Text in German / Zusammenfassung Die Predigten zur Parusie Jesu finden im Perikopenplan der Evangelischen Landeskirche eine geringe Aufmerksamkeit. Die Thematik beschränkt sich auf das Ende, wie auf den Anfang des Kirchenjahres, genauer gesagt auf den 2. Advent. Das Thema der Parusie Jesu ist nicht unbedingt ein Hauptthema in der Predigtarbeit. Aber die Parusie Jesu ist das Hauptziel des Glaubens der Christen. Durch diese Arbeit soll der Predigtarbeit, sowie dem Thema der Parusie Jesu mehr Beachtung geschenkt werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die DDR Sozial- und Kirchengeschichte mit den Kurzbiographien der Prediger vorgestellt. Diese sind zum Teil Hintergrundinformation für die Predigtanalysen. Die Arbeit widmet sich einer Predigtanalyse zum biblischen Hintergrund und zum historischen Hintergrund der DDR, um den Stellenwert der Parusie Jesu in den Predigten zu erforschen. Die Bewertung der Predigtpraxis und die Evaluation bilden den Abschluss der Arbeit. Zusammenfassung Die Predigten zur Parusie Jesu finden im Perikopenplan der Evangelischen Landeskirche eine geringe Aufmerksamkeit. Die Thematik beschränkt sich auf das Ende, wie auf den Anfang des Kirchenjahres, genauer gesagt auf den 2. Advent. Das Thema der Parusie Jesu ist nicht unbedingt ein Hauptthema in der Predigtarbeit. Aber die Parusie Jesu ist das Hauptziel des Glaubens der Christen. Durch diese Arbeit soll der Predigtarbeit, sowie dem Thema der Parusie Jesu mehr Beachtung geschenkt werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die DDR Sozial- und Kirchengeschichte mit den Kurzbiographien der Prediger vorgestellt. Diese sind zum Teil Hintergrundinformation für die Predigtanalysen. Die Arbeit widmet sich einer Predigtanalyse zum biblischen Hintergrund und zum historischen Hintergrund der DDR, um den Stellenwert der Parusie Jesu in den Predigten zu erforschen. Die Bewertung der Predigtpraxis und die Evaluation bilden den Abschluss der Arbeit. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology))

Text in German / Zusammenfassung Die Predigten zur Parusie Jesu finden im Perikopenplan der Evangelischen Landeskirche eine geringe Aufmerksamkeit. Die Thematik beschränkt sich auf das Ende, wie auf den Anfang des Kirchenjahres, genauer gesagt auf den 2. Advent. Das Thema der Parusie Jesu ist nicht unbedingt ein Hauptthema in der Predigtarbeit. Aber die Parusie Jesu ist das Hauptziel des Glaubens der Christen. Durch diese Arbeit soll der Predigtarbeit, sowie dem Thema der Parusie Jesu mehr Beachtung geschenkt werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die DDR Sozial- und Kirchengeschichte mit den Kurzbiographien der Prediger vorgestellt. Diese sind zum Teil Hintergrundinformation für die Predigtanalysen. Die Arbeit widmet sich einer Predigtanalyse zum biblischen Hintergrund und zum historischen Hintergrund der DDR, um den Stellenwert der Parusie Jesu in den Predigten zu erforschen. Die Bewertung der Predigtpraxis und die Evaluation bilden den Abschluss der Arbeit. Zusammenfassung Die Predigten zur Parusie Jesu finden im Perikopenplan der Evangelischen Landeskirche eine geringe Aufmerksamkeit. Die Thematik beschränkt sich auf das Ende, wie auf den Anfang des Kirchenjahres, genauer gesagt auf den 2. Advent. Das Thema der Parusie Jesu ist nicht unbedingt ein Hauptthema in der Predigtarbeit. Aber die Parusie Jesu ist das Hauptziel des Glaubens der Christen. Durch diese Arbeit soll der Predigtarbeit, sowie dem Thema der Parusie Jesu mehr Beachtung geschenkt werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die DDR Sozial- und Kirchengeschichte mit den Kurzbiographien der Prediger vorgestellt. Diese sind zum Teil Hintergrundinformation für die Predigtanalysen. Die Arbeit widmet sich einer Predigtanalyse zum biblischen Hintergrund und zum historischen Hintergrund der DDR, um den Stellenwert der Parusie Jesu in den Predigten zu erforschen. Die Bewertung der Predigtpraxis und die Evaluation bilden den Abschluss der Arbeit. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology))

