in the early twentieth century the church has undergone heavy confrontations. Throughout the twentieth century a massive paradigm shift took place. Mission took on a strong pastoral character, which again let to a change in character for pastoral care. Africa is seen as one of the most diverse continents regarding faiths, traditions and cultures. This diversity put a strong challenge on Mission and Pastoral care.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The second half of the 20th century marks a paradigm shift from Christendom to missional theology with implications for missional ecclesiology. The being of a triune, missional God urges the church towards a critical-hermeneutical self reflection on it’s identity and calling in terms of evangelization and active involvement in an all-inclusive witnessing in the world. Missional ecclesiology emphasizes diaconial involvement in the world. The reflection of the Dutch Reformed Church on diaconia can be learnt in its conceptualization of missional diaconial work and how it is being implemented in the practice of the church. This ecclesiological development is being studied using the ministry of compassion of the Dutch Reformed Congregation, Onrusriver as case study.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The church today, and esspecially the Reformed tradistion find itself in a situation where there is a lot of tension regarding his identity, as a Reformed Church. The post-modern world we live in set a lot of challenges regarding our faith and how we as christains should deal with our embodyment as reformed christians The church and specificaly the Dutch Reformed family are facing daily the lost of a lot off members to the fundamentalistic movements. Members whom are seekers in their fath and whom were in some way or another been challenged by a desire to take their faith to a higher level of experience, which in their lives cannot get satisfaction any more in the reformed tradition. In this thesis I will try to destinquist the balance between Reformed tradistion and Pentecostalism. The thesis will try to embodied the identity of the Reformed tradision by give an overview , look into the questions regarding reformed tradition, what does it mean to be Reformed and proud and also what Reformed use of scripture entails. Allthough it is not the first time that questions like this has been raised, because reformed in the tradition means , to change contantaniously. Pentecostalism on the other side does have a long history regarding orgin and was not just an "appearnce" in the church. The apostle Paul in the early days of the church was in a certain sence very specific obout the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the space for exploration as set out in "1 Korinthians 12." Over the years many enthusiastic movements appeared which led to a total misunderstanding of what Pauls understanding was regarding pentecotalism. Regarding Pentacostalism, and the judging of the movement , the church will have to view their concerns very strongly in terms of the following, appreciation, make accesment regarding their weakness, thoughtfullness and their plan of action. Then the paradigm shifts, ecclesiasticly and liturgical deepening are essential factors in the whole enlightenment towards a more adopting mode. To change does not necesarilly mean to throw all the norms and vallues over board, but to do so in a responsible way. The worship service become in that matter the focal point of attention, including all the elements within the service , searching for ways to improve , ad or adapt. What the worship service is and are suppose to be , a trully place where God allone are been worship and where the Holy Spirittransformes people into living witnesses. The thesis conclude with a usefull set off guidelines according to Thomas Long in his book Beyond the worship wars where he challenge the church to a more transforming way of being church of God.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This assignment takes a look at the relevance of the declaration signed on the day of legitimation by future pastors of the Ned. Geref. Kerk. It is evaluated according to its use for pastors as a guide for speaking about God contextually and in unity. A hermeneutical approach is used in which the NGK’s three confessions of unity, the Reformed confessional tradition and the history of the NGK aid in testing the relevance of this declaration. The initial role of the signing of confessions as a deed that creates unity and identity helps to show how the current declaration fails to continue with this role. It is therefore necessary that the NGK reconsiders their use and wording of the declaration. The conclusion includes a proposal for an alternative declaration which focuses on responsible hermeneutics rather than the content of teachings.

Thesis (DTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The basic premise of this study is that the congregation is the key to providing homebased pastoral care support to HIV-positive people in poor contexts. In so doing, the church does not only perform a social function to poor HIV/AIDS-affected families, but it also acts in accordance with the calling of mediating God’s Kingdom (diakonia), thus spreading the gospel, and showing unconditional sacrificial love and compassion. The Church embodies the gospel, which is the instrument of hope and salvation to despairing HIV/AIDS-people in the community.

