Part 2 of the present paper delineates the position of the Holy Spirit (respectively of pneumatology) in the history of the church! of theology in general as well as in the present missiology in particular. Some aspects in the work of the Holy Spirit which are relevant to mission are named separately and explained. Part 3 looks at the example of the revival among the Mennonites in Southern Russia around 1860. Therefore, first the early Anabaptists of the 16th century are described in their relation to the Holy Spirit. After this, the relation of the Mennonites in Russia to the Holy Spirit (mainly in the events around the revival of 1860) is depicted. Positive and negative results of the revival are shown. Part 4 combines the results of the previous parts of the paper and shows (in eight points) a wholesome and balanced way of mission and church for bapto - mennonite churches of today. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / (M. Th. Missiology))

Part 2 of the present paper delineates the position of the Holy Spirit (respectively of pneumatology) in the history of the church! of theology in general as well as in the present missiology in particular. Some aspects in the work of the Holy Spirit which are relevant to mission are named separately and explained. Part 3 looks at the example of the revival among the Mennonites in Southern Russia around 1860. Therefore, first the early Anabaptists of the 16th century are described in their relation to the Holy Spirit. After this, the relation of the Mennonites in Russia to the Holy Spirit (mainly in the events around the revival of 1860) is depicted. Positive and negative results of the revival are shown. Part 4 combines the results of the previous parts of the paper and shows (in eight points) a wholesome and balanced way of mission and church for bapto - mennonite churches of today. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / (M. Th. Missiology))

Magister Artium - MA / As a minister who is deeply involved in Christian counselling I am constantly reminded just how many problems marriages are facing today. There is no question that the failure of this fundamental relationship has unquantifiable devastating results in the lives of couples, their children, and society as a whole. The more one works with people one realises that many couples in relationships are just hurting individuals in search of happiness and wholeness. Marriage provides the perfect relationship with elaborate promises and expectations of love and warmth, where all needs and dreams are to be met by the husband or wife. Sadly, however, as substantiated by divorce statistics, too many couples find this sacred space intended for love and fulfilment become the most vulnerable, unsafe space. As a minister searching for a systematic process to unravel this mystery of failed or failing marriages, I discovered a psycho-social model for therapy, called Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), which not only produced excellent counselling results, but also seemed compatible with more theological approaches to couples therapy. IRT unravels for me the “why” and gives me a quantifiable aspect to my work which helps me grasp conceptually that which I instinctively have discovered and known theologically. I have embarked on this research, firstly, to understand the problem and the extent thereof facing our society; secondly to identify the strengths and shortcomings in Pastoral Care theory and praxis (such as the recurring problem of a realistic and workable Biblical counselling model for pastors), and thirdly to investigate the feasibility whether and how the Imago Relationship Theory could be integrated in Pastoral Care praxis. The intention was, and remains, that after I have done this research to make it available, in appropriate format, to help pastors in assisting couples to avoid pitfalls in their marriages. In turn, it is hoped that this new found perspective would also benefit the pastor and his wife, since many pastors find their marriages also under strain. Every pastor who works with the lives of congregants understands the volatility of relationships. This understanding has been built over long periods of time with them and he has witnessed how their lives have morphed under pressure due to problems that at times have been overwhelming. Sadly some of the pain is self-inflicted or has been inflicted upon them. As one delves into this subject matter one becomes aware of just how inadequately equipped some pastors really are and how important it is to equip them to effectively help others. I chose to examine Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), knowing its efficacy, and wondered how this would fit into a Pneumatological counselling model. Various practical theologians (such as DJ Louw and JJ Rebel) have recently been discovering Pneumatology – the reflection on the work of the Holy Spirit, through whom the work of God the Father and God the Son is being applied and appropriated in the person, in the congregation, and in the fullness of life in the world – as the framework for practical theology, especially Pastoral Care. I thus deliberately explored Pneumatology as such a theological Sitz im Leben for reflecting on IRT integrated into a Biblical model for counselling. I needed an affective therapeutic model which would could be integrated, and enhance the biblical framework in counselling. Furthermore this therapeutic mechanism needed to be subservient to attain the greatest goal of God and that is to serve and help transform humankind created in His Image. I conducted a systematic literature review of IRT and relevant theological insights from Pastoral Care theory. This investigation is to establish the viability of an integration of IRT into a Pneumatological Pastoral Care theory and praxis to be used as a Pastoral Tool for ministers dealing with the crisis of broken marriages. It was surprising to see how well IRT fits into the theological framework and can enhance an already effective psychological therapy process.

