Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research has been conducted from a post modern, practical theological point of view. The focus of the research is on the question: How was it possible for Eloffsdal Dutch Reformed Church as a congregation with a death penalty on it to experience new life and hope? I share a couple of introductory ideas and concepts in Chapter 1. The focus is on the research question mentioned above, the historical background and the unique context of the congregation. Concepts are clarified to explain the meaning of certain concepts in the study. Concepts include missional, missional transformation, stories/narratives, identity, capacity, new borders, a new church concept and God stories of Hope are clarified. Chapter 2 deals with the importance of considering the congregation's story and the context in which it played and still plays out. The micro, meso and macro contexts are also taken into account. In Chapter 3 Eloffsdal's members tell the story of the congregation through the use of the nominal group technique as well as the use of the ethnographic reading report. The congregation is then described according to ethnographic interviews, missional conversations and relevant nominal questionnaires. Chapter 4 focuses on the theology, practical theology and the narrative practical theology. The identity of the congregation, the re-discovery of the initiative of the Trinity, the discovery to be send out or be missional as well as the development of new capacities are described. In Chapter 5 there is a search for a possible paradigm shift where the congregation itself needs to discover and develop various levels and different contexts in their missional journey. This will involve that new borders will be crossed. The processes and factors which turned the members' minds to contribute to their new concepts of the church (ecclesiology) are also discussed. Together with my co-researchers we searched for possible stories of Hope. Chapter 6 is a critical reflection on the research process and the possible missional transformation that contributed to a congregation's experience of new life and hope in spite of a death penalty being spoken out over it. Possible limitations of the research as well as topics for further research are mentioned. The end of any process is and always will be open and always leads to further questions and problems to be discovered. This research does not end with a full stop, but with a comma,…. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoe het Eloffsdal NG Gemeente as ʼn terdoodveroordeelde gemeente nuwe lewe en hoop gekry? Dit is die navorsingsvraag wat in die navorsing aan die orde gestel word. In Hoofstuk 1 hanteer ek enkele inleidende gedagtes en konsepte. Die soeklig val kortliks op die navorsingsprobleem, die konteks van die gemeente en historiese agtergrond wat ondersoek word in die res van die navorsing. Die begripsverheldering help om van die kernbegrippe in die navorsing uit te lig. Begrippe soos missionaal, missionale transformasie, verhale/narratiewe, identiteit, kapasiteit, nuwe grense, nuwe kerk begrip en God stories van Hoop word omskryf. Hoofstuk 2 handel oor die noodsaaklikheid om die gemeenteverhaal en die konteks waarbinne dit oor jare afgespeel het, te verreken. Die mikro, meso en makro kontekste word ook verreken. In Hoofstuk 3 word Eloffsdal se lidmate aan die woord gestel om deur middel van die nominale groep tegniek asook die bevindinge uit die etnografiese leesverslag, die navorsingstorie van die gemeente te vertel. Die gemeente word met behulp van die etnografiese onderhoude, missionale gesprekke en toepaslike nominale vraelyste beskryf. In Hoofstuk 4 val die fokus op die teologie, praktiese teologie en narratiewe praktiese teologie. Die identiteit van die gemeente, die herontdekking van die insiatief van die Drie-enige God, die ontdekking van gestuurd wees asook die ontwikkeling van nuwe kapasiteite, word in dié hoofstuk verreken en ontgin. In Hoofstuk 5 word na 'n moontlike paradigmaskuif gesoek waar die gemeente self die verskillende vlakke en kontekste in hulle unieke konteks gaan ontgin. Nuwe grense word ook oorgesteek. Die prosesse en faktore wat in die mense se koppe gedraai het en sodoende meegehelp het om 'n nuwe kerkbegrip (ekklesiologie) te laat ontwikkel word ondersoek. In samewerking met my medenavorsers word daar gesoek na moontlike stories van hoop. Hoofstuk 6 handel kortliks oor 'n kritiese refleksie oor die navorsingsproses en die moontlike missionale transformasie wat meegehelp het om 'n terdoodveroordeelde gemeente te laat herleef. Moontlike leemtes in die navorsing en voorstelle oor gepaste onderwerpe vir verdere navorsing, word ook hier hanteer. Die einde is en bly altyd 'n oop proses en ontlok altyd weer nuwe vrae vir verdere navorsing. Daar is nie 'n punt aan die einde van die navorsing nie, wel 'n komma, ……..

