Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is about the practical theological challenges faced by the AFM of SA Fountain of life congregation in the Winterveldt community. The Fountain of life congregation has minimal involvement in the community of Winterveldt, a community plagued by numerous life threatening plights. The congregation is in a survival mode after stagnating for a number of years and with serious challenges of declining or even facing possible extinction. This study's goal is to develop a practical theological theory, strategy and process which the AFM of SA Fountain of life congregation would be inspired to implement in order to contribute towards arresting theological, social, economical and moral degradation in the community of Winterveldt. The researcher employed a practical theological methodology and explored areas that are vital for the answering of the research problem, "What can be done in the Fountain of life congregation to maximize the participation of all members to serve the community of Winterveldt as well as the larger society?" It is hypothesized that Practical Theology will give the AFM of SA Fountain of life guidance and equip this faith community and its leaders theologically to consider their vocation, to develop a practical theological ecclesiology, a way to be the true, faithful and effective local church which is the salt and light of the world, including Winterveldt. The study explored the "world" in which Fountain of life finds itself, in terms of its contextual as well as the congregation's identity analysis. The normative aspects of being a missional church which covered the missional identity, empowerment and involvement of laity, and missional leadership were elaborated, while spiritual discernment with areas particular to Fountain of life received attention in the normative aspects of spiritual discernment. It is recommended that the identity of Fountain of life be grounded in the mission of the Trinitarian God (missio Dei of the Trinitarian God). The missionary identity and character of Fountain of life should be built and developed upon the eight dominant patterns found in a missional church. The researcher strongly encourages the Fountain of life congregation to employ the missional leadership strategies while engaging in a total involvement leadership style, which integrates high concern for getting the task completed and a high concern for good people relationship. The leadership of Fountain of life is further encouraged to use the suggested laity empowerment strategies in order to empower, develop, and involve the laity. Missional transformation can only succeed if the laity is empowered and committed to deal with new realities. Leadership is key in engaging the laity. The pastor and the leadership of Fountain of life must teach, educate, lead, and engage the congregation, and also partner with other communities of faith and organizations especially the South African Partnership for Missional Churches (SAPMC) to succeed. Fountain of life should practice missional praxis theology, a holistic theological model that describes the methodology for congregations to develop their own contextual ecclesiology within the parameters of God‘s overall design for the Church. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing handel oor die prakties-teologiese uitdagings van die Apostoliese Geloofsending (AGS) in Suid-Afrika se Fountain of life gemeente in Winterveldt (Tswane metropolitaanse area). Fountain of life het minimale invloed in die Winterveldt gemeenskap, 'n gemeenskap wat gebuk gaan onder baie ernstige sosiale probleme. Die gemeente is net besig om te oorleef, dit is stagnant en staar agteruitgang of algehele ondergang in die gesig. Die studie poog om teorie, strategie en ʼn proses te ontwikkel wat die Fountain of life gemeente in staat sal stel om ʼn bydrae te lewer om die algehele agteruitgang op teologiese, sosiale, ekonomiese en morele gebied, aan bande te lê en selfs om te keer. Die navorser gebruik ʼn prakties-teologiese benadering ter beantwoording van die navorsingsvraag: "Hoe kan die Fountain of life gemeente deelname van lidmate maksimaal benut sodat hulle Winterveldt en die groter gemeenskap kan bedien?" As die Fountain of life AGS gemeente die prakties-teologiese uitdagings wat die gemeenskap in die gesig staar, kan ondersoek en verstaan asook maniere vind om dit aan te spreek kan hulle die lot en swaarkry van die gemeenskap se mense help verlig. Die navorsing ondersoek die gemeente se bestaanswêreld, haar meer onmiddellike konteks asook haar identiteit. Wat is die normatiewe basis van ʼn missionale gemeente? Wat is die implikasies daarvan vir missionale identiteit? Hoe word lidmate bemagtig en hoe raak hulle betrokke? Wat behels missionale leierskap? Verder word baie klem geplaas op die normatiewe beginsels van geestelike onderskeidingsvermoë en wat dit in die praktyk vir die gemeente beteken. Die studie stel voor dat Fountain of life haar identiteit in die sending van die drie-enige God (missio Dei) leer vind. Die agt kenmerke van ʼn missionale gemeente behoort die identiteit van die gemeente te bepaal. Die