Le modèle du couple actuel, uni par l’amour et désireux d’avoir des enfants, qu’il soit marié ou non, devient pour nos contemporains un vrai « lieu spirituel ». Comment, en chrétien, penser et accompagner le nouveau paradigme du « couple électif », quand les notions ainsi associées évoluent ? La spiritualité en Occident repose sur des héritages croisés et combinés : le dualisme gréco-romain ; une certaine focalisation sur la rédemption, et le péché de la chair ; une quête moderne visant à être soi, vrai, équilibré ; et la vision incarnée, communautaire et trinitaire de Vatican II, trop peu connue. La construction de la conjugalité entre amour, mariage, voire unions moins formelles, inspire vers 1930 une spiritualité conjugale » catholique, reconnue dans Gaudium et Spes. Or, la spiritualité, au sens large du terme, aide tout couple à tenir bon : d’où la relance d’une recherche pluridisciplinaire. Comment, donc, définir la « spiritualité coélective » qui anime les « couples électifs », en prenant en compte à la fois le pluralisme moderne et le cadre chrétien ? Inscrites dans l’universelle « loi du don », la « promesse » et l’« alliance », abritées dans l’« intimité coélective », construisent la « communauté du couple » ; ces catégories font aussi sens en christianisme. Une pneumatologie de la « circulation des dons » se révèle ainsi. Aider l’amour fécond à s’accomplir contribue à humaniser la société, jusqu’à l’ouvrir davantage aux enjeux planétaires. / Based on the partners’ choice for each other, their loving commitment and desire to start a family, the couple relationship, whether in formal marriage or not, has become for many of our contemporaries a real locus spiritualis, the seat and source of a spirituality. How to understand, from a Christian point of view, this new paradigm and foster it while the concepts associated with it are continuously evolving? Spirituality in Occidental history has a diverse and layered heritage: Greco-Roman dualism; a strong focus on the ‘sin of the flesh’; a modern quest for self-realisation and authenticity; and, although less known, an understanding of spirituality since Vatican II which is strongly incarnational, community-oriented and Trinitarian.Shaping a model of conjugal life in between intimate love and institutional marriage, couples in the 1930’s start referring to a Catholic “marital spirituality” which will be fully acknowledged only by Gaudium et Spes. Later generations will realize that spirituality, understood in a broad sense, helps couples to become resilient – an insight which will be at the basis of multi-disciplinary research. But how to conceive in today’s pluralistic society of a spirituality of couple life, or ‘co-elective spirituality’, that at the same time enhances the flourishing of contemporary couples and yet does not forsake its Christian frame of reference? The universal “law of giving” and the concepts of “promise” and “covenant” which equip for a “shared intimacy” appear to be central concepts which both help to shape the communion of ‘elective couples’ and lend themselves to be lived in a specifically Christian way. Here a pneumatology takes shape which is to be understood as a “circulation of gifts”. Helping fruitful love to flourish thus contributes not only to humanizing society but also to raise awareness for global challenges.