Thesis (DTh (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) was established in 1881 and 1910 respectively. As pointed out in this study both these churches grew from the mission endeavours of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). In April 1994 the DRMC and the DRCA united in forming the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). This church has as confessional base the Belgic Confession of Faith, the Canons of Dordt and the Heidelberg Catechism as well as the Belhar Confession. The church order of the URCSA is built on these Confessions and in particular on the Belhar Confession. In this study I argue that it was only after the unification of the mentioned churches that a history characterised by guardianship, subordination and semi-autonomy came to an end. However this may be the histories of the DRMC and the DRCA point out that, on a church juridical level, these churches where subordinate and to a large extent directly governed by the DRC. Here the model for the church planting as followed by the DRC will receive attention. By looking into the primary documents through which these churches were governed as well as the documents that formed the church orderly backbone of the mentioned churches in that, through their principles and stipulations, the DRMC and DRCA were organised internally, I attempt to evaluate these documents. These documents include the initial constitutions for the governance of the DRMC and the DRCA, the deeds of agreement between the regional synods of the DRC and the regional synods of the DRCA as well as the Deeds of Agreement between the DRC in South Africa (the Western and Southern Cape Synod of the DRC) the Synod of the DRMC, the first church orders of the DRMC and the DRCA and, to a lesser extent, the church order of the URCSA. Through their histories these churches were granted church juridical liberties. These liberties form the foundation for the initial development in the polity of these churches. The content of the abovementioned documents highlights these liberties as well as the effect it had on the theological identities of the DRMC and the DRCA. As the histories of these churches depict a strong strive towards reaching a position of ecclesial autonomy and the acknowledgment of their autonomy by the DRC, special attention is given to the concept and interpretation of ecclesial autonomy. In this regard I remark on the historical interpretation of ecclesial autonomy as it played out in the histories of the DRMC and the DRCA. Through the works of renowned Reformed theologians, I further look into historical interpretations of this theological principle, which is ecclesial autonomy. In doing this I attempt to formulate a specific understanding of ecclesial autonomy based on a particular interpretation of the Lordship of Christ. As outcome this interpretation shows towards the interdependant relation between churches. It can be argued that this impacts directly on the relation between the DRC, the DRMC and the DRCA, specifically in the ongoing processes of church re-unification. In a final turn in which I affirm vi the interdependent and interrelatedness between churches, I argue towards the building of a vulnerable ecclesiology which impacts directly on an understanding of ecclesial autonomy, the specific polity of a church, as well as on the structures embodied by a community of believers. Some of the tenets and convictions of Reformed church polity, as they are relevant to this study, are discussed in detail. In turn I use these principles in evaluating the church juridical position of the DRMC and the DRCA in the mentioned period. As such I point towards the strong deviations in Reformed church polity as it played out in the history of the churches within the family of Dutch Reformed Churches. In this regard I also point towards the interrelatedness of these churches within the broader social context of South(-ern) Africa. I argue that these unique deviations are to a large extent distinct from the ecclesial context of South(-ern) Africa. Concluding remarks are made in this regard. Through the unpacked notion of what is termed an ecclesiology of vulnerability, built on the interdependent relation between churches, I make brief suggestions regarding the ongoing process of church re-unification between the churches within the family of Dutch Reformed Churches. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Sendingkerk (NGSK) en die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Afrika (NGKA) het onderskeidelik in 1881 en 1910 tot stand gekom. Soos wat hierdie studie uitwys, het beide hierdie kerke gegroei vanuit die sendingaktiwiteite van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK). In April 1994 het die NGSK en die NGKA verenig in die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika (VGKSA). Hierdie kerk het as konfessionele basis die Nederlandse Geloofsbelydenis, die Dordtse Leerreëls, die Heidelbergse Kategismus sowel as die Belydenis van Belhar. Die kerkorde van die VGKSA is dan ook gebou op hierdie belydenisskrifte en dan in besonder op die Belydenis van Belhar. In hierdie studie redeneer ek dat dit eers ná die eenwording van die vermelde kerke was dat ’n geskiedenis gekenmerk deur voogdyskap, ondergeskiktheid en semi-outonomie agterweë gelaat is. Dit kan vermeld word dat die geskiedenis van die NGSK en die NGKA duidelik uitwys dat hierdie kerke, op ’n kerkregtelike vlak, ondergeskik was aan, en tot ’n groot mate regeer is deur die NGK. Die model vir die planting van kerke soos gevolg deur die NGK geniet in hierdie verband in die studie aandag. Verder het ek probeer om die inhoud van die primêre dokumente waardeur die NGSK en die NGKA regeer is, sowel as die dokumente wat as kerkordelike basis vir die interne organisering van hierdie kerke gebruik is, te evalueer. Die vermelde dokumentasie sluit in die oorspronklike Grondwette vir die regering van die NGSK en die NGKA, die Aktes van Ooreenkoms tussen die streeksinodes van die NGK en die streeksinodes van die NGKA sowel as die Aktes van Ooreenkoms tussen die NGK in Suid- Afrika (die sogenaamde Kaapse Kerk) en die sinode van die NGSK, die eerste kerkordes van die NGSK en die NGKA, en, tot ’n mindere mate ook die kerkorde van die VGKSA. Deur die verloop van die geskiedenis is daar sekere kerkregtelike vryhede aan die NGSK en die NGKA toegestaan. Hierdie vryhede vorm, myns insiens, die