The main question this dissertation addresses is which sermon forms are the most befitting for effective and communicative preaching within the context of the Korean church. The background to this question being the fact that most of the Korean sermons are structured according to the traditional method, namely a three-point sermon structure. It seems that no real analysis has been made of the hearers, as well as the different styles of worship being encountered in the Korean church. This leads to the fact that sermons (sermon forms) are structured in such a manner that the hearers are unable to follow either the sermon’s content or the sermon’s movements. This results in the preacher experiencing a lack of communication during his/her preaching/sermons. Before climbing on the pulpit all preachers should pay attention to creative sermon forms and styles, in order to be conducive to effective communication. This study deals with four main focus areas. Firstly, it is necessary to study different sermon forms and also to undertake a comparative analysis of the historical development of sermon forms in the South Korean Churches (SKC) and in US churches. In South Korea the sermon form has a more traditional feature, which is still present up till today in the local SKCs. Secondly, the preacher should be able to construct as well as use two different approaches in order to promote the most effective and communicative sermon: (1) induction, deduction and interduction, (2) analysis of the hearers within their present context. Thirdly, in this thesis five sermon forms have been discussed: (1) topical form, (2) textual sermon form, (3) expository sermon form, (4) narrative sermon form, (5) homily sermon form. Having discussed these forms, the aim was then to find a more useful and suitable sermon form. The choice was eventually made in favour of the multi-sermon form: multi-topical, multi-textual, multi-expository, multi-narrative and multi-homily sermon form. Fourthly, the preacher must be acquainted with the characteristics of the current worship patterns of the hearers attending the service: (1) dawn worship, (2) Wednesday evening worship, (3) Friday evening worship, (4) Sunday morning worship, (5) Sunday evening worship. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Thesis (DTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of our study was not merely to recount the ethical problems of the Korean Protestant Church and its members, but to suggest a new ethical preaching mode for resolving these problems. Thus, in order to research the subject of our study, we used two methodologies: Dingemans’s practical theological methodology and the Heidelberg method of sermon analysis. In chapter one, we stated the question why the Korean Protestant Church’s growth is declining, and described the current social situation in which the Korean people are starting to turn their backs on the Korean Protestant Church, and also mistrusting the morality of this Church as its members do not seem to act in accordance with their stated beliefs. Their ethical behaviour does not correspond with the content of their confession. In order to show exactly the practical and problematic phenomenon of the Korean Protestant Church and its members, we used the results of six surveys conducted recently by several institutes. Furthermore, in order to expose exactly the Korean Protestant Christian’s ethical problems in terms of homiletics, we suggested that our study focuses on the following three issues: political, triumphal and narrative, as these three sermon patterns flow like rivers into the Korean Protestant Church and its American theological connection. By doing so, our study hoped to contribute ultimately towards the rediscovery and revalidation of ethical preaching in contemporary Korea. From chapter two to chapter seven, we thus strived to explain the content of, and relationship between, the three preaching modes as described above (political, triumphal, and experiential), and we analysed the sermons of three representative Korean Protestant preachers in detail, by using the framework of the Heidelberg method. In chapter eight, we evaluated the ethical situation of the Korean Protestant Church and its