This research undertook to establish how the YMG in KWT circuit become fruitfully involved in the prevention of HIV and AIDS. It is argued here that the YMG is strategically situated in the church to address issues in the Xhosa-Christian culture that exacerbate the spread of HIV. These include issues like maleness and gender inequality, safer sex practices and the place of condoms and the promotion of sex ethics. The YMG is historically a centre for peer education, resilience in suffering, and morale building. It was the YMG that enabled the church to stand and strategise against apartheid. It is therefore a suitable space for Aids debate, education, and strategising on prevention methods. The YMG is also a well-to-do forum for airing the voices of the Xhosa Christian men on AIDS issues. It is, as well, a good support forum for addressing treatment and bereavement in an allempt to demythologise the Aids disease. However, it is the submission of this research that the YMG needs certain focusing in order to become fruitfully involved in prevention efforts. It is therefore recommended that the age disparity within the study circles of the YMG be resolved in order to create openness and comradeship. The membership of YMG at the present stretches from 17 years to 70 years. Members of YMG with this age disparity cannot talk freely on sexuality and HIV unless the groupings are systematised. There is also the need to bring on board such church leaders in the circuit so as to address morality and sexuality within the Methodist doctrinal perspective. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

This insider research journey explores the meaning-making processes of female spousal caregivers in anticipatory mourning and the knowledges which they have gained in retrospect. The research traces the social constructions of meaning and how they influence the process of meaning-making. A phenomenological study was undertaken in which unstructured interviews were conducted with five bereaved participants, highlighting the unique way in which each woman made meaning of loss in anticipatory mourning. The main phenomenological themes to emerge from their meaning-making were: a) the significance of time; b) challenges and gifts; c) witnessing the decline; d) paradoxes; e) the significance of the spousal relationship; and f) spirituality. The therapeutic effect of telling the life story is explored in this study and the need for contextual pastoral care that is specific to the state of anticipatory mourning is highlighted. Finally, possibilities for co-constructive pastoral care are raised in the light of the research findings. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. ( Practical Theology, with Specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

People expenencmg chronic pain encounter increases m needs and endure the consequences of failure to satisfy needs. In much of the management of people with chronic pain, chronic pain is considered an abstract phenomenon with little attention given to the human experience. Numerous literature focus on a mechanistic reductionistic approach in management of chronic pain. Most literature is written by medical practitioners, nurses and psychologists from a health-care oriented methodology, whereas minimal research literature was contributed from a pastoral care and counselling perspective. This dissertation explores the needs and feelings of people with chronic pain to identify their needs at the various developmental stages of their pain experience, and within their relevant ecosystems, in order to develop a pastoral response. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O cuidado pastoral, em meio ao contexto, hospitalar recebe o nome de capelania hospitalar. Os três primeiros capítulos do trabalho apresentam uma reflexão em torno de temáticas apresentadas como fundamentos bíblico-teológicos da capelania hospitalar. O primeiro elucida o conceito cuidar, o significado dessa atitude e sua importância para com a própria vida humana e busca relacionar a atitude do cuidar com o tema da dignidade humana fundamentada a partir da teologia da imago Dei, conforme Gênesis 1.26-27. A segunda parte do trabalho apresenta o ser humano à luz da antropologia bíblica, a partir dos conceitos alma, coração, carne e corpo. Estas noções antropológicas apresentam o ser humano em termos existenciais basicamente e como uma unidade viva animada por Deus. A terceira parte apresenta as características da ação pastoral a partir do conceito poimênica. Esta expressão remete à metáfora do pastorear o rebanho de Deus e fundamenta-se na imagem bíblica do Deus-Pastor e do Cristo como sendo o Bom Pastor. Assim, o capítulo visa a elucidar e conceituar, sobretudo, a partir da passagem bíblica de João 10, o ministério pastoral de Cristo, bem como apresentar o ministério da poimênica como uma expressão da comunidade cristã ao longo da história da Igreja. O quarto capítulo faz uma breve incursão histórica em torno do hospital, busca fundamentar uma assistência hospitalar humanizada a partir do tema da dignidade humana e aponta para a necessidade de cuidados integrais para com a pessoa internada. Encerra-se o trabalho abordando o surgimento do treinamento em clínica pastoral, seu contato com a psicologia e apresentando os conteúdos descritos nos capítulos anteriores como fundamentos bíblico-teológicos da capelania hospitalar: a dignidade humana, a antropologia bíblica e o ministério pastoral de Cristo. / Pastoral care in the context of hospital visiting is entitled hospital chaplaincy. The initial three chapters of this paper analyze themes which are the biblical theological foundations of hospital chaplaincy. The first deals with the concept of taking care, the meaning of this action and its importance towards human life grounded on the theology of imago Dei, according to Genesis1.26-27. The second part of the paper presents the human being based on the biblical anthropology and the concepts of soul, heart, flesh and body. These anthropological notions present the human being solely in terms of existence and as a live unit animated by God. The third part describes the features of pastoral action related to the concept of pastoral care. The term refers to the metaphor of pastoralising the herd of God and is founded by the biblical image of God-shepherd and Christ as the good shepherd. Therefore, the chapter sheds light to conceptualizing, mainly from John 10, the pastoral ministry of Christ, as well as it introduces the pastoral care ministry as a means of expression of the Christian community along the history of the Church. The fourth chapter is briefly developed under a historical perspective of the hospital, it aims at grounding the hospital assistance as a human act from the theme of human dignity. Moreover, it leads to the necessity of integral care to the patient. The paper finishes by approaching the beginnings of Clinical Pastoral Training and its borders to psychology, it also ends by presenting the contents which were described in the previous chapters as biblical theological foundations of hospital chaplaincy: the human dignity, the biblical anthropology and the pastoral ministry of Christ.