basis van die oorspronklike kerkregtelike ontwikkeling(-e) in die vermelde kerke. Die inhoud van die bovermelde dokumente wys juis hierdie vryhede uit sowel as die effek wat dit op die teologiese identiteite van die NGSK en die NGKA gehad het. Aangesien die geskiedenis van die NGSK en die NGKA ’n sterk strewe na kerklike outonomie en die erkenning van hierdie outonomie deur die NGK uitwys, word spesiale aandag gegee aan die bespreking van die konsep en interpretasie van kerklike outonomie. Die historiese begrip van hierdie term word verduidelik en spesifiek hoe dit uitgespeel het in die geskiedenis van die NGSK en die NGKA. Deur te verwys na die werke van welbekende Gereformeerde teoloë, word daar ook aandag gegee aan die historiese interpretasie van kerklike outonomie as teologiese beginsel. Daarvolgens probeer ek om ’n spesifieke begrip vir kerklike outonomie te formuleer. ’n Bepaalde interpretasie van Christus se heerskappy is hier as basis gebruik. As uitkoms dui hierdie geformuleerde interpretasie van kerklike outonomie op inter-afhanklike verhoudinge tussen kerke. Myns insiens impakteer dit direk op die verhouding tussen die NGK, die NGSK en die NGKA en hier spesifiek dan op die proses van kerklike hereniging tussen hierdie kerke. In ’n finale rondte gaan my argument oor die bou van wat genoem word ‘n kwesbare ekklesiologie. Hierdie argument is gebou op ‘n verstaan van kerklike outonomie wat wys op die inter-afhanklike verhouding tussen kerke. Myns insiens impakteer hierdie argument direk op ’n spesifieke begrip van kerklike outonomie, die spesifieke kerkreg wat uitspeel in ’n kerk, sowel as op die strukture wat beliggaam word in ’n gemeenskap van gelowiges. Van die oortuigings van die Gereformeerde Kerkreg komend vanuit ‘n spesifieke konteks, soos wat dit betrekking het op hierdie studie, word gedetailleerd bespreek. Ek het ook hierdie oortuigings gebruik om die kerkregtelike posisie van die NGSK en die NGKA in die vermelde periode te evalueer. In hierdie verband wys ek op hoe daar in die geskiedenis van hierdie kerke sterk afgewyk was van die Gereformeerde Kerkreg. Melding word in hierdie verband gemaak van die inter-afhanklikheid van hierdie kerke en die breër sosiale konteks van Suid(-er)-Afrika. Myns insiens is hierdie vermelde eiesoortige afwykings tot ’n groot mate uniek aan die kerklike konteks van Suid(-er)-Afrika. Slotopmerkings word in hierdie verband gemaak. Wanneer die konsep van ’n kwesbare ekklesiologie, gebou op ‘n verstaan van die inter-afhaklike verhouding tussen kerke, beskryf word, maak ek kort opmerkings rakende die aangegaande proses van kerkhereniging tussen die kerke binne die familie van NG Kerke.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to determine if the current church order (section 67, 1998) of the Dutch Reformed Church meet the needs of the changing multireligious society in South Africa. Education has always been an instrument to guide and teach people. The Bible is clear about the important role of teaching and education of young people. It is therefore imperative for the Church to have clear guidelines about its role in providing Christian education and religious studies in schools. From the earliest days the Reformed Churches have been involved in education and had described the relationship between the Church and Education in its church orders. The comparatives research is reflected in this study. The implications of the constitutional principles dealing with "Freedom of Religion" within a multi-religious society are explored. A model for religious education is recommended. Within the constitutional provision for "freedom of association" parents have the right to choose in which religion their children be educated. It is suggested that the State should only provide the infrastructure for the education, whereas the different religious communities should have the freedom to determine the content of religious studies. No religious community should have preference/advantage over the other. There are four main roleplayers in the education arena, namely the State as infrastructure provider, the teachers as facilitators of the educational process, the Church as the proclaimer of the Word, and the parents as the primary decisionmakers and educators. In accordance with the new Constitution each roleplayer should have the freedom to express their unique input in the educational process. For the Dutch Reformed Church the ultimate authority lies in the Word of God. Therefore the implications of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights must be tested in the light of the Word of God. If there is not sufficient opportunity to proclaim the Word of God in public. schools, the Church will be obliged to assist their members to establish independent Christian schools. In the light of the changing multi-cultured and relious society, suggestions for the reformulation of church order section 67, 1998, are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op die vraag of die huidige Kerkordelike bewoording wat die verhouding tussen Kerk en Onderwys beskryf (Kerkorde artikel 67, 1998) aan die vereistes van die tyd voldoen. Die onderwys was nog altyd 'n instrument waarmee menselewens grootliks beinvloed is. 'n Kerk wat nie daarmee rekening hou nie, bewys 'n onguns aan die samelewing, en aan die Koninkryk van God. Daar word heelwat in die Skrif gepraat oor die verantwoordelikheid van opvoeding en onderwys teenoor jongmense. 'n Kerkordelike vergestalting van Skriftuurlike konfessionele en teologiese uitgangspunte aangaande die jeug se opvoeding kan 'n bate wees in die debat oor die verhouding tussen die Kerk en Onderwys. Vir die Kerk as draer van die Woord, bepaalde waardes, etos en norme is dit belangrik om 'n spesifieke kerkorde artikel te he wat riglyne vir godsdiensonderrig en Christelike onderwys in skole bied. In die studie word aangetoon dat die Gereformeerde kerke van die vroegste tye af sterk uitsprake oor die onderwys gemaak het, en dit ook kerkordelik verwoord het. Die grondwetlike beginsel van "Vryheid van Godsdiens" binne 'n multigodsdienstige samelewing soos Suid-Afrika word ook ondersoek. Die slotsom waartoe gekom word, is dat daar in 'n diverse samelewing soos Suid-Afrika 'n veelkantige model van godsdiensonderrig ingestel behoort te word. Die grondwet maak voorsiening vir religieuse studies, maar ook vir die dogmatiese bestudering en beoefening van godsdiens in staatsondersteunde