Under the new Vision 2030 national transformation plan, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia seeks to increase number of annual pilgrims from eight million to thirty million. If oil has certain limits, then pilgrimage is framed as lasting “forever.” But this exuberant claim of “forever” belies a more subtle transformation unfolding at the level of knowledge, technology, and hospitality as Mecca and its crowds are made and re-made into a resource for a national economy. This dissertation examines the Saudi state’s efforts to manage, and ultimately intensify and optimize Mecca’s pilgrimage through new sciences and technologies of crowd management, logistics, and secular hospitality. I demonstrate how these new forms of knowledge production operate in tension with older and decidedly more Islamic ways of knowing, managing, and belonging in the holy city. Instead of approaching religious knowledge and secular knowledge as discrete spheres, my research explores their entanglements and aporias across a range of techno-political practices: navigation, hospitality, urban planning, systems thinking, crowd management, and optimization. Ultimately, I explore how in this moment of ritual intensity, the cosmopolitan logics of the holy city come to be blunted.

This dissertation re-examines Christ's hospitality from the perspective of inculturation/contextualisation, which is a common trend in African Theology today. It starts on the premise that Christ is the ideal model of hospitality that African Christianity ought to draw some lessons from as we embark on a theology of reconstruction. In so doing, it has sought to trace the concept of hospitality from the ancient times to the present times thereby relating it with the contemporary issues. The work is divided into six chapters and a conclusion that serves as a seventh chapter. The Introduction chapter sets the argument, describing the background to and motivation of the research, the review of relevant literature, the research problem, the theoretical framework and the research methodology. Chapter two defines the concept of hospitality tracing its linguistic roots, its ancient interpretations and practices; the Old and New Testament version of hospitality and concludes the chapter by assessing the characteristics of hospitable places with regard to Christ's hospitality. Chapter Three which is a continuation of chapter two continues with the survey of hospitality from Christian monasticism to post-reformation period where Rev. John Wesley emerges as a great beacon of hospitality after the Industrial revolution that took place in Europe. Chapter four revisits the concept of hospitality in Africa from the ancient times to the present times. It cites the general features of African hospitality and examines its uniqueness by comparing it with the Western hospitality. It also looks at the abuse of African hospitality through the ages citing some cases such as slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism. The chapter is premised on the conviction that African hospitality is compatible with Christ's hospitality hence the need to harness it through inculturation. Chapter five examines the faces of Christ in African Christian hospitality. It is based on the premise that Christ is in each and every one of us when we extend love to one another; for he is in the faces of the suffering and all the afflicted peoples of Africa and beyond. In this chapter, Christ is examined as one who cares and is therefore concerned, thereby challenging us to seek Christ in our day today lives. He is thus examined as a liberator, a reconstructor, a healer, a guest, a host, and a unique ancestor. Chapter six is the climax of our study, which specifically examines Christ as a model worth imitating as we grapple with the concerns of the twenty first century. Christ is portrayed as a model in terms of liberation, reconstruction, family level, cultural level, and rural ministry. As an area that has not been exhaustively done in African Theology, the chapter, in some sections, allows the various contributors to give their interpretations on Christ thereby coming very close to chapter five where we were looking at the faces of Christ. A good example is Christ as the model of liberation where the contribution of African Women Theologians (otherwise called the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians) is given prominence as a case in point where women in Africa, have to look at Christ as the model of liberation from patriarchal structures and as one who supersedes all genders. The chapter concludes by a passionate appeal that even if Africa may be walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear for Christ the ideal model in every sphere of life is with us. He will make us lie down in greener pastures, restore our souls, guide us in the paths of righteousness and lead us beside quite waters (Psalm 23). We must therefore seek to learn from him hence the caution, "my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). The chapter therefore acts as a conclusion of the study in spite of the fact that we have chapter seven that concludes the whole study. Chapter seven concludes the study by an appeal to Africa of the twenty first century to swim into action and face the challenges such as sexism, tribalism, regionalism, HIV/Aids and corruption, with confidence knowing that the hospitable Christ is with us and will be there to guide us in our undertakings till the end of the age (Matthew 28: 1820). / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

This thesis explores the role of constituent congregations of Church World Service (CWS) in the process of resettling refugees in the U.S. It is based upon case studies built around a series of interviews conducted with members of three congregations who sponsored African families for resettlement in Minnesota. Reflecting upon the experiences of those interviewed, the discourse considers the efficacy of refugee resettlement as a means for Christian congregations to extend hospitality to strangers. The thesis explores the broader theme of Christian hospitality as a particular activity of the church. Hospitality is approached using the scriptural theme of welcoming the stranger as it is taken up by contemporary theologians. Christine Pohl, author of Making Room, is regarded as a leading authority on hospitality. Much of her research is based on the work of Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities. This thesis suggests that Pohl’s treatment lacks both a usable definition of hospitality and a sufficient theological framework in which to locate it. In redressing these omissions, Pohl’s work is examined in light of Vanier in order to establish an understanding of what comprises a particularly Christian approach to hospitality. Finally, the thesis proposes that as hospitality is understood as an act instituted by the person of Christ and imbued by the Holy Spirit, it is to be considered an act constitutive of the Church itself. Therefore it is an act necessary to the life of the Church as the Body of Christ. While contemporary research engages with hospitality as such an act, little work has been undertaken how it can be applied at the congregational level. CWS’s model of refugee sponsorship provides congregations with the tangible means by which they may offer hospitality to strangers.

