Women today continue to struggle against male-dominated values and norms, and male prejudices, both in society and the Church. This balance of power needs to be altered to free women from the domination of men. The strategies proposed in this dissertation are based on the Christian ethic of justice and equality. Their implementation, I argue, would empower women to resist oppression, independently of men, to achieve liberation and equality so that male-dominated ideologies and structures could no longer oppress. A case study of women ministers in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa revealed discrimination against, and the limitation of the ministries of women clergy. The ethical dilemma of the Church appearing to follow, rather than to lead society on such issues was noted. The attainment of the liberation of women is dependent solely upon themselves and the extent to which they are prepared to take responsibility for their own lives. / M.Th. (Theological Ethics)

This thesis is focused on environmental preferences of wood-decaying fungi and their relationships with forest structure and development. Relationships of fungi to properties of wood and forest stands were studied on the basis of field observations in Central-European mountain spruce forests. Plot-based approach was used to reveal a general pattern in the diversity of fungi within a single forest stand and between different stands. The analysis of stand structure provided a background for plot-based approach. Substrate-based approach was used to study single species preferences and their communities. In addition, the influence of wood properties (including fungi and their rots) on the regeneration of spruce on logs was studied.

This thesis is focused on succession in old fields in Central Europe. Repeated sampling, analysis of surrounding vegetation and soil measurements were conducted in the Bohemian Karst Landscape protected area. Samples from the Doupovské hory Mountains and the rest of the Czech Republic were added to discover basic principles of old field succession at the larger scale of landscapes.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, 2017. / The world over, countries are burdened with existing and emerging diseases and while that affected all nations, sub-Saharan Africa carried the heaviest portion. This filtered to Zimbabwe where a myriad of health challenges are faced. Unavailability of medicines coupled with poor inventory management of these medicines has been prevalent. Insufficient financial resources and increasing cost of healthcare costs is one of the pressing matters. It is also important to note that these challenges are occurring at a time when government is realising the crucial role of procurement in addressing health challenges. Due to the extent, depth, breadth and nature of the health challenges and their criticality in establishing sustainable and affordable health system in Zimbabwe, a case study approach has been adopted where data from questionnaires, interviews, documents and observations were corroborated and triangulated in an effort to bring to the surface deep-seated procurement matters and how they are related to the challenges provided. Thus, in terms of the research findings, it was first revealed that the procurement legislative frameworks and processes are fragmented and not in one place resulting in multiple accountabilities. It was further shown that the framework is inappropriate in a healthcare set-up where issues of speed and flexibility in addressing requirements are paramount. It was also shown that procurement planning being a critical aspect is regrettably and detrimentally missing in procurements. In addition, the selection criteria as set out in the regulations and practiced by individual state health facilities indicated over-reliance on price and that being the case, key aspects such as quality and supply-lead time are missed and yet are very necessary in terms of evaluation among other factors. In the findings, the peripheral role of procurement staff with clinicians being also at the epicentre of purchasing decisions was presented. Perhaps related to that was the inadequacy of procurement skills and competences from the procurement personnel. Last on the findings, financing and the frequency of disbursement was unmatched with hospital requirements and thus resulting in unavailability of adequate medicines and equipment. / D

Since the 1970s, the Presbyterian Church in the United States has dealt with its most divisive issue ever: same-gender relationships. Two polity debates have occurred simultaneously: 1) The ordination and/or installation of partnered gay and lesbian Christians as church officers, i.e. deacons, elders, and ministers of the Word and Sacrament; 2) The permissibility of ministers to perform and officers to participate in same-gender blessings and marriages, both liturgical and civil. This period is characterised by an absence of theological discussion and formulation of biblical and/or theological statements. Rather, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and its predecessor churches, the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and Presbyterian Church in the U.S., all used polity to guide them. This is in line with the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, which decided in 1927 to solve controversial theological issues, not through theological discussion, but through polity. Since 1978, various polity processes have guided and shaped the two debates to form the current policies: 1) Presbyteries send overtures to General Assemblies, which, in turn issue “definitive guidance” statements and Authoritative Interpretations; 2) General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commissions (GAPJC) issue Authoritative Interpretations in both remedial and disciplinary cases, after complaints have moved through the ecclesiastical courts at Presbytery and/or synod level; 3) The 173 Presbyteries vote on amendments, approved by General