opvoedingsinstansies. Binne die "reg van vrye assosiasie" kan ouers self kies in watter godsdiens sy kind onderrig mag ontvang. Die staat behoort alleenlik die ruimte/geleentheid in staatskole te skep vir sy burgers om in vryheid godsdiens te mag beoefen. Die inhoud en wyse van aanbieding behoort aan die verskillende godsdienstige gemeenskappe oorgelaat te word. Omdat dit die Kerk se taak is om die Woord te verkondig, behoort die kerk te bepaal wat die kurrikulum van godsdiensonderrig is, en watter dogmas/waarheid verkondig moet word. In 'n sekere sin is dit 'n terugkeer na die ou gereformeerde tradisie van die sestiende eeu toe die kategetiese dogmatiese beginsels van die kerk in dagskole geleer is. Die verskil h§ egter daarin dat een godsdiens nie vandag bevoordeel word bo die ander nie, maar dat daar ruimte gemaak word vir aile godsdienste onder die "Vryheid van Godsdiens" beginsel in die grandwet van Suid-Afrika. Die rol van die Staat as ruimte-skepper vir die onderwys, die opvoedkundiges as die fasiliteerders van die onderwysgebeure, die kerk as Woordverkondiger en die ouers as prirnere opvoeders en besluitnemers lewer elkeen In unieke bydrae om die leerder op te voed in sy totale menswees. Die interpretasie van "Vryheid van Godsdiens" in die grondwet mag nie daartoe lei dat bogenoemde vier rolspelers se bydrae op enige manier aan bande gele word nie, maar moet juis aan hulle oorgelaat word. Die insette van elke ralspeler in die onderwysgebeure moet erken en gerespekteer word. Die uitdaging Ie in die hantering en bestuur van In diverse samelewing in een gemeenskaplike opvoedings- of skoolstelsel. As elkeen se rol en bydrae gesamentlik en afsonderlik helder qedefineer word, kan dit net tot voordeel van die religieuse ontwikkeling van die leerders wees. Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk buig aileen onder die gesag van Jesus Christus as die Hoof van die Kerk en Koninkryk. Die Bybel is deurslaggewend in sy lewens- en wereldsbeskouinq. Daaram behoort die implikasies van die "Grandwet van Suid-Afrika" en die "Handves van Menseregte" altyd getoets en geweeg te word in die lig van die Woord. Indien dit sou blyk dat daar nie voldoende ruimte vir Christelike opvoeding en onderwys by staatskole bestaan nie, sal dit die kerk noodsaak om sy lidmate by te staan om eie "Christelike skole" op te rig. Op hierdie wyse bly die Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk getrau aan sy tradisie om In belydende standpunt jeens opvoeding en onderwys te handhaaf. Riglyne word gegee vir die daarstelling van In moontlike hergeformuleerde kerkorde. Sodoende word die kerk en skool se verhouding binne die multireligieuse samelewing nuut beskryf in die lig van die Woord.

Thesis (DTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The focus of the research is the problem that congregations experience in ministry when they are trying to integrate children and adults in inclusive intergenerational spaces in such a way that it will enable children and adults to serve God together and grow together spiritually. The research may be described as a quest for a theology and a church that truly invite and welcome children into their midst, and care for the children’s total humanness. As an exploratory study the research aims to contribute to the development of knowledge in respect of the theological foundation of a ministry in which adults accept the challenge of growing spiritually together with their children. The research was embarked upon from the perspective of Child Theology and a practical-theological ecclesiology. As a theology-from-below, Child Theology is a contextual theology and as such an inductive methodology was followed in the research. The first phase of the research examined the social and ecclesiastical context in which children grow up during the beginning of the 21st century. The social analysis revealed that children grow up in a global network society, characterized by fragmentation in different generations and developmental groups, an excessive emphasis on individualistic self-fulfilment, the disintegration of family life, the social exclusion and marginalization of children, and the search for identity. The ecclesiastical analysis has revealed that, from various quarters, a demand has arisen for greater theological contemplation about, and a new approach to, children’s ministry. The second phase of the research examined the diverse Biblical testimony concerning children, God, and the faith communities’ involvement with children. A number of Biblical theological perspectives in respect of children and the ministry to them have come to the fore, and were formulated. Beside all the other perspectives that have come to the fore, it became clear that, for the 21st century, the church and theology should reinterpret especially the radicalism of the testimony about Jesus’ interaction with children in the Gospel of Matthew. In the final phase, the hermeneutical process was continued in a sensitive correlative dialogue between the Word and the world in order to find basic-theoretical pointers for a discourse regarding the design of a practice theory for a ministry that can integrate children and adults in congregational life. These pointers are expressed as six lenses, while the parameters for a practice theory are shown. Enacting this practice theory demands more than a few superficial adaptations in the ministry of congregations. It demands, under the guidance of the Word and Spirit, that congregations rediscover their kenosis identity as God’s communities in which all have been transformed and have become like little children. God’s missional and community-founding identity will be reflected by the identification of values that can guide them in the realization of this kenosis identity in their ministry to, with, by and for children. Thus, this research generates the following condensed hypothesis: The ministry with children in and through the congregation as intergenerational space, can be a corrective of the disintegration of family life, the fragmentation of society in different generations and developmental groups, the excessive emphasis on individualistic self-fulfilment and the social exclusion and marginalization of children if, in the development of an effective ministry with children, the focus is on the rediscovery and realization of identity as a reflection of God’s missional and community-building identity.

