Bibliography: pages 126-137. / This study defends the thesis that the present social location of the Lutheran churches can be explained by examining the history of their internal divisions and their relation to broader struggles in society. The history of the Lutheran missions and churches is considered in relation to the political and socio-economic dimensions of South African history. Church history is conceived as an internal struggle between a dominant and an alternative theology (and their respective ecclesial bases), which affects the participation of the churches in broader social struggles. The development of the churches is divided into three periods, corresponding to the growing independence of the black churches from the mission societies. The thesis is examined by extensive reference to primary and secondary sources on the Lutheran church. Interviews with key informants from the various missions and churches provide additional information. The broader field of church historiography, as well as theoretical writings on church history are considered. The analytical aim of the thesis is to show how· the struggles internal to the Lutheran churches - including struggles around theological issues - have affected their ability to participate in the broader struggle for liberation in South Africa. In addition to this analytical aim, the thesis provides a narrative history of Lutheranism in South Africa. The findings of the thesis are that white Lutherans have been the dominant group in the Lutheran churches throughout their history in South Africa. White Lutherans produced the dominant theology of all the Lutheran churches for most of the history of Lutheranism in South Africa. This dominance of German-Lutheran theology was established in the missionary period. The social base of the missions was the German farming community. This community broadly formed part of the ruling classes of colonial society, and its interests converged at many points with colonialism. Lutherans were not allied to the dominant colonial power, the British, but from the end of the nineteenth century to the Boers. Their theological self-understanding as Lutherans, with their specific missiology, ecclesiology and doctrines (e.g. the Two Kingdoms Doctrine) gave them an identity distinct from others in the ruling bloc. This theology was the dominant theology of all Lutheran churches, black and white. This theological self-understanding, however, gave them only limited autonomy. They conformed to dominant values by dividing along racial lines. This dominant ecclesiology had its effect beyond the missionary period, and resulted in the separate development of black and white Lutheran churches. Although the black churches gained more independence through the formation of synods and later regional churches, they have internalized to some degree the dominant theology taught by the missionaries. The internal divisions within Lutheranism have continued to prevent effective engagement in external struggles for justice. Yet in the course of struggles for unity and a more effective political witness, an alternative Lutheran theology and ecclesiology has emerged, mainly among young black pastors and church members, but also among some white Lutherans. It is among these people that a Lutheran tradition of resistance to apartheid in church and society can be discovered. It is here that the hope of the church is found.

It is the purpose of this thesis to show Martin Luther's influence and trace his ideas in the development of music in the Lutheran Church.

Bibliography: leaves 94-99.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Logos Evangelical Seminary, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-134).

Originally presented as the author's thesis, Göttingen, 1954. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 427-445) and index.

Not available / text

The question of who is participating in today’s debate around theologies of other religions is important. Religious difference and the many ways of dealing with it are issues in political, social and theological initiatives. The reality of religious plurality in daily life leaves some Christians wondering about the best way to relate to non-Christian neighbors. In light of this, a series of questions emerges about who is shaping conversations with people of other faiths and what priorities they reflect. A Lutheran voice is lacking in this debate. Despite this, there has been a wide response from other Christian traditions. In some cases denominations have raised questions of religious pluralism as a theological issue, while elsewhere individual theologians have contributed to the debate. The project that follows will examine such contributions from three ecclesial traditions (Roman Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant) and individual theologians in order to chart some common concerns in the theology of religions debate. In an effort to highlight a tradition-constituted approach to the other, connections will also be made between individuals’ positions and their ecclesial traditions. This thesis will also propose a distinctively Lutheran theology of religions first by using the works of Martin Luther to introduce the Lutheran history of engagement with non-Christians. Then, Lutheran statements and resources, partnerships and institutions will be examined to discover the ways in which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America engages non-Christians. Finally, this project will propose crucial elements for a specifically Lutheran theology of religions. These elements will be put in conversation with individual Lutheran theologians who have made contributions to the debate. Ultimately a theology of kinship will emerge. Using distinctively Lutheran themes, this theology recognizes a connection between all people and calls Lutherans to live in kinship with the religious other.

This thesis is an investigation of St. Petri Church via relevant drawings and photographs by Sigurd Lewerentz. It explores his design through the Lutheran liturgy and theology revealing possibilities of an architecture based on spiritual harmony and bodily experience. It is an attempt to view Lewerentz's architecture outside limitations of style---demonstrating his spiritual belief in a harmony between both visible and invisible elements of architecture, as well as the act of making architecture through the relationship between drawing and building. Seen in such a context Lewerentz's work at St. Petri points to valuable strategies for the practice of architecture today.

This thesis contends that Christian conversion in the African context has been authentic because of the translatability of the event of Christ. The event of Christ is defined as the incarnation, the suffering and death on the cross and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Through these events God made the calling of all humanity including Africans, for transformation unto salvation. God is perceived as the originator and the initiator of Christian conversion while human beings and their culture are perceived as the recipients and channels of God's mission. The combination of the concepts of preparation evangelical, the translatability of the event of Christ and the theology of the cross are the basis of the theological deliberations of this thesis. The thesis contends further that the proclamation of the gospel hence, Christianisation moved together with the wave of modernization. Due to the continuity of translation, Christianity strengthened its influence and became the Word of God in the Hehe vernacular. In that way Christianity was naturally indigenised and continually contextualised in the Hehe culture and belief thus being deeply entrenched in their daily life and could be rightly described as renewed Hehe (African) Religion. Therefore, the Hehe accepted Christianity because God appeared in the human (Hehe) nature through Jesus Christ and dwelt in the Hehe community and shared everything with them. God through Jesus Christ participated in the daily suffering. He was humiliated and became vulnerable and weak. Through the translation of the Word God was no longer the ineffable beyond. Through the manifestations of the spiritual gifts God remained among the Hehe; instructing, comforting and reminding them of the benevolent love and the call of God for the universal salvation through which the Church builds its response to God's mission. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005

The title of this research is 'Healing in Selected New Testament Texts and the Implications for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa'. The texts that are looked at in this research are Mark 6:12-13, Luke 10:8-9 and James 5:13-16. The texts are exegeted and appropriated to Bohlabela Circuit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (B.C. ELCSA). On the basis of these texts, the historical background to healing and my research in some of the parishes of Bohlabela circuit, the researcher states some implications for B.C. ELCSA and makes some suggestions which serve as a way forward for an effective healing ministry in B.C. ELCSA. The researcher argues that B.C ELCSA should adopt an inculturated healing ministry and also maintains that B.C ELCSA should use local elements like water, ash and salt and African methods of healing in its healing ministry. However, the researcher highlights some of the dangers of inculturation. The danger is to adopt some of the symbols or healing practices that are incompatible with the gospel, e.g healing practices like the use of animal sacrifice and symbols like blood. Such need to be 'contested, purified, transformed or rejected in the light of the Bible which members of this circuit (B.C. ELCSA) value as the Word of God. Above all, there is also a need for discernment. The researcher suggests that the two basic ways of discernment described by Bate (2001:32) be adopted by B.C ELCSA. They are the criterion of faith and the criterion of fruits. The research revealed that the most common means of healing in B.C. ELCSA includes prayer with the patients or for patients, and the use of the Word and the Sacraments, specifically Holy Communion. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.