Teologiese motiewe vir 'n missionêr diakonale bediening van die kerk : op weg na 'n begronding van die missionêr diakonale ekklessiologie (Afrikaans)

Afrikaans : samevatting Vir ‘n missioner-diakonale ekklessiologie is dit belangrik vir die kerk om sekerheid te hê oor: • sy identiteit in Christus • sy roeping deur Christus • sy eenheid in Christus. Vir ‘n missioner-diakonale bediening is dit belangrik dat die kerk sal weet dat hy maar een roeping in die wêreld het, naamlik die verkondiging van die Woord. Hierdie een roeping is multi-dimensioneel, en word vergestalt in die volgende bedienings: • Leitourgia • Kerugma • Koinonia • Diakonia Hierdie bedienings het ‘n na-binne (gemeente) gerigtheid, sowel as ‘n na-buite (gemeenskaps) gerigtheid. Hierdie een roeping van die kerk staan dan ook bekend as die marturia en kom prakties tot uitdrukking in die Missionêre Diakonaat. Missionêre Diakonaat is egter nie die somtotaal van evangelisasie plus diens nie. Egte kerugma het ‘n inherente sosiale dimensie, egte diakonia ‘n inherente verkondigingsdimensie. Sider sê tereg: “The time has come for all biblical Christians to refuse to use the sentence: the primary task of the Church is … I do not care if you complete the sentence with evangelism or social action. Either way it is unbiblical and misleading.” Albei dimensies is onlosmaaklik aan mekaar verbonde. Verloor jy die een, verloor jy ook die ander (Bosch 1979:228). Al wat van belang is, is geloof wat deur liefde tot dade oorgaan (Gal.5:6).Thesis (DD (Science of Religion and Missiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Science of Religion and Missiologyunrestricte

Transforming Africa : some missiological perspectives from the Belhar Confession

In the strategic document of the African Union approved in 2013 and spanning over 50 years, known as Agenda 2063, we find a blueprint for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse of the future. Many of the themes mentioned in Agenda 2063 are also mentioned in the New Testament, such as slavery, unity, poverty, women, children, discrimination and diversity. It is therefore clear that Christianity has something to contribute to Agenda 2063. Another word used throughout the Agenda 2063 document is 'transformation'. Concepts such as 'transformative leadership' and 'radical transformation at all levels and in all spheres' are mentioned. This contribution draws on the Agenda 2063 document to engage the missiological themes of unity, reconciliation and justice through the lens of the Belhar Confession. Deeply aware of the pain and disruption colonial Christianity has caused in many instances in Africa, the author contends that the Good News, particularly the New Testament themes of unity, reconciliation and justice, present a potentially transformative approach towards developing Africa. The research question that this article attends to is: how can the churches in Africa contribute to the aspirations of Agenda 2063 from the themes of unity, justice and reconciliation as declared in the Belhar Confession? By interrogating these key concepts of Agenda 2063 through the Confession of Belhar, the author concludes that the Belhar Confession can be regarded as a key African document, which could be explored further to facilitate unity, reconciliation and justice on the continent. CONTRIBUTION: This article indicates the important relationship between church and state and the need for a partnership for the benefit of both. The need for a transforming state and a transforming church to participate in a transformed Africa is argued. The article promotes multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary aspects of studies as part of a mission praxis and application.http://www.hts.org.zaPractical Theolog

Online theological education within the South African context

This article presents the results of an empirical research study conducted at the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria on students' experiences of online theological education during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic between 2019 and 2020. Particular attention is given to the context of higher education in South Africa as a background to the research. The article discusses students' views and experiences of the different modes of teaching, namely, face-to-face, online, and hybrid or blended teaching. After discussing the different modes of teaching, some of the challenges experienced in online learning are explored, and finally, several recommendations are proposed for the improvement of theological education. The article concludes with the finding that the current infrastructure in South Africa is sufficient to make online education sustainable. Within the present South African context, it might also be the only viable option to ensure access to higher education for students. The study also found that the current theological students prefer online or at least blended methods of theological education for different reasons mentioned in the article. CONTRIBUTION: Although there are still some challenges to online theological education, the current infrastructure in South Africa is sufficient to make online education sustainable. The article promotes multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary aspects of studies in the international theological arena.University of Pretoriahttp://www.hts.org.za/http://www.hts.org.zaPractical Theolog

The Dutch Reformed Church and multi-cultural ministry : Angolana, a rural challenge

The article deals with the complexities of a multi-cultural ministry within the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (DRCSA). Although the DRCSA is an “open” church where anyone from any race, culture or language is welcomed, the praxis of multi-cultural ministry is not always feasible. This article sets out to explore some of the reasons why the synodical declarations and decisions did not influence or help a rural congregation, particularly a non-white rural congregation in the DRCSA. Herein, the decisions of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa are deliberated, particularly regarding multi-cultural ministry and the implications thereof for congregations like Angolana. Specific attention is given to Angolana because of the socio-political and cultural contexts of this congregation. The role and the calling of the church in a context where a community is challenged by forced removals are also considered.https://upjournals.co.za/index.php/SHE/indexdm2022Practical Theolog

Theological education, spiritual formation and leadership development in Africa : what does God have to do with it?

