Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die globale en plaaslike veranderende konteks van die kerk en die vermindering in die invloed van die kerk in die samelewing, noodsaak die kerk tot eerlike selfondersoek. Dit is vir die kerk belangrik hoe sy op hierdie verandering reageer, want dit het ‟n impak op die taak van die kerk in die wêreld. Hierdie navorsing wil help om ‟n gepaste reaksie te vind vir die VGK-Koelenhof op haar spesifieke konteks. Hoofstuk een gee ‟n uiteensetting van die navorsing wat die doel, motivering en metode betref. Hoofstuk twee lê die basis vir die hele navorsing wat gegrond is in die Drie-Enige God wat ‟n sturende God is (missio Dei). Daar word gevra hoe die lewe in die triniteit die roeping van die kerk bepaal en die gang van die wêreld beїnvloed. In hoofstuk drie word die kerk se verhouding tot die Drie-Enige God belig. Die kerk moet geloofsonderskeiding beoefen ten einde haar roeping te ontdek. Hierdie proses is ook belangrik vir die besluitnemingsprosesse van die kerk. Dit impliseer dat die kerk as gestuurde van God in ‟n persoonlike gemeenskap met Hom moet leef sodat die kerk sensitief genoeg kan wees vir sy stem en hul roeping kan ontdek vir hul spesifieke omstandighede. In die vierde hoofstuk word beklemtoon dat die kerk ook in verhouding tot die wêreld staan waarin sy leef. Om haar roeping werklik uit te leef, moet die kerk nie net na God se stem luister nie, maar ook na die konteks waarin die kerk haar bevind. Die kerk het in haar bestaan sedert Jesus Christus telkens voor nuwe uitdagings te staan gekom en het verskillend daarop gereageer. ‟n Gepaste reaksie van die kerk se kant vereis soms dat die kerk intern verandering benodig. Dit is die fokus van hoofstuk vyf. Daar word gefokus op die aard van hierdie verandering, veral die rol van die leierskap in die hele proses. Hierdie verandering behels in hoofsaak ‟n verandering van instandhouding na gestuur-wees. Die verandering of transformasie in die kerk kan nooit ‟n doel op sigself wees nie. Dit is met die oog op die transformasie van die samelewing. Die verandering moet die kerk help om teken en voorsmaak van die koninkryk van God te wees in die wêreld. En daarom is die titel van hoofstuk ses: Van missionale transformasie na gemeenskapstransformasie. Ten slotte word „n opsomming gegee van die resultate van hierdie navorsing. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Uniting Reformed Congregation of Koelehof on the road from maintenance to be missional: the development of sustainable farming communities. The changing global and local context of the church and the decline of the church‟s influence on society, call for a need of honest introspection. It is important how the church respond to these changes as it has an impact on the church‟s role in the world. This research aims to help the Uniting Reformed Congregation of Koelenhof to respond properly to its own context. Chapter one gives an outline of the research with regard to the goal, motivation and method. Chapter two lays the basis for the research which is grounded in the Triune God who is a sending God (missio Dei). The question here is how life in the Trinity affects the task of the church and destination of the world. In Chapter three the relationship between the church and God is highlighted. The church must exercise spiritual discernment to discover its missional vocation in the world. Spiritual discernment is also vital with regard to the decision processes of the church. This implies that the church, as a missionary of God, must have a personal relationship with Him so that the church can be sensitive enough to hear His voice. In chapter four the emphasis is on the church‟s relationship to the world in which she finds herself. For the church to really be faithful to her calling, she needs not only listen to God, but also to the context. Since the time of Jesus, the church has to face different challenges and has always react differently to each situation. A change of context often requires a change of heart. This is the focus of chapter five. What is the nature of these changes and especially the role of the church leadership in this regard? The answer is a transformation from being maintenance driven to being missionally inspired. This transformation is never a goal in itself. This transformation aims at the transformation of society. The transformation must enable the church to be an effective sign and foretaste of the kingdom of God. Therefore the title of chapter six is: From missional transformation to community transformation. In conclusion a summary is given of the results of this research.