Doctoral Degrees (Practical Theology and Missiology)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Practical Theology and Missiology) by browse.metadata.advisor "Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Conflict resolution for sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Didier, Kasongo Wa Kumutombo; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is second to Algeria as the largest country in Africa in terms of size. The country and is exponentially rich in both natural resources and wild life. However, the country is classed among the poorest of the world and it also has a long history of conflicts. Conflict and development are interconnected and, in the case of the DRC, the state of the country's poverty may find its explanation in the long history of conflicts. This, in turn, creates potentials for conflicts. The DRC has an estimated 90 per cent of Christian followers despite being officially a secular country. Although there is a significant amount of literature on the subject of conflict resolution and development on the DRC, this study focuses on the role of the church in conflict resolution and its efforts in promoting sustainable development; this, from a theological perspective. The study, therefore, explores the history of the DRC and that of the Great Lakes Region in order to understand the Congolese crisis, which has national, regional and international connotations. Development and conflict theories are, therefore, developed for a better understanding of the subject under investigation and the interrelationship between the two is argued within the context of the DRC and the broader African continent. The theological concept of shalom is here explored in order to reflect on how the church could be involved in conflict resolution and sustainable development. An argument is made that the biblical concept of shalom is holistic. From various historical records, it is noted that the church has always been involved in the day to day life in the DRC. The research shows that the church and its leadership have not done enough to see shalom established in the DRC despite the many opportunities they have been given to do so from the colonial era up to this day. The research, ultimately, makes recommendations to the church in order to promote identified Kingdom values for the establishment of shalom, which leads to the resolution of the conflict and the implementation of sustainable development. Finally, a peace-building model that focuses on hope, healing, forgiveness and reconciliation is proposed to resolve the conflict and bring about sustainable development in the DRC.
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    Empowerment by hope : a phenomenological study on the health and wellbeing of African refugee migrants
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03-03) Msabah, Barnabe Anzuruni; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ours is a century of migration. It has become more necessary for people to migrate than ever before in human history due to a variety of reasons including political instability and economic opportunities. The rate at which migration is increasing, nevertheless, poses serious challenges to various countries. South Africa is not immune. However, not all migrants migrate at will. For some, migration suggests recreation or acceptance of a job offer; but for others, it is a dangerous movement. It is forced and could mean permanent expulsion from home. Such is the case for refugee migrants. Theirs is a case of inconvenience; a case of expulsion from their territorial space and exclusion from socio-economic ownership. Although the end of the refugee migration is somewhat beneficial to an émigré for the reason that, in such a case, life is spared from various forms of persecution, the process of migration is itself detrimental since it involves serious challenges that affect refugees’ health and wellbeing. This study aims to encourage a paradigm shift in Theology and Development, proposing that hope and empowerment are an inseparable binary with affective dimensions on being and belonging. In this way, putting hope into practice is fundamentally an asset for improved wellbeing and significant in the process of recovery from illness. The study begins with a review of existing literature by six prominent scholars from various academic fields who have dealt intensively with hope. This is then followed by a discussion and analysis of the relationship between hope and empowerment in the development discourse within the African context. Finally, qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with key informants, and through focus group discussions with representatives of the refugee community in Cape Town is presented and analysed in view of understanding empowerment by hope. In addition to being an indicator of human dignity, the findings of this research indicate that, amongst other things, hope is a practical tool for holistic development. In the end, recommendations that collate hope and empowerment are proposed in order to assist role players such as faith communities, researchers and policymakers in developing appropriate responses for managing the refugee phenomenon, particularly as it relates to the health and wellbeing of refugee migrants.
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    Microfinance as a tool for socio-economic empowerment of rural women in Northern Malawi : a practical theological reflection
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04-04) Chilongozi, Mwawi Nyirenda; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Claassens, L. Juliana M.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Poverty is a multifaceted, gendered global challenge that affects women significantly more than men. To alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable development, women in the Global South are engaging in microfinance. Microfinance is the provision of financial services to underprivileged people who cannot access credit from commercial banks and is proving to be a tool of socio-economic empowerment of women from rural areas. This study explores the ways in which the church can promote the microfinance model of savings and loans in a holistic and sustainable way. This study discusses poverty and the feminisation of poverty in the light of the gender and development (GAD) approach and explores the status of women in Malawi in terms of education, health, agriculture, the environment, politics, issues of gender-based violence and socio-economic empowerment. African women theologies and transnational feminism are the theoretical lenses used to explore the advancement of the socio-economic empowerment of rural women in the Global South in the context of economic globalisation. Identified as feminist liberation theologies that seek justice and liberation of all people, African women theologies, are used as the theological lens to analyse the socio-economic empowerment of women in order to explore how women can be liberated from the oppression caused by economic injustice. As a qualitative empirical study, this research explores the nature and impact of existing savings and loans groups run by rural women in the communities of Bwengu and Bolero in Northern Malawi. With a view to understanding the role of the church in microfinance with regards to rural women, clergy from the Henga and Nyika Presbyteries and church leaders of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia and the Malawi Council of Churches were also included in the study. The findings from the empirical research indicate that microfinance is beneficial to individual women, their families and communities as the savings and loan model encourages women to save money from their resources. Through the savings and loan groups, it appears that women are empowered socio-economically and they become financially independent. The findings also indicate that women who are involved in savings and loan groups can now participate in decision making at household and community levels. Furthermore, women’s involvement in such groups assists in reducing incidents of gender-based violence at the household level because women are making a substantial contribution to the household income. The microfinance model of savings and loans is, therefore, deemed to be both holistic as it encourages women to save from what they have and to generate social capital and spiritual inspiration as they work together in solidarity through the groups. These findings call the church to engage with such models of economic development as they highlight the fact that the churches are aware of microfinance initiatives but the churches have not engaged in the initiatives. However, there is need for the churches to engage in such initiatives because they empower the communities. In order to promote holistic and sustainable microfinance, the church has to advocate for economic justice and build the capacities of its members concerning microfinance. The church should, therefore, seek to encourage all including men, women and youth to engage in microfinance so that the entire community is lifted and empowered socio-economically.