Thesis (DTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk is die afgelope paar jare in debatte gewikkel oor die een aktiwiteit wat uniek aan die kerk is, naamlik haar aanbidding. Aanbidding het vandag een van die belangrike redes geword waarom kerke groei, maar is terselfdertyd ook een van die oorsake waarom gemeentes lidmate verloor en kwyn. Aan die voorpunt van die debat oor aanbidding, is die kwessie van lofprysing. Lofprysing het vandag vir baie gelowiges 'n middel geword om hulle geloof en aanbidding tot uitdrukking te bring. In plaas daarvan dat die nuwe beklemtoning en behoefte aan lofprysing die kerk in haar aanbidding van God verenig het, het dit egter 'n bron van frustrasie en konflik geword. Hierdie konflik sentreer hoofsaaklik om die styl waarin lofprysing plaasvind en word aangehelp deur die gebrek aan kennis oor die onderwerp en die diversiteit wat in gemeentes heers. Gemeentes van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk bestaan vandag uit lidmate wat uiteenlopende lewensuitkyke handhaaf en verskillende spiritualiteite besit. Om die hele kwessie van lofprysing binne die konteks van diverse gemeentes aan te spreek, moes die studie eerstens die aard en funksie van lofprysing binne die liturgie bepaal. Daarna moes 'n wyse gevind word waarop die diversiteit in gemeentes hanteer kon word. Deur middel van 'n spiritualiteitstipologie wat Holmes in 1980 opgestel het, en wat later as basis van verskillende spiritualiteitsanalises gedien het, is 'n instrument daargestel waarmee gemeentes en individue se spiritualiteit getoets kon word. In hierdie studie is die analises nie net gebruik om mense se spiritualiteit vas te stel nie, maar ook om te bepaal of daar 'n korrelasie tussen spiritualiteitsgroepe en hulle aanbiddingsbehoeftes bestaan. Die navorsing het daarin geslaag om nie net 'n verband tussen spiritualiteit en aanbiddingspatrone aan te toon nie, maar ook die waarde van 'n spiritualiteitsanalise te beklemtoon om die diversiteit ten opsigte van aanbidding en lofprysing in gemeentes aan te spreek. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past few years the Dutch Reformed Church has been embroiled in a debate regarding worship within the church. Whilst the worship within a congregation has become one of the most important factors in church growth, it is also one of the reasons why some congregations loose membership and shrink in size. A major point of contention within this debate relates to the use of praise. To many believers, praise has become a process through which they worship and reinforce their faith. Instead of unifying the church in her worship of God, the current emphasis on praise within the church has become a source of frustration and a point of contention. This controversy mainly centres around the style with which praise is practiced within the congregation and is exacerbated by a lack of knowledge surrounding the topic and the diversity that exists within congregations. Members of the Dutch Reformed Church has widely divergent life views and also possess different spiritualities. To determine the use of praise within divergent congregations, this study evaluated the nature and function of praise within the context of the liturgy. Subsequently, a method to manage the diversity within congregations was developed. In 1980, Holmes developed a spirituality typology within which he identified four spirituality groups. Based on the spirituality typology, some spirituality analyses were formed to help congregations and individuals to test their spirituality. These analyses were used to identify the correlation between a spirituality group and their worship requirements. The results from this research clearly showed a positive correlation between these two parameters and also highlighted the value of using the spirituality analysis as a method to manage the different praise and worship requirements that exists within congregations.

Apartheid had long been an everyday practice in South Africa when the NG Kerk threw its weight behind it during the third decade of the twentieth century. However, it did not take long before the church began playing a leading role in this respect. During the fourth and fifth decades many decisions and publications underscored the church's conviction that the policy of separate development was based on Scripture. The South African Government and the National Party Government, in particular, were certain of the co-operation of the NG Kerk not only in the establishment of this policy but also in the extension thereof to cover all the facets of social, economical and political life. Although the NG Kerk, on many occasions, reiterated that the policy should be implemented with justice and compassion, it was always clear that apartheid as a policy that was based on colour could only result in discrimination against, and injustice to, people of colour. This resulted in growing resistance by blacks, coloureds and Indians since the beginning of the century. The resistance increased rapidly after the National Party took over the government of the country in 1948 and proceeded to intensify this policy by applying it to all levels of the political and societal life. On March 21 1960 thousands of blacks marched to the police station in Sharpeville to protest against the pass laws. This resulted in the police killing 69 blacks and wounding 180 in a panic reaction which caused not only a worldwide wave of indignation and protest but also increased racial tension in South Africa. The World Council of Churches in conjunction with the local member churches immediately arranged the Cottesloe Conference to discuss possible solutions to the racial problems. The proposals of this conference which was held in December 1960 met with strong opposition from Government and were eventually completely smothered by the Church leadership. The proposals were unacceptable because they smacked too much of criticism of apartheid. Notwithstanding the strong political and ecclesiastical rejection of Cottesloe, a group of church leaders nevertheless decided to establish the publication Pro Veritate, and soon afterwards the Christian Institute of Southern Africa was founded in an effort to give scriptural witness in South Africa. Pro Veritate, which later served as the mouthpiece of the Christian Institute (CI) and the CI itself, were - since their inception - seen as contentious issues by both the NG Kerk and Government because of the challenge to apartheid. The church immediately instituted strong measures to suppress Pro Veritate and the Christian Institute initiatives. This was applauded from the political side, particularly in the Transvaal, where certain Afrikaans newspapers gave their full support to it. Decisions were taken by the Southern Transvaal Synod to discourage ministers from contributing to Pro Veri tate and to prevent them from becoming members of the CI. The CI leaders, in particular, had to be silenced. After the General Synod finally rejected the Christian Institute, a long and heart-rending history of church persecution of Naude as leader and Engelbrecht as theologian of the CI followed. It all took place within the boundaries of the Parkhurst parish, of which the Naude and Engelbrecht families were members. Parkhurst parish was part of the circuit of Johannesburg. Strong pressure was exerted on the church council of Parkhurst and the circuit of Johannesburg to censure these members in order to silence them. Disciplinary measures had to be employed to get rid of these voices against the policy of separateness. The church leadership played a prominent role in these efforts. In the intensity with which the campaign was waged in and through the circuit of Johannesburg and the Parkhurst parish, it became evident - as nowhere else - how strong the NG Kerk felt about apartheid. When eventually the Government investigated and banned the CI and confined Dr Naude to his home, the church silently acclaimed what was being done. After all, the NG Kerk had from the very beginning not differed from the Government with regard to the CI. The biblical protest of the CI against apartheid was, of necessity, also a protest against the close ties of the NG Kerk with the Government and National Party. With time, however, the CI also moved into a process of politicisation. Black power and black political aspirations became the major driving forces behind the CI. In the middle seventies it became increasingly clear that a strong relationship had developed between the CI and the African National Congress (ANC). The history of the CI ended in immense irony. This organisation which took its stand on Scripture and courageously warned against the support by the church of a political party and structural violence in serving apartheid, ended in close co-operation with the ANC as a political party which committed itself to the armed struggle to overthrow the Government. There was also the irony that in their struggle against the ali gnment of the NG Kerk wi th the political theology to the right, the CI and its director aligned themselves to a South African version of the theology of liberation - a political theology to the left in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is struck in the heart. And just as the NG Kerk in its political alignment remained silent about the violence of apartheid - so the CI eventually became silent about the violence of the political party in its struggle against apartheid.