Assemblies, to amend the Book of Order. The most notable amendment was the addition of G-6.0106b in 1997. This writer argues that G-6.0106b in the Book of Order, requiring “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness,” is a form of subscription, and, therefore, contrary to the entire history of the Presbyterian Church, which has rejected all forms of subscriptionism since 1706. Subscription to five standards briefly existed from 1910-1925, and was rejected by the 1926 and 1927 General Assemblies of the PCUSA. One ordination standard is now elevated above all other standards and, since 1997, there have been three attempts to rid the Book of Order of this requirement. W-4.9001 and G-6.0106b in the Book of Order reflect the changes made in the Westminster Confession of Faith in the 1950s, allowing for the divorce and remarriage of officers; namely marriage is between a man and a woman. Yet, it is used to exclude partnered gay and lesbian Christians from ordination and/or installation, and from participating in same-gender liturgical marriages. The debates have created camps of conservatives, centrists, and liberals, which consistently threaten the peace, unity, and purity of the church. Thousands of evangelicals and conservatives, opposed to partnered gay and lesbian officers, have left the denomination for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Additionally, Special Organisations, which are not accountable to the denomination, have added to the tension and created intolerance of others’ views. Copyright / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Church History and Church Policy / unrestricted

Funeral leaders share the ministry of comfort with others. They make a specific religious contribution towards restoring life or decontaminating from death, which affects the faith and hope of the bereaved. Their ministry responds to a need of the bereaved by affirming community in the face of death. It is based on spirituality and grounded in the biblical and apostolic tradition; it is carried out in a catholic contextualisation. The leaders' insertion into both the cultural background and the religious realm encourages contextualisation. Their verbal proclamation is done in various ways and is linked to ritual. It reflects the three dimensions of the model employed in pastoral theology by taking life seriously, interpreting it in the light of faith, and leading a celebration that opens up the future of the participants. The leaders' proclamation is sincere when they link cultural family-procedures and church rituals in a parallel way. Sincerity suffers when community leaders, used to provide a comprehensive service, cannot preside over the promised celebration of the Eucharist, which could be the culmination of the rite of passage. Their ministry remains incomplete because of factors beyond their control. It nevertheless contributes to justice in many ways, in particular by deploying local people. While the ministry is carried out independently, it depends on collaboration with the pastoral staff, in particular the priests. They safeguard the quality of ministry by formation and through supervision. The collaborative formation contributes to the cultural insertion of the local and expatriate staff and enhances their competence. This collaborative ministry serves the bereaved, the community of faith, and theology. It allows the development of a contextualised liturgy, and a local theology. It is a step forward on the road towards a genuine form of community ministry in this particular African context. It corresponds with contemporary secular approaches towards leadership and management. African approaches emphasise the need for contextualised management forms. They assume the compatibility of different practices employed in different contexts. The comprehensively grounded ministry seems to contribute to the avoidance or overcoming of some of the grave shortcomings of ministry as provided in the past. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

Funeral leaders share the ministry of comfort with others. They make a specific religious contribution towards restoring life or decontaminating from death, which affects the faith and hope of the bereaved. Their ministry responds to a need of the bereaved by affirming community in the face of death. It is based on spirituality and grounded in the biblical and apostolic tradition; it is carried out in a catholic contextualisation. The leaders' insertion into both the cultural background and the religious realm encourages contextualisation. Their verbal proclamation is done in various ways and is linked to ritual. It reflects the three dimensions of the model employed in pastoral theology by taking life seriously, interpreting it in the light of faith, and leading a celebration that opens up the future of the participants. The leaders' proclamation is sincere when they link cultural family-procedures and church rituals in a parallel way. Sincerity suffers when community leaders, used to provide a comprehensive service, cannot preside over the promised celebration of the Eucharist, which could be the culmination of the rite of passage. Their ministry remains incomplete because of factors beyond their control. It nevertheless contributes to justice in many ways, in particular by deploying local people. While the ministry is carried out independently, it depends on collaboration with the pastoral staff, in particular the priests. They safeguard the quality of ministry by formation and through supervision. The collaborative formation contributes to the cultural insertion of the local and expatriate staff and enhances their competence. This collaborative ministry serves the bereaved, the community of faith, and theology. It allows the development of a contextualised liturgy, and a local theology. It is a step forward on the road towards a genuine form of community ministry in this particular African context. It corresponds with contemporary secular approaches towards leadership and management. African approaches emphasise the need for contextualised management forms. They assume the compatibility of different practices employed in different contexts. The comprehensively grounded ministry seems to contribute to the avoidance or overcoming of some of the grave shortcomings of ministry as provided in the past. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

