Text in German with summaries in German and English / In der Auseinandersetzung um Mission in einer zunehmend nach-christlichen Zeit und die Rolle der Kirche darin findet das Konzept der Jüngerschaft vermehrt Beachtung. Dieses wachsende Interesse an Jüngerschaft entspringt der Überzeugung, dass Mission die Angelegenheit aller Gläubigen ist und diese deshalb dazu befähigt werden sollen. In der näheren Betrachtung dieser Diskussion fällt gleichzeitig auf, dass die Konturen dieses Konzeptes oftmals unscharf sind und es in seiner Verwendung unterschiedliche Akzentsetzungen erfährt. Diese Studie will einen Beitrag zur Klärung und Konkretisierung des Jüngerschaftsbegriffs leisten und damit Jüngerschaft als eine Befähigung zur Mission weiter fruchtbar machen. Dazu wurde sowohl missionstheologische als auch biblisch theologische Literatur untersucht, um den Zusammenhang von Jüngerschaft und Mission zu begründen und zu einer inhaltlichen Konkretion von Jüngerschaft zu gelangen. Mit den Ergebnissen wurden dann Konsequenzen für das Missionsverständnis und die missionale Befähigung formuliert, und 3DM wurde als Beispiel eines praktischen Ansatzes einer solchen Befähigung ins Gespräch gebracht. / In the discussion about mission in an increasingly post-Christendom era and the role of the church in it, the concept of discipleship is receiving increased attention. This growing interest stems from the belief that mission is the concern of all believers and that they must therefore be empowered for it. A closer look at this discussion shows that the contours of this concept are often fuzzy and used in different emphasis. This study wants to make a contribution to the clarification and concretization of the concept of discipleship and to make it further fruitful as an empowerment for mission. For this purpose, both missiological and biblical-theological literature was examined in order to establish the connection between discipleship and mission and to arrive at a clarification and concretization of the concept of discipleship. The results were then used to formulate consequences for the understanding of mission and missional empowerment and were discussed with 3DM as an example of a practical approach to such an empowerment. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Systematic Theology / M. Th (Systematic Theology)

This study examined the role of the Anglican Church in the prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, using a random sample of 51 members of the Zoutpansberg parish. The study found that the Church currently contributes to the prevention of the spread of HIV among its congregation through HIV-related activities to reduce stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). At the same time, however, much still needs to be done in the areas of cultural perception, sexual practices, and myths surrounding HIV and AIDS. Most of the respondents indicated that they would like to see the Church play an active role in voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), marital counselling, and encouraging openness with regard to HIV and AIDS. It is recommended that the Church should extend its activities to include members of the community outside the congregation in the prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans. / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Die mensdom beleef 'n grootskaalse ekologiese krisis vanwee die mens se vermoe om die skepping totaal te vernietig. Gevolglik is die ekologiese krisis ook 'n menslike krisis. Gesien vanuit 'n holistiese oogpunt, kan die oorsaak van die krisis aan die deur gele word van die sogenaamde meganiese-wereldbeskouing. Om dit te verander vra vir 'n radikale verandering in die evaluering van die Heilige Gees se werkinge in die skepping en herskepping. Die skepping is die werk van die Drie-eenheid: God die Vader skep deur die Seun in die krag van die Heilige Gees. Die gedagte van Geesverwaarlosing het aanleiding gegee tot die WRK se tema in Canberra: "Kom Heilige Gees- Vernuwe die Ganse Skepping!" Verandering en venuwing vind alleenlik plaas deur die Heilige Gees wat as agent optree in die proses van herskepping. Deur die Heilige Gees is God immanent in die kosmos. Nie alleen die mens nie, maar ook die res van die skepping word vernuwe en herskep. Dit is God se plan om Sy koningkryk tot die hele kosmos uit te brei. Die mensdom, bekragtig deur die Heilige Gees, moet hul taak as bouers en medewerkers tot opsigte van herskepping met erns opneem. Die doel van hierdie verhandeling is om die allesomvattende rol en werkinge van die Heilige Gees in beide christene sowel as nie-christene, wat in die krag van die Gees van God die skepping onderhou, te bepaal en te omskryf. / Mankind experiences an ecological crisis that is unprecedented because human beings now have it in their power to destroy the creation. Therefore the ecological crisis is also an anthropological crisis. Seen from a holistic perspective, this crisis, caused by the so-called mechanical worldview, calls for a radical change in viewing the work of the Holy Spirit in creation and re-creation. Creation must be seen as a Trinitarian process: the Father creates through the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was the apparent absence of the Holy Spirit in God's creation that led to the WCC theme at Canberra: "Come Holy Spirit, - Renew the Whole Creation!" This change and renewal is to be brought about by the Holy Spirit, who acts as the agent in creating a "new creation". The Holy Spirit represents the personal presence of God in the cosmos, and not only recreates God's people, but nature as well. The design of our world is to be God's kingdom. Humankind, empowered by the Holy Spirit, must be builders and co-workers in a new creation. The purpose of this dissertation is to discern the workings of the Spirit in those people, Christian and non-Christian, who empowered by the Spirit, work to help sustain the creation. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th.(Systematic Theology)