navorser voel sterk dat die gemeente missionale leierskap strategieë moet implementeer. Dit behels volle oorgawe aan die taak sowel as ʼn volledige betrokkenheid by mense. Die gemeente se leierskap word aangemoedig om lidmate te bemagtig, te help om geestelik te ontwikkel en om in die kerk en gemeenskap betrokke te raak. Missionale transformasie kan alleen slaag as lidmate betrokke is, bemagtig is en bereid is om nuwe werklikhede te hanteer. Leierskap moet hiertoe verbind wees. Die plaaslike pastoor en die gemeente se leierskap moet lidmate toerus, voorgaan en betrokke kry. Hulle moet ook met ander geloofsgebaseerde organisasies netwerk, in die besonder die Suid-Afrikaanse Genootskap van Gestuurde Gemeentes. Fountain of life gemeente word opgeroep om missionaal en holisties teologie op ʼn praxis styl te beoefen sodat die gemeente ʼn eie kontekstuele ekklesiologie binne die koninkryk se parameters van die missio Dei kan ontdek.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-12-19T11:29:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Raimundo Carvalho Gordiano.pdf: 1325151 bytes, checksum: 6974f44a3653906fe1f2574090f48495 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-19T11:29:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Raimundo Carvalho Gordiano.pdf: 1325151 bytes, checksum: 6974f44a3653906fe1f2574090f48495 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-11-30 / Adveniat / The Church has its origin, source and fullness in Trinitarian pericorese. The inner movement of divine communion is overflowing with life. The Church is involved in the creative and saving mission of God. This ecclesiological perspective was deepened and assumed in the Second Vatican Council. This research portrays a reading of the missionary nature of the Church in the Diocese of Coari. It points out three facets taken over and built during its fifty years of evangelization: ecclesiology, sociopastoral action and missionary life as evangelizing and pastoral reflection. The primary sources are the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes and the Ad Gentes Decree. The bibliographical sources, the texts of the Magisterium and the Tradition are based and help to indicate the perspectives of the mission of the Local Church and its inspirations for the communion of the People of God. The diocese is missionary and continues its construction. You always need to update your evangelizing action. Installed in the ambience of the traditional Amazonian culture, the presence of urban culture has a strong presence. Diocesanism invites us to think and update our mission in order to renew ourselves permanently as a Missionary Church / A Igreja tem sua origem, fonte e plenitude na pericorese trinitária. O movimento interno da comunhão divina é transbordante de vida. O Povo de Deus é envolvido na missão criadora e salvadora de Deus. Essa perspectiva eclesiológica foi aprofundada e assumida no Concílio Vaticano II. Esta pesquisa retrata uma leitura da missionariedade da Igreja na Diocese de Coari. Aponta três facetas assumidas e construídas ao longo de seus cinquenta anos de evangelização: a eclesiologia, a ação sociopastoral e a missionariedade enquanto vivência evangelizadora e reflexão pastoral. As fontes primárias são a Constituição Dogmática Lumen Gentium, a Constituição Pastoral Gaudium et Spes e o Decreto Ad Gentes. As fontes bibliográficas, os textos do Magistério e da Tradição fundamentam e ajudam a indicar perspectivas da missão da Igreja Local e suas inspirações para a comunhão do Povo de Deus. A Diocese é missionária e continua sua construção. Necessita sempre atualizar sua ação evangelizadora. Instalada no ambiente da cultura tradicional amazônida, tem diante de si a forte presença da cultura urbana. A diocesaneidade convida a pensar e atualizar a missão a fim de renovar-se permanentemente como Igreja Missionária

L’Eglise est en continuelle émergence. Parce qu’elle a vocation à naître à nouveau dans chaque nouveau contexte, là où elle se retrouve en situation de postchrétienté, l’Eglise doit relever à frais nouveaux le double défi de la fidélité à l’Evangile et de la pertinence culturelle. Dans un premier temps, cette thèse explore les nouvelles formes d’Eglises qui cherchent à relever ce défi et qui voient le jour depuis quelques années et ont été identifiées sous l’appellation d’Eglises émergentes. Se développant dans les pays occidentaux, au sein ou en marge de tout le spectre des champs confessionnels, ces communautés s’essayent à pratiquer la voie de Jésus au sein des cultures postmodernes. Elles cherchent donc à être fidèles à leurs lieux et à leur temps. Centrées sur la mission, sur le développement communautaire ou sur l’innovation liturgique, ces Eglises proposent des approches variées mais ont néanmoins des lignes de force communes. Elles ouvrent la voie à une réflexion plus large sur certains enjeux ecclésiologiques contemporains, qui constitue la deuxième partie de cette étude. Faisant notamment dialoguer les auteurs du mouvement des Eglises émergentes avec le théologien missionnaire anglais Lesslie Newbigin, se dessine une Eglise missionnelle, incarnationnelle