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 (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / No abstract avaliable

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is about the practical theological challenges faced by the AFM of SA Fountain of life congregation in the Winterveldt community. The Fountain of life congregation has minimal involvement in the community of Winterveldt, a community plagued by numerous life threatening plights. The congregation is in a survival mode after stagnating for a number of years and with serious challenges of declining or even facing possible extinction. This study's goal is to develop a practical theological theory, strategy and process which the AFM of SA Fountain of life congregation would be inspired to implement in order to contribute towards arresting theological, social, economical and moral degradation in the community of Winterveldt. The researcher employed a practical theological methodology and explored areas that are vital for the answering of the research problem, "What can be done in the Fountain of life congregation to maximize the participation of all members to serve the community of Winterveldt as well as the larger society?" It is hypothesized that Practical Theology will give the AFM of SA Fountain of life guidance and equip this faith community and its leaders theologically to consider their vocation, to develop a practical theological ecclesiology, a way to be the true, faithful and effective local church which is the salt and light of the world, including Winterveldt. The study explored the "world" in which Fountain of life finds itself, in terms of its contextual as well as the congregation's identity analysis. The normative aspects of being a missional church which covered the missional identity, empowerment and involvement of laity, and missional leadership were elaborated, while spiritual discernment with areas particular to Fountain of life received attention in the normative aspects of spiritual discernment. It is recommended that the identity of Fountain of life be grounded in the mission of the Trinitarian God (missio Dei of the Trinitarian God). The missionary identity and character of Fountain of life should be built and developed upon the eight dominant patterns found in a missional church. The researcher strongly encourages the Fountain of life congregation to employ the missional leadership strategies while engaging in a total involvement leadership style, which integrates high concern for getting the task completed and a high concern for good people relationship. The leadership of Fountain of life is further encouraged to use the suggested laity empowerment strategies in order to empower, develop, and involve the laity. Missional transformation can only succeed if the laity is empowered and committed to deal with new realities. Leadership is key in engaging the laity. The pastor and the leadership of Fountain of life must teach, educate, lead, and engage the congregation, and also partner with other communities of faith and organizations especially the South African Partnership for Missional Churches (SAPMC) to succeed. Fountain of life should practice missional praxis theology, a holistic theological model that describes the methodology for congregations to develop their own contextual ecclesiology within the parameters of God‘s overall design for the Church. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing handel oor die prakties-teologiese uitdagings van die Apostoliese Geloofsending (AGS) in Suid-Afrika se Fountain of life gemeente in Winterveldt (Tswane metropolitaanse area). Fountain of life het minimale invloed in die Winterveldt gemeenskap, 'n gemeenskap wat gebuk gaan onder baie ernstige sosiale probleme. Die gemeente is net besig om te oorleef, dit is stagnant en staar agteruitgang of algehele ondergang in die gesig. Die studie poog om teorie, strategie en ʼn proses te ontwikkel wat die Fountain of life gemeente in staat sal stel om ʼn bydrae te lewer om die algehele agteruitgang op teologiese, sosiale, ekonomiese en morele gebied, aan bande te lê en selfs om te keer. Die navorser gebruik ʼn prakties-teologiese benadering ter beantwoording van die navorsingsvraag: "Hoe kan die Fountain of life gemeente deelname van lidmate maksimaal benut sodat hulle Winterveldt en die groter gemeenskap kan bedien?" As die Fountain of life AGS gemeente die prakties-teologiese uitdagings wat die gemeenskap in die gesig staar, kan ondersoek en verstaan asook maniere vind om dit aan te spreek kan hulle