Browsing by Author "Hancox, Deborah Merle"

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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.