Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / In the past, white men in South‐Africa benefited from the structures in society. These benefits led to certain stereotypical images of manhood, and raised specific expectations that men need to comply with. In the meantime, the situation in South‐Africa changed in such a way that white men do not benefit from the structures of society in the way they did in the past. All men are not affected in similar way by these changes. Certain men are affected in such a way that they experience crises, because they cannot comply with the expectations associated with earlier ways of thinking about what it is to be a man, and because they cannot compensate for their vulnerability. The issue about men’s vulnerability is aggravated by the fact that many white men were emotionally wounded during their compulsory national military service. The preaching event needs to place the crises that are experienced by many white men, in the light of the gospel. That will mean that preaching needs to make a contribution in order to help the men who are experiencing crises, to discover who they really are. They need to discover that they are vulnerable people through whom God is working in a particular way, not when they have power, but while they are experiencing their vulnerability. The destructive effects that certain structures in society and the desire for success have on people, need to be pointed out in the light of biblical witness. The important role that women fulfil with regard to emotional support to men, also need to be pointed out in the light of biblical witness. With regard to the last‐mentioned, it is not the intention to stereotype women by enforcing a certain role on them, but rather to focus the attention on an important reality. Preaching’s contribution concerning all the aspects mentioned so far, ought not to occur in a prescriptive manner. It should rather proclaim God’s work in such a way that hearers can come to a better understanding of what God wants to do through them, or is already doing through them, in order to have an effect on their way of doing and being. South‐African preaching, however, is full of moralisms. Moralistic preaching does not proclaim God’s work so that hearers can act by the virtue of that, but set requirements hearers must comply with in order to produce certain results. This type of preaching has the potential to aggravate the situation for men who are experiencing crises. To prevent the last‐mentioned possibility, preachers must have clarity about who and what the congregation is and what the function of the Biblical text ought to be.

Following the heuristic research method of inquiry and using in‐depth interviews as the vehicle of investigation with five gay South African men; ‐who have either attained a high standing in gay society or have achieved a high level of functioning ‐ the real life experiences of these men were investigated. The premise was that their experiences would be similar in terms of rejection and non‐acceptance in a prevailing homophonic South African society. The core investigation was to plot the spiritual development they underwent in order to attain the high level functioning evident in their social standing and position. The theoretical backdrop, against which the research was investigated and the findings described, was Viktor Frankl’s theory of Logotherapy, with specific emphasis on his descriptions of the avenues to meaning in human existence. Historical perspectives on gay history and legal breakthroughs were provided to further illuminate the real life experiences of gay men. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)