members in contemporary Korea as follows: “Consequently, in contemporary Korea, the Koreans no longer believe and trust the Korean Protestant Church. Thus, since the 1990s, the present Korean Protestant Church is experiencing a decline in the attendance of its members because the present Korean Protestant Church has lost its dignity due to its ethical problems. In our opinion, it is true that the Korean Protestant Church needs to discover Christian ethics; thus, the Church must especially focus on its lack of social ethics and political responsibility in the Reformed theological views. In order to promote the public’s trust in the Korean Protestant Church and its members, it is inevitable that Korean Protestant ministers must focus more on Christian ethics than on the outward development of the Church in contemporary Korea. Thus, in order to establish Christian ethics in Korea, the Korean Protestant preachers must consider ethical preaching, through which naturally, Christians will try to follow Jesus’ life and teachings before God by faith in the world.” In chapter nine, we explained in detail what ethical preaching is, i.e. we introduced the necessity for ethical preaching, and defined it as well as components thereof. In particular, we emphasized that the world’s position and function are unique, as evil controls the world in terms of ethical preaching because human beings have been captured by the multiplicity of the powers or related them to contemporary social realities, and they cannot but produce Christian ethical problems in the world. Furthermore, we suggested the following: “We obviously need the harmony of Campbell and Long’s homiletical views in order to create the best framework for ethical preaching for contemporary Korea.” In chapter ten, we critically compared and reflected on the homiletical views of Campbell and Long in terms of ethical preaching. Furthermore, we created a new ethical preaching mode for contemporary Korea. In chapter eleven, we introduced some suggestions as regards the way ethical preaching could be done in contemporary Korea, i.e. we strived to compose a sermon’s synopsis of ethical preaching with the newly formed framework. Thus, with Luke 8:22-39, we dealt with “the division of Korea into North and South” and, with Luke 10:25-37, “racial prejudice toward coloured foreign workers” by using the newly formed ethical preaching mode. In chapter twelve, we summarized and concluded our dissertation. As regards the homiletical field of Korea, we introduced four benefits our study can offer. On the other hand, we pointed out the shortcomings of our study as follows: “Jesus Christ and ethical issues from the Old Testament” and “the relationship between our ethical preaching mode and Christian worship, especially liturgy.” In this chapter, thus, we emphasized the abovementioned points as suggestions for future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van ons studie was nie ʼn blote weergee van die etiese probleme van die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk en sy lidmate nie, maar om ʼn nuwe metode van etiese prediking ter oplossing van hierdie probleme voor te stel. Gevolglik het ons, ten einde navorsing oor ons onderwerp te doen, twee metodologiee aangewend: Dingemans se prakties-teologiese metodologie en die Heidelbergse metode van prediking analise. In hoofstuk 1 het ons die vraag gestel waarom daar ʼn afname was in die groei van die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk en die huidige sosiale situasie waarin die Koreaanse bevolking die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk die rug keer en ook die moraliteit van die kerk aangesien sy lidmate nie handel volgens hul verklaarde oortuigings nie beskryf. Hul etiese gedrag stem nie ooreen met die inhoud van hul belydenis nie. Ten einde die praktiese en problematiese verskynsel van die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk en sy lidmate juis te beklemtoon, het ons die resultate van ses opnames wat onlangs deur verskeie institute gedoen is gebruik. Verder, om die etiese probleme van die Koreaanse Protestantse Christen in terme