Parish nursing, a specialty nursing practice which includes the spiritual component of integration of faith and health, has been growing rapidly over the last decade. Standards of Parish Nursing Practice developed in 1998 are consistent with the nursing process and include the spiritual dimension.

With the form on ,,Krankensegnung [mit -salbung]'" (blessing the sick [including anointment]) in the book of liturgy on ,,Dienst an Kranken" (ministering to the sick), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony has put the anointing of the sick back into tocus while still stating some "unfamiliarity" with this topic. Is the anointing of the sick therefore rather a biblical possibility than a practised reality? The ''practised reality" is examined qualitatively using expert interviews with six theoretically sampled ministers of the Church of Saxony. The results obtained show a wide range of practice. They are subsequently compared with theoretical results (history and fundamentals from systematic theology) under the primacy of James 5:14-15. The interpretation shO\vs the observed practice partially corresponding to James 5. From this, conclusions for practice are drawn followed by an evaluation of the survey / Das Thema ,Krankensalbung" wird in der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche durch das Formular Krankensegnung [mit -salbung] in der Agende .. Dienst an Kranken'' liturgisch neu ins Blickfeld geri.ickt, zugleich aber eine gewisse .. Fremdheit'' beztiglich des Themas konstatiert. Deshalb ergibt sich die Frage, ob Krankensalbung eher eine biblische Moglichkeit als eine gelebte Wirklichkeit ist. Die ,gelebte Wirklichkeit" wird mit Hilfe eines qualitativen Forschungsdesigns untersucht. Dabei wird die Praxis der Krankensalbung durch Experteninterviews mit sechs bewusst ausgewahlten Ptarrern der sachsischen Landeskirche erhoben. Die Darstellung der hierbei gewonnenen Ergebnisse Hisst ein breites Praxisspektrum erkennen. In einem weiteren Schritt folgt die Interpretation der Resultate. Der lnterpretationsrahmen besteht aus den Ergebnissen der Theorie (Geschichte und systematisch-theologischen Grundlagen) unter dem Vorrang von Jak 5,14-15. Die Interpretation zeigt, dass die vorgefundene Praxis teilweise Jak 5 entspricht. lnfolgedessen werden Schlussfolgerungen als Hilfen fur die Praxis gezogen. Den Abschluss bildet die Evaluation der Untersuchung. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