et expérientielle. / The Church is constantly emerging. With a calling to be reborn in each new context, the Church in post-Christendom must rise to the dual challenge of remaining faithful to the Gospel while being fresh and culturally relevant. In the first section, this thesis examines new types of Churches, identified as “Emerging Churches” which, in recent years, have been trying to meet this challenge. These communities, developing in western countries either within or on the fringes of the entire denominational spectrum, are trying to practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures. They are, thus, seeking to be faithful to their place and time. These Churches, by focusing on mission, community development or innovative worship, offer various approaches while nevertheless sharing a common driving force. They pave the way for a more open consideration of certain contemporary ecclesiological issues which make up the second part of this study. Bringing together the writings and ideas of the authors and leaders of the Emerging Church movement with those of British missionary theologian Lesslie Newbigin creates a vision of a missional, incarnational and experiential Church.

Traditionally, it has been argued that the Gospel of John was never a mission book (Missionsschrift) but rather a “Gemeindeschrift” written to confirm or deepen the faith of the early Christians of the Johannine community. In this study however, it is argued that although John’s Gospel may be encouraging to believers, the author rhetorically intended to persuade his readers to embody the missional motif, which started with the mission of Jesus. The narrative of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4:1-42, is investigated as an example of how Jesus for the sake of His mission crossed all barriers of His time to reach out to the Samaritans and therefore issued a pattern, which is to be followed by His followers. It is also argued that when the mission of Jesus and the narrative of the Samaritan woman are integrated, an ethical missional paradigm is constructed in which the believers as members of God’s family are called to embody the “missional ethics” of Jesus. Finally, it is argued that the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman could be interpreted as a narrative of social and spiritual reunion with moral principles that challenges the contemporary church to embark on missional journeys of restoration as Jesus did with the Samaritans. / Dissertation (MA Theol)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / New Testament Studies / Unrestricted

This thesis explores the missional ecclesiology of the Emerging Church Movement and its relationship to Evangelicalism. The rise of post-Christendom, post-modernism and the increasing marginalisation of the church in Western Culture has created a situation where it needs to ask the basic missiological questions of its own identity and structures. In contrast to many within traditional Evangelicalism, the Emerging Church Movement views these changes as a positive development and, in a social context much more akin to that of the early church, an opportunity to rediscover the essential nature of its calling as Church. It is in a narrative reading of Scripture and understanding of Jesus' proclamation of the kingdom of God that the ECM believes the answers are to be found. As a result, the ECM finds itself working through a gradual process of dismantling and reconstructing the faith of their Evangelical heritage as they reflect on the meaning of the gospel as they see it expressed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and His interpretation of the Old Testament narrative. For the ECM, the gospel is much bigger than merely personal salvation and is best understood as God's great and gracious mission in the world of making new all that has been corrupted by sin and evil. Missional churches realise that they have been invited to participate with God in his redemptive mission and formulate their identity, structures and values accordingly. The ECM engages in intentional , subversive ministry from its new place at the margins of society flowing from the realisation that mission is not an activity to be carried out by members of the church in certain contexts, but rather the essential character and calling of the church community wherever it may exist. / Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