van homilitiek noukeurig bloot te le, het ons voorgestel dat ons studie op die volgende drie aspekte fokus: politiese, triomferende en narratiewe aangesien hierdie drie erediens patrone soos riviere in die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk en sy Amerikaanse teologiese verbintenis vloei. Sodoende hoop ons studie om uiteindelik ʼn bydrae te lewer tot die herontdekking en herbekragtiging van etiese prediking in hedendaagse Korea. Vanaf hoofstuk twee tot hoofstuk sewe het ons dus daarna gestreef om die inhoud van en die verhouding tussen die drie metodes van prediking, soos hierbo beskryf (politiese, triomferende en narratiewe), te verduidelik en het ons deur middel van die Heidelbergse metode die preke van drie verteenwoordigende Koreaanse Protestantse predikers breedvoerig geanaliseer. In hoofstuk ag (t) het ons die etiese situasie van die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk en sy lidmate soos volg geevalueer: “Gevolglik glo en vertrou die Koreane in hedendaagse Korea nie meer die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk nie. Dus, sedert die 1990’s beleef die huidige Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk ʼn afname in die bywoning van sy lidmate omdat die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk sy waardigheid verloor het as gevolg van sy etiese probleme. Volgens ons is dit waar dat die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk Christelike etiek moet ontdek; dus, die Kerk moet spesifiek fokus op sy gebrek aan sosiale etiek en politieke verantwoordelikheid in die gereformeerde teologiese gesigspunte. Ten einde die publiek se vertroue in die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk en sy lidmate te bevorder, is dit onvermydelik dat die predikante van die Koreaanse Protestantse Kerk meer moet fokus op Christelike etiek as op die uiterlike ontwikkeling van die kerk in hedendaagse Korea. Dus moet Koreaanse Protestantse predikers etiese prediking, waardeur Christene in die wereld sal probeer om Jesus se lewe en onderwysings voor God deur geloof te volg, oorweeg ten einde Christelike etiek in Korea te vestig.” In hoofstuk nege het ons breedvoerig verduidelik wat etiese prediking behels, d.w.s. ons het die noodsaaklikheid van etiese prediking ingelei en dit tesame met die komponente daarvan gedefinieer. Ons het in besonder die uniekheid van die wereld se posisie en funksie beklemtoon aangesien boosheid die wereld in terme van etiese prediking beheer omdat mense gevange geneem is deur die veelvoudige magte of eietydse, met hul verbonde sosiale werklikhede en hulle nie anders kan as om Christelike etiese probleme in die wereld voort te bring nie. Verder het ons die volgende voorgestel: “Ons het duidelik die harmonie van Campbell en Long se homiletiese standpunte nodig ten einde die beste raamwerk vir etiese prediking vir hedendaagse Korea te skep.” In hoofstuk tien het ons die kritiese vergelyking getref tussen en gereflekteer op die homiletiese uitgangspunte van Campbell en Long in terme van etiese prediking. Voorts het ons ʼn nuwe metode van etiese prediking vir hedendaagse Korea ontwikkel. In hoofstuk elf het ons sekere voorstelle betreffende die manier waarop etiese prediking in hedendaagse Korea gedoen sou kon word aangebied, d.w.s. ons het daarna gestrewe om ʼn prediking se oorsig van etiese prediking met ʼn nuutgevormde raamwerk saam te stel. Dus, met Lukas 8:22-39 het ons gefokus op “die verdeling van Korea in Noord en Suid” en met Lukas 10:25-37, “rassistiese vooroordeel teenoor gekleurde buitelandse arbeiders” deur van die nuutgevormde metode van etiese prediking gebruik te maak. In hoofstuk twaalf het ons die dissertasie saamgevat en afgesluit. Ons het, betrekking tot die homiletiese landskap in Korea, vier voordele wat ons studie kan bied voorgestel. Enersyds het ons sekere tekortkominge van ons studie soos volg uitgewys: “Jesus Christus en die etiese kwessies van die Ou Testament” en “die verhouding tussen ons etiese predikingswyse en Christelike aanbidding, veral liturgie”. In hierdie hoofstuk het ons dus die bogenoemde punte as voorstelle vir toekomstige navorsing voorgestel.