die lot en swaarkry van die gemeenskap se mense help verlig. Die navorsing ondersoek die gemeente se bestaanswêreld, haar meer onmiddellike konteks asook haar identiteit. Wat is die normatiewe basis van ʼn missionale gemeente? Wat is die implikasies daarvan vir missionale identiteit? Hoe word lidmate bemagtig en hoe raak hulle betrokke? Wat behels missionale leierskap? Verder word baie klem geplaas op die normatiewe beginsels van geestelike onderskeidingsvermoë en wat dit in die praktyk vir die gemeente beteken. Die studie stel voor dat Fountain of life haar identiteit in die sending van die drie-enige God (missio Dei) leer vind. Die agt kenmerke van ʼn missionale gemeente behoort die identiteit van die gemeente te bepaal. Die navorser voel sterk dat die gemeente missionale leierskap strategieë moet implementeer. Dit behels volle oorgawe aan die taak sowel as ʼn volledige betrokkenheid by mense. Die gemeente se leierskap word aangemoedig om lidmate te bemagtig, te help om geestelik te ontwikkel en om in die kerk en gemeenskap betrokke te raak. Missionale transformasie kan alleen slaag as lidmate betrokke is, bemagtig is en bereid is om nuwe werklikhede te hanteer. Leierskap moet hiertoe verbind wees. Die plaaslike pastoor en die gemeente se leierskap moet lidmate toerus, voorgaan en betrokke kry. Hulle moet ook met ander geloofsgebaseerde organisasies netwerk, in die besonder die Suid-Afrikaanse Genootskap van Gestuurde Gemeentes. Fountain of life gemeente word opgeroep om missionaal en holisties teologie op ʼn praxis styl te beoefen sodat die gemeente ʼn eie kontekstuele ekklesiologie binne die koninkryk se parameters van die missio Dei kan ontdek.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is about the missional challenge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic to the leadership of the Kwazakhele congregation in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This undertaking should be dealt with from the premise of a practical theological point of view. In this context, the HIV/AIDS pandemic aggravates the plight of those in the community with the least resources, i.e. orphans and the destitute. Very limited resources, for example financial, psychological and spiritual, are available to them. This has severely impacted on the lives of South Africans across the country. And, this impact of HIV/AIDS is being felt at all levels of the society with its ever-increasing cases of infections, deaths, rejections, stigmatization, number of orphans and households headed by children. This social reality poses a burden on ministerial health budgets, thus a dilemma for health resources. Through her leadership, the Church, as an instrument and field for the Triune God‟s missional praxis, is called to respond and act upon this plight. In that sense, a clear understanding of the missional Church is central in this theological and practical undertaking. The Kwazakhele leadership's empowerment will enable them to lead the congregation in a faithful response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic while taking cognizance of appropriate theological reflections that relate to the Triune God's salvific work. In essence, the researcher intends to investigate how the congregation of the Kwazakhele Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa (URCSA) can combat and deal with HIV/AIDS in a compassionate Christian manner while taking cognizance of biblical imperatives. In that respect, the researcher has been engaged with interviews of families in the Kwazakhele congregation, members of whom had died of AIDS. The objective was to shed light on their experiences and to determine whether the Church is doing enough to support their members regarding this pandemic. Furthermore, this research also challenges the Kwazakhele congregation, in particular, whether she fulfills her calling, that is, crosses the boundaries to take care of the plight that the community faces regarding HIV/AIDS. In actual fact, the discernment of God's will is possible by a critical and sensitive leadership who should determine whether the congregation whom they serve is competent enough to deal with this HIV/AIDS pandemic, or not. This, indeed, challenges their Christian consciences. The researcher believes that the information and the resource material, as well as the institution to which he referred, will be of assistance to the Christian leadership of the Kwazakhele congregation and also the entire URCSA congregation at large. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fokus van hierdie studie is die missionêre uitdaging van die MIV/VIGS pandemie aan die leierskap van die Kwazakhele gemeente in Port Elizabeth. Die studie word onderneem vanuit die gesigspunt van die Praktiese Teologie. Binne hierdie konteks, vererger die MIV/VIGS pandemie die lot van diegene in die gemeenskap met die minste bronne, naamlik die weeskinders en hulpbehoewendes. Baie min bronne (sielkundig, finansieel en spiritueel) is beskikbaar vir hulle. Die impak op die lewens van Suid-Afrikaners landswyd is drasties. Daar is toenemende sterftes, verwerping, stigmatisering en weeskinders, asook kinders aan die hoof van huishoudings. Hierdie maatskaplike werklikheid plaas groot druk op die nasionale gesondheidsbegroting. Die kerk, as instrument en lokus vir die missionêre praksis van die drieënige God, is geroepe om op te tree en hierdie haglike toedrag van sake aan te spreek deur haar leiers. 'n Duidelike verstaan van wat 'n missionêre kerk is, staan sentraal in hierdie teologiese en praktiese onderneming. Bemagtiging van die leierskap in die Kwazakhele gemeente sal hulle in staat stel om die gemeente te lei om getrou te wees aan hulle roeping om die MIV/VIGS pandemie aan te spreek. Terselfdertyd moet hulle ook bewus wees van toepaslike teologiese nadenke oor die drieënige God se ingrype om Sy reddened genade te laat realiseer. Die navorser poog dus om te ondersoek hoe die Kwazakhele Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk (VGK) die MIV/VIGS pandemie kan teëwerk en daarmee op 'n barmhartige Christelike wyse kan handel, en voortdurend bewus wees van Bybelse imperatiewe in hierdie verband. Die navorser het ook onderhoude gevoer met familielede van persone wat as gevolg van VIGS gesterf het ten einde, aan die hand van hulle ondervindinge, vas te stel of die Kerk genoeg doen om lidmate te ondersteun ten tyde van hierdie pandemie. Hierdie navorsing is ook 'n uitdaging aan die Kwazakhele gemeente om te bepaal of sy haar roeping vervul, grense oorsteek, en omgee vir 'n gemeenskap in nood. Onderskeiding van God se wil is moontlik deur kritiese en sensitiewe leierskap wat moet bepaal of die gemeente, waarin hulle dien, in staat is om genoegsaam aandag aan die MIV/VIGS pandemie te skenk. Hierdie oefening daag hul Christelike gewete uit. Die navorser is van mening dat die inligting en navorsingsmateriaal, asook die instelling waarna verwys word, die Christelike leierskap van die Kwazakhele gemeente, sowel as hele VGKSA, van hulp kan wees.

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)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The United Nations (UN) declared the period 1983 to 1992 the “Decade of Disabled Persons”, and introduced the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Rules demonstrate a strong commitment to upholding human rights and provide guidance for policy formulation to improve the lives of persons with disabilities through their equal participation and maximizing their welfare. There is no consensus on a definition and measurement of disability (Altman, 2001; Mitra 2005:7). The study used the medical, social, and theological models to explore the theoretical, conceptual and theological meaning of living with disabilities; examine the respondents’ perceptions of the church’s influence on their spirituality and daily lives; describe the respondents’ socio-economic conditions with particular attention to civic participation, discrimination, employment, education and health, and make recommendations, based on the findings, to inform policy on people with disabilities in South Africa. The researcher adopted a qualitative and quantitative approach in the study. The population consisted of parents or caregivers to minor and adult children with varying degrees of disabilities, adults with physical disabilities, and family members with disabled persons. Data was collected by means of informal and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. The main barriers to participation were that the respondents did not feel well enough to participate owing to their disabilities; lack of money; lack of confidence, and the attitudes of others either in the community, at work or at service points. Choice and control in the respondents’ lives was established to be an important aspect of wellbeing and life satisfaction. The respondents who felt they had a choice were satisfied with the services they received. The respondents with mental health conditions reported the least positive experiences and outcomes. Many of the barriers they reported related to their lack of confidence and the attitudes of others in their communities. The study was limited to a relatively small sample of respondents in the greater Cape Town area in the Western Cape, comprising only Evangelical Christians. Consequently, the findings cannot be generalised to all areas of the country and all the Christian churches. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Geen opsomming"

