The study looks at the land issue from the perspective of Missiology. It shows in what sense the land issue is an issue for mission. The pastoral cycle of Henriot and Holland is used to analyse the land issue in Zimbabwe. The analysis takes seriously the situation of the marginalized in Zimbabwe in relation to other stakeholders in the land issue. The study also looks at the ecological implications of the land issue. A comparison is drawn between South Africa and Zimbabwe as far as the land issue is concerned. A major aspect of the study is the theological question on God and land. The study concludes with a proposal on the kind of action that needs to be taken in resolving the land question. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th.(Missiology)

This dissertation explores the need for contextualization from a missiological perspective. It seeks to validate the needs for contextualization in the Epworth Community near Harare, Zimbabwe, where a number of cultures are represented. The subject of contextualisation is first explored in a general sense, i.e. relating to how it has been presented in key missiological publications and in different contexts, particularly in Africa and Zimbabwe. The dissertation explores the need for identification in intercultural communication, and also analyses the context of Epworth and the history of the Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe. A chapter on theological reflection surveys the issue of contextualisation in the Old and New Testaments. The study concludes with practical recommendations on how the issues raised in the study can be applied to a field wider than the Epworth Community. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

The intention of the empirical missiology is to systematically examine the reality of mission practice with the aid of empirical methods. To reach this aim the dissertation will attempt to combine empirical social science with missiology in a way that they positively complement one another throughout the whole process of research. This intradisciplinary procedure is new to missiology and therefore an important contribution to research. To form a basis, social as well as missiological research will be dealt with and von der Vens empirical theology examined. For the hermeneutic methodological realization of the empirical missiology an empirical-theological praxis cycle will be developed consisting of seven individual stages of research. The missiological reflection of each stage is the minor cycle. This procedure guarantees firstly a strictly methodical way of working and secondly missiological relevance that takes the context of praxis seriously and serves the mission. / Missiology / M. Th.

This thesis is an endeavour to participate in the call for the African Renaissance from a missiological perspective. The study observes how the debate about this African ‗dream‘ persists in the domain of intellectuals and political leaders. It recognises as timely the opportunity to contribute theologically to the development of the renaissance concept. It also observes that ordinary people have jumped onto the African Renaissance bandwagon albeit for reasons that are mainly sentimental. Hence a two-fold appeal to protagonists of the African Renaissance movement: firstly, to be inclusive of all stakeholders especially ordinary people who should be both participants and co-beneficiaries; secondly, to consider spirituality as an indispensable factor in birthing this African ‗dream‘. To help arrive at a well-considered argument the study discusses a brief history of Africa‘s economic, social and political development. Central to this history is how the human factor, actively or inadvertently, and the natural factors have devastated the continent thus necessitating a rebirth. The study notes how especially the political economy and issues of good governance of African states are key concerns to the protagonists of the renaissance movement. It also notes the establishment of structures and policies in addressing these concerns. These interventions are hoped to improve the continent‘s image towards its global counterparts and to lift the hopes of distraught African peoples. The prospect of their success in terms of probabilities and/or perceptions is discussed and Missiologically critiqued. An overview of these endeavours has led to the observation of a lingering chasm of the absence or the apparent sidelining of African spirituality as a necessary component of the African Renaissance discourse. As a major thrust of this thesis the spiritual notion of ‗rebirth‘ is advanced. The basis for this argument lies in the ‗rebirth‘ concept that is inherent in many religions, faith formations and philosophies akin to African spirituality. It is on this understanding that a Missiological dimension is build. In introducing this spiritual dimension towards an African Renaissance a Missiological methodology of a seven pointed praxis cycle is proposed and unpacked. In deconstructing this methodology real models are presented as examples to illustrate Missiology‘s contextual life-long learning philosophy. / Christian Spirituality Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

