The phenomenon of the decline in numbers in traditionally Afrikaans “sister churches” - in the midst of the complex South African society of the first decade of the 21st century - was researched in the light of the command that Jesus himself gave to his church (Math 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8). The Great Commission directed the aim of the research to evaluate this phenomenon hermeneutically and empirically in order to develop a reformed strategy in a practical theological way. The grounding of the investigation was the communicative action theory, which simultaneously integrates with a basic theoretical model developed from a combination of basic theoretical models as suggested by Dingemans, Heitink en Zerfass. To reinforce the exegetical/hermeneutical perspective of the basic theory, a historical study was conducted regarding the growth and decline of power basises since the Jesus movement until now. The interaction between perspectives was subsequently extended by metatheoretical perspectives, based on the research regarding the influence of schools of thought, as well as the influence of circumstances in the country, which determine the “sister church” praxis of the 21st century. The traditionally Afrikaans “sister churches” as a problematic ecclesiastical community of practice was further examined as part of the empirical perspective. On this basis an attempt was made to gauge the thinking of the “sister churches” in the intricate and problematic ecclesiastical praxis. The gauging was executed by means of a random test in one of the “sister churches”, namely the Reformed Church of South Africa (GKSA). It was found that this problematic church praxis is directed by strong institutional thinking. An adjusted practice theory, as well as a supporting practical theoretical model, were formulated in order to realise a reformed strategy for church growth as opposed to the decline in numbers. Considering the above mentioned interactive perspectives, the conclusion was reached that the praxis in the “sister churches” at the beginning of the 21st century, functions in an ecclesiastically imbalanced way. The imbalance lies in the fact that Christ-centred thinking, and thus also Christ-centred ecclesiology (as balancing thinking and balancing ecclesiology), does not manifest in “sister church” thinking. The unbalanced thinking as an all-encompassing factor in the church praxis, confirms and promotes the tendency of the decline in numbers. The proposed strategic perspective as the adjusted practice theory is thus a contribution to formulating an obedient, covenant-centred and reformed answer to declining numbers. This adjusted strategy can bring about the wonder of revival and growth in the “sister churches” by means of the basic theoretical truth elements, which were pointed out in this research. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Text in Afrikaans / The URCSA's synod of Northern Transvaal consists of 128 congregations of which 48 are at present without a minister. Of the 48 congregations, 23 are small rural congregations. This does not include the numerous ward churches of large rural congregations that are in essence also small congregations. The URCSA has two historical legacies; namely, material poverty and the Presbyterian form of church governance known as the tipple office-bearers' doctrine (manus triplex) with a built-in hierarchy that affords pastors a prominent leadership role in congregations. The assumption can thus be made that each congregation should have a church council and pastor. As small rural congregations cannot afford the expense of their own minister, they therefore have to cope without one. Against this background one must understand the importance of elders in small rural congregations of the URCSA where the role of pastor is assumed and performed by elders, yet without any official training. This compels the church to probe alternative ways to become a pastor. The former DRMC and DRCA subscribed to an ecclesiastical practise whereby proven church leaders could be admitted as pastors on the grounds of their unique spiritual gifts. This practise has been accepted by the general synod of the URCSA. It is clear from this empirical study that the top leadership of the URCSA should adapt this accepted practise to accommodate the situation of the rural congregations. The possible synthesis of the apprentice, in-service-training, and tent-making models as general models for ministerial training amongst Protestants in the past, could pave the way for an adapted Pauline tent-maker model that will lead to the admittance of proven local church leaders as pastors in the URCSA's rural ward churches and small congregations. The prevailing situation of the rural church necessitates this mode of ministry as a supplementary alternative to the existing training of ministers. As it addresses a critical situation, it does not stand in opposition to the full-time ministry or the thorough theological training of especially the younger people. What does emerge from the context of the rural church, is the need for both modes of ministry. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th.

The cultural paradigm shift from modernism to postmodernism offers challenges and opportunities to the church to develop pastoral practises that address the changing needs of members of congregations. In my research I follow a contextual approach to the study of theology. I describe the context of postmodernism and how the church manages its pastoral practises in this context. The social construction discourse and narrative epistemology offer new perspectives on how appropriate pastoral practises can be established within this context. I research the possible ways in which the social construction discourse and narrative epistemology can contribute to three key areas of congregational pastoral practices, namely preaching, group work and pastoral visiting. My research highlights the important contribution that members of a congregation can make in the process of constructing narrative pastoral practises that will assist them to story their lives in the context of the Great Story of God. The fusion of the life stories of the faithful with the Great Story of God inspires them to describe their life stories in rich and more fulfilling ways. In the process of this research, I endeavoured to make audible the input of as many of those that contributed to the construction of new narratiewe pastoral practises. I have accordingly included their contribution more comprehensively than would normally be done. / Practical Theology / D.Th. (Practical Theology - specialising in Pastoral Therapy)

