Text in Afrikaans / This pastoral-narrative study pans the stories of multi disabled children's parents for story elements and account resources that lead to the development of alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability". With a postmodern epistemology and postmodern theological background this study was performed with a qualitative narrative research approach. In this study the stories of eight multi "disabled children's parents are utilized. Story elements and account resources from social structures and existence are highlighted and discussed. Examples of this are family, circle of friends, hope and parental love. The account of this study underlines the value that alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability" can add to the quality on how people experience life. It also services as prove of people's riches of inner power and resilience. / Practical Theology / M.Th.

A number of previous studies have examined lay counsellor training within a modernist paradigm. By contrast, this study collaboratively presents ways of training pastoral caregivers using a participatory approach to practical theology and pastoral care in the postmodern time in which we live. The research journey starts from the premise that postmodernity calls for the mediation of a new approach to practising theology, pastoral care and giving authority to ordinary members of the church through training in pastoral work. This work therefore describes Participatory Pastoral Care (PPC) training as a suggested way to train people of God to use participatory approaches. The research journey also explores how the PPC training constructions they participated in brought about transformations in the co-researchers' lives, relationships, caring practices and the societies in which they live. This practical theology research document introduces the participants as co-researchers and theologians. The recollections shared by the participants reveal a rich variety of stories as these participants reflect on their lives, caring practices and faith journeys. This research document is viewed through the lens of a postmodern epistemology that builds on social constructionist and poststructuralist perspectives. Thirty-three participants embarked on this feminist narrative participatory action research journey, not only to tell their stories, but also to negotiate and challenge ways of training pastoral caregivers within a participatory practical theological and pastoral approach. This research document informs the church, theological institutions and broader caregiver practices through narratives about what the participating members of various congregations find helpful in the co-construction of participatory pastoral training and what they do not find helpful. The methods used to gather the recollections of the participants were multiple reflexive conversations and the discussion of a semi-structured questionnaire. This research journey therefore offers a deeper understanding of the experience of being part of a postmodern construction of training for participatory pastoral caregivers that has the transformation of society as its theological aim. / Practical Theology / D.Th. (Practical Theology - with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

The focus of this practical theological study is the analysis of the life and worship of the Perth Asian Christian Community in the New Life City Church, where we note fast maturation of Christians with a desire to complete the Great Commission. As participant observer using the qualitative method, I was able to identify how the NLCC is wall-less by interviewing different groups within the church and two Western sample groups. To accomplish this, Chapter two analyses the Western and Asian churches’ understanding of the concepts ‘church’ and ‘church growth’. The evaluations showed a difference in understanding. This prompted an inquiry in chapter three into their understanding of the Great Commission from the Western and Asian viewpoint against the Biblical understanding thereof. The intention of NLCC groups interviewed in Chapters four to eight was to detect what they perceived as helping them mature as Christians, considering many are first-generation Christians. The groups interviewed included founder members, first-generation Christians, youth group leaders, returned NLCC missionaries and the pastor. By Chapter nine it was established that the Asian Christian understood worship in a broader context. Chapter ten summarises the interpreted data of the groups interviewed and identifies stimulants for maturation of individual Christians in a post-Christian environment. The broader understanding of worship is discussed. These guidelines form the building blocks for a practical theological theory of church growth. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Die kirchliche Verkündigung steht heute vor mannigfachen Herausforderungen. Das dynamische Beziehungsgeflecht von Prediger und Hörer, Text und Situation lässt sich nur schwer im Gleichgewicht halten. Prüft man die homiletischen Publikationen der Gegenwart und der jüngeren Vergangenheit, so wird deutlich, dass die Predigt sehr gründlich im Kontext der Hörersituation reflektiert wird. In diesem Zusammenhang ist auf einen möglichen Konflikt aufmerksam zu machen: die auf die Hörersituation bedachte Predigt kann versucht sein, den Anspruch des biblischen Textes zu vernachlässigen. Meine Dissertation will zur Frage der Hörerorientierung der Predigt einen klärenden Beitrag leisten, und zwar mithilfe eines homiletischen Vergleichs, der Epoche Johann Michaels Sailers mit der Gegenwart und jüngeren Vergangenheit. Bei aller kritischen Distanz zur geistesgeschichtlichen Bewegung der Aufklärung dürfen wir nicht übersehen, dass fruchtbare Impulse von ihr ausgegangen sind und zum Beispiel viele Anliegen der „katholischen Aufklärung“ im Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzil (1962-1965) wieder aufgegriffen wurden. Die weithin von anthropologischen Interessen geleiteten homiletischen Bemühungen während der Aufklärungsphase im 18. Jahrhundert stehen in einer erkennbaren Analogie zur gegenwärtigen Situation. In besonderer Weise wird die homiletische Konzeption des Pastoraltheologen und späteren Bischofs von Regensburg Johann Michael Sailer (1751-1832) dargestellt. Sein Entwurf einer christlichen Lebenslehre auf biblischem Fundament ist von bleibender Aktualität. Zum Vergleich, insbesondere im Blick auf die Hörererwartungen Situationsklärung, Solidarität und Zukunft, werden exemplarisch die homiletischen Entwürfe von Ernst Lange, Rudolf Bohren, Wilfried Engemann und Rolf Zerfaß herangezogen. / Preaching in the church today faces manifold challenges. The dynamic web of relationships between preacher and audience, text and situation is difficult to keep in balance. When analysing the homiletic publications of the present and recent past, it becomes apparent that the sermon is very thoroughly reflected with the context of the situation of the audience. In this connection, one has to draw attention to a possible conflict: a sermon designed with regard to the situation of the audience may be tempted to neglect the biblical text and its demands. Therefore, this thesis aims to make a clarifying contribution to the question of the audience orientation of sermons, namely by means of a homiletic comparison of the epoch of Johann Michael Sailer with the present and recent past. In spite of all critical distance to the history of thought of the Enlightenment Movement, we should not overlook the fact that fruitful impulses emanated from this time, and that, for example, many concerns of the “Catholic Enlightenment” were addressed again at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The homiletic efforts of the Enlightenment period in the 18th century, which were widely led by anthropological interests, can be recognized as analogous to the current situation. The homiletic conception of the pastoral theologian and later Bishop of Regensburg, Johann Michael Sailer (1751-1832), will be described in particular. His conception of Christian ethical teaching on a biblical foundation is of timeless relevance. As comparison, the homiletic drafts of Ernst Lange, Rudolf Bohren, Wilfried Engemann and Rolf Zerfaß will be exemplarily analysed, particularly with regard to the expectation of the audience. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Church growth missiology has been severely criticized by ecumenical, but also by evangelical missiologists. This often led to its rejection as it was considered incompatible with other missiological approaches. But church growth does deal effectively with important issues as other missiologies do. In light of Martin Luther's interpretation of the First Commandment a more general wholistic missiological approach is requested, which considers the full spectrum of human needs, and under which church growth can function with other missiologies together. The treatment of the task of missiology and the unity by attitude of the missiologist contribute to the argument. Therefore four major criticisms brought forth against church growth are dealt with in order to evaluate and finally suggest a potential theological compatibility of this approach with other missiologies. This is further confirmed by a brief introduction to important elements of the present status of church growth theory development / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / Th. M. (Missiology)