L’Inquisition, en tant qu’institution d’Ancien Régime, était le commanditaire de toutes sortes de sermons intégrés aux cérémonies qu’elle organisait. Ceux-ci étaient prononcés lors des célébrations du calendrier inquisitorial, à savoir lors des autodafés, de la publication des édits de foi, d’anathème et de l’index expurgatoire. Ils étaient également prêchés lors de cérémonies de circonstance, relevant ou non du calendrier liturgique (fêtes expiatoires, de Carême, et autres). Par ce « mécénat homilétique », le Saint-Office et les tribunaux, en particulier en Espagne, menaient une politique d’affirmation statutaire et gagnaient une visibilité sociale à même de tempérer leur image répressive. Les sermons, vecteur idéologique de premier ordre, permettaient de diffuser, au sein de la communauté, une doctrine axée sur le rejet de l’altérité confessionnelle et une propagande acquise au commanditaire. / As an Old Regime institution, the Inquisition ordered all sorts of sermons wich were part of the ceremonies it organised. The latter were delivered during the inquisitorial calendar celebrations, that is during autos-da-fé, and during the publication of Edicts of Faith, anathema and Expurgatory Index. They were also preached during occasional celebrations, wether they were part of the liturgical calendar or not (expiatory celebrations, Lent …). The Holy Office and the tribunals led a statutory affirmation policy and obtained a certain social visibility through « homitic patronage », especially in Spain, in order to improve their repressive image. Sermons, wich were first hand ideological vectors, helped spread a doctrine focused around confessional alterity rejection and a patron’s acquired propaganda in the community.

Abstract My aim is to explore how interaction is constructed in sermon discourse and lesson discourse, and what interactional roles emerge. Institutional speech is information-centred, but communication never aims merely to transmit information. Rather, it is a complex linguistic relationship affected by the societal and social context. The main theories of this study stem from systemic-functional grammar and critical discourse analysis. The research questions deal with reference to person, modification of the degree of certainty, naming, asking, ordering and politeness strategies. The data consisted of ten sermons and ten lessons. The approach of constructional discourse analysis was applied, but I used methods of conversation analysis, semantics, literary research and rhetoric and dialogue. The cleric and the teacher are speakers ex cathedra. Institutional discourse involves asymmetric power relations between the participants. In the tradition of the church, the sermon remains the cleric's address. In vocational education, the teacher is free to choose his or her methods. Presentation by the teacher is still the most popular method. The cleric tries in a sermon and the teacher in classroom speech to establish contacts with their listeners by using interactional strategies. The interpersonal features used differ in quality and quantity. Based on this I distinguished interactional types of action in sermon discourse and lesson discourse. Sermon discourse was here classified into five types of interpersonal action: matter-centred, narrative, declarative and directive monologue and dialogic sermon. Lesson discourse involved four types of interpersonal action: lecture monologue, directive monologue, lecture dialogue and instructional dialogue. The cleric and the teacher act in the institutional roles of a transmitter of information, an advisor, an orderer and a sharer of experiences. Both use different politeness strategies to reduce the interpersonal asymmetry brought about by their institutional status. The tradition of the cleric's address will not