Thesis (DTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 1995. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We live in an age characterised by constant and accelerating change. In the secular world the competition among businesses is so intense that change, adaptation and reorientation have become indispensable to the survival of any large organisation. Organisational management has developed into a science with professional advisors (known as consultants) who are employed on a full-time basis. The Church is an integral part of society and cannot distance itself from the latter. This calls for adaptation and reorientation within the Church as well. However, it has become increasingly evident that within the various denominational Churches no effective mechanisms exist by means of which parishes and synods can be supported in the process of transformation. Church consultants have begun to address this need. Consequently, a new discipline has emerged which employs the methods developed in the secular sciences of management and related, as well as supportive, fields of study. It is important to remember, though, that the Church is a unique kind of organisation with its own nature and identity. Any consultation which does not take this into consideration, is not reliable. For this reason, experts in the field of Practical Theology are studying the entire phenomenon of consultation from a theological point of view. In South Africa, the idea of consultation has also taken root as this kind of service has established itself spontaneously and in an unstructured manner. At present it is being done on an increasingly professional basis, and there are church members who have taken on this task as a full-time ministry. The time has, therefore, come for us to explore, describe and evaluate this issue. This study endeavours to analyse and give a critical account of consultation from a South African - and specifically the Dutch Reformed Church - standpoint. The ultimate aim is to attempt to lay down guidelines which should give theological and structural direction to the development of this kind of ministry within the Dutch Reformed Church. Consequently, this study strives to define the theological principles fundamental to consultation. It has established that the guidance of faith-communities towards change is a basic principle in Scripture. Hence, the Church is seen as an organisation, as well as an organism, and the study emphasises that consultation will have to take into account both these aspects. The development of consultational ministry is reviewed critically by tracing the history and activities of various leading consulting bodies in the U.S.A., Germany and the Netherlands. The course of the process of consultation - a dynamic and interactive process which moves through distinctive stages - has been carefully plotted. Parish involvement seems to be a basic prerequisite in this process. The critical analysis of all the available information is followed by carefully detailed guidelines for parish consultation in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tyd waarin ons lewe word gekenmerk deur versnelde verandering. In die sekulere wereld is die kompetisie tussen ondernemings so sterk dat verandering, aanpassing en herorientering deel van die bestaanswyse en agenda van groot organisasies geword het. Die organisasie wat nie hieraan aandag gee nie, verdwyn. Organisasiebestuur het 'n wetenskap geword met professionele raadgewers wat as konsultante bekend staan as 'n voltydse beroep. Die kerk kan hom nie van die samelewing waarin hy hom bevind, losmaak nie. Ook die kerk moet aanpassings maak en herorienteer in 'n veranderende wereld. Dit het algaande duidelik geword dot daar binne die kerkverband nie effektiewe meganismes bestaan wat gemeentes en groter kerkvergaderings kan help met die proses van aanpassing nie. Kerklike konsultante het algaande in hierdie behoefte begin voorsien.Dit is 'n nuwe dissipline wat met metodieke werk wat in die sekulere wereld in die bestuurswetenskappe en ander ondersteunende dissiplines ontwikkel is. Die kerk is egter 'n unieke tipe organisasie met 'n eie aard en identiteit. Konsultasie wat dit nie in ag neem nie, sal onbetroubaor wees. Daar word dus teologies en krities hieroor besin binne die vakgebied van die Praktiese Teologie. Ook in Suid-Afrika is konsultasie 'n term wat besig is om pos te vat omdat hierdie bediening algaande spontaan en ongestruktureerd sy voete begin vind het. Tans word dit op 'n al meer professionele wyse gedoen en is daar gelowiges wat dit as 'n voltydse bediening begin bedryf. Dit het tyd geword om die aangeleentheid te verken, te beskryf en standpunt daaroor in te neem. Die studie wil uit 'n Suid-Afrikaanse en, spesifiek gereformeerde gesigspunt die saak rondom konsultasie krities beskryf en analiseer. Die uiteindelike doelwit is om riglyne te probeer neerle wat teologies en struktureel rigting kan verskaf aan die ontwikkeling van die bediening binne die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. Die studie poog gevolglik om 'n greep te kry op die teologiese beginsels waaroor dit in konsultasie gaan. Dit bevind dat die begeleiding van geloofsgemeenskappe tot verandering 'n wesentlike beginsel in die Skrif is. Voorts beskryf dit die kerk vanuit die hoek van organisasie en organisme en beklemtoon dit die feit dat konsultasie met albei hierdie perspektiewe sal moet rekening hou. Die ontwikkeling van die konsultasiebediening word krities bespreek deur die geskiedenis en funksionering van verskeie van die toonaangewende konsultasie-instansies in die VSA, Duitsland en Nederland na te gaan. Die verloop van die konsultasieproses as dinamiese en interaktiewe gebeure wat deur verskillende fases beweeg, word uiteengesit. Gemeentebetrokkenheid in die konsultasieproses blyk 'n basiese uitgangspunt te wees. Na 'n kritiese analise van al die gegewens word riglyne vir 'n Suid-Afrikaanse gemeentelike konsultasiebediening uiteengesit.