This study considers the ways in which congregational management contributes to maintaining the healthy church through the supporting role of supplying, monitoring and controlling the human, physical, financial, and informational resources needed to allow the pastors to lead the congregation-centred church to fulfil its mission. It was found that congregational managers help to prevent their churches declining into illhealth by helping the pastorate to retain current congregants and attract new ones through charisma. This requires them to first study, analyze and classify the major parts of the diverse congregation and surrounding community and then monitor them to foresee and forestall problems. They play multiple roles in efficient administration, asset management, targeted church adverting, human relations, risk management, project management, professional standards auditing and maintenance, community relations with all faiths, charity, mission, and, above all, customer relations. Recommendations are made for enhancing congregational management’s role in the healthy church. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of Theatre, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-87).

William Jay (1769-1853) was an Independent minister of the Argyle Chapel in Bath for sixty-two years. His career bridged the time between the Evangelical Revival of the eighteenth century and the formal Congregational denominationalism of the nineteenth century. Jay’s autobiography is used among historians for its first-hand accounts of other notable evangelical figures such as William Wilberforce (1759-1833), Hannah More (1745-1833) and John Newton (1725-1807). Too often his own influence has been overlooked, but at the time he was regarded as one of the foremost Dissenting preachers of his era. His ministry within a fashionable spa city increased the respectability of evangelical religion among the growing middle classes in Bath. This thesis examines the evangelicalism of William Jay in the context of his times. The scope of Jay’s life and popularity will be examined in six chapters. Following the introduction, chapter two will examine his direct impact through the Argyle Chapel upon Bath. Chapter three will review the early life of William Jay that was much neglected by his biographers. It will demonstrate the formation of his evangelicalism first introduced to him by Joanna Turner (1732-1784) and instilled in his training by Cornelius Winter (1742-1807). The social composition of the Argyle Chapel will be evaluated in the fourth chapter. Those that Jay attracted to the chapel not only promoted his cause to advance the gospel, but also increased the prestige of the minister and his place of worship. In chapter five, Jay’s preaching, which attracted celebrity and commoner alike, will be analyzed for form, style, content, delivery and the receptivity of his audience. Likewise, the spirituality of the man, which will be reviewed in chapter six, induced similar qualities to stimulate evangelical religion. Finally, the polity and ecclesiology of William Jay will be examined in the seventh chapter. The Argyle Chapel was under strong pastoral guidance for the vast majority of the minister’s service until Jay lost that influence shortly before his retirement in 1852. The biography will conclude with an appraisal of R.W. Dale’s (1829-1895) categorization of Jay and his chapel as representative of older evangelical religion and criticism of the early participants of the revival found in Dale’s sermon The Old Evangelicalism and the New (1889). William Jay promoted a religious perspective that exhorted the individual to dwell on the self yet sought to do so through a united Christian movement that crossed denominational barriers.

The cultural paradigm shift from modernism to postmodernism offers challenges and opportunities to the church to develop pastoral practises that address the changing needs of members of congregations. In my research I follow a contextual approach to the study of theology. I describe the context of postmodernism and how the church manages its pastoral practises in this context. The social construction discourse and narrative epistemology offer new perspectives on how appropriate pastoral practises can be established within this context. I research the possible ways in which the social construction discourse and narrative epistemology can contribute to three key areas of congregational pastoral practices, namely preaching, group work and pastoral visiting. My research highlights the important contribution that members of a congregation can make in the process of constructing narrative pastoral practises that will assist them to story their lives in the context of the Great Story of God. The fusion of the life stories of the faithful with the Great Story of God inspires them to describe their life stories in rich and more fulfilling ways. In the process of this research, I endeavoured to make audible the input of as many of those that contributed to the construction of new narratiewe pastoral practises. I have accordingly included their contribution more comprehensively than would normally be done. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Practical Theology - specialising in Pastoral Therapy)

