AFRIKAANS: In hierdie studie word daar na die narratiewe van Suid-Afrikaans gebore immigrante, wat hulself in Brisbane, Australië, gevestig het, geluister. Die plaaslike konteks word in die gereformeerde gemeente van Mansfield gevind en die ontwikkeling van diensbare leierskap word beskryf as deel van die kultuur van die gemeente wat fokus op die nood van immigrante. Die navorsing vind plaas vanuit ‘n epistemologie wat uit ‘n narratiewe benadering vloei. Die post-fundamentele teologiese posisionering inkorporeer die sosiale konstruksionisme, met die doel om ‘n dieper verstaan van die narratiewe navorsing te bewerkstellig. Die praxis word as die beginpunt van navorsing in hierdie post-fundamentele prakties-teologiese studie gesien. Die gevolg is dat eerstehandse kennis opgedoen en geïnterpreteer word deurdat die verhale van mede-navorsers aangehoor en beskryf word. Die plaaslike geloofsgemeenskap in Mansfield bied in-kontekstuele ervaringe wat deur die mede-navorsers vertel word en wat deur die tradisies van interpretasie beïnvloed word. Hierdie ervaringe word deur die aanstelling van respondente vanuit verskillende vakgebiede verder geïnterpreteer en betekenis word aan die verhale gegee in ‘n inter-dissiplinêre gesprek. Die inter-dissiplinêre gesprek word vanuit die teorie van transversale rasionaliteit gestimuleer en ‘n relevante literatuurstudie komplementeer die navorsingsproses en word in die studie geïntegreer. Aan die einde van die navorsingsproses word alternatiewe interpretasies en voorstelle gemaak wat dui op die konteks groter as net die plaaslike. Die navorsingsproses word dus ontwikkel vanuit ‘n post-fundamentele teologiese posionering met die doel om die narratiewe van immigrante aan die orde te stel. Hierdie narratiewe word geïnterpreteer en ‘n dieper verstaan word ontwikkel deurdat sekere diskoerse geïdentifiseer word deur ‘n proses van dekonstruksie. Kritiese vrae word gevra en die spesifieke temas vanuit die verhale word bespreek met die doel om die werklikheid van immigrasie te beskryf soos wat die mede-navorsers dit beleef. Die taalkwessie en hoe taal aangewend word om betekenis aan verhale te gee word bespreek. Die eie interpretasies van mede-navorsers word in opvolggesprekke getoets en die verhale word hierdeur toegelaat om te ontwikkel. Die geloofstaal en die taal van die twyfel van immigrante word aangehoor ten einde hulle belewenisse van die teenwoordigheid van God in hulle lewens tydens immigrasie te verstaan. Die ontwikkeling van Diensbare Leierskap word as ‘n natuurlike uitvloeisel van die immigrasieproses bespreek. Die immigrante beleef die diensbaarheid van die leiers in die gemeente van Mansfield positief. Hierdie studie vertel die verhale van immigrante wat deur die diensbaarheid van ander, self ook die kultuur van diensbaarheid aanneem en deelneem aan omgee-aksies om ander immigrante te bedien. Die literatuur oor diensbare leierskap wys self-leierskap, leierskap in spanverband, leierskapontwikkeling en strategiese leierskap uit as kritiese areas in die ontwikkeling van diensbare leierskap. Die gevolgtrekking op hierdie studie is dat diensbare leierskap as ‘n integrale deel van gelowige immigrasie verstaan word en dat dit intensioneel deel vorm van die leierskapkultuur in ‘n immigrant-vriendelike gemeente. Die voorstel wat hieruit voortvloei is dat verskillende gemeentes en kerkverbande kan baat by die aanwending van diensbare leierskap binne die konteks van immigrasie. ENGLISH: In this study narratives of immigration are listened to and described from the local context of the Christian Reformed Church, Mansfield in Brisbane, Australia. The development of servant leadership is described as part of the culture of the congregation. The congregation focuses on the needs of immigrants as an immigrant-friendly church. The research approach in this study flows from an epistemology based on a narrative theory. The post foundational approach incorporates social constructionism as part of the process in exploring a deeper meaning of the stories told by immigrants. Within this framework of post foundational practical theology, the praxis is the starting point of research. This consists of local knowledge, described and interpreted by the co-researchers and informed by traditions of interpretation. The experiences of co-researchers are interpreted on a second level with the appointment of four interdisciplinary respondents. The respondents take part in an interdisciplinary conversation and they each contribute from their field of experience. This is done by using transversal rationality and the in-context experiences are thickened through interdisciplinary investigation. Furthermore, a study of relevant literature is introduced and added to the conversation. At the end of the research process some suggestions and alternative interpretations that point beyond the local context, are made. The research process is therefore developed from a post foundational theological positioning with the aim of describing immigration narratives and interpreting these narratives in order to facilitate a deeper knowledge and insight into the immigration process. Different discourses will be explored by asking critical questions and using a process of deconstruction. The in-context experiences of co-researchers are the primary narrative and their interpretations of experiences will be studied. The language of co-researchers and how they use language will be discussed. Their own interpretations will be used as discussion points in follow up conversations and their narratives will therefore be allowed into a process of growth. Their language, pointing to their experience of the presence of God as well as their language of doubt in the process of immigration will be listened to. Servant leadership will be discussed as an integral