[ES] Esta tesis investiga las oportunidades, desafíos y limitaciones para la investigación en el campo de la ecología vegetal, en el contexto de los acantilados mediterráneos. En concreto, las especies casmofiticas, cuyos hábitats naturales se caracterizan por su acusada pendiente. Las laderas de las montañas de piedra caliza en la proximidad del mar, en la parte central y occidental del área mediterránea se consideran objetos de estudio. Los estudios se llevaron a cabo en los cinturones costeros de montaña de las costas del noroeste de Sicilia y la costa diánica en la Comunidad Valenciana. El primer capítulo, titulado "The complexity of environmental factors: cliff microclimate", investiga la variabilidad del microclima del acantilado en tres áreas diferentes en Sicilia y España, analizando las condiciones ambientales creadas por el acantilado en una escala muy estrecha. Se recopilaron seis conjuntos de datos independientes y comparables que recogen las principales variables meteorológicas a lo largo de un período total de 18 meses. La gama resultante de condiciones ambientales se compara por pares a lo largo de dos gradientes ambientales principales: la orientación del acantilado Norte/Sur y la proximidad al mar. Además, los rasgos foliares intraespecíficos se utilizan para estudiar la variación en la respuesta funcional de las plantas que viven en las orientaciónes opuestas en una misma área de investigación. La variación resultante se correlaciona con la influencia de las condiciones microclimáticas creadas por la pendiente y el aspecto en los rasgos de la planta antes mencionados. El segundo capítulo, titulado "Compositional data and analyses of areas and plant communities in the coastal cliffs of the Valencian Community (Spain)", presenta una ordenación de los sitios de estudio y de las especies vegetales que habitan en las zonas de acantilados del cinturón montañoso a lo largo de las costas de la región diánica en el este de España. El estudio reveló correlaciones significativas entre las unidades de vegetación y los sitios con referencia a la amplia orientación geográfica Norte/Sur. Sin embargo, fue poco informativo con respecto a revelar las principales diferencias observadas en la estructura del conjunto de plantas relacionadas con laa variaciones microtopográficas registradas en el conjunto de datos. En el tercer capítulo, titulado "UAV (drone) surveys for the study of plant- microtopography relationships and for the conservation of rare species", se describe la metodología propuesta para investigar entornos verticales poco accesibles. También se analizaron los desafíos y las oportunidades de la investigación ecológica vegetal en estas áreas tipicamente inaccesibles. Un primer conjunto de datos comprende un censo visual parcial y total de dos especies endémicas de acantilados estrechos en las áreas de estudio españolas e italianas. Mediante el uso de la fotogrametría aérea de corto alcance y el modelado 3D, fue posible estudiar los efectos de la micro topografía en la segregación de nichos, tanto a nivel de comunidad como de especie. Se utilizaron métodos de ordenación para correlacionar las especies endémicas seleccionadas y conjuntos de plantas con factores ambientales como el aspecto local y global, la pendiente y la distancia desde los bordes de los acantilados. En el cuarto capítulo, titulado "Distribution, ecology, conservation status and phylogeography of Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, a paleo-endemic chasmophytic species from Sicily (Italy)", se analiza en detalle la estructura filogeográfica de una especie endémica de acantilados, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia (Caprifoliaceae, subfamilia Dipsacaceae), también considerando las relaciones filogeográficas con sus taxones más próximos. Además, su distribución total se determinó mediante observaciones de campo, caracterizando su hábitat y evaluando su estado de conservación como Vulnerable de acuerdo con las / [CA] Aquesta tesi va investigar les oportunitats, reptes i limitacions per a la investigació en el camp de l'ecologia vegetal, en el context dels penya-segats mediterranis. En concret, les espècies casmofitiques, amb hàbitats naturals que es caracteritzen pel seu acusat pendent. Les vessants de les muntanyes de pedra calcària en la proximitat del mar, a la part central i occidental de l'àrea mediterrània són considerats objectes d'estudi. Els estudis es portaren a terme als cinturons costers de muntanya de les costes del nord de Sicília i la costa diànica a la Comunitat Valenciana. El primer capítol, titulat "The complexity of environmental factors: cliff microclimate", investiga la variabilitat del microclima del penya-segat en tres àrees diferents de Sicília i Espanya, analitzant les condicions ambientals creades pel penya-segat a una escala molt estreta. Es recopilen sis conjunts de dades independents i comparables que reconeixen les principals variables meteorològiques a llarg termini durant un període total de 18 mesos. Les dades resultants de les condicions ambientals es comparen per parells al llarg de dos gradients ambientals principals: l'orientació del penya-segat Nord/Sud i la proximitat a la mar. A més, els trests foliars intraespecífics s'utilitzen per estudiar la variació en la resposta funcional de les plantes que habiten orientacions oposades dins d'un àrea d' investigació. La variació resultant es correlaciona amb la influència de les condicions microclimàtiques creades pel vessant i els aspectos funcionals dels trets vegetals esmentats. El segon capítol, titulat "Compositional data and analyses of areas and plant communities in the