Pentecostalism has always been regarded as a movement that does not have all the ecclesiastical qualities that qualify it to be called a fully-fledged tradition alongside other major streams of Protestantism. Contrary to popular theologies that undermine the great role that the Pentecostal tradition can play in the global church, modern Pentecostal theologies agree that most of the misconceptions and assumption are misplaced because the Pentecostal tradition is a rich tradition with vital elements and symbols necessary to advance the ecumenical goal of unity and reconciliation. Based on this perception that Pentecostal ecclesiology is ecumenical, this research critically analyses Pentecostal ecclesiology as portrayed by Kärkkäinen in order to determine its ecumenicity or relevance to the ecumenical goals of unity, tolerance and reconciliation. This research confronts the paternalistic assumptions and misconception that regard Pentecostalism as simply a superstitious and naive sect which is only relevant to the lower class by bringing out the different elements and symbols within the tradition that are vital for the success and development of the global church in a modern global context. Some of the critical elements and symbols within the Pentecostal tradition that are explored within this study include÷ unity in diversity, the mission nature of the church, experiences of the Spirit as portrayed in its Pneumatological Christology and Soteriology, its rapid adaptation to new global south contexts and critical elements of inclusivity and plurality as portrayed in the foundations of the tradition. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology

[pt] Na última ceia, com seus apóstolos, Jesus lega para toda a humanidade a celebração memorial da salvação de sua páscoa redentora. A Igreja, desde seus primórdios, sente-se como herdeira deste legado mantendo vivo, de forma ininterrupta, o cumprimento da ordem de iteração do Senhor: fazei isto em memória de mim. A celebração da Eucaristia constitui o núcleo central da liturgia da Igreja, em torno do qual orbitam todos os seus momentos de oração. Além disso, pela ação do Espírito Santo, na liturgia, a Igreja é constituída e se manifesta. Em tudo isso, o Espírito Santo ocupa papel central, que não pode, de forma nenhuma, ser relativizado ou esquecido. Tais fatos ressaltam com que gravidade a Igreja é chamada a crescer sempre mais na compreensão do mistério de Cristo, e na sua missão de conduzir os fiéis a uma participação mais ativa e consciente. Este trabalho intenta realizar um estudo das fórmulas oracionais utilizadas para celebrar a Eucaristia, ressaltando a ação do Espírito Santo e a sua dinâmica eclesiogenética no gesto litúrgico. A metodologia da pesquisa é predominantemente mistagógica. Os textos da liturgia serão cortejados com destaque, como voz de autoridade para ensinar. Na realização de uma mistagogia da Eucaristia, a dinâmica do Espírito Santo e a geração da Igreja serão ressaltados, a fim de que se faça um autêntico estudo pneumático-mistagógico, isto é, uma pneumatologia que se manifeste como uma epicletologia eclesiogenética. / [en] At the last supper, with his apostles, Jesus bequeaths to all humanity the memorial celebration of his Redeeming Passover. The Church, from its beginnings, feels a truly heir to this legacy, keeping alive, uninterruptedly, the fulfillment of the Lord s iteration order: do this in memory of me. The celebration of the Eucharist constitutes the central nucleus of the Church s Liturgy, around which all her moments of prayer revolve. Furthermore, through the action of the Holy Spirit, in the Liturgy, the Church is constituted and manifests itself. In all of this, the Holy Spirit occupies a central role, which cannot, in any way, be relativized or forgotten. These facts emphasize how seriously the Church is called to grow ever more in the understanding of the Mystery of Christ, and in his mission to lead the christians to a participation more active and conscious. This work intends to carry out a study of the prayer formulas used to celebrate the Eucharist, highlighting the action of the Holy Spirit and its ecclesiogenetic dynamics in the liturgical action. The methodology of the research is predominantly mystagogical. The liturgy texts will be courted prominently, as an authoritative voice to teach. When performing a mystagogy of the Eucharist, the dynamics of the Divine Pneuma and the generation of the Church will be highlighted, in order to make an authentic pneumatological-mystagogic study, in other terms, a pneumatology that manifests itself as an ecclesiogenetic epicletology.

