Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is a historical investigation of the role of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Namibia (ELCIN) regarding social development with special attention to education as an
agency of social change. ELCIN is the largest Lutheran church in Namibia, which was born
out of the Finnish missionary activities after their arrival in the former Ovamboland in 1870.
The Finnish missionaries became the first missionaries to do mission work in Ovamboland.
This qualifies them to be regarded as pioneers of social development and of the
transformation of society through education among the Ovambo people.
ELCIN’s humble beginnings started as a mission field and developed into mission
congregations; thereafter as a mission church and finally as independent church in 1954.
The study shows that since its inception ELCIN has been committed to serve her members
holistically (spiritually and socially). The focus of this study is to contribute to the
understanding of the role ELCIN played to bring about development through education. The
study therefore attempts to answer questions regarding the role the Finnish missionaries
played in education and should be understood within the broader context of the history of
ELCIN, for example, what arrangements were made and what developments took place
during the indigenization process. Further, the study points out the educational challenges
ELCIN encountered during the time of social development through education. In answering
these questions, the study demonstrates how ELCIN played a decisive role in social
development in Ovamboland, especially by way of education and training. The study refers
to both informal (Christian) and formal (general or inclusive secular) education and the role
each of these forms of education played in social change. The study also reflects on the
engagement between ELCIN and the context resulting from the South African mandate in Namibia (then South West Africa). Finally, it is recommended that, in light of the positive
contribution made by ELCIN to the social development of its members and communities by
way of education in the past, it should continue this role in an independent Namibia. This
could be done by way of intensifying Christian education among its members in order to
educate and inspire people to remain faithful to their Christian values. In this way, ELCIN will
continue to play a meaningful role in the life of communities and their members. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingstudie is ‘n historiese ondersoek na die rol van die Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Namibia (ELCIN) ten opsigte van sosiale ontwikkeling met spesiale verwysing na
opvoeding as ‘n agent vir sosiale verandering. ELCIN is een van die grootste Lutherse kerke
in Namibië, wat ontstaan het uit die aktiwiteite van die Finse sendelinge na hulle aankoms in
die eertydse Ovamboland in 1870. Die Finse sendelinge was die eerste sendelinge wat
sendingwerk in Ovamboland onderneem het. As gevolg hiervan word hulle beskou as
pioniers van sosiale ontwikkeling en transformasie in die gemeenskap deur die opvoeding
van die mense van Ovamboland.
ELCIN het sy nederige ontstaan gehad as ‘n sendingveld en het ontwikkel tot
sendinggemeentes; daarna tot ‘n sendingkerk en uiteindelik in 1954 tot ‘n onafhanklike
kerk. Die studie dui aan dat ELCIN sedert sy ontstaan toegewyd was aan die taak om sy lede
op ‘n holistiese vlak (geestelik en sosiaal) te ontwikkel. Die fokus van hierdie studie is om ‘n
bydrae te lewer tot ‘n dieper begrip van die rol wat ELCIN gespeel het ten opsigte van
hierdie ontwikkeling. Die studie het dus gepoog om vrae te beantwoord oor die rol wat die
Finse sendelinge in opvoeding gespeel het en behoort verstaan te word binne die breër
konteks van die geskiendenis van ELCIN. Watter reëlings is getref en watter ontwikkelings
het plaasgevind gedurende die inheemswordingsproses? Die studie dui verder op die
opvoedkundige uitdagings wat ELCIN gedurende die tyd van sosiale ontwikkeling deur
opvoeding ondervind het. Ter beantwoording van hierdie vrae word deur die studie aangedui hoe ELCIN ‘n
deurslaggewende rol in die sosiale ontwikkeling van Ovamboland gespeel het, veral deur
middel van opvoeding en opleiding. Die studie verwys na beide informele (Christelike) en
formele (algemene of inklusiewe) opvoeding en na die rol wat elk van hierdie vorms van
opvoeding gespeel het ten opsigte van sosiale verandering. Die studie kyk ook eers na die
verhouding tussen ELCIN en die Suid‐Afrikaanse regering gedurende Namibië (die destydse
Suidwes‐Afrika) se jare as mandaatgebied en daarna word aanbevelings gemaak. In die lig
van die positiewe bydrae wat ELCIN in die verlede gemaak het tot sosiale ontwikkeling,
word aanbeveel dat hierdie bydrae in ‘n onafhanklike Namibië voortgesit word. Dit behoort
te geskied deur ‘n intensifisering van Christelike onderwys onder lede ten einde die mense
op te voed en te inspireer om getrou te bly aan hulle Christelike waardes. Op hierdie wyse sal ELCIN voortgaan om ‘n betekensivolle rol in die lewe van die gemeenskappe en hul lede
te speel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/85747 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Nangula, Eino M. |
| Contributors | Vosloo, R. R., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiv, 138 leaves : ill., maps |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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