Multicultural youth ministry is increasingly becoming an important reality concerning ministering to adolescents within a Christian community. A holistic focus was used to analyse the practices concerning ministering to diverse adolescents within a local youth ministry context. The study was exploratory in nature and made use of a qualitative case study approach using semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews via Skype. The data was analysed within a descriptive-interpretive framework using content analysis. Findings mainly related to five themes that emerged during the research, namely: multicultural understanding, purposeful program, relationship centeredness, transforming spirituality, and the youth leader’s realm. The data also reflected underlining contextual ministry realities namely, authenticity, inclusiveness, intentionality and limited diversity. This research provides meaningful insight within the practical theological realm as the current South African literature regarding multicultural youth ministry is limited. Similarly, this study is focused on the theological conversation within a culturally diverse youth ministry context. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Preaching is the proclamation of God's Word. This proclamation has an aim - the listeners of the Word. There was a dynamic change in the study field of the homilectics in the sense of a shifting from an one-sided kerugmatic approach to a dialogical approach. According to this approach the preacher no longer preaches without studying the recipients of the message. This model puts the emphasis on the preacher trying his utmost to get to know the contexts of his listeners. In the case of this thesis the contexts of the youth have been studied through the empirical research. During 1991 Prof. J.A. van den Ven and Prof H.J.C. Pieterse expected that there would be new problems awaiting the church in the new dispensation. They believed that, with the change in state and politics, the religious and moral values of the youth would be under pressure. Because, from now on, our children would be in the centre of values regarding ethnically and culturally integrated schools, they decided to launch a scientific study to determine whether their expectations were justified or not. In October 1991 they became partners in a project called: "Moral and Religious Values of the Youth of South Africa". The empirical study is a longitudinal study with a first data collection in 1995/1996, a second in 2000 and a third in 2005. The first collection of data was incorporated into this thesis. When preaching to the youth it is of utmost importance to take listeners (the youth) as strating point in the exegetical work, without neglecting the Biblical text. Practically speaking it is then necessary to pay attention to the following topics: (1) For the understanding and formulating of the message of the Scripture, modern critical hermeneutics are of the greatest importance. (2) A new practical theory for preaching to the youth is essential. In such a theory the following are important: generational differentiation, visual presentations, musical identification and relationship based preaching. (3) The dialogical communication theory is also of great importance and has dialogue before, during and after the preaching in mind. (4) The researcher proposes that the communication theory of Habermas should be dealt with as a means to help dispose of any generational conflict. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

During the researcher's work with looked after children for the past four years, it became clear that adolescent placements were much more likely to break down than others. Although there is some literature about foster placement breakdowns, the researcher did not really get an answer as to the causes of adolescent placement breakdowns. This study therefore explores causal factors of adolescent placement breakdowns as seen by foster carers, adolescents and professionals. It is evident from this study that there are no easy answers. Although the adolescent, as much as any other child, craves to belong, to be listened to and be respected, it seems that it is not always possible for foster carers to put this into practice, given the challenging behaviour that adolescents often display. Recommendations are based on relevant literature and the empirical study, in the hope that it might be useful to those with an interest in this field. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / Die eng definiering van kerkmusiek staan tans in die spervuur vanwee: 1. Ingrypende wendinge binne die praktiese teologie in die afgelope paar dekades, wat pleit om 'n hernieude ondersoek binne die handelingsveld van viering (waaronder himnologie); 2. 'n Verskuiwing in wereldbeskouing weg van modernisme na postmodernisme; 3. Die geboorte van 'n totaal nuwe geslag adolessente, bekend as die 'Verlore Generasie' of 'Generasie X' . Kerkmusiek, in die engere sin, soos dit steeds grootliks verstaan word, hou nie genoegsaam met hierdie tendense rekening nie. Vandaar verloor kerkmusiek sy impak en inspraak in die leefwereld van die hedendaagse tiener. Dit veroorsaak gevolglik 'n groterwordende kloof tussen adolessente en die erediens, gemeente en kerk. In hierdie studie word gepoog om genoegsaam op bostaande tendense ag te slaan, sodat 'n breer def iniering van kerkmusiek tot stand mag kom, wat ruimte vir grater verskeidenheid en aktualiteit tot gevolg sal he, en die spanning random kerkmusiek en die tiener kan probeer ontlont. / The narrow defining of church music today experiences a critical assault on account of: 1. Drastic turns within the development of Practical theology in the past few decades, which ask for a renewed investigation within the field of himnology; 2. a Shift in worldview away from modernism to post-modernism; 3. The birth of a total new generation of adolescents, known as the 'Lost Generation' or 'Generation X' . Church music in the narrow sense, as it is still understood to a great extent, does not take these tendencys serious enough. For this reason it's impact and influence in the life of today's teenagers declines. With this study a thorough acknowledgement of these shifts is attempted, which will result in a much broader defining of church music, and in turn will bring forth a scope for more variety and actuality, so that hopefully the growing gap between teenagers and church music can be bridged. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Diac. (Jeugwerk)