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    Partnership towards self-reliance : back to God movement of South Africa as a case study of holistic mission
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03 ) Celesi, Mawonga Phaphile; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Poverty is an enormous challenge that the church and the world face today, and efforts are being made across societal sectors by mission and development practitioners to overcome it. If holistic mission and development are to be realised, the Church and development practitioners have to partner with the poor in efforts to help them achieve self-reliance. Poverty alleviation through diaconal means, such as feeding schemes and soup kitchens, is beneficial in development, but it is even more beneficial when this partnership translates into developmental projects that help the poor do things for themselves and be self-sustaining, expressing and demonstrating their God-given qualities and talents in society. This study aims to demonstrate how the two components of the gospel mandate, evangelism and social development, complement one another and make mission and development holistic, rather than working in opposition, which is detrimental to the gospel. The poor are affirmed as worthy partners in mission and development, while the Church is affirmed as a strategic partner in the poor's journey out of poverty. This effort advocates for the poor in this partnership to be afforded space and an opportunity to express themselves as worthy mission and development participants. As a result, the partnership ethos that guides the partnership between the Church and the poor is being looked at with the purpose of cushioning and shielding the poor in the journey, as people who often suffer in relationships with development partners. In this study, the Assemblies of God-Back to God (AoG-BtG) church is used as a case study of holistic mission to see how it was founded by Nicholas Bhengu and ministry colleagues to intentionally grow in a manner that helps the poor face the challenge of poverty through self-reliance means and initiatives. The AoG-BtG church has two development projects women's self-help initiatives and the youth education fund. Many in the development sector see women and youth as the face of poverty since they bear the brunt of poverty in society more than males, as a result, this study focuses on developmental initiatives for women and youth, and because this is a mission and development obstacle that cannot be overlooked. The objective of this study is to figure out how the Church can improve its efforts to tackle poverty through a partnership that features comprehensive strategies that help the poor to achieve self-reliance. The argument of this study in Africa is that the African context and philosophies, such as Ubuntu and Black Consciousness, should have an impact on the operations and conduct of the Church and developers, contributing to the comprehensiveness of mission and development. The Church that examines and takes the African context seriously cannot do so while remaining oblivious to the scourge of poverty and the need to address it, and any effort to address poverty should be done in partnership with the very poor who need assistance, instead of being done for them.
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    A practical theological exploration of the missional role and contribution of the Christian development organisation in Cape Town, South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12) Hancox, Deborah Merle; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Le Roux, Elisabet; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The church is currently undergoing a transformation from being a church with a mission, to becoming a missional church participating in the missio Dei. The missional discourse is the theological conversation about this transformation. This conversation, however, appears to be a particularly congregational and academic one, with missing dialogue partners. The Christian development organisation (CDO) that carries out significant amounts of global Christian activity in the area of humanitarian relief, social care and transformation, appears to be one such missing partner. To explore further whether the CDO is indeed a missing dialogue partner, this study aimed to expand the minimal literature about the CDO from a theological and, particularly, a missiological perspective, through the development of a substantive classic grounded theory. The expectation is that the findings will help CDO leaders, congregational leaders and theologians engaging the missional discourse to understand the CDO’s missional role and contribution. Classic grounded theory was selected as the most appropriate methodology for this context of discovery. In order to use the methodology in an intradisciplinary way within Practical Theology and Missiology, the researcher first articulated the missiological consensus that was developed during the 20th century and on which the missional discourse is based. Furthermore, given the absence of a clearly defined name for the unit of analysis, the CDO was also richly defined prior to the research. The research, undertaken with eighteen CDOs based in Cape Town, South Africa, elicited the substantive classic grounded theory of Waymaking. The main concern of the CDO was identified as being true to their calling, a concern that is constantly being resolved through the core category, which is following to make a way, a form of missional spirituality. Two strategy categories ensue from this. The primary strategy, helping holistically, is a process of helping their beneficiaries move towards greater flourishing in life. The second strategy is extending the congregation, which shows the persistent and interpenetrating relationship between the CDO and the congregation. Both strategies were found to be dependent on the ongoing forming of the CDO as a sustaining organisation. Waymaking was further extended by engaging literature as indicated by the theory. This resulted in four interconnected contours of a missional ecclesial pattern emerging from Waymaking, namely: the impetus-giving contour of a missional calling; the animating contour of a missional spirituality; the visible contour of missional encounters; the sustaining contour of missional communities. The research shows that the CDO is not only playing a missional role in its work, but also has a significant contribution to make to the missional discourse, which indicates the need for the CDO to be part of this theological conversation. This is especially necessary if the emergent missional church is to be a place of belonging for laity, women, World Christianity and those who have always been at the centre for the God of Compassion: the widow, the orphan, the foreigner and the poor.
