Assignment (M.Div.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research was done from the viewpoint that because of different reasons believers and congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa are struggling to make a significant contribution to processes of reconciliation in this country and thereby to a certain extent fail to live out the church’s witness in this regard. Therefore the question was asked how this church can be guided to play a bigger part in processes of reconciliation in the midst of phenomena like race-prejudice, race-discrimination and subtle and blatant forms of racism in South Africa today. By focusing on few of the causes of these phenomena as well as certain perspectives on missio Dei theologies, an attempt are made to guide the Dutch Reformed Church towards involvement in processes of reconciliation, the transformation of broken relationships between people of different races and the eradication of racism. A number of hermeneutical processes are being emphasized in order to guide the church towards a miss ional praxis of reconciliation. The essence of this praxis entails the eradication of stereotypes regarding ‘the other’, by focusing on an inculturation approach in the light of missio Dei theology. By focusing on an interpretation of missio Dei as God’s reconciliation through the poor, an attempt was made to guide the church towards involvement in processes aiming at economic justice. This research is therefore an attempt to guide the church towards the discernment of her role as the witnesses of Christ within this context in South Africa today. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing is vanuit die uitgangspunt gedoen dat gelowiges en gemeentes van die NG Kerk in Suid-Afrika om verskeie redes in ‘n mindere mate daarin slaag om ‘n daadwerklike (getuienislewerende) bydrae tot versoeningsprosesse in Suid-Afrika te lewer. Na aanleiding van hierdie stelling word die vraag gevra na hoe die NG Kerk ‘n groter rol kan speel in prosesse van versoening en die transformering van verhoudinge tussen verskillende mense in Suid-Afrika, veral te midde die realiteit van rassevooroordeel, rassediskriminasie en subtiele en blatante rassisme vandag. Deur te let na enkele oorsake van rasseskeiding en rassisme, asook verskeie perspektiewe op missio Dei teologieë, word daar derhalwe gepoog om die NG Kerk hierdeur tot betrokkenheid in die transformering van gebroke rasseverhoudinge en die uitwissing van rassisme in Suid-Afrika vandag te begelei. Verskeie hermeneutiese prosesse word in die proses benadruk ten einde die kerk by te staan in die onderskeiding van ‘n missionale versoeningspraksis binne hierdie konteks. Die essensie van hierdie praksis, wat op verskeie hermeneutiese prosesse steun, bestaan daaruit om stereotipes aangaande ‘die ander’ uit die weg te ruim deur op ‘n inkulturasie-benadering tot missio Dei te fokus. Daar word ook voorstelle gemaak oor hoe om versoening tussen mense te bevorder deur die nastreef van ekonomiese geregtigheid. ‘n Aanvullende benadering tot missio Dei, nl. missio Dei as God se versoening asook God se sending deur die arme dien as basis hiervan. Op hierdie manier het hierdie navorsing ‘n bydrae gelewer oor wat die NG Kerk kan doen om versoening tussen mense groepe in Suid-Afrika te kan bewerkstellig en om haar getuienis i.t.v. hierdie konteks te oriënteer.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The second half of the 20th century marks a paradigm shift from Christendom to missional theology with implications for missional ecclesiology. The being of a triune, missional God urges the church towards a critical-hermeneutical self reflection on it’s identity and calling in terms of evangelization and active involvement in an all-inclusive witnessing in the world. Missional ecclesiology emphasizes diaconial involvement in the world. The reflection of the Dutch Reformed Church on diaconia can be learnt in its conceptualization of missional diaconial work and how it is being implemented in the practice of the church. This ecclesiological development is being studied using the ministry of compassion of the Dutch Reformed Congregation, Onrusriver as case study.

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)

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)