Text in Afrikaans / In this study certain dt3ficiencies in connection with administrating church membership are being identified by using statistical information from "Kerkspieel Ill". The cause for these deficiencies can not simply be found in only one or even two factors. It constitutes in several factors some of which are easier to evaluate than others. The fact that it is not easy to measure a cause, does not mean that it should be avoided. Therefore, the practice concerning church membership is being examined in an exploring manner as it is an indispensable organisational matter. It is being approached from two dimensions: first the ecclesiology of the church is studied from a systematic-theological and practical-theological viewpoint with the purpose to determine whether that which the Dutch Reformed Church confesses as church clogma is indeed theologically acceptable. Then, with the ecclesiology as background, the structural phenomenon af church membership is investigated to see in what way the current practice in connection with church membership is conducive or perhaps destructive to the practice of the ecclesiology of the church. After identifying certain descrepancies between the church law and regulations and the E!Cclesiological confession on the one hand, and the church law and regulations and the current practice of membership on the other hand, a new practice for membership is designed. The aim of this new practice is to unite the church's ecclesiological confession and its practice on membership in a closer relationship to each other with the goal to lead members of the church to a fuller understanding of the meaning of their membership. This better understanding will serve as motivation for a more dedicated service to God in honor of his Name. The expectation is that other. renewing projects such as liturgical renewal, will be more effective if it is condu·cted in an atmosphere where members have a better understanding of their membership. / In hierdie studie word vanuit statistiese gegewens soos veral in Kerkspieel Ill opgeteken, sekere lee1mtes wat verband hou met lidmaatskap in die kerk ge'identifiseer. Die oorsake vir die leemtes is sekerlik nie simplisties in slegs een of selfs twee faktore te vind nie. Dit hou verband met 'n verskeidenheid van faktore waarvan sommige makliker meetbaar is as ander. Die feit dat 'n saak nie maklik meetbaar is nie, beteken nie dat dit vermy moet word nie. Daarom word hier verkennend gekyk na die hantering van kerklike lidmaatskap as onontbeerlike organisatoriese aangeleentheid. Dit word van twee kante benader: eerstens word gekyk na die kerk se ekklesiologie vanuit 'n sistematies- en prakties-teologiese perspektief met die doel om vas te stel of dit wat in die Ned Geref Kerk oor die kerk geleer word teologies versoenbaar is. Teen hierdie ekklesiologiese agtergrond word die strukturele verskynsel van lidmaatskap bekyk om uiteindelik na te gaan in watter mate die huidige praxis in VE!rband met lidmaatskap bevorderlik of dalk afbrekend inwerl< op die praxis van die ekklesiologie. Nadat bepaalde diskrepansies tussen die kerkordelike bepalinge en die ekklesiologiese belydenis aan die een kant asook tussen die kerkordelike bepalinge en die huidige praxis van lidmaatskap aan die anderkant aangetoon is, word 'n nuwe praxis vir kerklike lidmaatskap aan die hand gedoen. Die bedoeling is om die kerk se ekklesiologiese belydenis en die betekenis van kerklike lidmaatskap nader aan mekaar te bring sodat die lidmate van die kerk daartoe gelei kan wor:d om al beter te verstaan waarom dit in lidmaatskap eintlik gaan en deur hierdie beter begrip daartoe gemotiveer te word om met groter toewyding die Here tot sy eer te dien. Die verwagting is dat ander kerkvernuwende projekte soos oa die vernuwing van die erediens meer effektief sal wees indien dit geskied waar lidmate ' / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Practical Theology)

Die historiese wortels van apartheid is vasgele in die tydperk tussen 1652 en 1948. Die Ned. Geref. Kerk het vanaf die dertigerjare van die twintigste eeu die regering versoek om apartheid statuter uit te bou. Met die bewindsverandering in 1948 het 'n nuwe fase van meer as veertig jaar in Suid-Afrika aangebreek. Gedurende hierdie tydperk vind ons 'n hegte band tussen die owerheid en die Ned. Geref. Kerk. Die Ned. Geref. Kerk het in 1948 apartheid vanu it die Skri f geregverd i g en het sy profetiese getuienis daarmee sterk onder verdenking gebring. Die statutere implementering van apartheid het hierna gevolg. Die Ned. Geref. Kerk en die owerheid het hulle standpunte gegrond op die beginsel van voogdyskap. Hiervolgens was blankes die voogde van nie-blankes wat hulle tot mondigheid moet begelei. Na republiekwording is die tuislandbeleid ontwikkel sodat swartmense onafhanklikheid kon verkry. In die praktyk het swartes afhanklik en ondergeskik aan blankes gebly. In 1974 verskyn Ras, Volk en Nasie as amptelike beleidsdokument van die Ned. Geref. Kerk. Die Skriftuurlike begronding verdwyn en apartheid word om praktiese redes onderskryf. Die onluste van 1976 het 'n fase van kritiese evaluering van apartheid ingelei. Die regering het begin om toegewings oor apartheid te maak. As gevolg van die diep kloof tussen politieke oortuigings van Ned Geref. Kerklidmate was die vroee tagtigerjare 'n fase vol huiwering vir die Ned. Geref. Kerk oor apartheid. Die besluit tydens die Algemene Sinode van 1986 dat die Ned. Geref. Kerk "oop" is, was in beginsel 'n sprong weg van apartheid soos gereflekteer in die nuwe beleidsdokument, Kerk en Samelewing. In die fase tussen 1986 en 1991 vind die besliste ontstrengeling van apartheid plaas. Die Ned. Geref. Kerk en die owerheid het dus saam apartheid geimplementeer en saam daarvan weg beweeg. Die Ned. Geref. Kerk het met sy ondersteuning van apartheid en hegte band met die owerheid meegewerk om sy baie "bevoorregte" posisie ten opsigte van die owerheid ongedaan te maak. 'n Era is afgesluit en in die nuwe Suid-Afrika is daar nou 'n nuwe owerheid met nuwe vennote. Indien die Ned. Geref. Kerk nuwe geleenthede aangryp, kan sy Skriftuurlike opdrag, met 'n duidelike profetiese stem, 66k teenoor die owerheid, gehoor word. Die alternatief is 'n eensame pad ... / Thesis (DD)--University of Pretoria, 1994. / gm2014 / Practical Theology / Unrestricted