This research is guided by the assertion that, as American society journeys through the post-modern transition, many established churches are struggling to respond adequately to cultural change within a fragmented generational context. It further is argued that the resulting ineffectiveness of many of these churches in transmitting the Christian tradition to Gen Xers, the first post-modern generation, threatens the ability of these churches to sustain their witness through this period. This project advances the hypothesis that, if established churches are to sustain their witness through the post-modern transition, they must engage in a process of missional renewal that encompasses Generation X. When considered from both a sociological and a theological perspective, this process must be seen as entailing a commitment to intergenerational reconciliation and justice. Chapter one provides an introduction to this study and explains how it is situated within the discipline of Practical Theology. Following Heitink (1999:6), Practical Theology is defined as “the mediation of the Christian faith in the praxis of modern society.” Chapter two offers additional theoretical foundations through an exploration of the intergenerational praxis of the church within the intergenerational praxis of society. In chapter three, essential historical background is provided through an exploration of the influence of modernity in shaping the praxis of American society, as well as the influence of the Christendom paradigm in guiding the church’s praxis. This chapter also explores the emergence of institutional structures that have fostered distance between the generations, as well as the impact of these changes upon the intergenerational praxis of the church. Chapter four examines the complexities associated with the post-modern paradigm shift. Generation X is introduced as a generation whose formative years most closely approximate this period. Generation X is shown to be a misunderstood and maligned generation possessing discontinuous cultural values. In chapter five, the “marriage” of Christendom and modernity is shown to limit the ability of established churches to respond faithfully to the post-modern turn. The intergenerational dynamics of these churches also are shown to hinder their response. This chapter demonstrates that the resulting absence of the first post-modern generation from these churches places their continued viability at risk. Chapter six explores the need for these churches to experience missional renewal. A case is made for the participation of Generation X as a crucial consideration in this pursuit. The issue of “process” is shown to be important in helping churches negotiate the challenges of missional renewal. Chapter seven advances the assertion that, from both theological and sociological perspectives, intergenerational reconciliation and justice must be seen as integral dimensions of the missional renewal process. In chapter eight, the argument developed in the preceding chapters is subjected to empirical evaluation. The results of a survey conducted among churches from five denominations lend credibility to this study’s hypothesis. The final chapter (nine) introduces the “Missional Change Model” as one strategic framework through which established churches might be guided in pursuing missional renewal. This chapter also demonstrates how this model might help to facilitate intergenerational reconciliation and justice. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

No description available.

In this research work the missional receptiveness of the non-churched in eastern Germany is examined qualitatively using the example of the meetings of the “no-name” church. The goal of the study is to find out what motivates the non-churched to attend Christian meetings, and to recognize patterns/indicators behind the motivation. For this the context of the non-churched in eastern Germany is first highlighted and the structure of the missional church described. Based on the empirical-theological practice cycle, both planning and execution as well as the results of qualitative interviews carried out with ten visitors to the meetings of the “no-name” church planting initiative are then presented. As a result of repeated coding using the Grounded Theory, five typologies of the non-churched can be highlighted. On the basis of the research results, hypotheses for the missional reachability of the non-churched are formulated and challenges for the practical application indicated. This study wants to contribute to a better understanding of the problems of the reachability of the non-churched in eastern Germany. It shows the strengths and weaknesses of the missional church model which should be taken into account in this context. / In dieser Forschungsarbeit wird qualitativ die missionale Ansprechbarkeit ostdeutscher Konfessionsloser am Beispiel der Treffen der nonamechurch untersucht. Das Ziel der Arbeit ist es herauszufinden, was Konfessionslose motiviert zu christlichen Veranstaltungen zu kommen, um Muster/Indikatoren hinter der Motivation zu erkennen. Dazu wird zunächst der Kontext der ostdeutschen Konfessionslosen aufgezeigt und die Struktur der missionalen Gemeinde beschrieben. Anschließend werden anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus sowohl Planung und Durchführung, als auch die Ergebnisse qualitativer Interviews dargestellt, die mit zehn Besuchern der Treffen der Gemeindegründungsinitiative nonamechurch geführt wurden. Als Ergebnis des mehrmaligen Codierens unter Anwendung der Grounded Theory lassen sich fünf Typologien von Konfessionslosen herausarbeiten. Auf der Grundlage der Forschungsergebnisse werden Thesen bezüglich der missionalen Erreichbarkeit von Konfessionslosen formuliert und Herausforderungen für die praktische Umsetzung aufgezeigt. Die vorliegende Studie will einen Beitrag zum besseren Verständnis der Problematik der Erreichbarkeit ostdeutscher Konfessionsloser leisten. Sie zeigt Stärken und Schwächen des missionalen Gemeindemodells auf, die in diesem Zusammenhang zu beachten sind. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