This study considers the ways in which congregational management contributes to maintaining the healthy church through the supporting role of supplying, monitoring and controlling the human, physical, financial, and informational resources needed to allow the pastors to lead the congregation-centred church to fulfil its mission. It was found that congregational managers help to prevent their churches declining into illhealth by helping the pastorate to retain current congregants and attract new ones through charisma. This requires them to first study, analyze and classify the major parts of the diverse congregation and surrounding community and then monitor them to foresee and forestall problems. They play multiple roles in efficient administration, asset management, targeted church adverting, human relations, risk management, project management, professional standards auditing and maintenance, community relations with all faiths, charity, mission, and, above all, customer relations. Recommendations are made for enhancing congregational management’s role in the healthy church. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Summary in German and English / Zusammenfassung Im schleichenden Rückgang gemeindlichen Lebens wird eine anhaltende Inkulturationskrise sichtbar. Der gegenwärtigen Kirche in ihrer milieuverengenden Präsenz gelingt es nicht, in die vielfältigen sozialen Räume der Bundesrepublik vorzudringen. Die vorliegende Arbeit ist ein Diskussionsbeitrag zur gemeinsamen Suche nach einer zukünftigen Sozialgestalt der Kirche in unserer postmodernen Umgebung. Ausgehend von der zentralen Bedeutung des Gottesdienstes als Mitte der Gemeinde, wird zunächst dargelegt, dass eine zukünftige Kirchenentwicklung nur vom Gottesdienst her geschehen kann. Dies gilt vornehmlich dann, wenn er als Aufbau von Gemeinde der Brüder und Schwestern positioniert wird und nicht als Programmm oder Veranstaltung. Der seit Anfang der 1990iger Jahre wahrnehmbare Zweitgottesdienstboom könnte ein missionarisch- strategischer Ansatzpunkt sein, um die soziologisch ausdifferenzierte Bevölkerung zu erreichen. Plurale Gottesdienstkonzepte als Gemeindepflanzungsansätze werden zu Drehund Angelpunkten einer zukünftigen, notwendigerweise multioptionalen, kulturrelevanten Sozialgestalt von Kirche. In einer Kirche mit vielfältigen Gottesdienstkonzepten wird auch die Frage nach der christlichen Einheit neu gestellt und als plurale Ausdrucksform diskutiert. Summary English The gradual deterioration of congregational life is unveiling an ongoing inculturation crisis. With its milieu constricting presence, the church is currently not able to enter into the multifaceted social environments in Germany. This paper represents a contribution to the discussion concerning our joint search of the church's future social form in our post-modern society. Departing from the major significance of the church service as the centre of the congregation, it is argued that future development of the church can only take place from within the church service. This is especially true if it is intended as congregational development by the brothers and sisters, and not as programme or event. The boom of second church services we have been observing since the beginning of the 1990s could become a missionary-strategic starting point in order to reach a sociologically diversified population. Plural church service concepts as a basic approach to church planting become the linchpin of a future, necessarily multioptional and culturally relevant social form of church. In a church with manifold church service concepts, the question of Christian unity is being asked anew and discussed as a plural form of expression. / Christian Spirituality Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Baptists regard ecclesiology as the field where they provide a unique contribution to Christian theology and practice. Yet, the Baptist Principles that summarize the distinctive beliefs of Baptists have not much to say about the position and role of the Baptist pastor. Instead, they emphasize the equality of all church members and their individual rights to participate and decide in church matters. This thesis investigates the theology of ministry from contemporary Baptist sources in South African and German contexts. The author takes from his own experience of ministry in both countries, but researches literature also from a wider range of backgrounds. The first part provides a discussion of Baptist ecclesiology with a view to the topic of ministry. The Baptist Principles are scrutinized with specific focus on the Principles of the priesthood of all believers and of congregational church government. They allow for a variety of interpretations, but on the whole limit the position of the pastor rather than positively describing it. The same is true for the German Baptists' creedal document Rechenschaft vom Glauben. The author of this thesis sees his particular contribution to the topic in providing a positive characterization of the Baptist pastor. He does so in the second part where he presents four pairs of marks of the pastor. "Called and Gifted" describes the divine origin of ministry. Both marks are not exclusive to pastors, but also have a general meaning that includes all church members. "Ordained and Trained" is summarized as a secondary category, which shows the human institutions and prerequisites for ministry. "Leader and Servant" is a seeming contradiction in terms, but has become idiomatic as a combined term to describe the Christian way of leadership, as proclaimed by Jesus. "Preacher and Shepherd" are both synonyms for the pastor. They emphasize different aspects of ministry, but can also be interpreted as contrasting in focus. In his conclusion, the author relates the marks of the pastor to the Baptist Principles. From there, he formulates challenges for the understanding of pastors in Baptist churches in Germany and in South Africa. / Systematic Theology / D. Th.(Systematic Theology)