This thesis examines the role played by the Church of Sweden in the field of social work, with some comparison to the social services. The Church of Sweden has a rich history of engaging with communities, delivering social support, and addressing the welfare needs of its congregants and the wider population. Employing qualitative research methods and interviews of a selection of priests and deacons, this thesis aims to gain a greater understanding of the church’s social work initiatives, contrasting them with the more bureaucratic and secular approach of the social services. The study also examines the difference between social work driven by faith and mercy, compared to that based on justice and rights. The results have led us to the conclusion that there are certain innate advantages to a mercy-based model of social work, but also inherent drawbacks of such nature that it would not make such an approach to social work a viable alternative as a basis for building a reliable social safety net, but also makes it a valuable complement.

Magister Theologiae - MTh / The service of deacons in the Church is documented from Apostolic times. A tradition attested already by St. Ireneus and influenced in the liturgy of ordination, sees the origin of the diaconate in the institution of the “seven” mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-6). St Paul refers to the deacons and to bishops in his letter to the Philippians. (1:1), while in his first letter to Timothy (3:8-13) he lists the qualities and virtues which they should possess so as to exercise their ministry worthily.While the permanent diaconate was maintained from earliest Apostolic times to the present in the Eastern rite churches (Orthodox and Catholic), it gradually disappeared in the western church during the first millennium. The diaconate continued as a vestigial form as a temporary, final step along the course to ordination to the priesthood in the western church. In the 20th Century, the Permanent Diaconate was restored in the western church.Following the recommendations of the Second Vatican Council (in Lumen Gentium29), in 1967 Pope Paul VI issued the motu proprio Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem,restoring the ancient practice of ordaining to the diaconate men who were not candidates for priestly ordination.The permanent deacons are assigned to work in a parish and to assist priests in their pastoral and administrative duties, but report directly to the bishop who appoints them. Unlike most clerics, permanent deacons are married or single men who also have a secular profession.In the Archdiocese of Cape Town, the first deacons to be ordained to the order of Permanent deacons took place in 1980. In the early days, the archdiocese had a clear policy for diaconate training and formation. Priests requested men to study towards becoming deacons. Over the past 30 years the bishops have ordained close to 100 deacons to minister in 75 parishes throughout the Archdiocese.Today there is a need to try to understand why deacons lack the zeal and passion that was so prevalent at their ordinations. Is it due to their training or has a need a risen for a deeper theological understanding of the diaconate. Priests do not fully understand the ministry of the deacons which on occasions gives rise to conflict within the parish.Currently more and more communities are calling on the parish deacon before approaching their parish priest for advice. It is in these theoretical grounds that a critical assessment of the Profile and Ministry of the Catholic Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Cape Town was undertaken. This is pioneer research in the Archdiocese.

Summary in German and English / Die Arbeit untersucht aus interdisziplinärer Perspektive, wie das christliche Profil der (Gemeinwesen-) Diakonie dargestellt wird, welche Herausforderungen sich daraus ergeben und in welchem Bezug Mission dazu steht. Hierzu dienen die geschichtlichen Entwicklungen von Diakonie und Mission innerhalb Deutschlands und die Ausführung des ganzheitlichen Missionsverständnisses nach David J. Bosch als Grundlage. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass in der Verbindung von Theologie, Diakonie und der Sozialen Arbeit wesentliche Grundannahmen und -spannungen gegeben sind, die Parallelen zur Missionstheologie aufzeigen, welche aber nicht als ‚Mission’ benannt oder anerkannt werden.Das Ergebnis dieser Forschungsarbeit lautet, dass die missionarisch ganzheitlich verstandene Gemeinwesendiakonie einen Ausweg aus der mangelnden Praxisrelevanz theologischer Leitbilder darstellt und somit einen Beitrag zur Stärkung des christlichen Profils diakonischer Einrichtungen liefern kann. / Using an interdisciplinary perspective, this piece of work examines how the Christian profile of diaconal community work is portrayed, the challenges that emerge and how missionary work relates to the debate. The historical developments of social work and missionary work in Germany, as well as David J. Bosch’s holistic understanding of mission serve as a foundation for the analysis. The study will show that the relationship between theology, diaconal community work and social work reveals major assumptions and tensions which show parallel elements to a theology of mission but are not named or acknowledged as such. The conclusion of this study will state that diaconal community work, understood as holistic mission, can offer a solution to the decreasing relevance of theological mission statements and therefore contribute to strengthening the Christian profile of diaconal institutions. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

