Responsible renewal in the Christian church is a subject that has been debated
widely for the past few decades and the debate takes on various forms. In some
circles renewal means the implementation of new styles of service (ministry),
resulting in a change in the character and spirituality of the church. It would,
however, seem that most of the renewal movements simply have in mind numerical
growth as a paradigm. For proponents of the Emerging Church the word ârenewalâ
seems outdated, as it simply links to a forced adaptation from an old obsolete
paradigm of being church.
The Evangelies-Gereformeerde Kerk van Suid-Afrika (EGK) has as one of its aims
the continuous focus on renewal with regards to a new breeze in witness,
experience and message. In doing so, the church declares that a dead formalism and cold orthodoxy (teaching without life) are not welcome. On the one hand, the
EGK assumes a strong conservative character, in all aspects obedient to the Bible
as the Word of God, whilst, on the other hand, campaigning for spiritual renewal so
that the lives of members will be in line with the holiness doctrine of the church.
This research is aimed at establishing how practical and meaningful renewal can be
achieved within the EGK, without the church compromising its Biblical convictions
and conservative character. It is shown how the EGK was founded in 1944 from the
ranks of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) to answer to the need for
spiritual renewal amongst evangelical members within the NGK. In this regard, the
establishment of the EGK itself can be regarded as a renewal church. After six
decades since its founding, there is a dire need for spiritual renewal, which will bring
the lives of members of the church in line with its doctrine. Such renewal is
eminently the work of God, but obedient men are the agents in realising renewal.
As a starting point a theoretical basis investigation was done with regard to a
Practical Theological ecclesiology in order to reach a meaningful practice theory for
responsible renewal within the EGK. The Bible is the basis for establishing what the
calling and task of the church ought to be, and the principles for being church are
confirmed anew. This theoretical basis investigation is expanded in order to
establish what responsible renewal involves according to the Bible. In both chapters
contributions from leading local Practical theologians and those worldwide were
researched, and data was tested against the Scriptural accuracy thereof.
Furthermore, research was done with regard to contemporary renewal tendencies
within the Church of Christ. The âChurch Growth Movementâ, âSeeker Sensitive Movementâ, âEmerging Churchâ, âJesus Seminarâ, and the âNew Reform Networkâ
are critically judged from the diaconiological paradigm.
For an empirical study qualitative interviews were conducted with leaders in the
church regarding their experience of the status quo within the EGK, and to acquire
proposals towards responsible renewal. This qualitative research was done in
accordance with an interpretative approach in which initial concepts are validated
and configurations done towards forming a theory which results in a more effective
praxis.
In accordance with the nature of a diaconiological epistemology, Scriptural
principles are supplemented with knowledge from the human sciences and a new
practice theory is suggested regarding responsible renewal within the EGK.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-11102011-143039 |
| Date | 10 November 2011 |
| Creators | Bester, Andries Johannes Daniël |
| Contributors | Prof J Janse van Rensburg |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-11102011-143039/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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