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research is a response to the question: what is the relationship or link between the URCSA Saron‟s identity and leadership challenges that it faces. Furthermore, the research aims to identify both the identity as well as the challenges that the local leadership faces. Currently the minister is central to everything, while the church leadership is not really taking independent co-responsibility for the problems and challenges that the congregation faces. The church leadership will be making decisions, but when it comes to the physical execution of the decisions it is expected of the minister to do that. If the members‟ receival is unfavourable it is easy to blame the minister, but if the minister for any reason cannot execute the decisions simply silt up. The research try to generate answers to the following questions: why is the minister so central to everything? Why is it so hard to develop local leadership who understand their calling to take independent ownership of the gospel and the challenges of the community? In a search for answers to these questions the congregation will be analyzed as follows: profile, contextual, processes and identity. In Section A the respective analysis will be done, while Section B, Chapter 6 put the identity of the Triune God into words. The reason for this is to become thoroughly aware of the current identity of the church. Special attention is given to the prehistoric revelation of God for the Khoe-San, while the coming of Jesus Christ for the latter is a second revelation of God. In Chapter 7 the focus shifted to the relationship between the Triune God and the faith community. Chapter 8 articulates the Triune God and the Kingdom. Section 3 deals with the leadership of the URCSA Saron and put it‟s identity into words. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing is ʼn respons op die vraag: Wat is die verband tussen die VGK Saron se identiteit en die leierskapsuitdagings waarvoor dit staan? Vervolgens het die navorsing dit ten doel om beide die identiteit van die gemeente asook die uitdagings wat die plaaslike kerkleierskap in die gesig staar, te identifiseer. Huidig staan die leraar sentraal in alles, terwyl die kerkleierskap daarenteen nie eintlik onafhanklik mede-verantwoordelikheid neem vir die probleme en die uitdagings waarvoor die gemeente staan nie. Die kerkleierskap sal wel besluite neem, maar wanneer dit kom by die fisiese uitvoer van die besluite word verwag dat die leraar dit moet doen. Indien die besluite wel deur die toedoen van die leraar ten uitvoer gebring word en ongunstig by die lidmate ontvang word, is dit maklik om die blaam na die leraar te projekteer. Indien die leraar om welke rede nie die besluite ten uitvoer bring nie of nie daarby kan uitkom nie, dan versand dit eenvoudig net. Hierdie navorsing probeer om antwoorde te genereer op die vrae: Waarom staan die leraar so sentraal in alles? Waarom is dit so moeilik om plaaslike leierskap te ontwikkel wat hul roeping verstaan deur onafhanklik eienaarskap te neem van die evangelie asook die uitdagings van die gemeenskap? In ʼn soeke na antwoorde op hierdie vrae, word die gemeente as volg geanaliseer: profiel, kontekstueel, prosesse en die identiteit. In Afdeling A word die onderskeie analises gedoen, terwyl Afdeling B, hoofstuk 6 die identiteit van die drie-enige God onder woorde bring. Die rede hiervoor is om eers deeglik bewus te word van wat die huidige identiteit van die gemeente is. Daar word veral ook gekyk na die oeropenbaring van God wat vir die Khoe-San as eerste openbaring gekom het, terwyl die koms van Jesus Christus vir die Khoe-San ʼn tweede openbaring van God is. In hoofstuk 7 word die fokus verskuif na die verband tussen die drie-enige God en die Geloofsgemeenskap. Hoofstuk 8 verwoord die drie-enige God en die Koninkryk. In Afdeling 3 handel dit oor die Leierskap van die VGK Saron. In hierdie hoofstuk word die identiteit van die leierskap onder woorde gebring. ʼn Slotsamevatting sluit die tesis af.