Xenophobia is a notoriously difficult concept to explore, especially within the complex South African environment. This exploration has two elements: the theoretical and the practical. The theoretical element focuses mainly on the theories of xenophobia in South Africa, as well as the theoretical response of the Church to the problem. The practical element is a qualitative empirical exploration using small scale focus group interviews to gain insight into the relationship between xenophobia and religion, with special reference to young Christians of The Methodist Church of Southern Africa. The findings seem to suggest that “being religious” does not prevent xenophobic attitudes and emotions and that there is potential to have xenophobic reactions in people who “perceive” themselves to be religious living in an environment of economic and social hardships. Religious involvement combined with economic and social factors may promote xenophobic reactions. In an indirect way(s) religion may be one of the “causes” of xenophobia. / Practical Theology / M Th. (Practical Theology)

The problem of African women's hospitality has not been well handled in most churches in Africa. Although many churches seem to attach great value to African women's hospitality, there are still a lot of situations related to African women's hospitality that have been dehumanising and oppressive to African women both in the church and in the society. Issues such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic, economic hardship and sexuality have all affected African women's practice of hospitality. The fact that problems related with African women's hospitality surface within the church goes to show that this kind of hospitality needs to be re-examined by the Church if it has to be free and liberative to African women. Despite all these effects, African women themselves have valued and accepted hospitality as part of their calling in their service to God. The aim of this thesis is to discuss African women's hospitality from an African woman theologian's perspective. Writing as an African woman theologian, the researcher was able to bring out some of the effects of African hospitality to African women. Apart from hospitality being an African way of life and a virtue that needs to be embraced by both African culture and Christianity, hospitality is also viewed as a' command from God to all the Jews and Christians. On the other hand it is also important to mention that hospitality is a gift from God in that there are people who are gifted in extending their acts of hospitality to others. Hospitality as a concept, which has been practiced mainly by women in most African societies has impacted many dimensions of life especially in the Christian faith where African women's hospitality has been viewed as God's command to God's people. Although there is some literature produced on hospitality, the researcher noted with special interest that not much literature has been covered from the theological side on the issue of African women's hospitality and HIV/AIDS. The study was undertaken in the United Church of Zambia with the Mothers' Union group of St. Margaret Church of Kitwe. Among many others, the study reviewed the need for enculturation and contextualization of the African culture and the gospel. Chapter one is the introduction to the study. This includes the background to and motivation for the study, statement of the problem, the methodology used to collect data and the literature review. Chapter two brings out the historical background of hospitality both from the Biblical and African concept. The chapter shows African women's practice of hospitality in all these aspects and how their practises impacted the communities and people who lived at that time. Chapter three looks at different ways African women express their acts of hospitality. The effects of this expression of hospitality are also discussed. The other issues that have been covered are the response of African women theologians' to African women's practise of hospitality. Chapter four examines how HIV/AIDS has affected the practise of African women's hospitality and how these women who continue to offer hospitality under HIV/AIDS conditions cope with the risks involved in the practice. Chapter five analyses the research findings using cultural hermeneutics of Kanyoro 2000 as the frame of reference. Chapter six concludes African women's understanding of hospitality. This chapter states that African women's hospitality is a gift from God and women who are involved in this practice should be encouraged to do so. However, there is need for the church and community to re-examine the practice and look out for oppressive structures that are destructive to the African women's practice of hospitality. The chapter has also called on the church to be supportive to African women in their practise of hospitality. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Xenophobia is a notoriously difficult concept to explore, especially within the complex South African environment. This exploration has two elements: the theoretical and the practical. The theoretical element focuses mainly on the theories of xenophobia in South Africa, as well as the theoretical response of the Church to the problem. The practical element is a qualitative empirical exploration using small scale focus group interviews to gain insight into the relationship between xenophobia and religion, with special reference to young Christians of The Methodist Church of Southern Africa. The findings seem to suggest that “being religious” does not prevent xenophobic attitudes and emotions and that there is potential to have xenophobic reactions in people who “perceive” themselves to be religious living in an environment of economic and social hardships. Religious involvement combined with economic and social factors may promote xenophobic reactions. In an indirect way(s) religion may be one of the “causes” of xenophobia. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

This study explores the practice of hospitality within the Pauline churches and links this practice with mission. It is theoretically informed by Käsemann’s (1963) emphasis on the unity of the church as “an eschatological datum.” While highlighting faith, Käsemann downplays the role of organization and religious practices. Neither he nor missiological studies deal with the practice of hospitality within this context. Hospitality has been interpreted in the literature primarily as an ethic one should adopt towards strangers. Alternatively, this study interprets it as a ritual-like practice aimed at family, friends and strangers in the context of meal gatherings. The question is whether it served as an instrument of koinonia, a practice aimed to create, maintain and extend the Pauline churches as an open network, without denying the role of kerygma. This enquiry utilizes two methodological approaches to answer this question. First of all, it uses Stark’s (1996) network theory of conversion, in order to provide a framework for hospitality in early Christian mission. Secondly, it uses Bell’s (1992) ritual theory in order to interpret meal fellowship in the Pauline churches. Presupposing that science is a conversation, the relationship between missiology and anthropology is depicted as a conversation, ideally an ongoing conversation. This conversation is possible and potentially coherent because the “basic convictions” of both disciplines, respectively love and power, do not contradict each other. The key contribution of this study is that it shows that several practices in the Pauline churches such as welcoming, foot washing, seating order, distribution of portions, etc. qualify as ritual-like. This finding establishes the ritual-like character of meal fellowship within the Pauline churches. Yet, these practices were found ambiguous. They were not simply an instrument to achieve social integration or the transmission of beliefs. While they set the meal off from daily reality, they did not resolve the tension within the churches. Paul knew that this tension was part of a larger apocalyptic picture, the battle between Christ and Satan. Through ritual-like practice he participated in this battle, employing a “poetics of power” that fostered the church as an open network. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology with specialisation in Urban Ministry)

Das Thema „Gastfreundschaft“ hat in den vergangenen Jahren neu das Interesse der Missionstheologie geweckt. Diese Masterarbeit setzt sich zum Ziel, herauszufinden, ob und inwieweit Gastfreundschaft eine Dimension für den missionalen Gemeindebau sein kann. Sie untersucht dazu biblisch-exegetische, missionstheologische, systematisch-theologische und Gemeindebauliteratur, ob sie in ihren Konzepten explizite oder implizite Merkmale oder Begriffe der Gastfreundschaft gebrauchen. Aus der Literaturanalyse werden Wortfelder ermittelt, wie beispielsweise Gottesbezug, Auftragsorien-tierung, Bedürfnisorientierung, Lern- und Veränderungsprozesse, Räume, Miteinander und auch Gren-zen, die Gastfreundschaft in ihrer Wesensart ausmachen. In einem zweiten Untersuchungsdurchgang wird aus diesen Zwischenerträgen eine Gastfreundschaftskultur entwickelt, die entlang des Kulturmo-dells von Geert Hofstede in vier Kategorien angelegt ist: Werte, Rituale, Symbole und Helden