Afrikaans: Die sogenaamde "eenvoudige" belydenis waardeur kinders moet kwalifiseer om aan die nagmaal te mag deelneem binne die verband van die Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk, spruit vanuit die Zwingliaanse belydenis rakende die teenwoordigheid van die Here in die nagmaal. Wat die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk voorhou as nuwe eksegetiese insigte in die nagmaalstekste, sowel as 'n nuwe Bybelse teologie ten opsigte van die gebruik van die nagmaal deur kinders, is die ou eksegetiese insigte van Zwingli, sowel as die ou bekende teologie van Zwingli aangaande die Here se teenwoordigheid in die nagmaal. Deur kinders met 'n sogenaamde "eenvoudige" belydenis tot die nagmaal toe te laat, het die Nederduitse Gereformeerde kerk die nagmaalsopvatting in sy eie belydenisse verwerp ten gunste van die Zwingliaanse nagmaalsopvatting wat uitdruklik in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk se belydenisse verwerp word. Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk beoefen en leer nou die nagmaalsopvatting van Zwingli, onder die vaste oortuiging dat dit die Gereformeerde nagmaalsopvatting is, met slegs 'n nuwe toepassing ten opsigte van die kinders. Binne in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk se besluit om kinders deur 'n sogenaamde eenvoudige belydenis tot die nagmaal toe te laat, was daar 'n ander besluit opgesluit: die besluit oor wie die teenwoordige Here Jesus in die nagmaal sou wees. Hierdie besluit oor wie die teenwoordige Here Jesus in die nagmaal sou wees, was die onderskeidende en die bepalende vraag aangaande beide die inhoud en die bediening van die nagmaal vir onder andere Calvyn gewees. Calvyn se reaksie as antwoord hierop was dat ons almal in en deur die nagmaal deel verkry aan die teenwoordige mens-wees van Jesus Christus. Hierdeur word Calvyn se nagmaalsopvatting onderskei van die nagmaalsopvatting van Zwingli. Die Gereformeerde Kerke het die belydenis van Calvyn oor wie die teenwoordige Here Jesus in die nagmaal is, aanvaar in hul geloofsbelydenisse, waarmee hulle die nagmaalsopvatting van Zwingli uitdruklik verwerp het. Die Nederduitse Gereformoorde Kerke het homself in geen deel van die debat of besluite oor die teenwoordige mens-wees van die Here Jesus in die nagmaal verantwoord nie. Die kindemagmaal het die deelname van die gelowige aan die teenwoordige mens¬-wees van die Here verIore laat raak as deel van die geloofsbelewenis van die nagmaal. In die plek van die teenwoordige mens-wees van die Here Jesus het die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk gekies vir gelowiges se deelname aan die gemeente se sosiale en godsdienstige samesyn. Die samesyn van die verbondsgesin en selgroepe het die geloofsgemeenskap met die teenwoordige mens-wees van die Here Jesus in die nagmaal vervang. Sonder die verskuiwing van die nagmaalsopvatting van Calvyn en die Gereformeerde kerke na die nagmaalsopvatting van Zwingli, sou die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk nie kinders met ‘n sogenaamde "eenvoudige" geloofsbelydenis tot die nagmaal kon toelaat nie. Hierdie verskuiwing was nodig ten opsigte van die instelling van die kindernagmaal in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. English: The so-called "simple" confession through which children should qualify in order for them to participate in communion within the framework of the Dutch Reformed Church, originates from the Zwinglian confession concerning the presence of the Lord in communion. What the Dutch Reformed Church presents as the new exegetical insights within the scripture references regarding the communion, as well as a new Biblical theology on behalf of the participation in communion by children, is the ancient exegetical insights of Zwingli, as well as the ancient known theology of Zwingli concerning the presence of the Lord within communion. By allowing children, with a so-called "simple" testimony, to the communion, the Dutch Reformed Church rejected the concept regarding the communion in its own confessions, in favour of the Zwinglian concept regarding the communion, which is expressly rejected in the confessions of the Dutch Reformed Church. The Dutch Reformed Church currently practices and teaches the concept regarding the communion according to Zwingli, under the firm conviction that this is the Reformed conviction regarding the communion, with only a new application on behalf of the children. Within the decision of the Dutch reformed Church to allow children by way of a so¬-called simple confession to participate in communion, another decision was intrinsically included: the decision regarding who the present Lord Jesus within the communion would be. This decision regarding who the present Lord Jesus within the communion would be, was the discerning and determining question regarding both the content, as well as the ministry of the communion for amongst others, Calvin. Calvin's reaction as reply to this was that all of us do obtain, in and through the communion, part in the present human-being of Jesus Christ. Through and due to this, the concept regarding the communion according to the teaching of Calvin is to be discerned from that of Zwingli. The Dutch Reformed Church has accepted in their faith creeds the confession pertaining to who the present Lord Jesus in the communion is, according to which they clearly rejected the concept regarding the communion according to the doctrines, which