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 (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 1993 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Seeing that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and that it has such a high incidence that every woman should be aware of it, time has come for the theology, and especially for pastoral care, to provide some answers on the possible problems that accompany the illness. Treatment of breast cancer almost always include a degree of surgical intervention through which part of or a whole breast, and in extreme cases even the underlying tissue, is being removed. This procedure, to some extent, influences a woman's experience of her physique which in turn has an effect on the intimate space of her marriage. The mastectomy patient may experience that the operation, with all the psychological affects it has, disturbs her inner life rythm and that results in her relationships also being pressurised. The crisis of a mastectomy should be handled as a relationship crisis within a marriage, in which the husband can play an important therapeutic role. The husbands contribution will be greatly effected by: a) His commitment to the relationship and b) The correlation between his male identity, his sexuality and his perceptions of the female physique. Within the crisis of mastectomy, the woman's body-image should not be separated from her faith identity and the quality of her marriage - there exists a dynamic interaction between these three, which means that the handling of the crisis of a mastectomy is directly dependent on the quality if her loving relationship and on the way in which she experiences her faith. The faith factor plays an important role in the handling of the crisis, by creating a distance between the trauma of the loss and the way in which she experiences her identity. Pastoral care can play a vital role in the handling of the crisis of a mastectomy by means of guidance and support, as it proclaims the active presence of God through the marrid body of Jesus Christ. The husband of the mastectomy patient can, in his therapeutic role, be guided to be much more sensitive for the emotional needs of his wife, in regard to aspect of sexuality. This would give her the support she needs and work constructively towards the goal of healing. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aangesien borskanker die algemeenste kanker onder vroue is en dit sulke geweldige afmetings aangeneem het dat elke vrou daarmee moet rekening hou, het dit tyd geword dat die teologie, en met name die pastoraat, ditself ook ten opsigte van die moontlike problematiek wat daarmee saamgaan, moet verantwoord. Die behandeling van borskanker behels in die meerderheid van gevalle 'n mate van chirurgiese ingrepe waardeur 'n deel van of die hele bors, en in ekstreme gevalle ook die onderliggende weefsel, verwyder word. Hierdie prosedure oefen, in 'n mindere of meerdere mate, 'n invloed op die vrou se belewing van haar liggaamlikheid uit wat weer na die intieme band van die huwelik kan deurwerk. Die mastektomiepasiënt kan ervaar dat die operasie, met al die sielkundige effekte wat dit inhou, haar innerlike lewensritme versteur sodat die verhoudinge waarin sy leef ook onder druk geplaas word. Binne die huwelik sou 'n mens dan die krisis van 'n mastektomie as 'n verhoudingskrisis moet hanteer, waarin die eggenoot 'n belangrike terapeutiese funksie kan vervul. Die man se bydrae word egter deurslaggewend bepaal deur: a) Sy verbintenis aan die verhouding en b) Die korrelasie tussen sy manlike identiteit, seksualiteit en die persepsies met betrekking tot die liggaamlikheid van die vrou. Binne die krisis van 'n mastektomie kan die vrou se liggaamsbeeld nie van haar geloofsidentiteit en die kwaliteit van haar huwelik losgemaak word nie - hierdie drie staan in 'n interdinamiese verband en beteken dat die verwerking van die krisis van 'n mastektomie direk van die kwaliteit van die liefdesverhouding en die ervaring van geloof, afhang. In die verwerking van die krisis vervul die geloofsfaktor 'n deurslaggewende rol om afstand tussen die emosionele trauma van die verlies en die ervaring van identiteit te skep. Die pastoraat kan 'n belangrike funksie vervul ten opsigte van begeleiding en ondersteuning in die verwerking van die krisis van 'n mastektomie deurdat dit God se aktiewe betrokkenheid by die situasie, aan die hand van die liggaamlikheid van Jesus Christus, verkondig. As terapeut kan die eggenoot begelei word om, op die gebied van die seksuele, baie sterker op die emosionele behoeftes van die mastektomiepasiënt ingestel te wees, om haar sodoende te ondersteun en in die proses van heling mee te werk.

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The basic premise of this study is that a spiritual approach to care and support of people living with HIV, by means of a holistic pastoral model, would provide the Reformed Church of East Africa's Plateau Mission Hospital with an integrated dimension in their community-based care programme for people living with HIV/AIDS. This will go a long way in assisting the RCEA's diversification of the existing medical model, particularly in the Plateau Mission Hospital’s catchment area with its ever-increasing cases of infections, deaths, rejections, church-related stigma, orphans and vulnerable children. The researcher proposes the use of a spiritual model in dealing with PLWH in the Plateau Mission Hospital because this will help to address some of the unresolved theological issues that come to the fore when addressing matters concerning the health and illness of people living with HIV and AIDS. The researcher does this with acute awareness of the importance of integrating other approaches in the care and support of PLWH. For a holistic approach to be effected, the social development, medical, psychological and holistic systemic approaches to care must be considered. The holistic systemic approach used by the biomedical personnel and other caregivers should regard the person as a relational and social being acting within a cultural context. On the other hand, the biomedical model serves us with accurate diagnoses and sophisticated methods of treatment within which modern medicine is practiced. Similarly, the psychosocial model considers the influence of the social environment not only to the challenges that PLWH face, but also on the care they should receive. However, research has shown that there is an increasing need for holistic care in health care systems. This calls for the inclusion of spirituality within the developing bio-psycho-social approaches in addressing health and illness, particularly for people living with HIV and AIDS, in order for them to attain holistic healing. Plateau Mission Hospital, being a church-based institution within the jurisdiction of the RCEA’s southern presbytery, can be an effective vehicle for pastoral care of people living with HIV and AIDS. The organization is strategically placed and has the capacity (resource persons) to engage in a holistic ministry. The paper also aims at unlocking the RCEA’s resources to become more involved in all rounded existential issues of PLWH in the hospital’s catchment area. In this study, it is presupposed that, although the Hospital has a history of medical and social development work and chaplaincy office, it lacks emphasis on the spiritual dimension, and yet this focal point is important in terms of the immediate HIV/AIDS context at Plateau. The researcher established that the training that the personnel at the medical facility have undertaken promotes a clinical approach to all issues of health (prevention and treatment after prescription), even to people living with HIV/AIDS. Methodology. The first methodology for data collection that the research employed was literature review. In this case, library and church documents were reviewed to gather information on related matters. The areas reviewed were related to spirituality, care and healing in the context of HIV, pastoral care and theology in the context of HIV, and biomedical approaches in relation to the care of PLWH, and documentation (Plateau Hospital Reports, the RCEA’s constitution and Care Departmental Reports) on the RCEA’s approach to Hospital care to PLWH by means of the CBHC programme at the Plateau Mission Hospital in Eldoret. The websites were also consulted for purposes of data collection. The second method was conducting specific oral and written interviews with the Hospital’s CBHC staff, PLWH, congregational and church leadership on matters of the proposed spiritual care of PLWA. The areas interviewed were for the spiritual needs, those involved in the care and support of PLWH, improving existing interventions, the challenges encountered in the care for PLWH, the unfulfilled needs of PLWH and how spiritual care could improve the quality of the lives of PLWH. The third method of data collection was participant observation. The researcher was involved in the activities being studied. This method entailed participant observation during normal diaconal care activities in the RCEA’s Plateau parish congregations that the researcher implemented, for instance visiting people living with HIV/Aids, taking gifts to children affected by HIV. In meeting with volunteer caregivers during visits, while joining the CBHC team during follow-up meetings with PLWH in their homes, data was collected. The researcher had patient consultation during days for voluntary counseling and testing and informal meetings with volunteer caregivers. Presentation of the Thesis - Outline of Research This study is divided into five parts. Chapter 1 will examine the background to the study considering the problem statement, research questions, research objectives, hypothesis, justification, the scope of the research, the methodology used, limitations and delimitations. In Chapter 2 the paper will explore The Kenyan Scenario: Medical work and the involvement of the church within the community. This will cover the Kenyan national HIV updates, Uasin Gishu updates, Ainabkoi divisional statistics, the background to the Reformed Church of East Africa, Plateau Mission HIV ministry covering the psycho-social approach to community-based care of CBHC in the Reformed Church of East Africa in the Plateau Hospital catchment area. The paper will examine the medical care offered to people living with HIV/AIDS, such as the treatment of opportunistic diseases, administration of anti-retroviral drugs and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission and voluntary counseling and testing. The paper will also examine the social and developmental activities and services rendered to PLWA and the orphans and vulnerable children by means of compassionate care. CBHC networking with congregations, and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital will also be highlighted. The paper will also highlight the gaps experienced as a result of the focus on medical and social developmental approaches to the care and support of PLWA and OVCs. Chapter 3 is largely the analysis of interview responses, and presents the findings of field research at the RCEA Plateau Mission Hospital’s selected area of study. This will indicate the seriousness of the unattended needs in this case the spiritual needs and the magnitude of the problem in the health facility but, by implication, affecting the church. This will need a change of stance, namely that of regarding HIV as a medical problem that the hospital needs to address, and view it as a collective need for all key players in church, hospital and community. Chapter 4 will look at the challenge HIV poses to the spiritual care of PLWH in Plateau Mission Hospital. The chapter will contain a literature review on the holistic approach in the care and support of people living with HIV. The section will look at understanding the needs of people living with HIV, pastoral care of people living with HIV, practical theology, biomedical and bio-psycho-social models in the care of PLWH. The study will also examine the relevance of God-images, systems approach, the role of the church and a spiritual care approach in the holistic healing for PLWH by means of pastoral care. Chapter 5 will conclude the paper and will shed light on the importance of the proposed approach to be integrated into the current strategy (pastoral care model with a spiritual-care approach). It is hoped that the recommendations that will be made at the end will strengthen the high demand for a holistic-care ministry to people living with HIV and the affected families in the RCEA Plateau Mission Hospital.

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / In this thesis I evaluate missiologically the research tools which aim to gather relevant data about missionary identity in a post-colonial youth ministry. I follow the model of doing theology called the pastoral cycle of Holland and Henriot (1983) modified for the Southern African situation. This model integrates praxis, hermeneutics and theological reflection as an ongoing process in the life of faith communities (Cochrane, De Gruchy & Petersen 1991:13). In Chapter 1, as an introduction I describe my faith commitments, participation in the mission praxis and the background of the study. In line with the qualitative nature of this study, I do not state any hypotheses, but work with a research question: How can current measuring instruments be evaluated so that they are appropriate or can be modified to gather relevant data on how a youth ministry within a post-colonial faith community regards itself in terms of its particular mission of God?

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The post-Apartheid South African community is still recognized by dualisms between white and black, rich and poor, public and private, men and women. In this study specific focus has been placed on John 4 which tells the story about the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman with the aim to create a lens through which we can address and breach modern dualism. The focus of the study is the symbolic use of water in the text where it is literary-theologically broken up in order for John to use Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman, to firstly indicate and secondly expose gender, social, political and cultural boundaries in the Ancient-Near East.

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus of the thesis is on the HIV and AIDS-related stigma and stigmatisation of people who try to live positively with HIV/AIDS within the pandemic. The basic assumption is that there is interplay between the HIVAIDS-related stigma as a cultural phenomenon and the negative perception of the human body. Since a human being is created corporeal and re-created due to the fact that human embodiment is a fundamental ingredient for the understanding of soul, It is argued that in a pastoral approach, a person should be understood holistically. Anthropology within the traditional kerygmatic approach focused mainly on the notion of sin (corruption totalis) within the theological understanding of God’s judgement (judgemental attitude). I have proposed that pastoral anthropology should adopt constructive paradigms and point towards the integration of embodiment (wholeness) in a realistic approach rather than emphasising the notion of sin and forms of dualism. The thesis departs from an eschatological and pneumatological view of the human being, in which the concepts of resurrection and hope are equally crucial. I further argue that a Christian spiritual perspective on embodiment is potentially destigmatising itself. In terms of a pastoral hermeneutic I have shown that in destigmatisation the transformation of the HIV and AIDS-related stigma corresponds to the transformation of the mindset and paradigm of a person (habitus). Through the process of destigmatisation people discover meaning and are enabled to live fully embodied and responsible lives. The thesis is designed as a literature study based on text analysis and hermeneutical reflection. Moreover, in order to develop a pastoral anthropological view, the Scripture is used as a reference point. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing fokus op die fenomeen van stigmatisiering binne die HIV/AIDS pandemie. Die kernargument is dat stigmatisering as 'n sosiaal-kulturele konstrukt binne die netwerk van verhoudinge direk in verband staan met 'n bepaalde destruktiewe persepsie wat die vraagstuk van liggaamlikheid onmiddellik raak. Vandaar die verdere fokus op die verband tussen liggaamlikheid en die verstaan van die menslike siel binne die raamwerk van 'n pastorale antropologie. Die teologiese invalshoek is die eskatologiese paradigma, die mens as 'n pneumatiese wese en nuwe skepping. Liggaamlikheid deel gelykoorspronklik aan hierdie nuwe wees-funksie van die mens sodat verstaan van die mens as „beliggaamde siel“ en „besielde liggaam“ alle vorme van dualisme in teologiese antropologie teëwerk. Die totale mens is as ‘n beliggaamde mens geskep sodat in pastorale antropologie die menslike persoon holisties verstaan moet word. Om menswees bloot vanuit die perspektief van sonde te benader hou nie rekening met die realisme van die Bybel wat die mens binne die raamwerk van die wysheidsliteratuur sien vanuit die perspektief van genade en vernuwing. Eensydige fokus op die paradigma van sonde dra by tot destruktiewe veroordelende houding (judgemental attitude). Volgens die aard van kruisteologie is die „smet“ en „stigma“ van sonde daar oorwin. In die lig van die opstandingsperspektief is die „dood van stigma“ totaal uitgewis. Hierdie opstandingperspektief moet verreken word in teologiese model wat gerig is op prosesse van destigmatisering binne pastorale hermeneutiek. Die implikasie hiervan is die transformasie van stigmatisernde paradigmas en die skep van pastorale houding (habitus) van begrip en medelye. Deur ‘n dergelike proses van destigmatisasie word mense in die kern van hul weesfunksie kwalitatief bemagtig ten einde vervulde lewens te kan ly. Die tesis volg kwalitatiewe benadering. Dit is voorts literêre studie gebaseer op teks-analises, kritiese reflektering en hermeneutiese metodologie.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2005 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this thesis is to show the relevance of an application of hope care model to the Korean couples who are in conflict and confusion by being caught in the battle between Confucianism and post-modernity regarding marital values. Korean marriages face difficulties due to the increasing intluence of post-modernity in Korean culture. The disruption of the family is the most marked consequence of post-modernity, in which an attitude and value system toward life, marriage and especially self, is changing. Even though the increasing influence of post-modernity has weakened the influence of Confucianism, Korean marriage is still influenced by the tenets of Confucianism in terms of the role and status of men and women within four main areas: 1) education at home and at school, 2) sex discrimination at the workplace 3) military service for men, 4) the revival of cultural heritages as part of the rise of nationalism in response to globalization. It is said that the church has to take initiative to prevent Korean marriages from collapsing. However, the teaching around marriage in Korean churches seems to be mingled with Confucian precepts. This raises doubt about the capacity of Korean churches to contribute positively to the strengthening of marriage relationships. Marriage counselling in Korean conservative churches is being practiced within the framework of a reductionist view on biblical counselling. This is not sufficient in a post-modern Korea by the reason that this approach has the danger of ascribing all human problems to personal sins, thereby encouraging a one-sided God-concept in which God is only concerned with sins and righteousness and has no compassion for human beings in their suffering. When marriage is troubled, this God-image can lead the couple to severe guilt feelings rather than to the hope which can improve their marriage and enhance their mutual respect. Hope care, based on appropriate God-images and a constructive self-image arising out of God's faithfulness and our new being in Christ, could help couples to achieve a constructive attitude to life, to various crises, to self and to their partners. Since hope care model includes the sacramental concept of marriage, the concept of the grace and love of God and the concept of 'mutual submission,' it could be expected to adequately deal with the fundamental Confucian values (male's dominance, female's submissiveness and hierarchy), thus contributing to the attainment of the three key goals in the Korean marriage, such as equality, marital friendship and a closer marital bond. As a result, hope could then ensure a more healthy stance in order to help couples to grow in marriage relationships. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis wil krities die noutetiese model. vir hwweliksberading binne die Koreananse kultuur evalueer en dit ver gelyk met 'n hoopmodel wat op groei fokus. Vir die doel word 'n analise gemaak van die invloed van confusianisme en postmodernisme op egpaarkommunikasie in Korea. Koreaanse huwelike is deesdae onder groot druk as gevolg van die invloed wat postmodernisme op die Koreaanse kultuur het. Die ontwrigting van die familie is een van die grootste oorsake van postmodernisme, waann die houding en waardesisteme teenoor die lewe, huwelik en veral die self-konsep besig is om te verander. Hoewel die groter invloed van postmodernisme die invloed van Confusianisme verswak het, word Koreaanse huwelike nogsteeds deurslaggewend deur die leerstellings van Confusianime beinvloed. Dit beinvloed veral die rol en status van mans en vroue binne die volgende vier hoofareas 1) Opvoeding by die huis en skool 2) Seksuele diskrirninasie by die werkplek 3) Militere diens vir mans 4) Die herlewing van kultuur erfenis as deel van nasionalisme in antwoord op globalisasie. Huweliksberading 111 baie Koreaanse gemeentes word deur die noutetiese beradingsmodel bepaal. So 'n beradering is ontoepaslik in 'n postmoderne Korea, omdat dit die gevaar inhou dat aile probleme toegeskryf word aan persoonlike sondes. Die gevaar bestaan dus dat 'n eensydige Godskonsep ontwikkel, waarin God slegs met sonde en oordeel in verband gebring word en Ole met patos en empatie nie. Wanneer daar huweliksprobleme is, kan derglike Godsvoorstellinge lei tot skuldgevoelens eerder as hoop. 'n Hoopmodel maak gebruik van 'n sakramentele paradigma in huweliksterapie. Dit sluit and by die voorstelling van God as Verbondspartner en is gerig op groei en konstruktiewe verandering.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2000 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The story a congregation tells of itself, helps it to understand who it is, where it is coming from and where it is going. The story confirms the congregation's very existence, it reveals its character and confesses to what it stands for. This study is an attempt by the researcher to explain the identity of the Dutch Reformed Congregation of Grootmist in as scientific a manner as possible. This study will determine the identity of the parish by means of a brief historical synopsis. It is an attempt to provide a base and practice theory with which to empower the congregation to operate more effectively within the bounds of its own unique context. The second chapter (after the introductory chapter) deals with the church as seen within the context of a changing world. The church will not be able to understand itself if it cannot understand the world around it. Both the base and the practice theories of a congregation are affected when set within the unique context of a small mining community. The third chapter focuses on a broad analysis of the congregation and uses this knowledge to provide a systematic understanding of the activities of the congregation. Chapter four is spent on formulating a base theory which uses the metaphor "sojourners and strangers" to explain the nature of the church. The practical theory is explained in chapter five and guidelines are established as to how the basic theory should function in practice. The practical theory focuses mainly on establishing enriched spirituality and koinonia structures. Chapter six focuses on the important role of leadership in the implementation of the basic and practical theory. Chapter seven gives a pro active projection for further study in order to keep up the momentum of congregational renewal. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verhaal wat In gemeente oor haarself vertel, help haar om te verstaan wie sy is, waarvandaan sy kom en waarheen sy op pad is. In Gemeente se storie bevestig dat sy bestaan, dit openbaar haar karakter en dit bely waarvoor sy staan. Hierdie skripsie is In poging deur die navorser om op In wetenskaplike wyse die identiteit van die Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk Grootmist te bepaal. Die navorser wil deur middel van In oorsigtelike geskiedenis van die gemeente verkennend te werk gaan in sy soeke na wat die identiteit van die gemeente is. Hy wil In moontlike basis - en praktykteorie vir die gemeente daarstel om die gemeente te bemagtig tot meer effektiewe modi van gemeente-wees in haar unieke konteks. Naas die inleidende hoofstuk, wil die navorser met die tweede hoofstuk poog om die kerk te plaas in die veranderende wereld waarin sy haar bevind. Die kerk kan haarself nie verstaan as sy nie haar konteks verstaan nie. Die unieke konteks van In myngemeenskap het In direkte invloed op die basis en praktykteorie van die gemeente. Die derde hoofstuk gee aandag aan In gemeente-analise waarin die profiel, strukture en funksionering van die gemeente ontleed word. Daar word deur middel van feitekennis gevolgtrekkings gemaak oor die werksaamhede van die gemeente. Die vierde hoofstuk formuleer die basisteorie vir die gemeente. Die bywoner en vreemdeling-metafoor word aangewys as die uitstaande metafoor om die wese en doel van kerkwees weer te gee. Hoofstuk vyf gee aandag aan In praktykteorie wat riglyne neerle oor hoe die basisteorie in die praktyk behoort te funksioneer. Die praktykteorie is veral gerig op die verdieping in spiritualiteit en koinonia strukture. Die sesde hoofstuk stippel In strategie vir leierskapsontwikkeling uit sod at die basis en praktykteorie in die praktyk tot sy reg kan kom. In hoofstuk sewe word In projeksie geskep vir verdere navorsing sod at die proses van gemeentevernuwing sy momentum kan behou.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The basic premise of this study is that when a comprehensive analysis is made of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Tygerberg's current status and growth, it will provide a sound basis for discerning that growth. This will in some measure open the way for the leadership of the congregation to be able to make decisions for the future that are better informed and more aware of the way God has worked with the congregation thus far. This in turn will hopefully keep the congregation on the path to further growth toward maturity. The research has been structured in such a way, that it conforms to a practical theological framework and attempts a description of the current reality of the congregation by means of a mechanical, cultural and leadership analysis. A practical theological ecclesiology follows in order to provide the basis for a correlational hermeneutic. After analysis and reflection, possibilities for future strategies are proposed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die basiese uitgangspunt van hierdie studie is dat wanneer In goed gefundeerde gemeente analise van die 'Vineyard Christian Fellowship Tygerberg' se huidige status en groei gedoen word, dit 'n gesonde basis vir oordeel oor die groei van die gemeente sal gee. Dit behoort tot ' n mate die weg te baan vir die leierskap van die gemeente om beter ingeligte besluite rakende die toekoms van die gemeente te neem omdat daar dan ' n bewustheid is van God se werking in die gemeente tot dusver. Hopelik sal dit ook die gemeente help om voorts op die pad van groei tot volwassenheid te bly. Die navorsing is so gestruktureer dat dit 'n praktiese teologiese raamwerk gebruik en poog om die huidige realiteite van die gemeente deur 'n meganiese, kulturele en leierskap analise te beskryf. 'n Praktiese teologiese ekklesiologiese uiteensetting volg wat moet dien as die beginpunt van 'n korrelatiewe hermeneutiese proses. Moontlike strategice vir die toekoms word voorgestel nadat analise en refleksie gedoen is.

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this thesis is to determine, in a practical theological way, (1) the impact culture is having on the teaching at the African Bible College, (2) to develop a revised praxis for the intercultural teaching at ABC, and (3) for ABC to become a more culturally relevant teaching institution as a result. Since cultural differences can often become a great barrier for any intercultural endeavor, and being that ABC is made up of mostly American professors and mostly Malawian students, there is a need to evaluate the challenges that are taking place in this mixed cultural institution. The research questions, which this study addresses, are as follows: 1. What kind of intercultural teaching exists at ABC? What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of ABC’s intercultural teaching? What are some of the current intercultural barriers existing at ABC? How do Malawian learning styles / cultural issues play into intercultural teaching? What kind of “cultural baggage” exists at ABC? 2. What does it mean to be culturally relevant and why is it important? In other words, what are some of the key elements of teaching interculturally? What are some of the common problems? What is contextualization? Interculturation? Westernization? Etc. 3. What is desirable intercultural teaching for ABC? In other words, what models in intercultural teaching would be more appropriate for ABC and why? What should effective intercultural teaching look like at ABC? How can ABC sustain long-term and effective intercultural teaching? An introduction to the subject of intercultural teaching and an empirical investigation of ABC’s teaching is the focus of chapter 2. Chapter 3 introduces several intercultural teaching models and theories that were then used to evaluate and interpret the teaching at ABC. Chapter 3 is mostly devoted to the interpretation of ABC’s teaching in light of these models. Chapter 4 has been devoted to laying out a theological and ethical basis (the normative task) for intercultural teaching. Chapter 5 focuses on the revised praxes for ABC, offering several suggestions for becoming a more culturally relevant teaching institution. In addition, several recommendations for further research and study were made at the end of this thesis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis het ten doel om op 'n prakties-teologiese manier (1) die impak van kultuur op onderrig aan die African Bible College (ABC) te bepaal, (2) 'n hersiene praktyk vir tussenkulturele onderrig aan die ABC te ontwikkel, en (3) die ABC gevolglik in 'n meer kultureel tersaaklike onderriginstelling te verander. Aangesien kultuurverskille dikwels enige tussenkulturele poging verhinder, en aangesien die ABC voorts meestal uit Amerikaanse professors en Malawiese studente bestaan, is daar 'n behoefte om die uitdagings van hierdie kultureel vermengde instelling te beoordeel. Die navorsingsvrae waarna hierdie studie ondersoek instel, is soos volg: 1. Watter soort tussenkulturele onderrig vind tans aan die ABC plaas? Met ander woorde, hoe vaar die ABC wat betref onderrig op 'n kultureel tersaaklike manier? Wat is die sterk en swak punte van onderrig aan die ABC? Watter tussenkulturele versperrings bestaan tans in die ABC? Hoe word Malawiese leerstyle/kultuurkwessies by tussenkulturele onderrig geintegreer? Watter soort ekulturele bagasie f is by die ABC ter sprake? 2. Wat beteken dit om kultureel tersaaklik te wees, en hoekom is dit belangrik? Met ander woorde, wat is sommige van die kernelemente van tussenkulturele onderrig? Wat is die algemene probleme? Wat is kontekstualisasie, interkulturasie, verwestering, ensovoorts? 3. Wat is die gewenste vorm van tussenkulturele onderrig vir die ABC? Met ander woorde, watter modelle vir tussenkulturele onderrig sou meer geskik wees vir die ABC, en hoekom? Hoe behoort doeltreffende tussenkulturele onderrig aan die ABC daar uit te sien? Hoe kan die ABC langtermyn- en doeltreffende tussenkulturele onderrig handhaaf? Hoofstuk 2 bied 'n inleiding tot die konsep van tussenkulturele onderrig, en 'n empiriese ondersoek na die ABC se onderrigstyl. In hoofstuk 3 word verskeie modelle en teoriee vir tussenkulturele onderrig bekend gestel, wat vervolgens gebruik is om onderrig aan die ABC te beoordeel en te vertolk. Die hoofstuk is dus hoofsaaklik aan die vertolking van die ABC se onderrig aan die hand van hierdie modelle gewy. Hoofstuk 4 bied 'n teologiese en etiese grondslag (die normatiewe taak) vir tussenkulturele onderrig, waarna hoofstuk 5 op die hersiene praktyke vir die ABC konsentreer, met verskeie voorstelle oor hoe die onderriginstelling meer kultureel tersaaklik kan word. Die tesis sluit af met etlike aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing en studie.