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis critically analyses the appropriateness and effectiveness of the ABC model in the HIV/AIDS prevention within the context of Swaziland. According to Louw (2008:423), the ABC model stands for the following: A = Abstinence, B = Be faithful and C = use Condoms. According to Green and Herling (2007:1) the ABC model has gained the attention of many countries. The attempt of this model in HIV prevention was to “aim at empowering people through value-based programs to basically abstain from sex as long as possible, to be faithful to one intimate partner and to use condoms correctly and consistently” (De la Porte 2006:79). The assessment of the HIV/AIDS virus in 1983-1984 came as a shock. It was difficult for the church to know at that time how to respond. Some of the responses pointed to the virus as punishment of God. Gradually the church started to become involved in the pandemic. From a Christian spirituality perspective it was argued that the so called ABC model could be viewed as a means of remedy within a prevention approach. The cultural issues as well as human sexuality factors have been discovered to be an obstacle in the ABC model in playing a progressive role in Swaziland. The cultural factors that prevent the ABC model from accomplishing effective results are listed in the final report of (Whiteside et al. 2006: 18-19): bunganwa (having multiple sexual partners; a cultural practice of male married and unmarried to have many girlfriends); kungenwa (levirate or wife inheritance); a widow is given in marriage to marry the brother of her deceased husband without the consent of the women which exposes women to the HIV virus. This practice is done without the consent of the women. Kujuma (occasional overnight visits between unmarried lovers); kuhlanta (a young girl bearing the children of her infertile sister); kushenda (extramarital relationships); kulamuta (a man having a sexual relationship with a younger sister of his wife); and sitsembu (polygamy, one man with more than one wife); this is a common cultural practice found in many African countries due to gender inequality (Chitando 2009:26). This has led to Swaziland being seriously affected by the HIV/AIDS virus (Rupiya 2006:66). The high rate of infection is frightening in a small country with a population of 1 million. As Bishop M, Mabuza, the Anglican bishop indicated, the nation‟s existence is threatened. (Rosenow 2011: 32). Therefore the researcher proposed a pastoral model which gives dignity to human and adds the spiritual dimension of healing in the pastoral care and counselling. There is an urgent need for church leaders to be empowered to face the HIV/AIDS with knowledge that the pandemic is not a punishment for promiscuous people. The theology of sexuality emphasises the responsibility in every sexual engagement for people to be conscious to whatever decision they take. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie navorsing word die toepaslikheid en effektiwiteit van die ABC model in die voorkoming van MIV/Vigs binne die konteks van Swaziland krities ontleed. Volgens Louw (2008:423) staan ABC (in Engels) vir: A = Onthouding, B = Getrouheid aan een maat en C = Die gebruik van kondome. Die navorser, ‟n geordende predikant van die Evangeliese Lutherse Kerk, bespreek die erns van die voorkoms van die MIV/Vigs-infeksie in Swaziland. Empiries is bewys dat Swaziland een van die lande in Sub-Sahara en die wêreld is met die hoogste infeksiekoers (Rupiya 2006:66). Dit is ernstig in ‟n klein landjie soos Swaziland met ‟n bevolking van slegs 1 129 000. Die pandemie het ‟n impak op alle gemeenskappe in die land en bied‟n groot uitdaging vir die Kerk in Swaziland. Die vraag is hoe die Kerk, in haar pastorale bediening, die ABC model kan gebruik om die globale poging te steun om te verhoed dat MIV/Vigs versprei. Hoe kan die konsep van die ABC model toegepas word sodat die Kerk, as hulpgewende gemeenskap, kan sorg vir die siele van die gemeentelede (cura animarum) en effektief inligting omtrent die ABC model kan versprei en uitreik na MIV-positiewe mense? Die navorser stel voor dat daar verandering moet kom in die gesindheid van die Kerk en dat daar ‟n herkonseptualisasie van die voorkomingstrategie en die Skrifverklaring van menslike seksualiteit moet wees. Die Kerke in Swaziland moet hulle houding verander. Daar moet baie meer openlikheid wees sodat sosio-kulturele kwessies openlik bespreek kan word. Daar moet ‟n kritiese herbepaling wees van die tradisies en die kerkbeleid rondom menslike seksualiteit en hoe dit betrekking het op die MIV/Vigs-pandemie.

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.