This study investigates the behaviour and pastoral role of the three Dutch-Afrikaans churches during the Second World War. The churches were not only affected by the emergency measures and the rationing, but also by division among themselves. Many members fiercely opposed war participation and supported the Ossewabrandwag as a resistance organisation, with the acceptance and approval of the local church council. Other members supported the war effort, which led to much tension in the congregations and in relationships. This division had such an influence on the congregations that churches rather strived towards peace in the congregations than to pastorally address the needs of the affected. Churches comfortably shifted this responsibility onto the civil organisations such as the Ossewabrandwag Emergency Fund, State funding and the provision of Field preachers by the government. This study shows that the churches neglected their pastoral responsibility towards those members affected by the war. / PhD (Church and Dogma History), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study investigates the behaviour and pastoral role of the three Dutch-Afrikaans churches during the Second World War. The churches were not only affected by the emergency measures and the rationing, but also by division among themselves. Many members fiercely opposed war participation and supported the Ossewabrandwag as a resistance organisation, with the acceptance and approval of the local church council. Other members supported the war effort, which led to much tension in the congregations and in relationships. This division had such an influence on the congregations that churches rather strived towards peace in the congregations than to pastorally address the needs of the affected. Churches comfortably shifted this responsibility onto the civil organisations such as the Ossewabrandwag Emergency Fund, State funding and the provision of Field preachers by the government. This study shows that the churches neglected their pastoral responsibility towards those members affected by the war. / PhD (Church and Dogma History), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This thesis researched the development and nurturing of koinonia in a small group setting as a way of building up a church with spiritual (qualitative) and numerical (quantitative) growth as one of the results. When considering church growth a small group ministry is an important alternative to the standard church practice. Chapter 2 reviewed the purpose of the church, and explored the concept of building up the church using Biblical concepts as its basis for doing so. Chapter 3 deals with the role of koinonia in building up the church and its impact on church growth. It also identifies the ministry of small groups as being the most suitable method to develop and nurture koinonia amongst members of a congregation. The ministry of small groups has a great practical potential for the church. It enables members of the congregation to identify and use their spiritual gifts and talents, and in so doing, discover their value and identity in Jesus Christ. Chapter 4 documents the findings of empirical research conducted amongst three South Korean Presbyterian churches that practice the ministry of small groups. The views of the three senior pastors were on the value of small groups were ascertained. This was followed by a detailed study, of the workings and effects of small groups covering 205 respondents spread across the three congregations. Based on the findings of the research, chapter 5 presents a proposed plan to build up the church, encouraging church growth through the development and nurturing of koinonia through a small groups ministry. The study proposes a seven fold approach to the implementation of a small group ministry designed to stimulate spiritual and numerical growth through the development and nurturing of koinonia amongst church members. AFRIKAANS : Hierdie tesis ondersoek die ontwikkeling en beoefening van koinonia (gemeenskapsbewustheid) in klein groepe as 'n wyse om die kerk se geestelike (kwalitatiewe) en getalle (kwantitatiewe) groei te bevorder. Met die oog op die groei van die kerk is die kleingroep-bediening 'n belangrike alternatief vir die standaard kerklike praktyk. Hoofstuk 2 bekyk die doel van die kerk, veral die opbou van die kerk volgens die Bybel se begrip daarvan. Hoofstuk 3 handel oor die rol van koinonia in die opbou van die kerk en die invloed daarvan op die ontwikkeling van die kerk. Die kleingroep-bediening is geidentifiseer as die mees gepaste metode om koinonia tussen die lidmate van die gemeente te stimuleer. Die kleingroep-bediening het 'n groot potensiaal vir die praktyk van die kerk. Dit stel lidmate in staat om hulle geestelike gawes en talente te ontdek, en op die wyse hulle waarde en identiteit in Jesus Christus te ontdek. Hoofstuk 4 dokumenteer die bevindings van die empiriese navorsing by drie Suid-Koreaanse Presbiteriaanse kerke wat 'n kleingroep-bediening toepas. Die drie senior leraars se seining van die waarde van klein groepe is verkry. Daarop volg 'n gedetailleerde studie van die werking en uitwerking van klein groepe soos verkry van 205 respondente vanuit die drie gemeentes. Op grond van die bevindings van die navorsing stel hoofstuk 5 'n plan voor om die kerk op te bou en kerkgroei aan te moedig deur die beoefening van koinonia in 'n klein groepe. Die studie stel 'n sewevoudige benadering voor vir die toepassing van 'n kleingroep-bediening wat ontwerp in om geestelike en getalle groei te stimuleer deur die beoefening van koinonia tussen gemeentelede. / Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Music in the Afrikaans reformed churches has reached a cross-road. This is evident in the many articles written on the subject, workshops held on the issue and outcries for help from several organists in