have an opportunity to change unless the listener is allowed to participate. The teacher has the power to change the discourse practice in the classroom, but the individual-centred school culture seems to bind the teacher to a teacher-centred learning model. The institution speaks, the listener keeps silent. The need for change must be recognized by the community before interaction can be revived in practice. The change may also be initiated by the listeners: is it possible at all to get into heaven or to get a job by the methods of the institution? / Tiivistelmä Nopeiden sosiaalisten ja teknologisten muutosten takia yhteiskunnan perinteiset toimintatavat joutuvat kriittiseen tarkasteluun. Tässä tutkimuksessa kohteena on kirkon ja koulun vuorovaikutus. Tarkoitukseni on selvittää, miten vuorovaikutus ilmenee saarna- ja opetusdiskurssissa ja mitä vuorovaikutusrooleja syntyy. Saarna ja oppitunti kuuluvat osana kirkon ja koulun diskurssikäytäntöön. Papin ja opettajan koulutus ja työ ovat yhteiskunnan säätelemiä. Institutionaalisessa puheessa sanoma on keskeinen, mutta ihmisten välinen viestintä ei ole vain tiedon välittämistä, vaan se on monimuotoinen kielellinen yhteys, johon vaikuttaa koko laaja sosietaalinen ja sosiaalinen konteksti. Tutkimukseni pääteoriat ovat peräisin systeemis-funktionaalisesta kieliopista ja kriittisestä diskurssianalyysista. Tutkimuskysymykset käsittelevät henkilöviittauksia, lausumien varmuusasteen modifiointia, nimeämistä, kysymistä, käskemistä ja kohteliaisuuskeinoja. Aineistoni koostuu kymmenestä saarnasta ja kymmenestä ammatillisen opetuksen oppitunnista, jotka on videoitu autenttisissa tilanteissa. Tarkastelutapa on konstruktionistinen diskurssianalyysi. Lisäksi olen hyödyntänyt menetelmiä keskustelunanalyysista, semantiikasta, kirjallisuustieteestä sekä retoriikan ja dialogin tutkimuksesta. Pappi ja opettaja ovat ex cathedra -puhujia. Kirkon traditiossa saarna on säilynyt papin puheenvuorona. Ammatillisessa opetuksessa opettaja voi valita opettaja- tai opiskelijakeskeisen menetelmän. Pappi ja opettaja pyrkivät kontaktiin kuulijan kanssa erilaisilla vuorovaikutuskeinoilla. Interpersoonaisten piirteiden käyttö vaihtelee saarnassa ja opetuspuheessa laadultaan ja määrältään. Tämän perusteella erotan saarna- ja opetusdiskurssista vuorovaikutuksellisia toimintatyyppejä. Tyypittelyn tarkoitus on havainnollistaa puhujan ja kuulijan vuorovaikutussuhdetta sekä osoittaa, että erilainen toimintatyyppi rakentaa erilaisia vuorovaikutusrooleja. Saarnadiskurssissa erottuu viisi toimintatyyppiä: asiakeskeinen, kertova, julistava ja kehottava monologi sekä saarnadialogi. Opetusdiskurssissa toimintatyyppejä on neljä: luentomonologi, ohjaileva monologi, luentodialogi ja opetusdialogi. Papin ja opettajan vuorovaikutusrooleja ovat muun muassa tiedon välittäjä, neuvon antaja, ohjailija ja kokemusten jakaja. Kuulijan vuorovaikutusrooleja ovat tiedon vastaanottaja, neuvon saaja, ohjeiden toteuttaja ja kokemukseen samastuja. Vuorovaikutus on saarnassa ja opetuspuheessa epäsymmetristä, minkä vuoksi pappi ja opettaja pyrkivät vähentämään institutionaalisen statuksen tuomaa vuorovaikutuksellista epätasapainoa erilaisilla kohteliaisuuskeinoilla. Saarnatraditio papin puheenvuorona ei tarjoa suurta mahdollisuutta vuorovaikutuskäytännön muutokseen, ellei toinen osapuoli saa osallistua. Opettaja voisi muuttaa luokkahuoneen diskurssikäytäntöä valitsemalla opiskelijakeskeisiä työtapoja, mutta yksilökeskeinen opettajakulttuuri näyttää sitovan opettajan omana kouluaikana opittuun malliin. Instituutio puhuu, kuulija vaikenee. Muutoksen tarpeen pitää lähteä yhteisöstä, jotta uudistuminen voisi toteutua. Diskurssikäytännön muuttamiseen voidaan joutua myös toisen osapuolen johtopäätöksistä: onko taivaspaikka tai työpaikka lainkaan instituution keinoilla saavutettavissa?