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    Social transformation through affirmation of human dignity : a case study of ‘Learn to Earn’
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04-04) Mellows, Susan Pamela; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Given South Africa’s humanitarian crisis, the intention was to explore a possible intervention to address the pervasive poverty and rapidly rising unemployment, by means of a practical theological study. The study aims to ascertain the contribution which spirituality in a Faith-Based Organisation (“FBO”) makes towards attaining social transformation through affirming human dignity. Throughout the study, ‘spirituality’ was given the meaning of the personal and relational side of the Christian faith, which shapes daily life. The evolution of the notion of ‘development’, as an undertaking intended to improve the lives of those experiencing material deprivation, was traced and it was noted how spirituality had long been excluded as a feature affecting the well-being of those to whom poverty upliftment was intended to be addressed. The study therefore argues in favour of a theological interpretation of development, known also as ‘transformation’, having its foundation in a kingdom of God theology with a focus on attaining ‘shalom’. Positioned within the discipline of Theology and Development, this qualitative research study selected a case study as its methodology, within an interpretive paradigmatic perspective, which incorporated the notion of self-reflexivity as an additional dimension of the data interpretation. The unit of analysis of the case study was the FBO, and an in-depth exploration was undertaken in order to understand the work of Learn to Earn (“LTE”), an FBO with an overtly Christian faith expression. LTE professes to focus on the whole person, including the spiritual dimension, in the course of providing skills training to formerly unemployed people in Khayelitsha, Cape Town and Zwelihle, Hermanus. Through empirical research, the integrated spirituality practices of LTE were explored in order to ascertain the extent of social transformation being experienced by its participants. The study’s findings were that the practice of spirituality within LTE resulted in the affirmation of human dignity of participants, in circumstances where there had been a focus on the imago Dei and where the kingdom of God was proclaimed holistically. The result was that ‘marred identities’ of impoverished people were healed as they recovered their true identity and vocation. As a consequence, the affirmation of human dignity through a recovery of vocation played a significant role in the participants overcoming powerlessness, caused by structural injustice. Through their own agency, they were able to escape poverty’s captivity and to progress towards shalom, whereby meaningful social transformation occurred. Based on the empirical evidence relating to the case study of LTE, it can be suggested that this FBO empowers those who are economically deprived, by assisting them to overcome powerlessness, through activating their agency, as their human dignity is affirmed and vocation subsequently recovered. It is suggested that the significant role of the FBO in development work is thereby evident. Recent interest in inclusion of spirituality within development discourse is thus to be welcomed as a beneficial addition to attaining social transformation.
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    Transformational development as theological challenge: an evaluation of the ECWA people oriented development programmes
    (Stellenbosh : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Yoms, Ephraim; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores various community development theories and practices and, using the holistic criteria proposed by Myers, the study evaluates the impact of ECWA‘s People Oriented Development (POD) programmes in selected beneficiating communities in Northern Nigeria. The study revealed that the earlier conceptualisation of ‘development‘ was perceived strictly in socio-economic terms. Thereafter, the approaches shifted in focus towards human development and environmental sustainability. Transformational Development (TD) is posed as a holistic Christian framework for addressing human and social change. This approach holds that transformation is premised on change for a better future, which is underpinned by the principles of shalom: just, peaceful and, harmonious relationships with God, oneself, individuals within a given community and the environment. The empirical study discovered that the socio-economic challenges facing the selected communities were food shortages, bad roads, educational needs, and economic and health challenges. Unemployment, mismanagement, illiteracy, disunity and religious issues were viewed as causes of poverty in the selected communities. The various remedial measures taken by ECWA‘s POD to address some of these challenges include: water supply, food security, health services, economic empowerment, infrastructural projects, environmental sustainability and spiritual development activities. The evaluative framework proposed by TD, sought to assess positive changes in the cultural and religious aspects of people‘s lives, and a positive change in attitude toward God, the Christian Gospel and spirituality. This aspect of the evaluation identified the significant impact of ECWA‘s POD programmes on the lives of the beneficiaries, such as in self-help activities, communal work, prayer and Bible study. However, due to poverty, underdevelopment and a lack of understanding of the God of the Bible still prevalent in the targeted communities, it is difficult to conclude that ECWA‘s POD interventions have sufficiently led to TD. This lack of a suitable approach to development, such as the separation of POD as an agency to meet physical needs while the local church focuses on spiritual needs, is inconsistent with the holistic approach. Therefore, the research concludes that evangelism and social change in the process of community transformation must work simultaneously.