This thesis is a missiological study of the francophone churches in the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Francophone churches may be classified as African Initiated Churches (AIC) that have been planted by migrants from the French speaking countries of central Africa. They are characterised by the use of French and English as languages of worship and communication. The planting and the presence of these churches have become a more visible and remarkable mission phenomenon drawing scientific attention and is worthy of studying. The main issue of this study is the missionality of the Francophone churches. The investigation concerns the ways in which Francophone churches understand the mission of God, known as missio Dei, and the ways in which they express it in the community. In practice the exploration of the missionality of the Francophone churches discloses their nature, raison d’être, and their purpose, as well as their ministries, and allows us to determine the relevancy of these churches in the community. For this reason, in the study I explore and describe also the concept of the missional church in order to apply it to the Francophone churches. To that end, “Patterns of missional church” are used to measure the extent to which Francophone churches are missional. The study suggests the parameters of the development of a missional culture in a Francophone congregation and highlights the importance of the missional leadership in this respect. Finally the study proposes some missional ministries or contextual ministries that may express practically the missionality and consequently the relevancy of Francophone churches in their context. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

This thesis is a missiological study of the francophone churches in the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Francophone churches may be classified as African Initiated Churches (AIC) that have been planted by migrants from the French speaking countries of central Africa. They are characterised by the use of French and English as languages of worship and communication. The planting and the presence of these churches have become a more visible and remarkable mission phenomenon drawing scientific attention and is worthy of studying. The main issue of this study is the missionality of the Francophone churches. The investigation concerns the ways in which Francophone churches understand the mission of God, known as missio Dei, and the ways in which they express it in the community. In practice the exploration of the missionality of the Francophone churches discloses their nature, raison d’être, and their purpose, as well as their ministries, and allows us to determine the relevancy of these churches in the community. For this reason, in the study I explore and describe also the concept of the missional church in order to apply it to the Francophone churches. To that end, “Patterns of missional church” are used to measure the extent to which Francophone churches are missional. The study suggests the parameters of the development of a missional culture in a Francophone congregation and highlights the importance of the missional leadership in this respect. Finally the study proposes some missional ministries or contextual ministries that may express practically the missionality and consequently the relevancy of Francophone churches in their context. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

La mission de la théologie africaine face à une situation socio-politique, culturo-économique catastrophique de l'Afrique, due essentiellement à la question de la spiritualité sociale, d'intelligence sociale et l'aliénation culturelle, est de redynamiser la mission chrétienne, stimuler la renaissance spirituelle africaine et défendre les pauvres et les opprimés, parce que Dieu est toujours du côté d'eux. En effet, l'homme africain et sa société peuvent toujours être au centre de l'engagement théologique et de l'église d'Afrique, pour l'évangélisation comme pour la promotion sociale. Parce que l'homme africain n'est pas seulement individu, il est aussi société et culture. De ce fait, L'église d'Afrique avec ses différentes formes de théologies, n'existe pas pour elle-même, mais pour annoncer la Bonne Nouvelle aux africains. Cependant, cette Bonne Nouvelle n'a aucune pertinence aux yeux des africains si elle tombe en dehors de l'essentiel de leur vie. En d'autres termes, une théologie africaine, quelle que soit sa forme, mais, sans promouvoir la libération totale spirituelle et physique de l'homme Africain et motiver la reconstruction de l'Afrique telle que prônée par Kä Mana n'a pas sa raison d'être. En plus, la théologie africaine peut également stimuler la vraie démocratisation des pays africaines comme principal enjeu de la pastorale théologique et politique des églises chrétiennes et religions traditionnelles africaines. Parce qu'au nom de la dignité de chaque personne, de l'amour de Dieu et l'amour du prochain, de la foi et du salut de tout homme, la théologie africaine ne peut négliger l'identité culturelle et anthropologique du terroir africain et le construit socioculturel inspiré de l'évangile. Cette théologie africaine peut également motiver la remise en question du néocolonialisme africain sous toutes ses formes. Dès lors, le résultat de cette étude peut aider le missiologue/théologien africain qui est l'église de Dieu à bien accomplir sa mission prophétique selon la vision de Dieu, dans le but de transformer spirituellement et physiquement l'Afrique, aussi reconstruirer positivement la société africaine. Evidemment, le développement intégral de l'homme africain, selon moi, suppose le respect de la dignité humaine qui ne peut se réaliser que dans la justice, la paix, l'auto-transformation personnelle, l'éthique et une inculturation personnifiante. Summary The mission of african theology facing African socio-polical, cultural and economic catastrophe that due mainly to social spirituality, social intelligence and cultural alienation, is to revitilise christian mission, stimulate spiritual african renaissance and to defend the poor and oppressed, people by whom God always stands. Of course, the african and their community should always be at the heart of the theological engagement and of the action of the African church concerning evangelism as well ass social promotion. For the African embodies both his or her society and culture. Therefore, the African church and all their different theologies do not exist for their on sake, but rather for the African people to whom they should bring the good news. This good news is not relevant for the Africans as long as it does not deal with their main concern. In other words, whatever the forms of African theology, as long as it overlooks the complete liberation of the Africans, freeing them spirituality, promoting their spiritual and physical liberation and motivating the reconstruction of Africa as promoted by Kä Mana here, it will serve no practical purpose. Besides, African theology has also to stimulate the democratisation of African countries as one of the targets of the African Christian churches and traditional religions. In the name of the dignity of each and every person, of the love of God and the love for the neighbour, that of faith and salvation of the humankind, African theology is not expected to neglect cultural and anthropological identity of the Africans terror and the sociocultural construct inspired by the Gospel. African theology can thus motivate the questioning of African neocolonialism in all its forms. The result of this study can help African missiologists and theologians that are the church of God to fulfil well the prophetic mission after the vision of God, so as to bring about spiritual and physical transformation, and positively reconstruct the African society. As for me, the integral development of the African supposes the respect of their human dignity that can be materialised through peace, justice, personal sel-transformation, ethics and personifying inculturation. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Div. (Missiology)