Text in Afrikaans / Geloof wat in die kategese as deel van 'n to tale geloofsvormingsproses op die tafel kom, moet holisties-ekosistemies verstaan word met die 'hic et nunc'- relevansie daarvan as 'n kwalifiserende maatstaf. Geloof so gesien, behoort in die kategesemateriaal van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk na vore te kom. Die grootste deel van die studie is gewy aan die bree teoretisering in holisties-ekosistemiese perspektief. Vanuit 'n wetenskapsteoretiese vertrekpunt is 'n eie prakties-teologiese teorie oor geloof ontwerp wat geloof enersyds sien as die dinamiese interaksie van gawe, inhoud en respons, en andersyds as 'n aantal perspektiewe daarop. Hierdie teorie het as vertrekpunt gedien om sekere van die kontekste waarbinne geloof funksioneer, te beskryf, naamlik die koninkryk van God, die samelewing, die gemeente, die kategese, die adolessent, die jeugsubkultuur en die skool. In hierdie beskrywing is 'n omvattende teorie oor die kategese daargestel wat dit holisties-ekosistemies sien. Deur middel van inhoudsanalise is fasette van die teoriee getoets aan die lesse in die handboeke van die kategete wat met die adolessente in standerd 5 tot 8 werk. Daar is bevind dat die geloofsbeeld wat na vore kom steriel kognitief-vertikaal is. Oor 'n tydperk van meer as twintig jaar is weinig samelewingsrelevante kwessies aangeraak. Die belangwekkende dokumente Ras, Volk en Nasie en Kerk en Samelewing het nie gefunksioneer nie. In terme van die teorie oor geloof fasiliteer die kategesemateriaal nie relevante geloof midde-in die wereld waarin die adolessente moet glo nie. Dit het ook geblyk dat die inhoudsanalise as werkwyse en die meetinstrument wat ontwerp is, bruikbaar was. Die studie formuleer vanuit die teoriee en die empiriese ondersoek 'n aantal perspektiewe van waaruit die kategese en die lesmateriaal daarvan die kritiese hantering van die verhouding kognitief-affektief-konatief en die gerigtheid individueel-vertikaal, horisontaal-ekklesiaal en horisontaal-sosiaal kan hanteer met die oog daarop dat die kerk sigself en die adolessente as deel daarvan, nie in 'n dogmatistiese ghetto in perk nie, maar vorm met die oog op 'n selfstandige en relevante geloofsfunksionering op die geloof stog in die woestyn van die wereld met die oog op die realisering van die Ryk van God. / Faith which is handled in catechesis as part of the total process of the formation of faith should be understood in a holistic-ecosystemic way with its 'hic et nunc' relevance as a qualifying criterion. It should also appear in this form in the material for catechesis in the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. The greater part of the study focuses on broad theorising from a holistic-ecosystemic perspective. An independent practical-theological theory on faith is developed from a scientific-theoretical basis. This theory sees faith as a dynamic interaction of gift, content and response on the one hand and a number of different perspectives on the other. It serves as the point of departure for describing some of the contexts in which faith functions, namely the kingdom of God, society, the community, catechesis, the adolescent, the youth subculture and the school. In the process a comprehensive theory about catechesis is developed which sees it holistically ecosystemically. Content analysis is used to test aspects of the theories against the lessons in the manuals for catechists working with adolescents in standards 5 to 8. The resultant image of faith is found to be cognitively-vertically sterile. Over a period of more than twenty years few socially relevant issues were touched on. The important documents Ras, Volk en Nasie and Kerk en Samelewing did not function. In terms of the theory of faith this material for catechesis does not facilitate relevant faith in the world in which the adolescent has to have faith. It is also apparent that content analysis as a method and the measuring instrument used were suitable. Using the theories and the empirical investigation the study formulates a number of perspectives from which catechesis and the lesson material can deal with the critical handling of the relationship cognitively-affectively-conatively and the directedness individually-vertically, horizontally-ecclesially and horizontally-socially so that the church does not imprison itself and its adolescent members in a dogmatistic ghetto, but shapes them so that their faith can function independently and relevantly on the way of faith through the desert of the world with a view to realise the kingdom of God. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / Th. D. (Praktiese Teologie)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing handel oor die pastorale begeleiding van 'n gemeentediensjaarspan deur 'n pastorale berader. Die studie is kwalitatief van aard en vind plaas binne die diskoers van praktiese teologie. Die pastoraal-narratiewe metodologie wat aangewend is in die begeleidingsproses, en die narratiewe mikrokaarte van onderskeidelik not-knowing, deursigtigheid, ekstemalisering, dekonstruksie, her-skrywe, rituele, die vermyding van 'n taal van tekortkoming, briewe, re-membering, metafore, die skep van 'n gehoor, vraagstelling en reflektering word bespreek. De Jongh van Arkel se onderskeidings vir die pastoraat word indringend bespreek. Besondere aandag word geskenk aan die vierde onderskeiding wat hy byvoeg, naamlik pastorale terapie. Die navorsing is gerig op almal wat betrokke is by die opleiding en begeleiding van diensjaarspanne, asook op gemeentes wat diensjaarspanne huisves. Voorstelle vir die toekomstige opleiding en begeleiding van diensjaarspanne word gemaak. / This research deals with the pastoral accompaniment (by a pastoral counsellor) of a congregational team that does a service year for Christ. The study is of a qualitative nature and takes place within the discourse of practical theology. The pastoral-narrative methodology that is used in the counselling process, and the narrative micro maps of notknowing, transparency, externalisation, deconstruction, re-authoring, rituals, the avoidance of a language of shortcoming, letters, re-membering, metaphors, the creation of an audience, questioning and reflection, are discussed. De Jongh van Arkel's distinctions for the pastorate are discussed in detail. Special attention is paid to the fourth distinction that he makes, namely pastoral therapy. The research is directed towards everyone who is involved in the training and accompaniment of teams that do a service year for Christ, as well as congregations who host teams that do a year of service. Suggestions for future training and accompaniment of such teams are made. / Theology / M. Th.

Die kirchliche Verkündigung steht heute vor mannigfachen Herausforderungen. Das dynamische Beziehungsgeflecht von Prediger und Hörer, Text und Situation lässt sich nur schwer im Gleichgewicht halten. Prüft man die homiletischen Publikationen der Gegenwart und der jüngeren Vergangenheit, so wird deutlich, dass die Predigt sehr gründlich im Kontext der Hörersituation reflektiert wird. In diesem Zusammenhang ist auf einen möglichen Konflikt aufmerksam zu machen: die auf die Hörersituation bedachte Predigt kann versucht sein, den Anspruch des biblischen Textes zu vernachlässigen. Meine Dissertation will zur Frage der Hörerorientierung der Predigt einen klärenden Beitrag leisten, und zwar mithilfe eines homiletischen Vergleichs, der Epoche Johann Michaels Sailers mit der Gegenwart und jüngeren Vergangenheit. Bei aller kritischen Distanz zur geistesgeschichtlichen Bewegung der Aufklärung dürfen wir nicht übersehen, dass fruchtbare Impulse von ihr ausgegangen sind und zum Beispiel viele Anliegen der „katholischen Aufklärung“ im Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzil (1962-1965) wieder aufgegriffen wurden. Die weithin von anthropologischen Interessen geleiteten homiletischen Bemühungen während der Aufklärungsphase im 18. Jahrhundert stehen in einer erkennbaren Analogie zur gegenwärtigen Situation. In besonderer Weise wird die homiletische Konzeption des Pastoraltheologen und späteren Bischofs von Regensburg Johann Michael Sailer (1751-1832) dargestellt. Sein Entwurf einer christlichen Lebenslehre auf biblischem Fundament ist von bleibender Aktualität. Zum Vergleich, insbesondere im Blick auf die Hörererwartungen Situationsklärung, Solidarität und Zukunft, werden exemplarisch die homiletischen Entwürfe von Ernst Lange, Rudolf Bohren, Wilfried Engemann und Rolf Zerfaß herangezogen. / Preaching in the church today faces manifold challenges. The dynamic web of relationships between preacher and audience, text and situation is difficult to keep in balance. When analysing the homiletic publications of the present and recent past, it becomes apparent that the sermon is very thoroughly reflected with the context