Social Work / D.Phil. (Social Work)

This thesis examines the role of Melodi Ya Tshwane Christian Youth Ministry (MyT CYM) in the context of what is increasingly observable environmental crisis with a view of developing a contextual approach to ecological mission. The research does not focus primarily on the environmental crisis itself except to note that its scope incorporates not only environmental issues, but has some important implications for social justice as well. The research recognises the role that MyT CYM must play as part of their contribution towards addressing the environmental crisis. Such a role is based not on a pragmatic response to the situation, but flows from the missional nature and theology of the church. Therefore, the missional church has an obligation to address this issue, through Christian mission that takes seriously the biblical call to care and preserve the integrity of creation. Finally, this research aims to assist MyT CYM to understand the theological basis for contextual action towards developing an appropriate ecological mission. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology with Specialisation in Urban Ministry)

The master’s thesis is focused on management issues within the organization. It describes and evaluates selected management approaches to capture individual thoughts and consequently creates a comprehensive management philosophy that is applicable across a wide range of specialization. It also deals with the non-governmental non-profit sector, the introduction of a process approach and improvement through the Deming PDCA cycle.

Text in German / In dieser Forschungsarbeit wird die Führung von Mitarbeitern, die eine Burnout-Entwicklung erlebten, empirisch-theologisch untersucht, um herauszufinden, ob und welche Führungsprinzipien und -maßnahmen dazu dienen, eine Burnout-Entwicklung zu verhindern oder aufzuhalten. Als Grundlagen werden der Forschungsstand zu Burnout und burnoutpräventivem Führungsverhalten dargestellt und eine biblisch-theologische Betrachtung vorgenommen. Als Schwerpunkt wurden Führungskräfte christlicher Non-Profit-Organisationen interviewt, die dem Ring Missionarischer Jugendbewegungen angehören. Dem Forschungsansatz lagen vier Hypothesen zugrunde, die überprüft werden sollten. Das Ziel der Arbeit ist es, auf Grundlage der Ergebnisse, Führungskräfte in ihrer Personalführungsaufgabe mit dem Schwerpunkt Burnout-Prävention durch Empfehlungen zu unterstützen. Die qualitative Studie will einen Beitrag dazu leisten, dass dem Belastungszustand Burnout seitens der Führungskräfte fachlich kompetente Aufmerksamkeit zukommt und eine burnoutpräventive Führungsarbeit entwickelt wird. / This research investigates aspects of leading employees who have experienced burn-out. The aims of this theoretical and empirical research are to determine whether there are leadership styles that can prevent or stop burn-out and to establish principles to accomplish this. An overview of research to date concerning burnout and preventative measures of leaders is taken as point of departure, also reflecting biblical and theological aspects of these topics. The main research focus is on interviews with leaders from non-profit-organisations that belong to the Ring Missionarischer Jugendbewegungen (a German umbrella organisation for youth mission organisations). Four hypotheses are examined. Based on the results, the research aims to offer support to leaders who have human resource responsibilities and who wish to prevent burnout in their staff. This qualitative study also aims to create appropriate and professional awareness of the topic of burnout and its prevention by leaders and to serve as a basis for the development of a burnout-preventative leadership model. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Theological Ethics)