various congregations. Scholars all agree that research on the topic of responsible renewal in church music is necessary. Furthermore, it seems the organ is systematically being dismissed as a church instrument, especially in evening worship services. It seems the organ is (unjustly) thought of as an old fashioned instrument capable of playing only classical music and thus not able to cater for the musical needs of today’s postmodern churchgoer. This study aims to provide recommendations for the renewed usage of the organ in an aesthetic music environment that will assist churchgoers of various spirituality types to worship with conviction. This study is based on thorough research on three specific concepts: 1. Aesthetics: In order to use aesthetics as a valuable tool for music renewal, it must first be established that it is indeed a Biblical concept. Study into the concept of aesthetics in the Bible is undertaken. 2. Spirituality: Every person differs in his perception of worship and this is mainly determined by his spirituality type. The different musical preferences according to these spirituality types are investigated. 3. The organ: The organ has established itself as a versatile church instrument since the Middle Ages. It has adapted to the changing musical styles through the ages. It is reasoned that the church organ can still provide in the musical needs of all churchgoers today. This does not mean that the organ is elevated as the exclusive church instrument, but it is argued that the organ can successfully be used in conjunction with other instruments in worship today. After these three concepts are investigated, practical guidance is given in the usage of the organ in combination with other instruments according to the aesthetical requirements of the different spirituality types in today’s Afrikaans reformed worship service. / Thesis (DMus)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Music / unrestricted

Thesis (DTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk is die afgelope paar jare in debatte gewikkel oor die een aktiwiteit wat uniek aan die kerk is, naamlik haar aanbidding. Aanbidding het vandag een van die belangrike redes geword waarom kerke groei, maar is terselfdertyd ook een van die oorsake waarom gemeentes lidmate verloor en kwyn. Aan die voorpunt van die debat oor aanbidding, is die kwessie van lofprysing. Lofprysing het vandag vir baie gelowiges 'n middel geword om hulle geloof en aanbidding tot uitdrukking te bring. In plaas daarvan dat die nuwe beklemtoning en behoefte aan lofprysing die kerk in haar aanbidding van God verenig het, het dit egter 'n bron van frustrasie en konflik geword. Hierdie konflik sentreer hoofsaaklik om die styl waarin lofprysing plaasvind en word aangehelp deur die gebrek aan kennis oor die onderwerp en die diversiteit wat in gemeentes heers. Gemeentes van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk bestaan vandag uit lidmate wat uiteenlopende lewensuitkyke handhaaf en verskillende spiritualiteite besit. Om die hele kwessie van lofprysing binne die konteks van diverse gemeentes aan te spreek, moes die studie eerstens die aard en funksie van lofprysing binne die liturgie bepaal. Daarna moes 'n wyse gevind word waarop die diversiteit in gemeentes hanteer kon word. Deur middel van 'n spiritualiteitstipologie wat Holmes in 1980 opgestel het, en wat later as basis van verskillende spiritualiteitsanalises gedien het, is 'n instrument daargestel waarmee gemeentes en individue se spiritualiteit getoets kon word. In hierdie studie is die analises nie net gebruik om mense se spiritualiteit vas te stel nie, maar ook om te bepaal of daar 'n korrelasie tussen spiritualiteitsgroepe en hulle aanbiddingsbehoeftes bestaan. Die navorsing het daarin geslaag om nie net 'n verband tussen spiritualiteit en aanbiddingspatrone aan te toon nie, maar ook die waarde van 'n spiritualiteitsanalise te beklemtoon om die diversiteit ten opsigte van aanbidding en lofprysing in gemeentes aan te spreek. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past few years the Dutch Reformed Church has been embroiled in a debate regarding worship within the church. Whilst the worship within a congregation has become one of the most important factors in church growth, it is also one of the reasons why some congregations loose membership and shrink in size. A major point of contention within this debate relates to the use of praise. To many believers, praise has become a process through which they worship and reinforce their faith. Instead of unifying the church in her worship of God, the current emphasis on praise within the church has become a source of frustration and a point of contention. This controversy mainly centres around the style with which praise is practiced within the congregation and is exacerbated by a lack of knowledge surrounding the topic and the diversity that exists within congregations. Members of the Dutch Reformed Church has widely divergent life views and also possess different spiritualities. To determine the use of praise within divergent congregations, this study evaluated the nature and function of praise within the context of the liturgy. Subsequently, a method to manage the diversity within congregations was developed. In 1980, Holmes developed a spirituality typology within which he identified four spirituality groups. Based on the spirituality typology, some spirituality analyses were formed to help congregations and individuals to test their spirituality. These analyses were used to identify the correlation between a spirituality group and their worship requirements. The results from this research clearly showed a positive correlation between these two parameters and also highlighted the value of using the spirituality analysis as a method to manage the different praise and worship requirements that exists within congregations.