German text / Seit dem Fall der DDR arbeiteten Kirchen jeder Couleur daran, unter der atheistischen Bevölkerung der neuen Bundesländer Gemeinde zu bauen, aber das erhoffte Gemeindewachstum blieb aus. Trotz vieler Fortschritte ist die Kirche nach wie vor lediglich eine Nische der ostdeutschen Gesellschaft. Auch freikirchliche Bemühungen sind bisher weitgehend erfolglos geblieben (Schröder 2007:2). Die Menschen im Postsozialismus scheinen gegen das Evangelium immun zu sein. Weil aber Gemeinde Jesu dazu gesandt ist, Menschen jeder Kultur und jeden Milieus mit dem Evangelium zu erreichen, muss sich Missiologie darüber Gedanken machen, wie Gemeinde dieser Sendung auch in Ostdeutschland gerecht wird. Wie kann es gelingen, das Evangelium im speziellen Kontext Ostdeutschlands zu beheimaten? Westliche Gemeindemodelle können in der kulturellen Prägung Ostdeutschlands nicht greifen. Der Besonderheit des ostdeutschen Kontextes muss im Gemeindebau Rechnung getragen werden. Die neuen Bundesländer brauchen einen kontextuellen Gemeindebau. Ausgehend von einem missionalen Gemeindeverständnis, das eingebettet ist in die missio dei (Reimer 2009:170), ist es deshalb Ziel dieser Studie einen kontextuellen Gemeindebau für die neuen Bundesländer zu entwickeln, der die Fragen und Nöte der Menschen im Osten kennt und das Evangelium für ihre Lebenswelt kontextualisiert. Mit Hilfe des bei der Unisa gebräuchlichen Praxiszyklus soll es dabei nicht nur um Theoriebildung gehen. Die vorliegende Studie mündet in Handlungsempfehlungen für die ostdeutsche Gemeindepraxis allgemein und ganz konkret für Magdeburg-Sudenburg. Diese Handlungsempfehlungen versuchen, sowohl dem ostdeutschen Kontext als auch den biblischen Leitlinien für missionale Gemeinde gerecht zu werden. / Since the fall of the GDR, churches have worked hard in the new German states. Despite that, the church is still only a niche in East German society. East Germans seem to be immune to the gospel. But how can Jesus' church fulfill her mission in East Germany, where western models of church planting have been largely unsuccessful. East Germany needs a contextual church planting. Starting from a missional church understanding that is embedded in the missio dei, this study develops a contextual church planting stratagy for the new states, that takes the uniqueness of East-Germany into account and contextualizes the gospel. This study should not end in theory. It leads to recommendations for the East German church in general practice and more specifically for Magdeburg-Sudenburg. These recommendations seek to meet the needs of both the East-German context and the biblical guidelines for missional church. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

The growth of the Church in Africa, namely at numerical level, is tremendous. However, we notice that her impact on society and public life is not so visible as the growth is, since Christian values are embodied by Christians. Yet, the Church has huge human resources, pastors, missionaries, lay leaders and theologians. The challenge for the Church in Africa is to incarnate and inculturate these values and the living message of the Gospel. In this thesis we question the co-operation between the Church and mission agencies, between native pastors and western missionaries. We notice that since 150 years, there has been a huge gap between these two entities. This is due to the fact that Theology and Missiology look like two lines that never meet. This situation leads us to revisit not only the current paradigm Church-Mission but also the current link between Theology and Missiology. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

Because many Bemba Christians do not experience the guality of life through would follow conversion they are tempted to either settle for shallow, superficial religious'experience, or, during times of crisis, revert to traditional religious beliefs and practices they know are inconsistent with their theological understanding. In order to assist Christian communicators in their task of bringing the Bemba to authentic conversion and an experience of salvation that genuinely meets their needs, we have, in this study, tendered one strategy for reaching the Bemba heart. most comprehensive idea of order. Because the heart, or worldview, is where reality is known, vaiued · and ordered, it should be the focus of Christian communication that has as its purpose restoring people to comprehensive well-being, or restoration of peace with God, others, one's self and nature. To this end, we have gathered 2,686 Bemba proverbs. from approximately fifteen previously seven Bemba informants, provided conte:-..tually deterrt"$1ed translati_ons, meanings, usages and teachings, inter alia, and have attempted, by means of employing Hiebert's critical conte:-..tualisation method ( 1985: 188), to begin constructing a contextualised local theology of marriage which is the result of engaging in a dialogue between Bemba traditional values as expressed in their proverbial lore and related biblical values. The process of contextualisation is incomplete because it is our contention that it is the responsibility local Bemba theologians, not of foreign researchers, to construct a theology of marriage that is relevant t local Bemba needs. Thus, this study does not attempt to provide theological answers to marital needs; rather, it is offered to Christian communicators for exploratory use as a beach-head for constructing a bridge across which both Bemba and biblical worldview values might be mutually enriched. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

This study explores black African migrants' experience of racism in Berlin, today. Its vantage point is that of a missiological discipline. Since racism is a very complex phenomenon, both in the church and society; the study therefore, adopted a multidisciplinary approach. This helps us to better understand the different theoretical nuances, which inform racism as an ideology and, as a social construct. Against this backdrop, the study engaged the “pastoral cycle” (cycle of missionary praxis) by Holland and Henriot and developed by Cochrane et al as its theological framework. The research methodology consisted of data collection, interpreting and analyzing (comparing and contrasting primary sources in light of data collected). Personal narratives of research participants' experience of racism in a semi-structured format, formed part of the methodology, in establishing ecclesiastical, political, social and structural climate on how they contribute to the way that black African migrants experience racism in Berlin, today. Two forms of data collection were employed: Qualitative interview and observation instruments. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Theology)

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa young women in the age group 10 – 24 are the largest group infected with HIV. Those most at risk are young women living in South African townships where a multitude of factors reinforce the possibility of them becoming infected. Once infected, they are often abandoned or left alone, with no support system. This thesis uses the following four tasks of Practical Theology, - the descriptive-empirical task: Priestly listening, - the interpretive task: Sagely wisdom, - the normative task: Prophetic discernment and - the pragmatic task: Servant leadership, to analyze how pastoral group care could help these young women. The problem is investigated and set into the reality of Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town. By offering young women the possibility of belonging to a peer group, they are met within their cultural and social system. As the members of the group are all HIV positive, the stigma which often prevents people from socializing or talking about their sickness, is removed. The important role of the leader of such a group is also investigated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid-Afrika is jong vroue in die ouderdomsgroep 10 – 24 jaar díe groep wat die hoogste aantal MIV infeksies het. Die hoogste risiko om deur die MI virus aangesteek te word, is by jong vroue wat in ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse township lewe. ‘n Verskeidenheid faktore speel saam om hulle kwesbaarheid te verhoog. Sodra dit bekend word dat hulle die MI virus dra, word hulle dikwels verwerp en sonder enige ondersteuning alleen gelaat. Na aanleiding van die volgende vier take van Praktiese Teologie nl.: - die beskrywend-empiriese taak: Priesterlike luister, - die interpreterend-hermeneutiese taak: Verstandige wysheid, - die normatiewe taak: Profetiese onderskeiding en - die pragmatiese taak: Dienskneg leierskap., word hierdie problem ondersoek binne die raamwerk van Khayelitsha, ‘n township van Kaapstad. Die tesis argumenteer dat pastorale groepssorg ‘n gepaste wyse is waarbinne daar na hierdie jong vroue omgesien kan word. Deur aan hulle die moontlikheid te bied om aan ‘n portuurgroep te behoort, kan hulle binne hulle eie sosiale en kulturele raamwerk tereg kom. Aangesien die lede van die groep almal MIV positief is, word die stigma, wat dikwels mense verhinder om te sosialiseer of om oor hulle siekte te praat, verwyder. Die belangrike rol van die leier van so ‘n groep word ook ondersoek.

Cette thèse est une analyse descriptive de la théologie contextuelle protestante contemporaine dans le Pacifique Sud insulaire. Elle privilégie une approche interdisciplinaire faisant appel à l’histoire, la socio-anthropologie, la missiologie et la théologie. La première partie s’intéresse de manière diachronique à l’émergence de cette nouvelle théologie dans un contexte de décolonisation et de régionalisation du christianisme à travers le réseau œcuménique des Églises du Pacifique, des années 1970 aux années 2000. Trois figures de proue de la théologie océanienne contemporaine sont étudiées en détail : Sione ‘Amanaki Havea, Sevati Tuwere, Ama ‘amalele Tofaeono. La deuxième partie est une approche synchronique et typologique des thèmes abordés par la théologie contextuelle dans le Pacifique : le discours sur Dieu proprement dit, l’image du Christ se dégageant d’une christologie océanienne, la théologie « de la célébration » et « la théologie de l’identité ». L’utilisation théologique de symboles culturels tels que la terre ou le pays (fenua / vanua), le kava, la case, l’igname, etc. y est examinée ; de même que le rapport entre religion et culture ainsi que le recours à la tradition. La troisième et dernière partie porte sur la question théorique de la contextualisation de la théologie, l’origine du terme et du concept ainsi que ses limites dans une perspective œcuménique. Elle reprend également la question de l’articulation entre la culture et la théologie dans le contexte contemporain de la mondialisation du christianisme. / This Ph. D. Thesis offers a description of contemporary contextual Pacific Islands’ theology. The methodological approach is interdisciplinary, drawing on history, sociology and anthropology, missiology, and theology. The first part is a diachronic study of the origin of this new kind of theology in the context of decolonisation and regionalisation of Christianity through the Pacific Churches’ ecumenical network from the 1970’s to the 2000’s. The thoughts of three contemporary Pacific theologians are presented in detail: Sione ‘Amanaki Havea, Sevati Tuwere, Ama ‘Amalele Tofaeono. The second part is more synchronic, proposing a typology of specific theological themes in the Pacific: the different representations of God, Christology, “Theology of Celebration”, “Theology of Identity”. The purpose of this part is to work on cultural symbols like the land or homeland (fenua / vanua), kava, traditional hut, and yam, among others, and to study the link between religion and culture and the use of tradition. The third and last part deals with the theoretical issue of contextualisation in theology, the origin of the word and of the concept of contextualisation as well as its limits from an ecumenical point of view. This section also takes into account the problematic of the connection between culture and theology in the contemporary context of a globalised Christianity.