Dance is the language of the soul. Dance, as a theological source, can remind us of who we are in and with the living perichoresis of the Trinity. Dance, as embodied art, can provide us with a new way of viewing and discussing pneumatology and that we too, in our incarnate reality, participate in perichoresis. Within this work I seek to answer the questions of how dance is a source of theology, why a pneumatology of the body is significant, and how dance provides a framework for a pneumatology of the body. The creation of a pneumatology of the body is a rooting or re-membering of the Spirit and our own spirit in incarnational—skin and bones—reality that includes us in Trinitarian perichoresis. Pneumatology of the body is dancing with the Holy Spirit in our given time and space to retrieve the dignity of our embodied inspirited selves as made in the imago Dei. The gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit are not abstract concepts. Through dance as embodied art we can move from abstract, intellectual concepts of the Spirit to incarnational truth of our flesh and blood, wounds and joys, where the Trinity dwells within and around.Dance as a source of theology can provide a framework for a pneumtology of the body. The Holy Spirit as relationality holding all of life together is our Holy Bridge. Within this work, we re-member our foundational belief in the interconnectedness of body and soul, and that we too participate in the Trinitarian perichoresis as part of God’s dancing revelation. In a world of division and duality, the Spirit as Holy Bridge brings us back home to the core of who we are individually and collectively, while dance provides a space for honoring difference and duality together in harmony. Dance gives expression to situations and things in our lives that are challenging to grasp conceptually and intellectually, while allowing for the embodied witnessing of a person’s and community’s story.A dancing theology as a framework for a pneumatology of the body reminds us that Spirit is our Holy Bridge between body, senses, feelings, challenges, and transformations, between my body soul temple and your body soul temple, and between individual and communal. By dancing with us in our daily lives, the Holy Spirit draws us ever deeper across loving bridges into communion with Trinitarian perichoresis. The Trinity is the Dance of Life in which the Spirit performs the role of empowering the never-ending communion and relational vitality that is God in and with Godself.

Afrikaans speaking believers have been experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to changes in the South African political landscape. This has caused spiritual instability that again caused people to want to escape to beter opportunities elsewhere, reduced church attendance and social isolation. This disillusionment is due to the fact that Afrikaans speaking believers hold to a cultural, social and self empowering type of hope that looks to the advantages of positive circumstances. A great void exists in research dealing with the hope and spirituality of Afrikaans speaking believers who experience such a disillusionment, and that resulted in this study. An empirical study revealed that the Afrikaans community struggles to deal completely with the new South African community. They feel the pressure of limited or no work opportunities due to affirmative action, uncertainty regarding their role in the new South Africa and the breaking down of Afrikaans as a historically respected language and culture. Materialism, a false trust in political and world leaders, negative media reporting, as well as people immigrating for beter opportunities, were singled out as contributors to the breaking down of hope, a hope that takes on the form of cultural entitlement and social self empowerment. A literary study showed that true Christian hope must be distinguished from wishful thinking, the outcome of social, political or economical self empowerment or emotional optimism, but rather that it is grounded in the faith knowledge of Jesus Christ as Redeemer. The church as the family of God provides hope in a space where the past and the future comes together in an active walk of faith that follows the life of Jesus Christ in serving and caring for others. Preaching must be the carrier of hope and the reminder that the promises of God will be realized up and until the coming of Jesus Christ in glory. Perspectives from Scripture confirmed that hope is not just a human thought of wishful thinking, an emotional state of mind or optimism. True Christian hope is an inner faith conviction and trust in the promises of God for salvation, provision and grace, even in the midst of poor or bad circumstances, caused by sin. This Christian hope is initiated and developed through a knowledge of the Word of God, that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. True Christian hope is an inner spiritual conviction through faith in Jesus Christ, a practical lifestyle of love in accordance with God’s will and a living expectation for the coming of Jesus Christ. Practical-theoretical guidelines and study work were developed where Afrikaans speaking believers, experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to a changing South Africa, can be pastorally guided to a true Christian