Text in German, summaries in German and English / In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird empirisch-theologisch der Frage nachgegangen, welche Relevanz Partizipation in der kirchlichen Praxis für beteiligte Ehrenamtliche besitzt. Dazu wurden qualitative, halb-standardisierte Interviews mit jungen Erwachsenen aus partizipativen Jugendarbeiten in Köln geführt und diese anschließend methodisch ausgewertet. Ziel war es, einen Eindruck zu gewinnen, warum sich junge Menschen partizipativen Gemeindeformen anschließen und dort mitarbeiten- und welche Rolle dabei die partizipativen Elemente tatsächlich einnehmen. Dies geschieht vor dem Hintergrund aktueller und historischer kirchlicher Praxis, vor dem die Ergebnisse betrachtet, reflektiert und nutzbar gemacht werden. / This research paper examines how important participation is for volunteers at church. The goal of this study is to gain insights into why young adults join participatory forms of church youth work and participate actively in the programs as well as to determine how important participatory elements really are to them. The study is carried out with empirical-theological methods. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with young adults in participatory clerical youth organizations in Cologne. Subsequently, these interviews were examined methodologically. Against the backdrop of current and historical ecclesiastical practice, these results were considered, reflected upon and made useable. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

In dieser Forschungsarbeit werden Lebensgemeinschaften (LGs) untersucht, die als Lebensgemeinschaft Jugendarbeit betreiben. Ziel dieser Untersuchung ist es, Chancen und Grenzen dieser LG Jugendarbeit aufzuzeigen, missionale Jugendarbeit zu sein, um sie für die klassische Jugendarbeit fruchtbar zu machen. Hierfür werden anhand des aktuellen Forschungsstands zunächst entscheidende Begrifflichkeiten je nach Fachgebiet theologisch oder pädagogisch beleuchtet. Danach werden die zu untersuchenden LGs und deren Arbeit konzeptionell vorgestellt. Anschließend erfolgt die Darstellung der Planung und Durchführung des Forschungsprozesses anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus (ETP). Dem folgend werden die Ergebnisse der auf neun qualitativen Interviews basierenden Analyse nach dem Prinzip der Grounded Theory dargestellt. Diese Ergebnisse werden anschließend mit den theologischen und pädagogischen Erkenntnissen der aktuellen Forschung zum Thema zusammengeführt, um Thesen für eine missionale Jugendarbeit zu formulieren. Diese Thesen sollen einen Beitrag zur missionalen Diskussion im besonderen Hinblick auf gesellschaftsrelevante Jugendarbeit leisten. / This research study examines Christian communities which are, as community, involved in youth ministry. It is the objective of this investigation to reveal the potential and limits of these youth ministries as they attempt to be missional, and to utilise the results to make more traditional forms of youth ministry more effective. For this purpose, essential terms will first be theologically or pedagogically analysed, depending on the subject area examined and according to the current state of research. Then, the studied communities and their ministry will be conceptually presented. Subsequently, the planning and implementation of the research process, according to the Empirical-Theological Praxis Cycle (ETP), will be described. Following this, the results of the analysis, based on nine qualitative interviews conducted according to the principles of Grounded Theory, will be portrayed. These results will then be brought together with the theological and pedagogical insights of current research on the topic, in order to produce propositions for a missional youth ministry. These propositions aims to offer a contribution to the missional debate with particular reference to socially relevant forms of youth ministry. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)