der Gastfreundschaft. Demnach legt Gastfreundschaft in ihrer Art u.a. viel Wert auf Großzügigkeit, Be-dürfnisorientierung, Integration und Gottesbezug. Daraus resultieren Rituale, wie z.B. das Einladen, die hohe Bedeutung, die Freundschaften und Beziehungen beigemessen wird, wie gefeiert wird, meist in Verbindung mit einer gemeinsamen Mahlzeit, bei der Dankbarkeit, Gotteslob und die Lebensfreude nicht zu kurz kommen. Die Kultur der Gastfreundschaft drückt sich insbesondere in Symbolen aus, wie beispielsweise in der Raumgestaltung, in Umarmung, im Essen und Trinken, dem Begriff Heimat oder Zuhause und durch praktische Hilfen u.a.. Helden der Gastfreundschaft sind Modelle, die zum Nachahmen einladen, wie z.B. Gott der Ursprung aller Gastfreundschaft selbst, Jesus Christus, bibli-sche Personen und Beispiele unserer Zeit, die im Kontext von Gemeindebau das Leitmotiv der Gast-freundschaft verfolgen. Diese Gastfreundschaftskultur wird der Qualität und Zielsetzung des „Missio-nalseins“ von Gemeinde gegenübergestellt, um zu erkunden, wie sich diese Lebenskultur dazu eignet, eine im missionalen Sinne einladende, gastfreundliche Gemeinde zu entwickeln. Die vorliegende Stu-die will am Ende nicht bei der theoretischen Ermittlung des Themas stehen bleiben. Dazu setzt sie ihre Ergebnisse an einem Beispiel in Bezug zur systemischen Organisationsentwicklung für die Gestaltung von Lern- und Veränderungsprozessen bei der Transformation einer Gemeindekultur hin zur Gast-freundschaft / In recent years, researchers in the field of missiology have re-discovered hospitality as a topic of inter-est. It is the purpose of this master thesis to ascertain if and to what extent hospitality can be a dimen-sion of missional church planting. This is achieved by examining literature on biblical exegesis, mis-sional theology, systematic theology and church planting for its explicit or implicit use of concepts and/or terminology related to hospitality. Literary analysis is used to identify word fields that define the nature of hospitality such as God focus, mission focus, focus on needs, learning and change pro-cesses, spaces, fellowship and limits. In a second step the results of the literary analysis are used for developing a culture of hospitality based on the four categories of Geert Hofstede's cultural model: values, rituals, symbols, and heroes of hospitality. According to this model, the key elements of hospi-tality are generosity, the focus on needs, integration, and God focus. These lead to rituals such as invi-tations, the high value placed on friendship and relationships, but also the way people celebrate, most-ly with a shared meal expressing gratitude, praise to God and the joy of living. Above all, the culture of hospitality is expressed through symbols such as decoration, embracing each other, sharing food and drink, the concept of home, practical help, etc. Heroes of hospitality are role models who inspire to be emulated such as God, the source of all hospitality, Jesus Christ, biblical characters, and those of our contemporaries who follow the leitmotif of hospitality in the church planting context. This culture of hospitality is compared to the quality and the purpose of the missional church in order to determine how this core culture can be useful for developing a missionally inviting and hospitable church. Final-ly, this thesis aims to go beyond the purely theoretical research into the topic. In order to achieve this, its results are applied to an example of the systemic organisational development to transform the cul-ture of a church for hospitality by shaping learning and change processes / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Das Thema „Gastfreundschaft“ hat in den vergangenen Jahren neu das Interesse der Missionstheologie geweckt. Diese Masterarbeit setzt sich zum Ziel, herauszufinden, ob und inwieweit Gastfreundschaft eine Dimension für den missionalen Gemeindebau sein kann. Sie untersucht dazu biblisch-exegetische, missionstheologische, systematisch-theologische und Gemeindebauliteratur, ob sie in ihren Konzepten explizite oder implizite Merkmale oder Begriffe der Gastfreundschaft gebrauchen. Aus der Literaturanalyse werden Wortfelder ermittelt, wie beispielsweise Gottesbezug, Auftragsorien-tierung, Bedürfnisorientierung, Lern- und Veränderungsprozesse, Räume, Miteinander und auch Gren-zen, die Gastfreundschaft in ihrer Wesensart ausmachen. In einem zweiten Untersuchungsdurchgang wird aus diesen Zwischenerträgen eine Gastfreundschaftskultur entwickelt, die entlang des Kulturmo-dells von Geert Hofstede in vier Kategorien angelegt ist: Werte, Rituale, Symbole und Helden der Gastfreundschaft. Demnach legt Gastfreundschaft in