Text in German / Based on the "Cycle of mission praxis" developed by Karecki the present study develops a model for personality development for institutions of theological training. This model presents a conceptual framework which these institutions can use to develop a concept for the personality development of their students. The model serves as methodological basis for the development of character traits which qualify a prospective full-time Christian worker for his/her ministry in the kingdom of God. In a second step the model will be applied to the specific context of the Theological Seminary of the Liebenzell Mission (ThSLM). This requires a context-analysis which grapples with the societal developments during the last decades in Germany with a special emphasis on the developments in German evangelicalism. The analysis also deals with the ThSLM. And it focuses on the individual student with his/her development and potential. The theological reflection develops framework principles of a biblically oriented anthropology, points out the pastoral theological demands of potential employers, and relates these insights to Clinton's discoveries regarding leadership development. The next chapter deals with the theme of identification. The question of motivation is central for a concept like this. This applies also to the expectation with regard to the motivation and views of lecturers who teach in a school which is committed to a triadic view of education. These investigations lead to the development, definition and description of spiritual and social quality markers which are expected from future fulltime ministers in mission work and which are therefore part of the curriculum of the ThSLM. The development of the concept is rounded off by the explication of concrete steps for its implementation. These steps show how an institution can assist students in the development of these quality markers. The present study develops a model and applies this model by means of an example. The model answers to the call which repeatedly appears in missiological debates for a comprehensive, holistic development of spiritual leaders. The study points out which steps institutions for theological training can undertake to contribute to this goal in the early phase of ministry preparation. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

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Moral formation is a crucial aspect of the training that young Christian leaders have to be exposed to during their education. A holistic focus was adopted to analyse the nuances of the moral self and give moral formation the focus it requires. Three major areas of the moral self namely knowledge, emotion and socialization have been investigated. The study was exploratory in nature and made use of a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed with a constructivist framework using content analysis. Findings mainly related to the three areas under focus with the impact of emotions being the most prominent. The influence of the Holy Spirit was also a key finding as charismatic emerging adults depended on his guidance during moral decision making. The data also reflected the significant interaction and overlap of the three areas exercising an influence on emerging adults’ moral decision making. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Despite the fact that the Bible as the inspired Word of God deals primarily with the relationship between God and humankind and the way to salvation and eternal life, the Bible also presents tenets that entreat the protection of the natural and biophysical world. Consequently, since the environment is a foremost aspect of God’s creation it is appropriate to establish the Biblical perspective on creation as a whole and Christians’ subsequent position and duty to creation. Humankind has been ecologically irresponsible. Greed, inadequate knowledge and negligence have led to exploitation, degradation, and disregard for the natural environment. Unfortunately, there appears to be a “deep silence” within the Christian Church worldwide as well as in South Africa on believers’ role and duty towards the natural created environment. The premise underpinning this thesis is that God’s redemptive care applies not only to people, but also to the whole of creation and that believers have a Biblical mandate to care for the natural environment and afford it its concomitant value. The Bible provides believers with directives regarding environmental care summarised in God’s requirement for man to “work [the earth] and take care of it” (Gen. 2: 15). The anticipated outcomes of this research were to establish the status of Environmental Stewardship as a dimension Christian Stewardship and the level of Environmental Literacy provided for in the curricula of theological seminaries of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. The study further attempted to determine the level of understanding and stance of ministers, lecturers, elders and students towards these issues. Believers have a duty of care in relation to God’s creation in totality – both humanity and the natural environment. There is a great need for Christian discussion on and improvement in the appropriate use and protection of the environment. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Nairobi is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with an average of five hundred people coming to the city on a daily basis. More than seventy percent of these people end up living in the informal settlements. An appropriate model of theological training for church leaders needs to be developed, so as to equip them to work with congregations and communities within the informal settlements, to address the needs and potential of people living in the context of Kibera informal settlements and to bring about spiritual and material transformation in their midst. A qualitative and comparative study was undertaken and data was collected through semistructured interviews and focus group discussions. After interpreting the data, the researcher found out: The problems and needs of the community and challenges of church ministers in the informal settlements are enormous. It includes unemployment, poor housing and sanitation, and a general lack of resources to meet basic needs; as well as negative ethnicity, inadequate ministers‟ stipends and the dependence of church members on ministers.  The existing models of theological education have not effectively equipped church ministers to face these challenges in informal settlement ministry. The research study end by proposing a model that will enable church ministers‟ witness to the incarnation of Christ among marginalized people in the informal settlement of Kibera. This model of theological training will be informed by African, Freirian and Western approaches to education. It will aim to form, inform and transform the pastoral work of ministers in informal settlement contexts. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M.A. (Theology in Missiology: Specialization in Urban Ministry)

Moral formation is a crucial aspect of the training that young Christian leaders have to be exposed to during their education. A holistic focus was adopted to analyse the nuances of the moral self and give moral formation the focus it requires. Three major areas of the moral self namely knowledge, emotion and socialization have been investigated. The study was exploratory in nature and made use of a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed with a constructivist framework using content analysis. Findings mainly related to the three areas under focus with the impact of emotions being the most prominent. The influence of the Holy Spirit was also a key finding as charismatic emerging adults depended on his guidance during moral decision making. The data also reflected the significant interaction and overlap of the three areas exercising an influence on emerging adults’ moral decision making. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Text in German / In dieser Untersuchung werden Fragen zu der pastoralen Seelsorge der ungarischen Baptis-ten beantwortet. Die Pastoren werden in ihrer Ausbildung in Poimenik und Psychologie unterrichtet und tragen offiziell die Verantwortung für den Seelsorgedienst in ihrer Ge-meinde. Ausgangspunkte für die Untersuchung sind eine allgemeine Einführung, die theologische Grundlegung der Begriffe und ein historischer Überblick über die verschiedenen europäi-schen Seelsorgeverständnisse. Dabei werden die Einflüsse der modernen Wissenschaften, Psychologie, Psychotherapie und Pastoralpsychologie auf die Seelsorge ab dem 19. Jahr-hundert aufgezeigt und ihre Wirkungen auf das heutige Seelsorgeverständnis vorgestellt. Zunächst werden die Bestände jener Bibliotheken und Archive in Ungarn auf Publikatio-nen zu Seelsorge hin untersucht, zu denen baptistische Pastoren bzw. deren Lehrer typi-scherweise Zugang haben. Um Informationen zu den verschiedenen Seelsorgerichtungen zu bekommen, werden ferner Facharbeiten, Gemeindezeitschriften und Handreichungen herangezogen. Insbesondere wird die aus verschiedenen Sprachen ins Ungarische übersetz-te Seelsorgeliteratur vorgestellt. In der empirischen Untersuchung werden anhand der gewonnenen Informationen aus der Literaturstudie Pastoren interviewt und diese Ergebnisse mit ihren praktischen Konsequen-zen aufgezeichnet. / This study will answer questions about the pastoral care in Hungarian Baptist churches. In their education, pastors are taught in poimenics and psychology, and are thus officially responsible for the pastoral care in their churches. The starting point for this study will be a general introduction, then the theological explanation of the terms used, and finally a historic overview over the different European understandings of pastoral care. The influ-ences of the modern sciences psychology, psychotherapy and pastoral psychology since the 19th century on pastoral care will be shown as well as their impact on presentday under-standing of pastoral care. First, the holdings of those Hungarian libraries and archives will be screened for publica-tions about pastoral care to which Baptist pastors or their teachers primarily have access. To gain information about the different understandings of pastoral care, research papers, church magazines and handouts will be consulted. In particular, pastoral care literature will be presented which is translated into Hungarian from other languages. In the empirical study, pastors will be interviewed on the basis of information gained from the literature analysis. The practical consequences of these results will then be outlined. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology (Pastoral Therapy))

