Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa / This research analyses the role of Christian leaders in the schisms that occurred in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Southern Africa, from 1899 to 1908. The study assesses whether their character and conduct were in keeping with the requirements of the law of the Church and the model of ethical leadership developed in this dissertation. The study assesses the different reasons for the schisms, as well as the impact of these schisms on the community, taking into consideration the socio-cultural contexts of the time. The dissertation discusses how Christian leaders ought to act and evaluates the consequences of the decisions made by the relevant leaders. Finally, the study explores pathways towards the restoration of separated churches. The study argues that the spiritual and moral formation of Christian leaders is essential for both the restoration of the AME Church and the prevention of schisms in the future / Hierdie navorsing ontleed die rol van Christelike leiers in die breuke wat van 1899 tot 1908 in die Afrika-Metodiste- Episkopale Kerk in Suidelike Afrika voorgekom het. Die studie assesseer of hul karakter en optrede ooreengestem het met die vereistes van die wet van die Kerk en die model van etiese leierskap wat in hierdie dissertasie ontwikkel is. In die studie is die verskillende redes vir die breuke geassesseer, sowel as die impak van hierdie skeurings op die gemeenskap, met inagneming van die sosio-kulturele kontekste van die tyd. Die dissertasie bespreek hoe Christelike leiers veronderstel is om op te tree en evalueer die gevolge van die tersaaklike leiers se besluite. Laastens bied die dissertasie ʼn blik op moontlike maniere om kerke wat geskei geraak het, te herstel. Die studie voer aan dat die spirituele en morele formasie van Christelike leiers noodsaaklik is vir sowel die herstel van die AME-kerk as die voorkoming van skeurings in die toekoms. / Olu phando luphengulula indima yeenkokheli zobuKrestu kuqhekeko olwenzeka kwinkonzo yamaWesile eyaziwa ngokuba yiAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church in Southern Africa, kwiminyaka ephakathi kowe-1899 nowe-1908. Esi sifundo sivavanya indlela ezi nkokheli zaziphatha ngayo, nokuba ingaba zayilandela njani imigaqo nemithetho yeCawa. Isifundo esi sikwaqwalasela, zizame ukuphuhlisa indlela emsulwa yobunkokheli. Esi sifundo siqwalasela izizathu ezahlukeneyo zoqhekeko, nefuthe lolu qhekeko eluntwini, phakathi kweemeko zentlalo nenkcubeko yelo xesha. Uphando olu luxoxa ngokuba iinkokheli zobuKrestu zifanele ukuziphatha njani kwaye lukwavavanya iziphumo zezigqibo ezathathwa ziinkokheli ezazithatha inxaxheba ngelo xesha.Ekugqibeleni, olu phando luqwalasela iindlela zokubuyelana kweecawe ezaqhekekayo. Isifundo esi sibeka elokuba ubume bomoya nesimilo seenkokheli zobuKrestu bungundoqo kwaye bubalulekile ekubuyiseleni iCawe iAME nokunqanda ukuba kungaze kuphinde kubekho uqhekeko. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Christian leadership)

Women today continue to struggle against male-dominated values and norms, and male prejudices, both in society and the Church. This balance of power needs to be altered to free women from the domination of men. The strategies proposed in this dissertation are based on the Christian ethic of justice and equality. Their implementation, I argue, would empower women to resist oppression, independently of men, to achieve liberation and equality so that male-dominated ideologies and structures could no longer oppress. A case study of women ministers in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa revealed discrimination against, and the limitation of the ministries of women clergy. The ethical dilemma of the Church appearing to follow, rather than to lead society on such issues was noted. The attainment of the liberation of women is dependent solely upon themselves and the extent to which they are prepared to take responsibility for their own lives. / M.Th. (Theological Ethics)

In 1994 South Africa celebrated the election of a new democratic government. This came with the abolition of the Group Areas Act 36of1966, which controlled the movement of black people from rural areas to urban areas. The repealing of this act led to the rapid movement of people from rural areas all over Southern Africa to the cities and towns in search for a better life. In turn this led to rapid urbanization and the growth of informal settlements' also known as squatter camps. These communities are characterized by poverty and lack of basic necessities such as houses, water and employment. The church was caught unaware by the need to minister to these communities that need more than the gospel that satisfies spiritual poverty but also the satisfaction of material poverty. This exposed the need for a model of ministry that will be holistic. This study shares a model of ministry that has been used by a Methodist congregation in an informal settlement community called Ivory Park in Midrand. This church uses a model of ministry that propagates the gospel both through preaching and community development. / Religious Studies & Arabic / M. Th. (Missiology)

Women today continue to struggle against male-dominated values and norms, and male prejudices, both in society and the Church. This balance of power needs to be altered to free women from the domination of men. The strategies proposed in this dissertation are based on the Christian ethic of justice and equality. Their implementation, I argue, would empower women to resist oppression, independently of men, to achieve liberation and equality so that male-dominated ideologies and structures could no longer oppress. A case study of women ministers in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa revealed discrimination against, and the limitation of the ministries of women clergy. The ethical dilemma of the Church appearing to follow, rather than to lead society on such issues was noted. The attainment of the liberation of women is dependent solely upon themselves and the extent to which they are prepared to take responsibility for their own lives. / M.Th. (Theological Ethics)

In 1994 South Africa celebrated the election of a new democratic government. This came with the abolition of the Group Areas Act 36of1966, which controlled the movement of black people from rural areas to urban areas. The repealing of this act led to the rapid movement of people from rural areas all over Southern Africa to the cities and towns in search for a better life. In turn this led to rapid urbanization and the growth of informal settlements' also known as squatter camps. These communities are characterized by poverty and lack of basic necessities such as houses, water and employment. The church was caught unaware by the need to minister to these communities that need more than the gospel that satisfies spiritual poverty but also the satisfaction of material poverty. This exposed the need for a model of ministry that will be holistic. This study shares a model of ministry that has been used by a Methodist congregation in an informal settlement community called Ivory Park in Midrand. This church uses a model of ministry that propagates the gospel both through preaching and community development. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M. Th. (Missiology)