Theological education, spiritual formation and leadership are all contested issues in the Church, especially within the African context. Although these topics are thoroughly discussed, the relation and the interdependence are not always clear. This article discusses these topics in relation to each other and in relation to the One who calls servant leaders to guide his church for her service in the world. The importance of the local church as missional church is emphasised in the article. Thus, what the faith community believes and teaches about God determines our ecclesiology, theological education and leadership. What does God have to do with theological education, spiritual formation and leadership development in Africa? The answer is everything! The article used a literary study to research the relationship between the different topics and the church and concluded that dependence exists between them. CONTRIBUTION: Much is written on theological education in Africa. However, students come into theological education with an already established spirituality formed by other agents. The article contributes to the discussion about the relation between formal theological, spiritual formation and leadership. It emphasises the relation between the theological institution and the local church.http://www.hts.org.zaPractical Theolog

Voorwoord : diakonaat herontdek?

Hierdie spesiale uitgawe het ten doel om vas te stel wat is die verstaan en teologie wat verband hou met die diakonale bediening binne vyf van die Afrikaanssprekende kerke in Suid-Afrika. Dit is ’n navorsingprojek van die Universiteit van Pretoria wat gedeeltelik befonds is deur die SuidAfrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Die doel van die navorsing oor die diakonaat is dat die projek sal uitbrei om later al die kerke in Suid Afrika in te sluit.http://www.ve.org.za/index.php/VEPractical Theolog

Decolonising or Africanisation of the theological curriculum : a critical reflection

This article presents a critical reflection on the theological curricula at (South) African Universities’ faculties of theology (and religion) from a missional hermeneutic focusing on decolonisation or Africanisation. Realising that it is not sufficient merely to make a few alterations, this article takes a more practical and technical approach to amend the curricula to be more contextualised for Africa. The decolonisation or Africanisation challenge for a Faculty of Theology is three-fold: (i) to address content (African contextualisation); (ii) mode/s of delivery - Open Distance Learning (ODL) and (iii) Programmes and Qualification Mix (PQM) diversity (new programmes - diplomas and certificates). The question to which this article attends is this: what are the implications of decolonisation or Africanisation in a faculty of theology at an institution of higher education in (South) Africa?http://scriptura.journals.ac.zaam2022Practical Theolog

Theological challenges regarding diakonia in some of the Afrikaans South African churches

This article attends to the theological foundation of the diaconate from the missio trinitatis Dei and its implications, especially for the Afrikaans-speaking Reformed churches. The missio Dei, of the Father, Son, and Spirit is directed at the realities of this life. The new heaven and the new earth are not mutually exclusive. The earth is sanctified anew, man has created anew [recreated], and our bodies are raised anew [revived]. This new earth, a new man, and new life come through the merciful dikaiosune of the Father, the diakonia of the Son, and the koinonia of the Holy Spirit. The diaconate and the missionary ministry of the church are caught in the essence of God and therefore belong to the essence of missionary ecclesiology. From the trinitarian perspective, the purpose of the diaconate is described as well as the relationship between the diaconate, the church, and the kingdom. The last part of the article deals with salvation and diaconate and the implications of a trinitarian understanding of the diaconate for the understanding of salvation. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : This article makes an interdisciplinary contribution to the theological discussion within the Afrikaans-speaking churches from the perspective of systematic and practical theology.https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/vePractical Theolog

Opportunities and challenges of theological education and missional formation in the 4IR : a paradigm shift

In discussing the opportunities and challenges of theological education within a ‘glocal’ context, which in the context of this article is focussing on Africa, African Traditional Religions, other living faiths, post-Christendom, illiteracy, traditionalism, secularisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), are all part of a paradigm shift. Addressing this paradigm shift, the article will at least address the following three issues. First, the re-examining of some methodological aspects of our curriculums. The second aspect I would call human- (student and educator) centred awareness, or it can also be called ‘knowledge-constitutive interest’. The third aspect of theological education has to do with the fact that theological education does not take place ‘out there’ but is a life transforming and very personal issue that has to do with praxis, a way of life.https://journals.sagepub.com/home/TRNhj2023Practical Theolog

African youth, African faith(s), African environment and sustainable development : a missional diaconal calling

This article aims missional diaconate as a method of sustainable development in Africa. The focus is on the interdependence and relation between African youth, African faith(s) and African environment within the context of spirituality and religiosity. Africa is a youth continent, where 200 million of the population is between the ages of 15 and 24 years of age. Although African people are known for their religiosity and spirituality, not much attention is given to these aspects when thinking of and planning for development. Speaking about African traditional beliefs, Africans live close to nature and the environment; traditionally, they were and some still are subsistence farmers, making a living from the natural environment, while most of the youth struggle to survive in a more industrialised, modern and global world. As such, the sustainability of development, especially in the form of urbanisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution – which hit Africa as a reality with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – remains in question, where so many seemingly valuable developments have failed in the past. CONTRIBUTION : The research question this article wants to answer is: What is unique in the contribution of missional diaconate as method of sustainable development amongst African youth in their context? The question is answered when missional diaconate is applied to the five elements of faith formation as discussed by Weber. It became clear from this article that while development is designed to overcome material needs, missional diaconate motivated from the unconditional love of God is focused on identity, relations and values.http://www.hts.org.zaam2022Practical Theolog