Thesis (DTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study is to explore whether the local church is acting as an agent of change in addressing the socio-economic needs of an impoverished grassroots community. This study falls within the area of missiology as it takes as point of departure the need for the church to appropriate a missional framework for development. However, this study considers the church in relation to its context, it draws on related sub-fields of theology and various development and social sciences to compose a picture of the current challenges the church faces in engaging poverty. The study focuses on the community of Lavender Hill situated on the Cape Flats of the Western Cape. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this study, both theoretical and methodological triangulation have been employed. Chapter 1 introduces the study and provides a theological conceptualisation. Chapter 2 argues for a framework of Development as Transformation and presents a distinctive motivation, goal and ecclesial identity, which has to be taken into account when the church 'does development'. It is concluded that, while this framework is distinctive, it does not replace existing development theory, but rather engages it as a dialogical conceptual framework. Chapters 3 to 5 present the Second Carnegie Inquiry into Poverty and Development in South Africa (1984) as a useful theoretical tool. This study allows for a comparative historical analysis, particularly as Carnegie II poses a challenge to the church regarding poverty. Despite the prominent role accorded the church by history, Carnegie inquiries, government and broader civil society, it is concluded that the church continues to face many of the same challenges in a post-Carnegie II context. Both Chapters 3 and 4 conclude that, among the key challenges identified, there is a need for the church to evidence holistic theology and sustainable action with regard to social responsibility. Action remains, for the most part, in a dominant charity mode. Partnership, in its various forms, is identified as a necessary and more sustainable strategy in a context of inequality. Chapters 5 and 6 focus more specifically on the context of Lavender Hill and utilise the theoretical frameworks in order to analyse data. Methodological triangulation is employed and various methods of data collection are therefore used. Chapter 5 discusses the interlinked dimensions of poverty in Lavender Hill with reference to both Carnegie II and recent scholarship. Chapter 6 utilises the theoretical frameworks to focus more specifically on whether the local church in Lavender Hill is acting as an agent of change. The involvement of the church is described and explored with reference to the challenges (both contextual and missional) presented in Chapters 1 to 5. Findings indicate that the local church faces many of the challenges identified by Chapters 3 and 4 and that theology in particular is closely linked to praxis. Particular attention is, therefore, given to the role played by theology in determining action, and Development as Transformation is applied as a framework which addresses a lack of holistic theology. Recommendations for action are proposed in order to guide the local church in areas such as Lavender Hill to become more meaningful role players in their communities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om ondersoek in te stel na die vraagstuk of die plaaslike kerk wel optree as 'n agent van verandering deur die sosio-ekonomiese behoeftes van 'n arm grondvlakgemeenskap onder die loep te neem. Hierdie studie kan in die gebied van missiologie geplaas word, deurdat dit die noodsaaklikheid vir die kerk om 'n missionere raamwerk vir ontwikkeling te gebruik as uitgangspunt het. Hierdie studie beskou die kerk egter in verhouding tot die kerk se konteks, dit maak gebruik van verwante subvelde van teologie en verskeie ontwikkelings- en sosiale wetenskappe om 'n oorsig saam te stel van die huidige uitdagings waarvoor die kerk te staan kom in die stryd teen armoede. Die studie fokus op die gemeenskap van Lavender Hill wat op die Kaapse Vlakte in die Wes-Kaap gelee is. Weens die interdissiplinere aard van hierdie studie is teoretiese sowel as metodologiese triangulasie aangewend. Hoofstuk 1 lei die studie in en verskaf teologiese konseptualisering. In hoofstuk 2 word 'n raamwerk van Ontwikkeling as Transformasie bepleit wat 'n eiesoortige motivering, doel en kerklike identiteit aanbied wat in ag geneem moet word wanneer die kerk 'ontwikkelingswerk doen'. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat alhoewel die raamwerk kenmerkend van aard is, dit nie huidige ontwikkelingsteorie vervang nie, maar dit eerder as 'n dialogiese konsepsuele raamwerk ter taak stel. In hoofstukke 3 tot 5 word die Second Carnegie Inquiry into Poverty and Development in South Africa (1984) as 'n nuttige teoretiese werktuig aangebied. Hierdie studie neem 'n vergelykende historiese ontleding in aanmerking, veral aangesien Carnegie II 'n uitdaging aan die kerk stel met betrekking tot armoede. Ten spyte van die prominente rol wat aan die kerk deur die geskiedenis, Carnegie-ondersoeke, die regering en bree burgerlike samelewing gegee is, word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat die kerk steeds na Carnegie II voor dieselfde uitdagings te staan kom. In hoofstuk 3 sowel as 4 word verskeie sleuteluitdagings geidentifiseer en die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat dit vir die kerk noodsaaklik is om bewyse te lewer van 'n holistiese teologie en onderhoubare optrede met betrekking tot sosiale verantwoordelikheid. Optrede word steeds grotendeels op 'n liefdadigheidswyse uitgevoer. Vennootskap, in al sy verskeie vorme, word as 'n noodsaaklike en meer onderhoubare strategie in 'n konteks van ongelykheid geidentifiseer. In hoofstukke 5 en 6 word meer spesifiek op die konteks van Lavender Hill gefokus en word die teoretiese raamwerke gebruik om die data te analiseer. Metodologiese triangulasie is aangewend en daarom is verskeie metodes van dataversameling gebruik. In hoofstuk 5 word die verweefde dimensies van armoede in Lavender Hill bespreek, met verwysing na Carnegie II sowel as onlangse vakkundigheid. In hoofstuk 6 word die teoretiese raamwerke gebruik om meer spesifiek te ondersoek of die plaaslike kerk in Lavender Hill wel as agent van verandering optree. Die betrokkenheid van die kerk is beskryf en word verken met verwysing na die uitdagings (kontekstueel sowel as missioner) soos in hoofstukke 1 tot 5 uiteengesit. Bevindinge dui daarop dat die plaaslike kerk te staan kom voor baie van die uitdagings wat in hoofstukke 3 en 4 geidentifiseer word, en dat die teologie in besonder ten nouste verbind is aan die praktyk. Besondere aandag word daarom gegee aan die rol wat deur teologie gespeel word om optrede te bepaal, en Ontwikkeling as Transformasie word toegepas as 'n raamwerk wat 'n gebrek aan holistiese teologie ondersoek. Aanbevelings vir optrede word voorgestel sodat plaaslike kerke in areas soos Lavender Hill gelei kan word om meer betekenisvolle rolspelers in hul gemeenskappe te word.

Thesis advisor: Margaret Guider / Thesis advisor: Gerald O'Collins / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

vi, 130 leaves

This transformational leadership project addresses the numeric decline of historic Black churches in urban centers across the United States. The focal church of this task, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church (NSBC) in Washington, D.C., which was the founding church of seven Black historic congregations in the District, and home of several revered pastors who started Postbellum churches on the Atlantic Coast, has joined dialogs about Black Church declines since the year 2000. Speaking to the concern, this work builds on Robert L. Smith’s Black Existential Theological Hermeneutic, called the BETH approach, a practical theology method that assist leaders with African American church revitalization processes. Using NSBC’s Christian Education Ministry as the focal ministry, this project engaged the three stages of Smith’s BETH approach: Analyze, Assess, and Act. The outcomes of these stages led to offering a transformative framework for assisting the ministry’s leadership in the practices of creating a prophetic mission statement. Chiefly, this development will lead to developing and/or renewing practices authentic to Black Church witness, faithful to the mission of God in the Bible, consistent with Christian history, and relevant to the 21st Century society, all from a People of Color perspective. / 2025-03-26T00:00:00Z