German text / Die gesellschaftliche Relevanz des diakonischen Handelns eines regionalen deutschen Gemeinschaftsverbandes wird in dieser Forschungsarbeit qualitativ erforscht. Diese explorative Studie soll die Gesellschaftsrelevanz diakonischen Handelns, Entwicklungen diakonischer Praxis und ganz grundlegend das Verständnis von Diakonie in diesem Gemeinschaftsverband erschließen. Nach einer auf praktisch-theologische und kirchengeschichtliche Aspekte fokussierten Einleitung werden mittels des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus sowohl Planung und Durchführung, als auch die Ergebnisse qualitativer Interviews dargestellt. Zehn Experteninterviews waren Teil der Hauptforschung. Unter Anwendung der Grounded Theory ließen sich nach mehreren unterschiedlichen Codiervorgängen sechs Typologien diakonischer Gesellschaftsrelevanz herausarbeiten. Die sechs herausgearbeiteten Typen wurden in einer 3x3-Matrix angeordnet, mit den Koordinaten Diakonische Gesellschaftsrelevanz (minimal - zunehmend - profiliert) und Eschatologie (negativ - neutral - positiv). Impulse zur Weiterentwicklung der diakonischen Grunddimension in diesem Gemeinschaftsverband werden abschließend auf Grundlage der Forschungsergebnisse gegeben. / This research analyses the relevance of diaconal action of a regional German community association in its social environment. The explorative study aims to give insight into the social relevance, developments in diaconal practice and the general understanding of diaconia prevalent in this brethren association. After an introduction focusing on practical theology and church history, the study concentrates on the planning, implementation and results of interviews applying the empirical-theological practice cycle. These interviews with ten experts were part of the main research. Through applying the grounded theory, six typologies of diaconal relevance in society emerged from several coding processes. These types were arranged in a 3x3 matrix showing diaconal relevance for society (minimal – increasing – prominent) and eschatology (negative – neutral – positive) as coordinates. The research results formed the basis of ideas presented for further development of the sphere of diaconal action in this community association. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

German text / Die gesellschaftliche Relevanz des diakonischen Handelns eines regionalen deutschen Gemeinschaftsverbandes wird in dieser Forschungsarbeit qualitativ erforscht. Diese explorative Studie soll die Gesellschaftsrelevanz diakonischen Handelns, Entwicklungen diakonischer Praxis und ganz grundlegend das Verständnis von Diakonie in diesem Gemeinschaftsverband erschließen. Nach einer auf praktisch-theologische und kirchengeschichtliche Aspekte fokussierten Einleitung werden mittels des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus sowohl Planung und Durchführung, als auch die Ergebnisse qualitativer Interviews dargestellt. Zehn Experteninterviews waren Teil der Hauptforschung. Unter Anwendung der Grounded Theory ließen sich nach mehreren unterschiedlichen Codiervorgängen sechs Typologien diakonischer Gesellschaftsrelevanz herausarbeiten. Die sechs herausgearbeiteten Typen wurden in einer 3x3-Matrix angeordnet, mit den Koordinaten Diakonische Gesellschaftsrelevanz (minimal - zunehmend - profiliert) und Eschatologie (negativ - neutral - positiv). Impulse zur Weiterentwicklung der diakonischen Grunddimension in diesem Gemeinschaftsverband werden abschließend auf Grundlage der Forschungsergebnisse gegeben. / This research analyses the relevance of diaconal action of a regional German community association in its social environment. The explorative study aims to give insight into the social relevance, developments in diaconal practice and the general understanding of diaconia prevalent in this brethren association. After an introduction focusing on practical theology and church history, the study concentrates on the planning, implementation and results of interviews applying the empirical-theological practice cycle. These interviews with ten experts were part of the main research. Through applying the grounded theory, six typologies of diaconal relevance in society emerged from several coding processes. These types were arranged in a 3x3 matrix showing diaconal relevance for society (minimal – increasing – prominent) and eschatology (negative – neutral – positive) as coordinates. The research results formed the basis of ideas presented for further development of the sphere of diaconal action in this community association. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)