German text / In dieser Forschungsarbeit werden Merkmale eines missionalen Lebensstils und deren transformatorische Auswirkungen erforscht, um gesellschaftliche Formen der Gemeinde- und Glaubenspraxis zu entwickeln. Im Zentrum steht eine empirisch-theologische Untersuchung einer Wohn- und Lebensgemeinschaft in einem sozialen Brennpunkt. Mit den Mitgliedern wurde in einen Zeitraum von über einem Jahr regelmäßig eine Gruppendiskussion durchgeführt, deren Auswertung mit Hilfe der Methode der Grounded Theory (Strauss/Corbin) erfolgte. Die Ergebnisse der Datenanalyse wurden dann mit den aktuellen praktisch-theologischen Ansätzen zur Thematik sowie mit lerntheoretischen Ansätzen in Beziehung gesetzt, um Folgerungen für eine transformatorische und ganzheitliche Gemeinde- und Glaubenspraxis im sozialen Brennpunkt zu ziehen. Die erzielten Ergebnisse zeigen die Chance, Wichtigkeit und Herausforderung die diese Arbeit mit sich bringt. Die vorliegende erste qualitative Studie zu dieser Thematik möchte Wohn- und Lebensgemeinschaften in der Ausübung eines missionalen Lebensstils Orientierung und Hilfestellung bieten und einen Forschungsbeitrag zur aktuellen Debatte um den Begriff „missional“ im Kontext der Praktischen Theologie geben. / This research study examines characteristic traits of a missional lifestyle and its transformatory effects, in order to develop societal forms of church and faith practice. At the centre of the study is the empirical-theological exploration of a communal living project in a socially deprived locality. Members regularly took part in group discussions over the course of more than a year, the results of which were evaluated with the help of the Grounded Theory Method (Strauss/Corbin). The results of the data analysis were then set in relation to the current practicaltheological approaches to the topic, as well as to learning theoretical approaches, in order to draw conclusions for a transformatory and holistic church and faith practice in a socially deprived locality. The results reveal the opportunities, challenges and significance of this work. This research, the first qualitative study on the topic, intends to provide communal living projects with the orientation and support required for a missional lifestyle, and to contribute to the current debate about the term "missional" through an exploration of practical theology. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

In dieser Forschungsarbeit werden Lebensgemeinschaften (LGs) untersucht, die als Lebensgemeinschaft Jugendarbeit betreiben. Ziel dieser Untersuchung ist es, Chancen und Grenzen dieser LG Jugendarbeit aufzuzeigen, missionale Jugendarbeit zu sein, um sie für die klassische Jugendarbeit fruchtbar zu machen. Hierfür werden anhand des aktuellen Forschungsstands zunächst entscheidende Begrifflichkeiten je nach Fachgebiet theologisch oder pädagogisch beleuchtet. Danach werden die zu untersuchenden LGs und deren Arbeit konzeptionell vorgestellt. Anschließend erfolgt die Darstellung der Planung und Durchführung des Forschungsprozesses anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus (ETP). Dem folgend werden die Ergebnisse der auf neun qualitativen Interviews basierenden Analyse nach dem Prinzip der Grounded Theory dargestellt. Diese Ergebnisse werden anschließend mit den theologischen und pädagogischen Erkenntnissen der aktuellen Forschung zum Thema zusammengeführt, um Thesen für eine missionale Jugendarbeit zu formulieren. Diese Thesen sollen einen Beitrag zur missionalen Diskussion im besonderen Hinblick auf gesellschaftsrelevante Jugendarbeit leisten. / This research study examines Christian communities which are, as community, involved in youth ministry. It is the objective of this investigation to reveal the potential and limits of these youth ministries as they attempt to be missional, and to utilise the results to make more traditional forms of youth ministry more effective. For this purpose, essential terms will first be theologically or pedagogically analysed, depending on the subject area examined and according to the current state of research. Then, the studied communities and their ministry will be conceptually presented. Subsequently, the planning and implementation of the research process, according to the Empirical-Theological Praxis Cycle (ETP), will be described. Following this, the results of the analysis, based on nine qualitative interviews conducted according to the principles of Grounded Theory, will be portrayed. These results will then be brought together with the theological and pedagogical insights of current research on the topic, in order to produce propositions for a missional youth ministry. These propositions aims to offer a contribution to the missional debate with particular reference to socially relevant forms of youth ministry. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)