ihrer Art u.a. viel Wert auf Großzügigkeit, Be-dürfnisorientierung, Integration und Gottesbezug. Daraus resultieren Rituale, wie z.B. das Einladen, die hohe Bedeutung, die Freundschaften und Beziehungen beigemessen wird, wie gefeiert wird, meist in Verbindung mit einer gemeinsamen Mahlzeit, bei der Dankbarkeit, Gotteslob und die Lebensfreude nicht zu kurz kommen. Die Kultur der Gastfreundschaft drückt sich insbesondere in Symbolen aus, wie beispielsweise in der Raumgestaltung, in Umarmung, im Essen und Trinken, dem Begriff Heimat oder Zuhause und durch praktische Hilfen u.a.. Helden der Gastfreundschaft sind Modelle, die zum Nachahmen einladen, wie z.B. Gott der Ursprung aller Gastfreundschaft selbst, Jesus Christus, bibli-sche Personen und Beispiele unserer Zeit, die im Kontext von Gemeindebau das Leitmotiv der Gast-freundschaft verfolgen. Diese Gastfreundschaftskultur wird der Qualität und Zielsetzung des „Missio-nalseins“ von Gemeinde gegenübergestellt, um zu erkunden, wie sich diese Lebenskultur dazu eignet, eine im missionalen Sinne einladende, gastfreundliche Gemeinde zu entwickeln. Die vorliegende Stu-die will am Ende nicht bei der theoretischen Ermittlung des Themas stehen bleiben. Dazu setzt sie ihre Ergebnisse an einem Beispiel in Bezug zur systemischen Organisationsentwicklung für die Gestaltung von Lern- und Veränderungsprozessen bei der Transformation einer Gemeindekultur hin zur Gast-freundschaft / In recent years, researchers in the field of missiology have re-discovered hospitality as a topic of inter-est. It is the purpose of this master thesis to ascertain if and to what extent hospitality can be a dimen-sion of missional church planting. This is achieved by examining literature on biblical exegesis, mis-sional theology, systematic theology and church planting for its explicit or implicit use of concepts and/or terminology related to hospitality. Literary analysis is used to identify word fields that define the nature of hospitality such as God focus, mission focus, focus on needs, learning and change pro-cesses, spaces, fellowship and limits. In a second step the results of the literary analysis are used for developing a culture of hospitality based on the four categories of Geert Hofstede's cultural model: values, rituals, symbols, and heroes of hospitality. According to this model, the key elements of hospi-tality are generosity, the focus on needs, integration, and God focus. These lead to rituals such as invi-tations, the high value placed on friendship and relationships, but also the way people celebrate, most-ly with a shared meal expressing gratitude, praise to God and the joy of living. Above all, the culture of hospitality is expressed through symbols such as decoration, embracing each other, sharing food and drink, the concept of home, practical help, etc. Heroes of hospitality are role models who inspire to be emulated such as God, the source of all hospitality, Jesus Christ, biblical characters, and those of our contemporaries who follow the leitmotif of hospitality in the church planting context. This culture of hospitality is compared to the quality and the purpose of the missional church in order to determine how this core culture can be useful for developing a missionally inviting and hospitable church. Final-ly, this thesis aims to go beyond the purely theoretical research into the topic. In order to achieve this, its results are applied to an example of the systemic organisational development to transform the cul-ture of a church for hospitality by shaping learning and change processes / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

This thesis focuses on the challenges posed by the refugees from the Great Lakes Region to the ministry of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. It intends to inform the Christian world in general and specifically the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity of the current refugee situation and its causes. Furthermore, this study shows that understanding the refugees' livelihood strategies is a prerequisite to improved interventions. Using the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, this study describes some of the positive and negative outcomes from the mechanisms and strategies developed by refugees in order to stabilize and enhance their situation. Looking at the livelihood challenges faced by the Great Lakes Region refugees, this study shows how UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) has been in a weak position to challenge the policies of its funders and host governments even when those policies fail to respond adequately to refugee problems. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.