Thesis (MTh)(Practical Theology and Missiology)--University of Stellenbosch, 1997 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The church is commissioned to make disciples by baptising them and teaching
them what the Head of the church, Jesus Christ, taught his disciples. One of the
accents in recent literature is that faith development (making disciples) is also
a socialising process. The church is one of the socialising agents and plays
a special role in the faith development of each individual member, and especially
in the faith development of the child. According to developmental psychology a
special developmental task of the pre-school years is socialization. These
years are very important for socialising in general, and therefore for faith
development as a socialising process.
How successful is the socialising process when the pre-schoolers comprise a
very small part of a congregation? The Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch-
Sentraal has an aging congregation; pre-schoolers comprise a mere 3% of its
members. If they do not experience that they belong to the congregation and if
there are insufficient opportunities for them to take part in congregational
activities the necessary faith development (in so far as it'comprises socialization)
is impaired.The body of the church should communicate to pre-schoolers that they form
part of the body. In our era of electronic communication it may happen that
communication between congregation and pre-schooler is unsuccessful when
the congregation do not communicate purposefully and in the language and in
the range of perception of the pre-schooler of this era. The question is therefore
posed: How effectively does the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch-
Sentraal communicate to its pre-schoolers that they are part of the body of
this church?
In order to answer this question one should study the results of the
communication process of the pre-schoolers. One should look at the cognitive
contents already established in the pre-schoolers, but this alone can be
misleading. The author holds the opinion that pre-schoolers form perceptions
about the congregation in the process of communication. Their perceptions form
a positive or negative filter through which all further communication is sent. If
the pre-schoolers have positive perceptions of this congregation, it will be
conducive to further faith development. The problem is therefore posed: Do the
perceptions of the pre-schoolers of the Dutch Reformed Church
Stellenbosch-Sentraal on the congregation show that they associate
themselves positively with the congregation?
An answer to this question will enable the local church to evaluate whether it
understands its role as socialising agent in faith development. This may lead to
adjustments in its ministry. For the Christian church in general the processes
taking place and being described in one specific congregation may lead to
reflection and evaluating of similar processes taking place within every Christian
church. Such reflection is even more necessary in our secularised pluralistic
world, a world in which the Christian church wishes to maintain the uniqueness
and necessity of the Biblical salvation message.
With the aim of discovering and describing their perceptions, all pre-schoolers
in the congregation born between 01-01-1989 and 31-12-1990 were selected
and methods were designed to reveal and describe their perceptions about
the congregation. Their perceptions were revealed and described through
kinetic drawings (interpreted by more than one person), the design of a
projective measuring instrument with pictures and reporting (conversations). At
the same time the attitude of the congregation towards these pre-schoolers were
gauged by means of participant observation and in a random opinion poll.
Conclusions
Although the researcher had (thanks to the research!) very good relations with
most of the pre-schoolers and they probably were inclined to give answers which
they would regard as having a positive influence on that relationship, their
answers during conversations with them point to positive perceptions of
aspects of the congregation of which they are part. Their good relationship with
the researcher is one of these positive aspects. It does not however necessarily
follow that positive perceptions are in the majority. There are negative
perceptions as well. Some positive remarks made by the pre-schoolers
were cancelled in part by remarks by their parents indicating that they objected
to going to some of the meetings of the church.
They used some surprising concepts about the congregation. In so far as
faith development contains a knowledge component (faith = knowledge + trust) it
can be accepted that the concepts that they use at the moment will form an
important basis for further faith development. Perceptions, unlike concepts,
suggest something about the relationship between subject (child) and object
(congregation). The concepts do not necessarily point to the existence of
positive perceptions about the congregation. However, the researcher found
that the cognitive basis was supported by a moderately positive affective
component. It seems that there are several elements of enjoymenU
pleasantness in
• the socialising (fellowship) of the smaller primary gatherings such as family
prayers and get-togethers of a few families,
• the service aspect of outreaches to small children in squatter camps at
secondary meetings such as "kinderkrans", the weekly children's meeting
(empathy, compassion, missions)
• and the festive elements such as singing, lighting of candles, and going to the
pulpit in family services as tertiary meetings.
Whether these positive experiences resonate sufficiently in the words, deeds
and attitudes of other (adult) members of the church remains to be seen. The
research has shown that the congregation is making adaptations in order to
heighten the effectiveness of its communication and that the pre-schoolers
point to these elements as pleasant congregational experiences. The research
also showed that pre-school children need symbols to express their identification
with the congregation. The church council should therefore stress
representative symbol communication and rituals in a building without
important symbols such as a tower and bells, and where the neighbouring
church building is rich in symbols.
However, effective communication within a congregation is not only about visible
symbols and rituals, but are about communication which is born in the heart of a
loving Father God. In union with Jesus Christ, his Son and Head of the body of
the church, members are involved in a great communication process of which
the content may be typified as gospel (good news). In order to talk about
effective communication, the congregation should listen to and search for
the vision of God, and they should expect the Creator Spirit to grant the
congregation gifts that can be used in the new communication era in order
to further the evangelical dialogue between God and the pre-school child
(amongst others) and between the congregation and the pre-school child.