of the situation of the audience. In this connection, one has to draw attention to a possible conflict: a sermon designed with regard to the situation of the audience may be tempted to neglect the biblical text and its demands. Therefore, this thesis aims to make a clarifying contribution to the question of the audience orientation of sermons, namely by means of a homiletic comparison of the epoch of Johann Michael Sailer with the present and recent past. In spite of all critical distance to the history of thought of the Enlightenment Movement, we should not overlook the fact that fruitful impulses emanated from this time, and that, for example, many concerns of the “Catholic Enlightenment” were addressed again at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The homiletic efforts of the Enlightenment period in the 18th century, which were widely led by anthropological interests, can be recognized as analogous to the current situation. The homiletic conception of the pastoral theologian and later Bishop of Regensburg, Johann Michael Sailer (1751-1832), will be described in particular. His conception of Christian ethical teaching on a biblical foundation is of timeless relevance. As comparison, the homiletic drafts of Ernst Lange, Rudolf Bohren, Wilfried Engemann and Rolf Zerfaß will be exemplarily analysed, particularly with regard to the expectation of the audience. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Text in German with summaries in German and English / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 179-182) / In dieser Studie geht es um das Selbstverständnis von Frauen in Leiterschaft in drei von fünf Bünden, die im August 2013 als Freikirchen in Österreich (FKÖ) rechtlich anerkannt wurden. In Leitfadeninterviews äußern sich Leiterinnen zur sogenannten Frauenfrage, ihrem Glauben und ihren Aufgaben in der Gemeinde. Die Forschung findet anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus statt, das Kodieren der Daten und die anschließende Theoriegenerierung geschieht durch die Grounded Theory. Es werden vier Leitertypen aus den erarbeiteten Daten generiert: die Befreite, die ihre Leitungsaufgaben ungehindert erfüllt, die arrivierte Kämpferin, die andere überzeugen konnte, die aktive Kämpferin, die momentan vor Herausforderungen steht und die Suchende, die nicht sicher ist, wie die biblischen Texte zur Frauenfrage heute angewendet werden sollten. Verschiedene Auslegungstraditionen zu ausgewählten Bibelstellen zur Frauenfrage werden der Praxis in Freikirchen gegenübergestellt mit dem Ziel, Horizonte zu erweitern und Gemeindepraxis zu verändern. / This study is about the self-perception of women regarding their roles in leadership in the Free Churches of Austria (FKÖ). In guided interviews woman leaders reflect on aspects of women in ministry, such as being denied the office of teaching, their function in the church and the influence of their faith. The study is done using the empirical-theological practice cycle. The coding of the data and the generating of a theory is done according to the model of Grounded Theory. In the study four types of woman leaders emerge: the liberated woman, who fulfils her duties unimpeded; the successful fighter, who convinced others; the active fighter, who struggles with complementarian practices; and the searcher, who hasn’t found the best interpretations of the biblical texts. Biblical passages and their use with regard to women in ministry are compared to practices in certain churches, so to broaden perspectives and change church praxis. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

This study was undertaken in order to investigate mentoring as a dynamic factor in leadership development. Although the subject matter is broad, - this particular study focuses on mentoring in ”Living Word Ministries” as part of leadership development. Methodology consisted of a theoretical and qualitative interviewing process. During the informal interviews, ”Living Word Ministries” was used as target group to investigate mentoring, discipleship, development time line, succession and development of leaders. In conclusion this study unanimously identified the lack of mentoring as crucial factor in ”Living Word Ministries”. Mentoring and discipleship as two related concepts in leadership development need to be incorporated into ”Living Word Ministries” and the body of Christ. Discipleship can therefore be used as a conduit for the mentor to develop leadership abilities of the prospective leader. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / (M. Ed.(Practical Theology))