With the form on ,,Krankensegnung [mit -salbung]'" (blessing the sick [including anointment]) in the book of liturgy on ,,Dienst an Kranken" (ministering to the sick), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony has put the anointing of the sick back into tocus while still stating some "unfamiliarity" with this topic. Is the anointing of the sick therefore rather a biblical possibility than a practised reality? The ''practised reality" is examined qualitatively using expert interviews with six theoretically sampled ministers of the Church of Saxony. The results obtained show a wide range of practice. They are subsequently compared with theoretical results (history and fundamentals from systematic theology) under the primacy of James 5:14-15. The interpretation shO\vs the observed practice partially corresponding to James 5. From this, conclusions for practice are drawn followed by an evaluation of the survey / Das Thema ,Krankensalbung" wird in der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche durch das Formular Krankensegnung [mit -salbung] in der Agende .. Dienst an Kranken'' liturgisch neu ins Blickfeld geri.ickt, zugleich aber eine gewisse .. Fremdheit'' beztiglich des Themas konstatiert. Deshalb ergibt sich die Frage, ob Krankensalbung eher eine biblische Moglichkeit als eine gelebte Wirklichkeit ist. Die ,gelebte Wirklichkeit" wird mit Hilfe eines qualitativen Forschungsdesigns untersucht. Dabei wird die Praxis der Krankensalbung durch Experteninterviews mit sechs bewusst ausgewahlten Ptarrern der sachsischen Landeskirche erhoben. Die Darstellung der hierbei gewonnenen Ergebnisse Hisst ein breites Praxisspektrum erkennen. In einem weiteren Schritt folgt die Interpretation der Resultate. Der lnterpretationsrahmen besteht aus den Ergebnissen der Theorie (Geschichte und systematisch-theologischen Grundlagen) unter dem Vorrang von Jak 5,14-15. Die Interpretation zeigt, dass die vorgefundene Praxis teilweise Jak 5 entspricht. lnfolgedessen werden Schlussfolgerungen als Hilfen fur die Praxis gezogen. Den Abschluss bildet die Evaluation der Untersuchung. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Sickness is a problem that has not escaped any society and thus is on the agenda of every culture. Since time immemorial cultures have searched for answers to the questions raised by the phenomenon of sickness but none have provided solutions, as it has become clear that sickness is part of our human existence. Many people have resorted to religion in search consolation in times of affliction and the Roman Catholic Church is not immune to this expectation, as we see many leaving the church in search of healing in the African Traditional Religions and other Christian churches because they feel that the church is inadequately dealing with the problem. In this study the author undertakes a research journey within the Diocese of Witbank of the RCC to investigate as to why the church’s healing ministry is not effective. Through engagement with participants in the research field and relevant literature the author discovered that the RCC is seen to be suspicious of the African worldview and consequently does not take its members’ fears and frustrations around the phenomenon of sickness serious as it judges them to be superstitious. This suggests that there is nothing that Western Christianity can learn from African cultures maintaining its superior attitude and further alienating indigenous communities. The author suggests that in order for the RCC to responds with relevance to this problem it needs to reconcile the Christian worldview, which is western, with the African worldview. He puts high on the agenda of Christian theology the urgent call to African theologians to develop an African theology that will give birth to a genuine African Christianity. In conclusion as a solution the author proposes an integrated and intercultural healing ministry for the Diocese of Witbank. This model is aimed at appropriating African values, idioms and language in the RCC to create an atmosphere where the church is seen as a welcome guest who comes bearing gifts but at the same time expects to be taken care of by its host. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

The high value of good health in Africa and the serious threat to life posed by diseases that plague the African continent including South Africa, are highlighted in this thesis. The question whether the church in South Africa as a stakeholder in human development in Africa, contributes meaningfully to the continental and national vision of "a better life for all" or "good health for all" is posed and an attempt made to answer it. Operating from the Western world-view, the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika (HKSA) is found not to be contributing meaningfully to the realisation of the African vision of "good health for all". Resistance to cure and healing by means of Western medicine and pastoral care and counselling as well as a lack of spiritual and numerical growth in the HKSA are identified as consequences of the imposition of exclusively Western Christian theological formulations on the African church. The assumption underlying this thesis is that ministry to the sick in the African mainline churches should recognise the role played by supernatural forces in the belief systems of Africans regarding health and illness. This assumption is based on the fact that theological formulations are socially influenced and constructed. Following Zerfass' methodological model, this research examines the principles underlying the ministry to the sick in the HKSA and the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA); highlights the core African beliefs with regard to the health and illness discourse and practice; points out the shortcomings of the current ministry to the sick in the HKSA. The findings of the investigation into the theological tradition and the results of the exploration of the literature on the African context are brought into the critical dialogue. On the strength of findings of the critical dialogue between the church's traditional theological theory and the results of the exploration of the literature on the African context, the church's healing ministry is recommended as a necessary part of the church's official task in a black South African context. / Practical Theology / D.Th. (Practical Theology)

A structured questionnaire was used to survey the perceptions of programme coordinators, fieldworkers and beneficiaries of the role of church-based programmes in addressing HIV and AIDS in the inner-city of Durban. One hundred and ninety two respondents were recruited from seventeen churches. Findings indicate that fear of HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination abound. The material and spiritual roles of church-based programmes in addressing the needs of people infected with HIV and affected by HIV and AIDS were stressed by the respondents. Whereas programme coordinators were well informed about HIV and AIDS, information that can dispel fears about stigma and correct myths about HIV-transmission should be tailored to reach ordinary men and women. It is recommended that further research be conducted on the preventive aspects of church-based programmes in the Durban inner-city. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)