part of immigration for believers. The stories of the co-researchers reveal servant leadership in many different forms as part of the culture of the congregation in Mansfield. The narratives show the co-researchers becoming part of the ministry of servant leaders in the congregation. Co-researchers experience the influence of the servant leadership of others in their lives and tell stories of how their needs as immigrants are met by the servant leaders in the congregation. The literature on servant leadership points to self leadership, team leadership, leadership development and strategic leadership as relevant themes to be explored. The conclusion of this study shows servant leadership as an integral part of immigration and that an intentional focus on a culture of servanthood will benefit an immigration friendly congregation. The proposal following from this study is to engage other congregations and churches in a conversation on the effect of servant leadership within the context of immigration. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

In hierdie verhandeling reflekteer ek oor my godsdiensdiskoers en die invloed daarvan op my lewe, beide as persoon en as terapeut. My werk vind 'n nis in die wyse waarop dit die 'stil, onsigbare mensa' benader wie se stories gevorm is deur diskoerse van die modemistiese samelewing. In my navorsing kry ek te doen met problema wat in die algemeen met die praktyke van marginalisering geassosieer word. Die narratiewe gesprekvoering met 'medeskrywers' aan my storie en interaksie met hulle verskillende horisonne kristalliseer in 'n bevrydende en veelvlakkige insig. Hierdie kennis stel my in staat om nuwe keuses te maak en 'n alternatiewe storie vir myself te formuleer. Die studie illustreer dus nie net hoe narratiewe terapie die 'stil, onsigbare' produkte van 'n paternalistiese samelewing kan bemagtig nie. Dit wys ook op die waarde van die oopstelling van die terapeut se eie verhaal vir sy/haar vorming as terapeut. / In this dissertation I reflect on my religious discourse, its influence on my life and how it affects me, both as a person and a therapist. It addresses a niche in its approach to the 'silent, invisible people' whose stories are authored by the discourses of a modernistic society. My research stumbles on all kinds of problems that are generally associated with the practices of marginalisation. Acting as both client and therapist, I enter into numerous interactive conversational sessions with 'co-authors' of my story, afJ with different contexts and horizons. This process crystallises in a liberating and multi-faceted truth. The newly gained knowledge enables me to make new choices and formulate tor myself an alternative story. This study illustrates not only how narrative practices may empower the 'silent, invisible' products of a patemalistic society. It also shows how therapists may benefit from the deconstruction of their own story in both a personal and professional way. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Om te luister na mense se verhale is om iets van hulle belewinge en singewing te probeer verstaan. Staatkundige verandering in Suid-Afrika. het die arbeidsposisie van veral die wit werker in onsekerheid geplaas. Saam met die internasionale gemeenskap kan gevolglik gese word: Daar bestaan nie meer iets soos werksekerheid nie. In hierdie studie skets drie wit Afrikanermans en hulle vrouens die invloed en gevolge van onverwagse uitdienstrede op hulself en hul gesinslewe. As gevolg van onsekerheid in die werksituasie het deelnemers bestaande sosiale- en geloofsdiskoerse bevraagteken. Deurdat die deelnemers egter hulle verhale in die teenwoordigheid van persone te midde van dieselfde omstandighede vertel het, kon hulle kom tot die ko-konstruering van betekenis en die skep van alternatiewe verhale. / To listen to the stories of people, is to comprehend something of their experiences and the meaning they apply to it. Political change in South Africa placed the vocational position of especially the white Afrikaner worker in an uncertain position. Together with the international community it can now be said: There is no longer such a thing as job security. In this study three white Afrikaner men and their spouses depict the influence and results of unexpected retirement on themselves and their families. Uncertainty in the job-situation led to the questioning of existing social and faith discourses. By telling their stories in the presence of people amid the same circumstances, participants were however able to co-construct meaning and create alternative stories. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

In hierdie verhandeling reflekteer ek oor my godsdiensdiskoers en die invloed daarvan op my lewe, beide as persoon en as terapeut. My werk vind 'n nis in die wyse waarop dit die 'stil, onsigbare mensa' benader wie se stories gevorm is deur diskoerse van die modemistiese samelewing. In my navorsing kry ek te doen met problema wat in die algemeen met die praktyke van marginalisering geassosieer word. Die narratiewe gesprekvoering met 'medeskrywers' aan my storie en interaksie met hulle verskillende horisonne kristalliseer in 'n bevrydende en veelvlakkige insig. Hierdie kennis stel my in staat om nuwe keuses te maak en 'n alternatiewe storie vir myself te formuleer. Die studie illustreer dus nie net hoe narratiewe terapie die 'stil, onsigbare' produkte van 'n paternalistiese samelewing kan bemagtig nie. Dit wys ook op die waarde van die oopstelling van die terapeut se eie verhaal vir sy/haar vorming as terapeut. / In this dissertation I reflect on my religious discourse, its influence on my life and how it affects me, both as a person and a therapist. It addresses a niche in its approach to the 'silent, invisible people' whose stories are authored by the discourses of a modernistic society. My research stumbles on all kinds of problems that are generally associated with the practices of marginalisation. Acting as both client and therapist, I enter into numerous interactive conversational sessions with 'co-authors' of my story, afJ with different contexts and horizons. This process crystallises in a liberating and multi-faceted truth. The newly gained knowledge enables me to make new choices and formulate tor myself an alternative story. This study illustrates not only how narrative practices may empower the 'silent, invisible' products of a patemalistic society. It also shows how therapists may benefit from the deconstruction of their own story in both a personal and professional way. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Om te luister na mense se verhale is om iets van hulle belewinge en singewing te probeer verstaan. Staatkundige verandering in Suid-Afrika. het die arbeidsposisie van veral die wit werker in onsekerheid geplaas. Saam met die internasionale gemeenskap kan gevolglik gese word: Daar bestaan nie meer iets soos werksekerheid nie. In hierdie studie skets drie wit Afrikanermans en hulle vrouens die invloed en gevolge van onverwagse uitdienstrede op hulself en hul gesinslewe. As gevolg van onsekerheid in die werksituasie het deelnemers bestaande sosiale- en geloofsdiskoerse bevraagteken. Deurdat die deelnemers egter hulle verhale in die teenwoordigheid van persone te midde van dieselfde omstandighede vertel het, kon hulle kom tot die ko-konstruering van betekenis en die skep van alternatiewe verhale. / To listen to the stories of people, is to comprehend something of their experiences and the meaning they apply to it. Political change in South Africa placed the vocational position of especially the white Afrikaner worker in an uncertain position. Together with the international community it can now be said: There is no longer such a thing as job security. In this study three white Afrikaner men and their spouses depict the influence and results of unexpected retirement on themselves and their families. Uncertainty in the job-situation led to the questioning of existing social and faith discourses. By telling their stories in the presence of people amid the same circumstances, participants were however able to co-construct meaning and create alternative stories. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

The research endeavoured to voice the told and untold stories of adolescents living with HIV undergoing continual disease management at the Kalafong Hospital Paediatric HIV Clinic. Through the telling of their stories the adolescents had the opportunity to make sense of their illness experiences. Some of the participating adolescents had limited opportunities to discuss their experiences with friends or family members. The research was completed within the qualitative social constructionist narrative approach. Six adolescents from the clinic participated voluntarily in the research. The participants attended the clinic regularly for disease management and were on ART. The study explored the experiences of the adolescents by means of two semi-structured individual interviews. Expressive art in the form of drawings and poetry were used to aid storytelling. Through collaborative exploration of the adolescents‟ stories, it became possible to co-construct the meanings that they attached to their experiences of HIV, which informs their identity. The interview transcripts were analysed, re-storied, and placed within a narrative framework of understanding, based on the three-dimensional space approach by Clandinin and Connelly (2000). The framework of understanding aided the researcher to look at the different contexts, identities, and social significant aspects found in the adolescents‟ stories. Multiple identities were constructed in their stories such as patient, scholar, friend, family, and athlete identities. These were constructed based on their experiences in the family and cultural, school and social, and medical contexts. The adolescents attributed different meanings to their stories of living with HIV such as that of normality, sameness, realism, and difference. The unique and similar aspects that were found in the adolescents‟ stories were identified and discussed with reference to various concepts such as disclosure, adherence, and ART. It was found that status disclosure was done by staff at the clinic and it occurred during young adolescence. All the adolescents, except one who was not aware of her status, showed insight into the chronic nature of their disease. Five adolescents‟ statuses have not been disclosed to anyone outside the families. In only one instance, the family was not aware of his status. Most adolescents assumed primary responsibility for ART. They expressed conflicting ideas about the role of ART. Some adolescents had to cope with side effects, the possibility of accidental status disclosure and non-adherence, and fears of rejection. The research, employing a narrative approach, endeavours to contribute to create a holistic understanding of HIV/AIDS in the context of health care. Lack of communication and impersonal staff interactions with patients were identified as barriers to disease management. The research recommends that the clinic should provide ongoing support to the adolescents with regards to disclosure of their status to friends, family, and partners, and adherence to medication. The social significant aspects found in the adolescents‟ stories will be disseminated to the staff at the clinic. This will assist the multi-disciplinary team to gain a better understanding of the reality of the adolescent and how these experiences inform their identity. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted