Thesis (DTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The dissertation explores lay leadership developments in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe by investigating the leadership history of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) from 1891 when it was founded in Zimbabwe, to the present. Chapter 1 introduces the problem statement, i.e. the exclusion of laity and women in the broader church structures, dominated by male clergy. It currently blocks transformation. The hypothesis of this study is that lay leadership is not sufficiently represented in the leadership structures of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe. Reasons for this can be that the influence of the clerical paradigm model of leadership, or the hierarchical Shona culture structures, adopted by the missionaries of the RCZ are still haunting the leadership of the church. The methodological framework for the study is practical theology, used by Hendriks (2004). Some important working concepts are explained and a short historical background of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe is laid out. In Chapter 2 different views on church offices are discussed. Methodologically, the Word of God provides the normative basis from which the problem statement is addressed. In Chapter 3 some aspects of the historical background of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe are described. The Shona cultural background and its hierarchical structures are discussed in order to determine how the Shona culture influenced the leadership structures of the church to exclude laity and women. In Chapter 4 the history of leadership in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe is explored and the position of the lay people from 1891 to the present is discussed. This is done to determine whether there have been developments in the area of laity inclusion in the broader leadership structures of the church and to prove or disapprove the statement that the broader leadership structures of the church were dominated by male clergy. Chapter 5 presents the empirical part of the study. Attitudes towards women in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe are analyzed through qualitative research methods. The data was gathered through interviews that assessed the relation between laity and clergy and men and women in the church. Negative and positive attitudes have been noted from the different groups that were interviewed. Chapter 6 describes the Zimbabwean situation which influences the church leadership due to the pressure of the political, economic, education and health situation in the country. The influence of modernism and postmodern megatrends towards church leadership styles are discussed. These trends seek participation of every individual member for transformation to take place. In Chapter 7 the focus is on five strategies to empower lay leadership to participate in all the broader structures of the RCZ. It also focuses on the applicability of lay leadership development in the RCZ. Finally, the overall summary, conclusion and recommendations are given in Chapter 8. The recommendations need to be considered by the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe in order to strengthen the inclusion of laity and women in the broader structures of the church. The research proved that lay leadership development is gradually taking place in the RCZ, but empowerment of laity and women is still needed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif is 'n verkennende studie oor ongeskoolde leierskapontwikkelings in die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe. Leierskap geskiedenis van die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe word ondersoek vanaf 1891 toe dit tot stand gekom het in Zimbabwe tot huidiglik. Hoofstuk 1 omskryf die probleemstelling, naamlik die uitsluiting van ongeskooldes en vroue in breë kerk strukture wat gedomineer word deur manlike klerke. Huidiglik stuit dit transformasie. Die hipotesis van die studie is dat ongeskoolde leierskap nie voldoende verteenwoordig word in die leierskapstrukture van die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe nie. Redes hiervoor kan wees dat die invloed van die klerklike paradigma model van leierskap of die hierargiese Shona kultuur, wat deur die sendelinge van die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe aangeneem is, steeds die leierskap van die kerk oorheers. Die metodologiese raamwerk van die studie is praktiese teologie, soos gebruik deur Hendriks (2004). Van die belangrike konsepte word verduidelik en 'n kort historiese oorsig van die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe word uiteengesit. In Hoofstuk 2 word verskillende standpunte van kerkkantore bespreek. Metodologies verskaf die Woord van God die normatiewe basis vanwaar die probleemstelling aangespreek word. In Hoofstuk 3 word sekere aspekte van die historiese agtergrond van die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe beskryf. Die Shona kulturele agtergrond en sy hierargiese strukture word bespreek sodat daar bepaal kan word hoe die Shona kultuur die leierskapstrukture van die kerk beinvloed het om ongeskooldes en vroue uit te sluit. In Hoofstuk 4 word die geskiedenis van leierskap in die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe verken en die posisie van ongeskoolde mense, vanaf 1891 tot huidiglik, word bespreek. Dit word gedoen om te bepaal of daar enige ontwikkelings in die area van die insluiting van ongeskooldes in die breë leierskapstrukture van die kerk was en om te bepaal of die stelling dat die breë leierskapstrukture van die kerk gedomineer is deur manlike klerke waar of onwaar is. Hoofstuk 5 behels die empiriese deel van die studie. Houdings teenoor vroue in die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe word geanaliseer deur middel van kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes. Die data is versamel deur middel van onderhoude wat die verhouding tussen ongeskooldes en klerklikes en mans en vroue in die kerk assesseer. Negatiewe en positiewe houdings is genotuleer komende vanaf die verskillende groepe wat deelgeneem het aan die onderhoude. Hoofstuk 6 beskryf die Zimbabwiese situasie wat die kerkleierskap beïnvloed deur middel van die druk wat die politieke, ekonomiese, onderwys en gesondheidsituasie in die land daarop plaas. Die invloed van modernisme en postmodernistiese mega-neigings teenoor kerkleierskap style word bespreek. Hierdie neigings streef na die deelname van elke individuele lid sodat transformasie kan plaasvind. Hoofstuk 7 fokus op vyf strategieë om ongeskoolde leierskap te bemagtig om deel te neem aan die breë strukture van die RCZ. Dit fokus ook op die toepaslikheid van ongeskoolde leierskapontwikkeling in die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe. Die algehele opsomming, slot en aanbevelings word in Hoofstuk 8 bespreek. Die aanbevelings moet deur die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe oorweeg word sodat die insluiting van ongeskooldes en vroue in die breë strukture van die kerk versterk kan word. Hierdie navorsing bewys dat ongeskoolde leierskap ontwikkeling geleidelik besig is om plaas te vind in die Gereformeerde Kerk in Zimbabwe, maar dat bemagtiging van ongeskooldes en vroue steeds nodig is.

Thesis (DTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Through the ages, the gospel of Jesus Christ calls on believers to witness to their faith and hope and to be obedient in word and deed to the love commandment of the Holy Trinity. This implies, among others, that the implications of the gospel should be effected in politics, economics and civil life. The shaping of a public meaning on corporate values and general well-being is a necessary result and is generally known as public theology. One of the communication channels through which the formation of public opinion can be shaped is the mass media. The Kerkbode (Afrikaans for the messenger of the Church) is the official newspaper of the Dutch Reformed Church and in that capacity it is an important public theological instrument of communication. During the years of change following the first democratic election of 1994 in South Africa, members of the Dutch Reformed Church felt a particular need of leadership and guidance. The Church leadership had a focused need of effective communication to members and non-members. Due to the loss of “governing members”, the church had to rely on public witness on concept legislation and other matters of public interest. Under the circumstances the importance of the newspaper of the church as a mouthpiece stands to reason. Because the shaping of opinions is one of the primary functions of a newspaper, the question with the researcher is as follows: whether the theories of opinion-shaping have been used in writing the leading articles of the Kerkbode during the years of change (1994 – 2003). The focus is on the leading article because it is the most important opinion- shaping column in any newspaper. The research of the leading articles was limited to articles concerned with the “Role of the Church” during the years 1994 – 2003. On completion of an inter-disciplinary study of theories of opinion-shaping from the subjects of Theology, Sociology, Social Psychology and Communication Studies, theories suitable for use in written mass media and in compliance with theological ethical principles were identified. Main principles of these theories were identified and the main articles were then studied in light of these principles. The conclusion was reached that it might be possible that the principles of identified theories were kept in mind when the articles were written. In view of the importance of effective opinion-shaping communication in, inter alia, the mass communication of the Church, recommendations were done on the use of main principles of opinion-shaping theories. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die evangelie van Jesus Christus roep gelowiges deur al die eeue op om te getuig van hulle geloof en hoop en om met woord en daad gehoorsaam te wees aan die liefdesgebod van die Drie-enige God. Dit behels onder meer dat die implikasies van die evangelie tot uitdrukking moet kom in die politieke lewe, die ekonomiese werklikhede en die burgerlike lewe waarin Christene deel. Die vorming van 'n openbare mening oor gemeenskaplike waardes en die algemene welsyn is 'n noodsaaklike gevolg daarvan en staan in die omgang as publieke teologie bekend. Een van die kommunikasiekanale waardeur die vorming van 'n openbare mening gedoen kan word, is die massamedia. Die Kerkbode is die amptelike koerant van die Ned. Geref. Kerk en is as sodanig onder meer 'n belangrike publieke teologiese kommunikasie-instrument. Gedurende die oorgangsjare ná die demokratisering van Suid-Afrika in 1994 het die lidmate van die Ned. Geref. Kerk 'n besondere behoefte aan leiding gehad. Die kerkleiding het ook 'n toegespitste behoefte aan effektiewe kommunikasie na binne en na buite die kerk gehad. As gevolg van die verlies aan “regerende lidmate”, was die kerk ook aangewese op openbare getuienis oor konsepwetgewing en ander sake van openbare belang. Die belang van die kerk se koerant as spreekbuis, spreek onder dié omstandig-hede vanself. Omdat die vorming van menings een van die primêre funksies van 'n kerkkoerant is, het die vraag by die navorser ontstaan of daar by die skryf van die hoofartikels van Die Kerkbode in die oorgangsjare (1994 – 2003) van meningsvormingsteorieë gebruik gemaak is. Daar is op die hoofartikels gefokus omdat dit by uitstek die opinievormende kolom van koerante is. Die bestudering van die hoofartikels is beperk tot artikels wat gerig was op die “Rol van die Kerk” gedurende die jare 1994 – 2003. Nadat 'n interdissiplinêre studie van meningsvormingsteorieë binne die vakgebiede van die Teologie, Sosiologie, Sosiale Sielkunde en Kommunikasiekunde gedoen is, is teorieë geskik vir gebruik in geskrewe massamedia en in ooreenstemming met teologies-etiese eise geïdentifiseer. Kernbeginsels van dié teorieë is daarna geïdentifiseer en die hoofartikels is aan die hand van die geïdentifiseerde kernbeginsels ontleed. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat kern-beginsels van die geprioritiseerde meningsvormingsteorieë moontlik by die skryf van die artikels in ag geneem is. In die lig van die belang van werklik effektiewe meningsvormende kommunikasie in onder meer die massakommunikasie van die kerk, is aanbevelings gedoen oor die benutting van kernbeginsels van meningsvormingsteorieë.

Thesis (M.Div. (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Identity refers to the beliefs and values, the lifestyles, character, style and history of a congregation. A person has an identity, so a congregation develops an identity which is in a very close association with its members, their circumstances and history. The Kwe San and their unique history and circumstances have contributed to their current identity. This identity also determines the way in which the ministerial praxis is tailored for a specific congregation and community. The Kwe San’s current context has a practical theological response which is contextually based. Their traditional free-roaming abilities have been limited by the Tsumkwe Constituency, a prior homeland. The various original social organizations which form an integral part of the Kwe San’s life within their System Two, forms an integral part of their current life. These aspects need to be taken into consideration when formulating a congregation’s ministerial praxis. Within this community the practicality of theological ecclesiology has become important. This is due to the change in context of the Kwe San. To have a better understanding of the present ministerial praxis I have incorporated the Gestalt theory principles which help us to address the current situation and also the System Theory, in order to understand the current contextual nature of the Kwe San people. Any form of a holistic ministerial approach requires that we understand the interdependence of people and nature. It also emphasizes the fact that we are all connected to one another and that the church needs to raise to the occasion and play its part within each segment of the community. It needs to be an active participant within different interdependent or interrelated parts within the society in which we interact with one another, interact with nature and interact with God.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Mission is probably one of the most visual acts which the church took upon herself and can even be seen as the factor which brought the church to being. Mission was through the ages very positive for the church but also very negative. Especially in the early twentieth century the church has undergone heavy confrontations. Throughout the twentieth century a massive paradigm shift took place. Mission took on a strong pastoral character, which again let to a change in character for pastoral care. Africa is seen as one of the most diverse continents regarding faiths, traditions and cultures. This diversity put a strong challenge on Mission and Pastoral care.

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

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The church today, and esspecially the Reformed tradistion find itself in a situation where there is a lot of tension regarding his identity, as a Reformed Church. The post-modern world we live in set a lot of challenges regarding our faith and how we as christains should deal with our embodyment as reformed christians The church and specificaly the Dutch Reformed family are facing daily the lost of a lot off members to the fundamentalistic movements. Members whom are seekers in their fath and whom were in some way or another been challenged by a desire to take their faith to a higher level of experience, which in their lives cannot get satisfaction any more in the reformed tradition. In this thesis I will try to destinquist the balance between Reformed tradistion and Pentecostalism. The thesis will try to embodied the identity of the Reformed tradision by give an overview , look into the questions regarding reformed tradition, what does it mean to be Reformed and proud and also what Reformed use of scripture entails. Allthough it is not the first time that questions like this has been raised, because reformed in the tradition means , to change contantaniously. Pentecostalism on the other side does have a long history regarding orgin and was not just an "appearnce" in the church. The apostle Paul in the early days of the church was in a certain sence very specific obout the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the space for exploration as set out in "1 Korinthians 12." Over the years many enthusiastic movements appeared which led to a total misunderstanding of what Pauls understanding was regarding pentecotalism. Regarding Pentacostalism, and the judging of the movement , the church will have to view their concerns very strongly in terms of the following, appreciation, make accesment regarding their weakness, thoughtfullness and their plan of action. Then the paradigm shifts, ecclesiasticly and liturgical deepening are essential factors in the whole enlightenment towards a more adopting mode. To change does not necesarilly mean to throw all the norms and vallues over board, but to do so in a responsible way. The worship service become in that matter the focal point of attention, including all the elements within the service , searching for ways to improve , ad or adapt. What the worship service is and are suppose to be , a trully place where God allone are been worship and where the Holy Spirittransformes people into living witnesses. The thesis conclude with a usefull set off guidelines according to Thomas Long in his book Beyond the worship wars where he challenge the church to a more transforming way of being church of God.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This assignment takes a look at the relevance of the declaration signed on the day of legitimation by future pastors of the Ned. Geref. Kerk. It is evaluated according to its use for pastors as a guide for speaking about God contextually and in unity. A hermeneutical approach is used in which the NGK’s three confessions of unity, the Reformed confessional tradition and the history of the NGK aid in testing the relevance of this declaration. The initial role of the signing of confessions as a deed that creates unity and identity helps to show how the current declaration fails to continue with this role. It is therefore necessary that the NGK reconsiders their use and wording of the declaration. The conclusion includes a proposal for an alternative declaration which focuses on responsible hermeneutics rather than the content of teachings.

Thesis (DTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The basic premise of this study is that the congregation is the key to providing homebased pastoral care support to HIV-positive people in poor contexts. In so doing, the church does not only perform a social function to poor HIV/AIDS-affected families, but it also acts in accordance with the calling of mediating God’s Kingdom (diakonia), thus spreading the gospel, and showing unconditional sacrificial love and compassion. The Church embodies the gospel, which is the instrument of hope and salvation to despairing HIV/AIDS-people in the community.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2005 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research was to determine what the influence of the God-image of parishioners within the Korean Presbyterian Church is on their faith and ability to come to terms meaningfully with the crisis of suffering. With the view to making a pastoral diagnosis and the process of assessment, a pastoral hermeneutics was applied. The basic hypothesis implemented is that inappropriate God-images, exacerbated by the religious-cultural context of the Presbyterian Church in Korea, play an important role in the parishioners' inability to come to terms meaningfully with crises and suffering. In this respect, it was found that Shamanism, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, amongst others, profile the dominant religious paradigm that functions among members. This cultural context gives rise to a concept of God that applies the theological presupposition of an almighty, fearful supreme being who controls and is in command of everything - even death. In this regard, the concepts of punishment and judgment play a decisive role. Within theodicy, God is viewed as the ultimate cause of evil. Thus, a merciless God (Ch 'unbeol) is the inevitable cause of suffering. The research found that, in Korea, theodicy relates to the monotheistic concept of a "supreme god" (HanunumIHananim), as well as the punitive component in the category of omnipotence (Ch 'unbeoIIChunneung). Because of a causal paradigm (scheme of cause and effect), manipulation is a strong factor in the Koreans' concept of faith and coping with suffering. This gives rise to a form of "pathology of faith": the manipulation of God with the view to material and health benefits. This hampers maturity in faith. In order to understand the theological concepts of judgment and power, we present the exegesis of relevant biblical texts with the view to the development of a theology of compassion. In this respect, we discuss the theological theories of four theologians, that is the existential concept of a theology of the cross (Luther); the ontological-trinitarian concept of a theology of the cross (Moltmann); the dialectic-emotional pain theology of Kitamori; and Louw's pastoralhermeneutic understanding of the cross within the framework of his promissio-therapy. This study suggests a paradigm shift away from a punitive judgmental paradigm to a sensitive compassionate paradigm. This implies a radical transformation from a hierarchical concept of power to power as a category of sympathy and identification that demonstrates God's compassion in suffering. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die navorsing was om vas te stel wat die invloed van lidmate binne die Koreaanse Presbiteriaanse Kerk se Godsvoorstelling is op hul geloof en vermoe om die krisis van Iyding sinvol te verwerk. Met die oog op die maak van 'n pastorale diagnose en die asseseringsproses, is van 'n pastorale hermeneutiek gebruik gemaak. Die basiese hipotese waarmee gewerk is, is dat ontoepaslike Godsvoorstellings, versterk deur die religieus - kulturele konteks van die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Korea, 'n belangrike rol speel in die onverrnoe van lidmate om krisisse en lyding sinvol te verwerk. In die verband is gevind dat die dominante, religieuse paradigma wat by lidmate funksioneer, gevoed word deur, onder andere, Shamanisme, Konfusianisme, Taoisme en Boeddhisme. Hierdie kulturele konteks gee aanleiding tot 'n Godsverstaan wat werk met die teologiese vooronderstelling van 'n almagtige, vrees-inboesemende opperwese wat alles beheer en kontroleer - selfs die dood. In die verband speel die konsepte van straf en oordeel 'n deurslaggewende rol. Binne teodisee word God gesien as die uiteindelike oorsaak van die kwaad. Lyding is dan 'n noodwendige, kousale gevolg van 'n genadelose God (Ch 'unbeol). Die navorsing bevind dat teodisee in Korea verbind moet word met die monoteistiese verstaan van 'n "oppergod" iHanunum/Hananim), asook die strafkomponent in die almagskategorie (Ch'unbeol/Chunneungi. Vanwee 'n kousale paradigma (oorsaak-gevolg skema) is 'n manipulasie 'n sterk faktor in Koreane se geloofsverstaan en verwerking van lyding. Dit gee aanleiding tot 'n vorm van "geloofspatologie": die manipulering van God met die oog op materiele en gesondheidsvoordele. Die ontwikkeling van geloofsvolwassenheid word hierdeur gerem. Ten einde die teologiese konsepte van oordeel en mag te verstaan, word relevante Bybeltekste eksegeties aan die orde gestel met die oog op die ontwikkeling van 'n teologie van medelye. In die verband word vier teoloe se teologiese teoriee krities bespreek, te wete die eksistensiele verstaan van 'n kruisteologie (Luther); die ontologies -trinitariese verstaan van 'n kruisteologie (Moltmann); die dialekties -emosionele pynteologie van Kitamori; en Louw se pastoraalhermeneutiese verstaan van die kruis binne die raamwerk van sy promissioterapie. Die studie stel voor 'n paradigmaskuif weg van 'n verdoemende oordeelsparadigma na 'n sensitiewe paradigma van medelye. Die implikasie is 'n radikale transformasie vanaf 'n hierargiese verstaan van mag na mag as 'n simpatieke, identifikasie-kategorie wat God se medelye in lyding demonstreer.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2003 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The problem discussed in this thesis is how to resist and subvert the complicity of biblical studies with neo-colonialism as a white male biblical scholar. Traditionally the interpretation of the bible by white male biblical scholars has not been recognised as an interested and situated practice, unlike the interpretations by readers from marginalised backgrounds. The thesis put forward here is that it is the other - understood as infinite and irreducible - that opens up the habitual vicious circle of identity formation and identifiable practices. This interruption is a moment of true decision, i.e. a moment where the self cannot follow any preestablished ethico-political programme but has to respond in a truly innovative way. This innovation is understood to be brought about in a double strategy, which juxtaposes a hegemonic practice with its binary opposition in a nondialectical way. The space in which such an interruption occurs is the interstitial borderline, the liminal space and interface between the self and its other. In the first part, the thesis critically engages with the work of three white male biblical scholars - Daniel Patte, Jeffrey Staley, and Gerald West - who try to overcome the traditional academic discourse of biblical studies by problematising the relationship between their own identities and their academic practices. In the second part, deconstruction, as shorthand for the work of Jacques Derrida, is subsequently presented as a thoroughly postcolonial critique of western ontological concepts and as a viable manner in which to theorise the critical contributions of Patte, Staley, and West. In the third and final part, three approaches within biblical studies - historicism, the bible as popular text, and literary approaches - are singled out and discussed as possible liminal spaces within which the identity of the white male biblical scholar can be reinvented in responsibility to the other. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vraagstuk onder bespreking in hierdie verhandeling is hoe om, as blanke manlike bybelgeleerde die onderlinge medepligtigheid tussen die studie van die bybel en neo-kolonialisme te weerstaan en te ondermyn. Volgens tradisie word die vertolking van die bybel deur blanke manlike bybelgeleerdes nie erken as 'n ge·interesseerde en gelee praktyk nie, in teenstelling met die vertolkings van geleerdes afkomstig uit minderheidsgroepe. Die stelling wat hier gemaak word is dat dit die 'ander' is - begryp as oneindig en onverminderbaar - wat die gebruiklike bose kring van identiteitsvorming en identifiseerbare praktyke oopmaak. Hierdie onderbreking is 'n oomblik van ware besluitneming, i.e. 'n oomblik waarbinne die self nie enige voorafbepaalde eties-politiese program kan volg nie, maar waarbinne die self werklik op 'n oorspronklike en nuwe wyse moet reageer. Dit word verstaan dat hierdie nuwigheid tot stand gebring word in a dubbele strategie wat die heersende praktyk op 'n nie-dialektiese wyse langs sy binere opposisie plaas. Die ruimte waarbinne hierdie onderbreking plaasvind is die tussengrenslyn, die oorgangsruimte en skakel tussen die self en die 'ander'. Die eerste gedeelte van die verhandeling is 'n kritiese bespreking van die werke van drie blanke manlike bybelgeleerdes, naamlik Daniel Patte, Jeffrey Staley en Gerald West, wat poog om die tradisionele akademiese diskoers oor die studie van die bybel te bemeester deur die verhouding tussen hulle eie identiteite en hul akademiese gebruike te problematiseer. Die tweede gedeelte bied dekonstruksie, as snelskrif vir die werk van Jaques Derrida aan as 'n deurdagte post-koloniale kritiek van westerse ontologiese konsepte en as 'n lewensvatbare wyse waarop die kritiese bydraes van Patte, Staley en West teoretiseer kan word. In die derde en laaste gedeelte word drie benaderings tot die studie van die bybel, naamlik 'n historiese benadering, die bybel as populere teks en litirere benaderings uitgesonder en bespreek as moontlike oorgangsruimtes waarbinne die identiteit van die blanke manlike bybelgeleerde herversin en bedink kan word met verantwoordelikheid teenoor die 'ander'.