This dissertation is a biography of Beyers Naude, from his birth in 1915 . until 1977, focusing attention on the period 1963 to 1977, when he was director of the Christian Institute. The study examines how Naude, whose father championed Afrikaans, became a leading minister in the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). It examines the challenges which confronted Naude over the DRC's support fqr apartheid. The dissertation documents the factors that led Naude to reject apartheid and clash with the DRC, the Broederbond and the National Party government, culminating in his banning in 1977. It assesses the contribution he made to debates on apartheid in church and political circles and explains how he increasingly supported black initiatives to end white rule. The dissertation shows that Naude's background and leadership qualities enabled him to have an impact on the church and political scene as apartheid became a burning issue at home and abroad. / History / M.A. (History)

Text in English / This dissertation has examined the University Christian Movement (UCM) over its turbulent five year history from 1967 to 1972 in terms of the original hopes of the sponsoring ecumenical denominations. Contextual factors within the socio-political arena of South Africa as well as broader youth cultural influences are shown to have had a decisive influence. These factors help to explain the negative reaction from the founding churches. While this is not a thesis on Black Consciousness, nevertheless the contribution of the UCM to the rise of Black Consciousness and Black Theology is evaluated. UCM is shown to be a movement well ahead of its time as a forerunner in South Africa of Black Theology, contextual theology, feminism, modem liturgical styles, and intercommunion. As such it was held in suspicion. It suffered repressive action from the government and alienation from the churches. Constant cross referencing to other organisations such as the World Student Christian Federation, the National Union of South African Students, the South African Council of Churches, the Christian Institute, and the Sllldents Christian Association, helps to locate the UCM within the flow of contemporary history. The concluding evaluation differs markedly from the report of the Schlebusch Commission by making both critical and positive judgement from the perspective of the UCM as an ecumenical mission to students. / Christain Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

No description available.

The contemporary debate concerning the Christian theology of religions has been profoundly shaped by Alan Race’s three-fold typology of exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism. Although the insufficiency of this typology’s descriptive and critical capacity has become increasingly acknowledged within the field, widespread agreement about its replacement remains elusive. This thesis argues that a replacement can be found in Hans Frei’s five-fold typology of Christian theology, which differentiates between a range of approaches to theology, from theology as philosophical discourse (Type 1) to theology as quarantined, Christian self-description (Type 5). It is suggested that the more basic question posed by Frei’s typology of how Christian theology is understood in relation to philosophy and other external discourses, provides a better means of accounting for the different positions in the Christian theology of religions within 20th century ecumenical movements. It is shown how Frei’s typology emerges from his emphasis on both the limitations and the significance of external discourses for Christian theology, an emphasis which results from his construal of the mystery of Christ’s universal presence as a function of the particular incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth. Chapter one considers the philosophical foundations upon which Race’s typology is constructed, with particular emphasis on Troeltsch’s historicism, Hick’s epistemology of religious experience and WC Smith’s phenomenological hermeneutic, concluding that they determine the typology’s apologetic approach. It is shown how these commitments lead Race’s typology to differentiate between types of Christian theology primarily in relation to the philosophical viability, as Race understands it, of their Christology. Chapter two focuses first on the theology of Hans Frei and his analysis of the relationship between Christology and historicism, epistemology, and hermeneutics. It is suggested that Frei’s focus on the ordering of the relationship between Christian theology and external discourses, while undermining Race’s approach, affirms the possibility of a theologically valuable relationship between Christian theology and external discourses. Moreover, unlike Race, Frei’s emphasis on the significance of external discourses for Christian theology is derived in light of, and not in spite of, a faith in the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Chapter three looks at Frei’s fivefold typology as a better means of accounting for the differences Race posits between exclusivists, inclusivists and pluralists. It is argued that in following Frei’s typological logic and the historical, epistemological and hermeneutical considerations characteristic of a Christian theology between types three and four, an approach to the theology of religions emerges which addresses the question of the universality of divine revelation – the central concern of Race’s typology – while also showing the inadequacy of Race’s typology and its prioritisation of philosophy. This will be shown by applying Frei’s typology to 20th century ecumenical movements and the positions on the theological significance of non-Christian religions that have emerged therein. Though Frei did not directly take up the issue of the Christian theology of religions, chapter three will demonstrate how his typology of Christian theology is of particular importance for this discussion. For his typology highlights the central question driving the theology of religions – how the ‘internal’ discourse of Christian self-description in reference to the gospels’ history-like witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ relates to the historically contingent, public world outside the church. The conclusion will point toward a constructive proposal for a theology of evangelism and interfaith dialogue in pluralist societies of the 21st century, drawing on the ecumenical discussion viewed in relation to the theological and typological insights of Hans Frei.

No description available.

This study examined the role of the Anglican Church in the prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, using a random sample of 51 members of the Zoutpansberg parish. The study found that the Church currently contributes to the prevention of the spread of HIV among its congregation through HIV-related activities to reduce stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). At the same time, however, much still needs to be done in the areas of cultural perception, sexual practices, and myths surrounding HIV and AIDS. Most of the respondents indicated that they would like to see the Church play an active role in voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), marital counselling, and encouraging openness with regard to HIV and AIDS. It is recommended that the Church should extend its activities to include members of the community outside the congregation in the prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)