coastal cliffs of the Valencian Community (Spain)", presenta una ordenació dels llocs d'estudi i de les espècies de plantes que habiten a les zones de penya- segats del cinturó de muntanya al llarg de les costes de la regió diànica de España. L'estudi va a revelar correlacions significatives entre les unitats de vegetació i els llocs amb referència a l'amplias orientació geogràfica Nord/Sud. No obstant aixó, va ser poc informatiu per poder revelar les diferències observades en l'estructura del conjunt de plantes relacionades amb les variacions microtopogràfiques registrades al conjunt de dades Al tercer capítol, titulat "UAV (drone) surveys for the study of plant-microtopography relationships and for the conservation of rare species", es descriu la metodologia proposada per a investigar entorns verticals poc accessibles. També es van analitzar els reptes i les oportunitats de la investigació ecològica vegetal en aquestes àrees normalment inaccesibles. Un primer conjunt de dades inclou el cens visual parcial i el total de dues espècies endèmiques de penya-segats a les àrees d'estudi espanyoles i italianes. Mitjançant la fotogrametria aèrea a curt abast i el modelat 3D, va ser possible estudiar els efectes de la microtopografia en la segregació de nínxols, tant a nivell comunitari com d'espècies. Es van utilitzar mètodes d'ordenació per a correlacionar les espècies endèmiques seleccionades i conjunts vegetals sencers amb factors ambientals com ara l'aspecte local i global, el pendent i la distància de les vores dels penya-segats. En el quart capítol, titulat "Distribution, ecology, conservation status and phylogeography of Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, a paleo-endemic chasmophytic species from Sicily (Italy)", que s'analitza en detall l'estructura filogeográfica d'una espècie endèmica de penya-segats, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia (Caprifoliaceae, subfamilia Dipsacaceae), considerant tambè les relacions filogeogràfiques amb els seus taxons més propers. A més, la seva distribució total es va determinar mitjançant observacions de camp, caracteritzant el seu hàbitat i avaluant el seu estat de conservació com a Vulnerable, d'acord amb les directrius de la llista roja de la UICN. / [EN] This thesis investigated opportunities, challenges and limitations for plant ecological research in the context of Mediterranean cliffs. In particular, chasmophytic species, whose natural habitats are very steep, limestone mountain slopes in the proximity of the sea, in the Central and Western part of the Mediterranean area are considered as study objects. Studies were carried out in the coastal mountain belts of both North-western Sicily and Dianic coasts in the Valencian Community (Spain). The first chapter, entitled "The complexity of environmental factors: cliff microclimate", investigates the variability of cliff microclimate in three different areas in Sicily and Spain, analysing the environmental conditions created by the cliff at very fine scale. Six independent and comparable datasets including the main meteorological variables were compiled in a total period of 18 months. The resulting spectra of environmental conditions are compared pairwise along two key environmental gradients: North/South cliff orientation and proximity to the sea. Intraspecific leaf traits are used in order to investigate variations in the functional response of plants living on opposite orientations. The resulting variation is then correlated with the influence of microclimatic conditions created by slope and functional aspects of the aforementioned plant traits. The second chapter, entitled "Compositional data and analyses of areas and plant communities in the coastal cliffs of the Valencian Community (Spain)", presents an ordination of the study sites and of the plant species inhabiting the cliff zones of the mountain belt along the coasts of the Dianic region in Eastern Spain. The study revealed significant correlations between the vegetation units and the sites with reference to the broad North/South geographical orientation. However, it was poorly informative in respect to reveal the major differences observed in the structure of the plant assemblage related to the micro- topographic variations recorded in the dataset. In the third chapter, entitled "UAV (drone) surveys for the study of plant- microtopography relationships and for the conservation of rare species", a proposed survey methodology for investigating inaccessible vertical environments is described. Challenges and opportunities of plant ecological research in these typically inaccessible areas were also analysed. A first set of data is comprised of partial and total visual census of two narrow endemic cliff species in the Spanish and Italian study areas. Through the use of aerial close- range photogrammetry and 3D modelling, it was possible to study the effects of micro-topography on niche segregation, both at community and species level. Ordination methods were used to correlate selected endemic species and entire plant assemblages to environmental factors such as local and global aspect, slope and distance from cliff edges. The fourth chapter, entitled "Distribution, ecology, conservation status and phylogeography of Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, a paleo-endemic chasmophytic species from Sicily (Italy)", is addressed to analyse in details the phylogeographic structure of a cliff narrow endemic species, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia (VAHL) DEVESA (Caprifoliaceae, subfamily Dipsacaceae), also taking in consideration its closest sister taxa. Furthermore, its total distribution was determined by field surveys, characterizing its habitat, and assessing its conservation status as Vulnerable according to IUCN red list guidelines. / De Simone, L. (2020). Ecological aspects of plants inhabiting Mediterranean cliffs. Challenges and prospects of life in vertical environments [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/159877