La mission de la théologie africaine face à une situation socio-politique, culturo-économique catastrophique de l'Afrique, due essentiellement à la question de la spiritualité sociale, d'intelligence sociale et l'aliénation culturelle, est de redynamiser la mission chrétienne, stimuler la renaissance spirituelle africaine et défendre les pauvres et les opprimés, parce que Dieu est toujours du côté d'eux. En effet, l'homme africain et sa société peuvent toujours être au centre de l'engagement théologique et de l'église d'Afrique, pour l'évangélisation comme pour la promotion sociale. Parce que l'homme africain n'est pas seulement individu, il est aussi société et culture. De ce fait, L'église d'Afrique avec ses différentes formes de théologies, n'existe pas pour elle-même, mais pour annoncer la Bonne Nouvelle aux africains. Cependant, cette Bonne Nouvelle n'a aucune pertinence aux yeux des africains si elle tombe en dehors de l'essentiel de leur vie. En d'autres termes, une théologie africaine, quelle que soit sa forme, mais, sans promouvoir la libération totale spirituelle et physique de l'homme Africain et motiver la reconstruction de l'Afrique telle que prônée par Kä Mana n'a pas sa raison d'être. En plus, la théologie africaine peut également stimuler la vraie démocratisation des pays africaines comme principal enjeu de la pastorale théologique et politique des églises chrétiennes et religions traditionnelles africaines. Parce qu'au nom de la dignité de chaque personne, de l'amour de Dieu et l'amour du prochain, de la foi et du salut de tout homme, la théologie africaine ne peut négliger l'identité culturelle et anthropologique du terroir africain et le construit socioculturel inspiré de l'évangile. Cette théologie africaine peut également motiver la remise en question du néocolonialisme africain sous toutes ses formes. Dès lors, le résultat de cette étude peut aider le missiologue/théologien africain qui est l'église de Dieu à bien accomplir sa mission prophétique selon la vision de Dieu, dans le but de transformer spirituellement et physiquement l'Afrique, aussi reconstruirer positivement la société africaine. Evidemment, le développement intégral de l'homme africain, selon moi, suppose le respect de la dignité humaine qui ne peut se réaliser que dans la justice, la paix, l'auto-transformation personnelle, l'éthique et une inculturation personnifiante. Summary The mission of african theology facing African socio-polical, cultural and economic catastrophe that due mainly to social spirituality, social intelligence and cultural alienation, is to revitilise christian mission, stimulate spiritual african renaissance and to defend the poor and oppressed, people by whom God always stands. Of course, the african and their community should always be at the heart of the theological engagement and of the action of the African church concerning evangelism as well ass social promotion. For the African embodies both his or her society and culture. Therefore, the African church and all their different theologies do not exist for their on sake, but rather for the African people to whom they should bring the good news. This good news is not relevant for the Africans as long as it does not deal with their main concern. In other words, whatever the forms of African theology, as long as it overlooks the complete liberation of the Africans, freeing them spirituality, promoting their spiritual and physical liberation and motivating the reconstruction of Africa as promoted by Kä Mana here, it will serve no practical purpose. Besides, African theology has also to stimulate the democratisation of African countries as one of the targets of the African Christian churches and traditional religions. In the name of the dignity of each and every person, of the love of God and the love for the neighbour, that of faith and salvation of the humankind, African theology is not expected to neglect cultural and anthropological identity of the Africans terror and the sociocultural construct inspired by the Gospel. African theology can thus motivate the questioning of African neocolonialism in all its forms. The result of this study can help African missiologists and theologians that are the church of God to fulfil well the prophetic mission after the vision of God, so as to bring about spiritual and physical transformation, and positively reconstruct the African society. As for me, the integral development of the African supposes the respect of their human dignity that can be materialised through peace, justice, personal sel-transformation, ethics and personifying inculturation. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Div. (Missiology)