Thesis (MA(Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 205-207).

This dissertation studies the role of preaching in the Christian Brethren Church from a practical theological perspective. I commence by setting up a practical theological theory that draws from both revelatory and anthropological models to develop a preaching model that considers preaching as a Revelatory Covenantal Conversation involving divine revelation, community dialogue and intended response, and has ecclesiological focus and impact. In this dissertation I propose a theological theory on the role of preaching in the church which asserts that: Preaching stands, in the line of the self revelation of God, as his continuing action to both reveal himself, and be present with his covenant people of promise. Therefore preaching within the church must conform to this revelation in: event – the covenantal conversation itself; message – the content of the preaching; interpretation/response – the preacher’s intended response by the hearers; the intention - the intended shaping of the community of faith through the preaching event. Preaching is a continuing Revelatory Covenantal Conversation between God and his people to create, transform, and continue his community of faith – the preaching community. Following a discussion of the above preaching theory a Revelatory Covenantal Conversational preaching model is presented. An examination of the preaching praxis within the Christian Brethren denomination is then undertaken. The praxis study gives specific consideration to the place and role of preaching in the historical development of the Brethren, as well as within the current Christian Brethren praxis. In addition a qualitative analysis of the praxis within the local Christian Brethren church that I attend is considered. According to Zerfass “practical theology has the task to lead in... [the] process of change in a way that is responsible from the perspective of both theology and the social sciences” (Heitink 1993: 113). To this end the final chapter suggests possible aspects of change, theological and practical, that can move the praxis forward toward an alternative praxis – to create a preaching community which incorporates the above theological theory and critical reflection on the praxis, and thereby participating fully in the Revelatory Covenantal Conversation. / Dissertation (MA (Theology) : Practical Theology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

This thesis addresses the division that exists between theory and praxis. Theology in general and practical theology as a specific discipline has allowed this division to arise and indeed grow. The problem facing us is that faith communities now operate out of blind theory and/or blind praxis. To address this situation a reintegration of the theory and practice of the entire ecclesial praxis is needed. This thesis proposes “Practical Theological Ecclesiology” as the way forward. Practical theological ecclesiology is defined as: The dynamic critical purposeful engagement with the human-divine interactive life of the ecclesial praxis to: ground, integrate, align and improve its essence and expression dimensions as the revelational incarnational sign of God and his purposes in and for the world and directed toward his eschatological kingdom goal. Practical theological ecclesiology addresses both the abstractness of pure ecclesiology and the pragmatics of the praxis through the development of an operational ecclesiology model that integrates the essence, expression and goal dimensions of the ecclesial praxis. By applying the operational ecclesiology model to praxis, practical theological ecclesiology, through the tasks of grounding, integrating, aligning and improving, uncover the gaps that exist in and between the theory and praxis of a faith community. The resulting analysis provides ecclesial pictures of what is, compared to what should be, according to the operational ecclesiology model. The areas of ecclesial life which need to be grounded, integrated, aligned and improved are therefore exposed for ongoing work. Historical and contemporary research of the Christian Community Churches of Australia, provide the data for a case study which illustrates the potential and the analysis process of practical theological ecclesiology. The research underlines the importance of having an integrated operational ecclesiology, of grounding and integrating the theory, of aligning of theory and praxis, and of providing improvement direction for the praxis, thus removing theory and praxis division, avoiding both blind theory and blind praxis, and giving a clear pathway for the future . / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)