Prediking is 'n dialoog. Dit dompel die preek in 'n direkte krisis. Wat kan die prediker doen om hierdie dialoog te bevorder? Die deelnemers in die erediens word kortliks bespreek. God spreek met die prediker deur die teks. Die prediker moet hierdie teks aan die hoorder in die erediens oordra. Om die oorspronklike teks te verstaan het daar drie hoofstrome in die tradisionele hermeneuse ontstaan: Krities-histories, Tekskrities en Hoorders hermeneutiek. Die probleem is egter nie opgelos nie. Hoe kan die prediker die boodskap effektief aan die hoorder oordra? Daar word voorgestel dat die kreatiewe proses gebruik word in die voorbereiding van die preek. Die breinkaart kan gebruik word om die teks en hoorder van die teks, beter te verstaan. Hulpmiddelle moet gebruik word om die teks aan die hoorder oor te dra. Hier word die gebruik van literatuur en drama bestudeer. / Preaching is a dialogue. This states the current problem of preaching. How can the preacher improve this dialogue in the sermon? The participants in the sermon are shortly discussed: The preacher listens to the text. God speaks through the text. The preacher must communicate this text to the listener in the sermon. Three major streams have evolved in the tradisional hermeneutics: Critical-historical, Textual and Listeners hermeneutics. There is however, still a problem. How does the preacher present this message effectivly to the listener? It is suggested that the creative process must be considered in preparing a sermon. The mind map can be used to understand the text and listener of the text better. More aids can be used to reach the listener effectivly. In this thesis the use of literature and drama in the preparing and delivering of the sermon will be studied. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical theology)

The International Journal of Homiletics will publish scholarly, peer-reviewed articles from homileticians around the world and will work on the establishment of an interactive component to stimulate ongoing dialogue among homileticians from different national and cultural contexts. At the same time, our journal is – as stated – not only international, but also ecumenical and even inter-religious. This is reflected in the composition of the editorial board, which consists of Christian and Jewish homileticians from five continents. The journal is co-edited by Marlene Ringgaard Lorensen (Professor of Practical Theology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark) and Alexander Deeg (Professor of Practical Theology, University of Leipzig, Germany) with the help of Ferenc Herzig (Wiss. Assistant, Leipzig University), our managing editor.

For our first two issues we chose the theme Preaching in times of transition, and we asked homiletical scholars from different parts of the world to write an article related to this theme and to their specific contexts. We as the editors were happily surprised by the different approaches of our authors: Júlio Cézar Adam presents critical challenges in the current societal and ecclesial situation in Latin America, connecting homiletical reflections with basic Latin American theological insights, especially liberation theology. Instead of importing homiletical models and methods from the ‘North,’ Adam seeks to develop an “incarnational and incultured” theology and homiletics. Johan Cilliers looks back to the great transition in South African history in the late 20th century and reflects on homiletics and hermeneutics in late apartheid times (1987), as well as in the year in which the first democratic elections took place (1994). He presents and analyzes a sermon by Desmond Tutu, showing how preaching can help people enter a new situation without denying the painful past or present-day problems. Addressing one of the most significant transitions in Europe today, Marlene Ringgaard Lorensen presents the results of an empirical study of a significant Christian congregation in Copenhagen that is composed of both refugees from the Middle East and ethnic Danes. Through the use of Søren Kierkegaard’s category of repetition she describes preaching as a genre of both authentic repetition and significant interruption. She broadens the perspective by also stressing the importance of music and liturgy. Michael Marmur, Jewish scholar, teacher, and preacher from Jerusalem, shares insights into Jewish preaching in Reformed contexts today by presenting and analyzing one of his own sermons. Through his analysis he develops the notion of the sermon as a “sanctification of time”. Marmur’s essay connects directly to Donyelle McCray’s article, which concentrates on the spirituality of time and its importance for the sermon’s ecclesiology, pneumatology, and performance. In every issue of our journal we intend to present a homiletical squib – a short and sharp text presenting one idea or insight that is of special importance for the author. Charles Campbell is convinced that “God is not afraid of new things” – and thus preachers should not be afraid of standing with their congregations in the perpetual liminal and transitional movement from the old age to the new creation. Our first issue shows that preaching in times of transition is a theme for homileticians in different contexts all over the world and a fruitful starting point for our discussions. Our second issue will continue this theme and present more voices from other homiletical contexts.

The purpose of this article is to reflect on homiletics and Christian preaching in the context of Latin America, in the current times of transition. In order to provide a better understanding of the approach, initially aspects of the Latin American religious and cultural context will be analyzed. Then there will be considerations on aspects of the development of Christian preaching, creating a space to think about the relationship between Christian preaching and theologies that are relevant to the context, such as liberation theology. Finally a few challenges to Christian preaching in times of transition will be pointed out. Due to the delimitation of the article, it will focus on the homiletic development of the historical Protestant churches on the continent, above all in the Brazilian context.