In many cultures and religions of the world the belief in transcendental realities, like God, the Devil and other benevolent and malevolent spirits are widespread. These realities are constructed in different ways, depending upon context. In light of the development Western industrial societies have undergone, it follows that the belief in transcendental realities may have given way to beliefs that are steeped more, in empiricism. However, understanding the belief in transcendental realities seems to be gaining renewed interest in various social science disciplines in light of the fact that claims of experiences of spirit possession are escalating. The implication this understanding has on the treatment a patient receives is likely to depend upon the training of the practitioner consulted. It follows that the experiences of patients who believe they are possessed by a spirit is as equally important to practitioners of psychology as it is to theologians. Psychologists would likely ascribe a spirit possession to a psychological experience; while theologians will attest to the presence of a spiritual illness. This project focussed on Free Church pastors in Germany and their perceptions of spirit possession and mental illness. To explore Free Church pastors understanding of spirit possession and mental illness is critical in light of the overlap of symptoms. Misdiagnosis may result in a client receiving treatment which may not be appropriate. Interviews with Free Church pastors were conducted. The results were analysed and 4 themes were identified. Based on these interviews conclusions could be drawn which ultimately made it clear that the German free church pastors’ theological training needs to be supplemented in the area of psychology and that the pastors are unable to cope in the area of ‘spirit possession or mental illness’ / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Despite the fact that the Bible as the inspired Word of God deals primarily with the relationship between God and humankind and the way to salvation and eternal life, the Bible also presents tenets that entreat the protection of the natural and biophysical world. Consequently, since the environment is a foremost aspect of God’s creation it is appropriate to establish the Biblical perspective on creation as a whole and Christians’ subsequent position and duty to creation. Humankind has been ecologically irresponsible. Greed, inadequate knowledge and negligence have led to exploitation, degradation, and disregard for the natural environment. Unfortunately, there appears to be a “deep silence” within the Christian Church worldwide as well as in South Africa on believers’ role and duty towards the natural created environment. The premise underpinning this thesis is that God’s redemptive care applies not only to people, but also to the whole of creation and that believers have a Biblical mandate to care for the natural environment and afford it its concomitant value. The Bible provides believers with directives regarding environmental care summarised in God’s requirement for man to “work [the earth] and take care of it” (Gen. 2: 15). The anticipated outcomes of this research were to establish the status of Environmental Stewardship as a dimension Christian Stewardship and the level of Environmental Literacy provided for in the curricula of theological seminaries of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. The study further attempted to determine the level of understanding and stance of ministers, lecturers, elders and students towards these issues. Believers have a duty of care in relation to God’s creation in totality – both humanity and the natural environment. There is a great need for Christian discussion on and improvement in the appropriate use and protection of the environment. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Nairobi is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with an average of five hundred people coming to the city on a daily basis. More than seventy percent of these people end up living in the informal settlements. An appropriate model of theological training for church leaders needs to be developed, so as to equip them to work with congregations and communities within the informal settlements, to address the needs and potential of people living in the context of Kibera informal settlements and to bring about spiritual and material transformation in their midst. A qualitative and comparative study was undertaken and data was collected through semistructured interviews and focus group discussions. After interpreting the data, the researcher found out: The problems and needs of the community and challenges of church ministers in the informal settlements are enormous. It includes unemployment, poor housing and sanitation, and a general lack of resources to meet basic needs; as well as negative ethnicity, inadequate ministers‟ stipends and the dependence of church members on ministers.  The existing models of theological education have not effectively equipped church ministers to face these challenges in informal settlement ministry. The research study end by proposing a model that will enable church ministers‟ witness to the incarnation of Christ among marginalized people in the informal settlement of Kibera. This model of theological training will be informed by African, Freirian and Western approaches to education. It will aim to form, inform and transform the pastoral work of ministers in informal settlement contexts. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. A. (Theology in Missiology: Specialization in Urban Ministry)