Should the congregation not grasp that each member is there for the sake of
others, the congregation is in danger of breaking up in generational or other groupings, not grasping the benefits from inter-generational gatherings where
each group can contribute towards the faith development of other groups. When
harmony, reconciliation and supplementation are pursued in a pluriform way in
the worship and service programmes of the congregation, the pre-schooler
should not be absent. When the pre-schooler forms part of this kind of worship,
he finds his own meaning. The congregation is the setting where this
glorification of God is realised in the temporal. If this research contributes
towards empowering the congregation to incorporate the pre-school children of
the congregation in congregational activities in honour of God, to glorify Him,
then this research may be regarded as the practice of successful practical
theology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die gemeente het die opdrag om dissipels te maak deur hulle te doop en alles te
leer wat die Hoof van die gemeente, Jesus Christus, sy volgelinge beveel het.
Een van die beklemtonings in die meer resente Iiteratuur is dat geloofsvorming
(om dissipels te maak) o.a. 'n sosialiseringsproses is. Die gemeente is een
van die besondere sosialiseringsagente en speel 'n spesiale ral in die vorming
van die geloof van elke indiwiduele lidmaat, en in besonder die geloofsvorming
van die kind. In die kleuterjare is sosialisering volgens die
ontwikkelingsielkunde "n spesiale ontwikkelingstaak. Die kleuterjare is dus
besonder belangrik vir sosialisering in die algemeen, maar dan ook vir
geloofsvorming as 'n sosialiseringsproses.
Hoe geslaagd is hierdie sosialiseringsproses wanneer die kleuters 'n baie klein
persentasie van 'n gemeente uitmaak? Die Ned. Geref. Kerk Stellenbosch-
Sentraal is 'n verouderende gemeente waarvan slegs 3% van sy lidmate
voorskools is. Sonder die ervaring dat hulle aan die gemeente behoort, en
sonder genoeg geleentheid tot deelname aan die aktiwiteite van die gemeente,
word die nodige geloofsvorming (in soverre dit sosialisering is), benadeel.
Die gemeenteliggaam behoort aan die kleuters te kommunikeer dat hulle deel
is van die gemeente. In die nuwe elektroniese kommunikasie-era mag dit egter
gebeur dat die kommunikasie tussen gemeente en kleuter nie staag nie, omdat
die gemeente nie doelgerig, in die taal en belewingswereld van die kleuter van
hierdie era kommunikeer nie. Die vraag word dus gestel: Hoe effektief
kommunikeer die Ned. Geref. Kerk Stellenbosch-Sentraal aan sy kleuters
dat hulle deel van die gemeenteliggaam is?
Om hierdie vraag te beantwoord, kan 'n mens probeer kyk na resultate van die
kommunikasieproses by die kleuters. 'n Mens sou kon kyk na die kognitiewe
inhoude wat reeds by die kleuters gevestig het, maar dit aileen kan misleidend
wees. Die navorser is van oordeel dat die kleuters in die kommunikasieproses
persepsies oor die gemeente vorm. Hierdie persepsies vorm 'n positiewe of
negatiewe filter waardeur aile verdere kommunikasie gestuur word. Indien die
kleuters dus positiewe persepsies van die gemeente het, kan dit bevorderlik
wees vir verdere geloofsvorming. Daarom lui die probleemstelling: Dui die
persepsies wat die kleuters van die Ned. Geref. Kerk Stellenbosch-Sentraal
oor die gemeente het daarop dat hulle hulleself positief met die gemeente
verbind?
'n Antwoord op hierdie vraag kan die plaaslike gemeente help om te evalueer of
hy sy rol as sosialiseringsagent in die geloofsvorming verstaan. Dit kan lei tot
aanpassings in die bedieningspraktyk. Vir die Christelike kerk in die
algemeen kan die prosesse wat in een gemeente gebeur en beskryf word, lei tot
besinning en evaluering van dieselfde prosesse wat binne elke Christelike
gemeente plaasvind. Hierdie besinning is des te meer noodsaaklik in 'n
gesekulariseerde pluralistiese wereld, waarbinne die Christelike Kerk die
uniekheid en noodsaaklikheid van die Bybelse verlossingsboodskap wil
handhaaf.
Met 'n eksplorerend-beskrywend doel voor oe is all die kleuters wat aan die
gemeente behoort en wat tussen 01-01-1989 en 31-12-1990 gebore is,
geselekteer en metodes ontwerp om hulle persepsies oor die gemeente aan
die Iig te bring en te beskryf. Deur kinetiese tekeninge (wat deur meer as een
persoon ge'interpreteer is), die ontwerp van 'n projektiewe meetinstrument met
prente, en selfrapportering (gesprekke) is die persepsies van die kleuters
ontbloot en beskryf. Terselfdertyd is die houding van die gemeente teenoor
hierdie kleuters gepeil deur middel van deelnemende waarneming en in 'n
steekproef-meningsopname.