hope. / MA (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Afrikaans speaking believers have been experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to changes in the South African political landscape. This has caused spiritual instability that again caused people to want to escape to beter opportunities elsewhere, reduced church attendance and social isolation. This disillusionment is due to the fact that Afrikaans speaking believers hold to a cultural, social and self empowering type of hope that looks to the advantages of positive circumstances. A great void exists in research dealing with the hope and spirituality of Afrikaans speaking believers who experience such a disillusionment, and that resulted in this study. An empirical study revealed that the Afrikaans community struggles to deal completely with the new South African community. They feel the pressure of limited or no work opportunities due to affirmative action, uncertainty regarding their role in the new South Africa and the breaking down of Afrikaans as a historically respected language and culture. Materialism, a false trust in political and world leaders, negative media reporting, as well as people immigrating for beter opportunities, were singled out as contributors to the breaking down of hope, a hope that takes on the form of cultural entitlement and social self empowerment. A literary study showed that true Christian hope must be distinguished from wishful thinking, the outcome of social, political or economical self empowerment or emotional optimism, but rather that it is grounded in the faith knowledge of Jesus Christ as Redeemer. The church as the family of God provides hope in a space where the past and the future comes together in an active walk of faith that follows the life of Jesus Christ in serving and caring for others. Preaching must be the carrier of hope and the reminder that the promises of God will be realized up and until the coming of Jesus Christ in glory. Perspectives from Scripture confirmed that hope is not just a human thought of wishful thinking, an emotional state of mind or optimism. True Christian hope is an inner faith conviction and trust in the promises of God for salvation, provision and grace, even in the midst of poor or bad circumstances, caused by sin. This Christian hope is initiated and developed through a knowledge of the Word of God, that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. True Christian hope is an inner spiritual conviction through faith in Jesus Christ, a practical lifestyle of love in accordance with God’s will and a living expectation for the coming of Jesus Christ. Practical-theoretical guidelines and study work were developed where Afrikaans speaking believers, experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to a changing South Africa, can be pastorally guided to a true Christian hope. / MA (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Similar to other countries in southern Africa, the relationship between African Spiritual Churches and New Pentecostal Churches in Botswana has been characterized by considerable tension and mutual distrust. Although both movements highlight the third person of the Trinity, the Spirit of God, their followers view the world around them very differently. This study has investigated the relationship between these two types of churches by focusing on their efforts to produce unique ideologies of spiritual power in relation to the two major ideologies in the Botswana context, namely the reified Setswana worldview and the globalizing forces of Western modernity. In order to provide a careful analysis of the relationship between these movements, two churches from each group were chosen as representatives. The Hermon Church and Revelation Blessed Peace Church served as examples for the African Spiritual Churches, while Goodnews Ministries and Bible Life Ministries were the New Pentecostal subjects. Primary research methods included interviews with church leadership, questionnaires for members of each church and participant observation. Church origins, biblical hermeneutics, healing and deliverance rituals, and approaches to cultures and covenants formed the key areas of study. Creating unique “worlds of the Spirit” by means of innovative tactics, both types of churches seek to enable their followers to live well as they produce their contextualized ideologies of power. However, even though both movements lay claim to the Spirit of God as their source of power, the distinctive ideologies emerging from their sermons, technologies, rituals and symbols have brought them into conflict with one another. For African Spiritual Churches, the Spirit of God meets people in the midst of life’s struggles, providing healing and wholeness in all relationships. Their willingness to adopt certain elements of the reified Setswana worldview is a major issue in the conflict with New Pentecostal Churches. For New Pentecostals, the Spirit breaks all covenants made in the past, and empowers “born again” believers to succeed in a modern environment filled with opportunities and challenges. The key missiological concern of this study is to explore the unique efforts of these movements to contextualize the gospel message for Botswana. / Church Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)