Zwingli supports. The Dutch Reformed Church has not yet justified himself in the decision regarding the present human-being of the Lord Jesus Christ within the communion. The children-communion caused the participation of the believer on behalf of the present human-being of the Lord Jesus Christ within the communion to be lost, being part of the faith experience of the communion. In the place of the present human-being of the Lord Jesus the Dutch Reformed Church chose for the participation of the believer on the social and religious fellowship of the congregation. The fellowship of the covenantal family, as well as the cell-groups, has replaced the faithful fellowship with the present human-being of the Lord Jesus Christ in the communion. Without the repositioning of the concept of Calvin and the Reformed Churches regarding the communion, towards the concept regarding the communion according to Zwingli, the Dutch Reformed Church would not allow children with a so-called "simple" confession of faith to participate in the communion These transfers were necessary on behalf of the institution of the communion for children within the Dutch Reformed Church. / Dissertation (MA (Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / unrestricted

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie proefskrif is die resultaat van kwalitatiewe navorsing oor bestaande en veronderstelde teoriee en praktyke in die kerklike onderrig van die Ned. Geref. Kerk aan adolessente. 'n Teologies-refleksiewe benadering is gevolg waaruit die oortuiging na vore gekom het, dat antwoorde vir effektiewe kerklike onderrig gesoek moet word in die proses van vernuwing (agogie) wat binne elke geloofsgemeenskap plaasvind; 'n proses wat lei tot 'n bedieningsmodel wat uniek vir daardie geloofsgemeenskap is. Die vernuwingsproses sal veral in die sinode, kerkrade en gemeentes se verstaan en toepassing van kerklike onderrig moet plaasvind. Hierdie vernuwing sal uiteindelik binne die konteks van die plaaslike gemeente moet realiseer, maar dan as 'n vernuwing wat meer is as hoe die praktyk moet verander om by die teorie van die status quo aan te pas, dit sou net die status quo tot ideologie verhef. Netso min beteken vernuwing dat dit wat in praktyk werk tot norm verhef kan word, ongeag die veronderstelde teoriee of metodes daaragter, dit sou die gevaar loop van ongeoorloofde pragmatisme. Ook mag verandering en vernuwing nie met mekaar verwar word nie, want nie alle veranderinge wat aangebring word, het noodwendig enige vernuwing tot gevolg nie. In die vernuwingsproses gaan dit nie oor die greep wat die kerk op jongmense moet kry nie, maar om hulle die kans te gun om hul eie geloofsvisie in hul gemeente te ontdek; daarom vra dit 'n gedifferensieerde onderrig benadering, vanwee die differensiasie gedurende adolessensie; die kerk moet leer om die taal te praat wat in die daaglikse werklikheid van adolessente sin maak en hulle die ruimte gun om hul ervarings en vrae te kan leer verwoord in die taal van godsdiens. In die kerk se onderrig aan adolessente is geloofskommunikasie en geloofsbelewing soms belangriker as die deurgee van geloofskennis. Die ontwikkel ingsprosesse tydens adolessensie, hul geloofsvorming en die kerk- 1 ike onderrig wat hulle ontvang, bepaal grootliks hul uiteindelike geloofsvolwassenheid en spiritualiteit. Ten einde die kerk se verantwoordelikheid teenoor adolessente na te kom, sal kerklike onderrig binne die konteks van adolessensie verstaan moet word in terme van die kognitiewe, affektiewe en konatiewe ontwikkeling en behoeftes van adolessente, soos wat dit binne hul leef- en portuurgroepkonteks voorkom. / This thesis is the result of a qualitative research on theories and practices which are followed or assumed to be followed in the religious education of the Dutch Reformed Church. The research was done by means of a theological reflective approach. The study concludes that the solution for effective teaching by the church lies within the process of renewal (and change) within each congregation; a process that leads to a model of ministry that will be unique to that congregation. This process of renewal must take place in the understanding and practice of church education by the synod, church councils and congregations. Ultimately this takes place within the context of the local church. But then as a renewal that should be more than just another way to change the praxis to accommodate the status quo, for this would transform the status quo into an ideology. Renewal is likewise not a quest to sanctify that which seems to work, irrepective of the theories and methods which are implicated, this would lead to an illegal pragmatism. Nor should renewal be confused with change, for not all changes necessarily causes any renewal per se. An important aspect in this process of renewal, is not the grip that the church has on its youth, but the chance(s) they are given to discover their own religious convictions in their congregation; this needs a differentiated education approach because of the differentiation during adolescence; the church will have to learn to speak in a language which make sense in their daily reality and to give them the chance to express their own experiences and questions in the language of religion. This means that the church will have to understand their context of lifestyle and peergoup influences and accordingly address the cognitive, affective and conative aspects of religious education. In the church religious education to adolescents, communicating and experiencing religion is sometimes more important than the knowledge they should obtain. The developmental processes of adolescents, the shaping of their convictions of faith and the teaching of the church strongly influences their ultimate religious maturity and spirituality. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Praktiese Teologie)