Gevolgtrekkings:
Alhoewel die navorser (danksy die navorsing!) op baie goeie voet met die
meeste kleuters geplaas is en kleuters in gesprekke waarskynlik ook antwoorde
gegee het wat hulle as bevorderlik vir die verhouding tussen hulle en die
navorser kon beskou, wil dit tog voorkom asof die kleuters aangename
persepsies oor aspekte van die gemeenteliggaam het. Die positiewe
verhouding met die navorser op sigself is een so 'n positiewe aspek. Dit beteken
egter nie noodwendig dat daar 'n oorwig van aangename persepsies is nie. Daar
is ook negatiewe persepsies. Positiewe opmerkings deur kleuters oor
aktiwiteite word gedeeltelik uitgekanselleer deur opmerkings van kleuterouers
wat aandui dat hulle protesteer teen sekere soort byeenkomste.
Die kleuters het In aantal verrassende konsepte rondom die gemeente
gebruik. In soverre geloofsvorming ook 'n kenniskomponent het (geloof = kennis
+ vertroue), kan daar aanvaar word dat die begrippe wat die kleuters tans
hanteer 'n belangrike onderbou vorm vir verdere geloofsvorming. Persepsies,
anders as konsepte, suggereer egter iets van die verhouding tussen die subjek
(kleuter) en die objek (gemeente). Die konsepte dui dus nie sonder meer die
bestaan van positiewe persepsies oor die gemeente aan nie. Die navorser het
egter ook waargeneem dat die kognitiewe onderbou ondersteun word deur 'n
redelik positiewe affektiewe komponent. Daar is genoeg aanduiding dat daar
heelwat elemente van genieting/aangenaamheid is in
• die sosialisering ('fellowship') by veral die kleiner primere byeenkomste soos
by huisgodsdiens en wanneer 'n paar gesinne bymekaar kom,
• die diensgerigtheid en uitreike na kleuters van die nabygelee plakkers-area
by die sekondere groeperings soos die kinderkrans (empatie, barmhartigheid,
sending),
• en die vieringselemente soos die sang, aansteek van kerse, beweging na die
liturgiese ruimte by die gesinsdienste as tersiere byeenkomste.
Of hierdie aangename ervarings genoegsaam resoneer in die woorde, dade en
houdings van ander (volwasse) lidmate, bly 'n ope vraag. Die navorsing het
aangetoon dat die gemeente aanpassings maak om die effektiwiteit van die
kommunikasie te verhoog en dat die kleuters juis na hierdie vernuwende
elemente verwys as aangename gemeente-ervarings. Die navorsing het egter
ook aangetoon dat kleuters visuele simbole nodig het om uitdrukking te gee aan
hulle gemeente-identiteit. Die kerkraad behoort erns te maak met die
representatiewe simboolkommunikasie en rituele in 'n kerkgebou waar
belangrike simbole soos die toring en klokke ontbreek, en waar die
buurgemeente se kerkgebou besonder ryk is aan simbole.
Effektiewe kommunikasie binne gemeenteverband het egter nie net te doen met
uiterlike simbole en rituele nie, maar met 'n kommunikasiegebeure wat ontspring
in die hart van die Iiefdevolle Vadergod. In verbondenheid aan Jesus, sy Seun,
die Hoof van die gemeenteliggaam, is die gemeentelede betrek by 'n groot
kommunikasieproses waarvan die inhoud as evangelie (goeie nuus) getipeer
word. Om dus te praat van effektiewe kommunikasie sal daar meer geluister
en gesoek moet word na die visie van God, en meer verwag moet word dat
die kreatiewe Skeppergees sy gemeente sal begenadig met gawes wat in
die nuwe kommunikasie-era gebruik kan word om die evangeliese dialoog
tussen God en kleuter (onder andere), asook gemeente en kleuter te
bevorder. Indien die gemeente nie verstaan dat elke lid daar is ter wille van die
ander nie, kan die gemeente in generasiegroepe of ander groepe opbreek
sonder dat hulle verstaan dat die gemeente baat by intergeneratiewe
byeenkomste waarbinne elke groep 'n bydrae lewer tot die geloofsvorming van
die ander. Wanneer daar egter op pluriforme wyse (baie style, vorme, smake) in
die aanbidding en diensgerigtheid saam harmonie, versoening en aanvulling
gesoek word mag die kleuter se plek nie leeg wees nie. Wanneer die kleuter in
hierdie aanbidding deel kry, vind hy ook sy eie sin. Die gemeente is by uitstek
die ruimte waarbinne hierdie verheerliking in die tydelike bedeling realiseer. In
soverre hierdie navorsing 'n bydrae kon lewer om die gemeenteruimte te help vul
met die sinvolle inskakeling van die gemeentekleuters wat God saam verheerlik,
in soverre was die navorsing die beoefening van geslaagde praktiese teologie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16083 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Du Toit, Paul Albertus |
| Contributors | Prins, J. M. G., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 477 p. : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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