Browsing by Author "Swart, Ignatius"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Church, mission and development : revisiting the pragmatic debate
    (Southern African Missiological Society (SAMS), 2003) Swart, Ignatius
    This paper identifies the historical debate on development projects in the ecumenical movement as the essential starting-point for Christian theology and the churches' ongoing concern with development. Named by Charles Elliot at an early stage as 'The Pragmatic Debate', the paper innovates by distinguishing between a moderate and a radical account of this debate. It is argued that the radical account in particular, problematises a one way, movement in development from the rich and powerful to the poor.
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    The churches and the development debate : perspectives on a fourth generation approach
    (SUN PReSS, 2006) Swart, Ignatius
    BOOK BLURB: This book newly addresses the question about the Christian churches' participation in development. The innovative element of this reflection is the way in which the author finds meaning and significance, particularly in the concept of a fourth generation approach to strategic development engagement. The book's essential argument is that a fourth generation strategy - an approach that makes the contemporary social or peopls's movements the primary subjects of its development action and theory - holds the greatest prospect for authentic participation by the Christian churches in development. Development, now more than anything else, is viewed in terms of a 'politics of ideas', as a condition of change to be brought about by the power of ideas, values, (transformed) relationships and communication.
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    The churches and the development debate : the promise of a fourth generation approach
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000-12) Swart, Ignatius; Kinghorn, J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology & Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to think anew about the involvement of the Christian churches in strategic development. The author undertook such an exercise in an abstract and general manner, not by undertaking specific case studies, but by applying various development and social sciences debates to come to a new understanding of the churches' meaningful participation in the broad area of development. The notion of the churches as 'idea' and 'value' institutions in the field of development was particularly developed. The study found its critical point of departure in the ecumenical theological debate on development over the last four decades. The first three chapters show how the charity-development juxtaposition in ecumenical development discourse problematises and frames the historical and actual participation of the churches in development. It is indicated that this discourse poses a critical theoretical and ideological challenge not only to the churches' socio-economic involvement through charity, but also to the mainstream secular development enterprise. It is concluded through the pragmatic debate in the broader ecumenical development discourse that an enduring divide exists between progressive theoretical thinking on the churches' participation in development and the actual development practices of the churches. It is concluded, akin to an historical charity involvement, that the churches have, generally speaking, been over-investing in project approaches to development at the cost of modes of engagement which highlight an idea- and value-centred development praxis. In chapters four to seven the argument is further developed through the conceptual framework of third and fourth generation development strategies. Through ideas on this conceptual framework, which were first formulated by David Korten in NGO and peoplecentred development debates, but which have also been extended to broader 'alternative' development and social sciences debates within the analytic framework of this study, the idea- and value-centred perspective in this study was further worked out and applied to the churches. It is concluded that the conceptual framework of third generation development strategies poses an appropriate (public) challenge to the churches to become involved in the policy-making, managerial and organisational processes of development. In contrast to a 'politics of limited space' which the third generation mode presents to the churches, it is maintained that the 'unlimited political space' of the fourth generation mode of development involvement is more appropriate to the churches. It is argued that the churches could most effectively and meaningfully participate in the new transnational social movement 'value' and 'idea' politics (e.g. peace, human rights, women, environment, democracy, people-centred development) prioritised in the fourth generation strategic perspective. This argument is further worked out in the final chapter through the proposal of four beacons of action that may guide the churches to become meaningful participants in fourth (and third) generation strategic development action, namely (i) the new social movements, (ii) the new communication solidarities, (iii) alternative development policy, and (iv) 'soft culture'.
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    Development as transformation : the local church in Lavender Hill as agent of change in a post-Carnegie II context
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2005-12) Bowers, Nadine Francis; August, Karel Th.; Swart, Ignatius; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study is to explore whether the local church is acting as an agent of change in addressing the socio-economic needs of an impoverished grassroots community. This study falls within the area of missiology as it takes as point of departure the need for the church to appropriate a missional framework for development. However, this study considers the church in relation to its context, it draws on related sub-fields of theology and various development and social sciences to compose a picture of the current challenges the church faces in engaging poverty. The study focuses on the community of Lavender Hill situated on the Cape Flats of the Western Cape. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this study, both theoretical and methodological triangulation have been employed. Chapter 1 introduces the study and provides a theological conceptualisation. Chapter 2 argues for a framework of Development as Transformation and presents a distinctive motivation, goal and ecclesial identity, which has to be taken into account when the church 'does development'. It is concluded that, while this framework is distinctive, it does not replace existing development theory, but rather engages it as a dialogical conceptual framework. Chapters 3 to 5 present the Second Carnegie Inquiry into Poverty and Development in South Africa (1984) as a useful theoretical tool. This study allows for a comparative historical analysis, particularly as Carnegie II poses a challenge to the church regarding poverty. Despite the prominent role accorded the church by history, Carnegie inquiries, government and broader civil society, it is concluded that the church continues to face many of the same challenges in a post-Carnegie II context. Both Chapters 3 and 4 conclude that, among the key challenges identified, there is a need for the church to evidence holistic theology and sustainable action with regard to social responsibility. Action remains, for the most part, in a dominant charity mode. Partnership, in its various forms, is identified as a necessary and more sustainable strategy in a context of inequality. Chapters 5 and 6 focus more specifically on the context of Lavender Hill and utilise the theoretical frameworks in order to analyse data. Methodological triangulation is employed and various methods of data collection are therefore used. Chapter 5 discusses the interlinked dimensions of poverty in Lavender Hill with reference to both Carnegie II and recent scholarship. Chapter 6 utilises the theoretical frameworks to focus more specifically on whether the local church in Lavender Hill is acting as an agent of change. The involvement of the church is described and explored with reference to the challenges (both contextual and missional) presented in Chapters 1 to 5. Findings indicate that the local church faces many of the challenges identified by Chapters 3 and 4 and that theology in particular is closely linked to praxis. Particular attention is, therefore, given to the role played by theology in determining action, and Development as Transformation is applied as a framework which addresses a lack of holistic theology. Recommendations for action are proposed in order to guide the local church in areas such as Lavender Hill to become more meaningful role players in their communities.
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    Making a difference? : societal entrepreneurship and its significance for a practical theological ecclesiology in a local Western Cape context
    (AOSIS OpenJournals, 2011-10) Swart, Ignatius; Orsmond, Edward
    This article is concerned with the question of whether and how a local church or congregation can, as indissoluble dimension of its vocation as a Christian faith agent, make a difference by influencing the dynamics of social and economic change that are transforming the face and structures of ‘traditional’ social and religious life in its community. Based upon the authors’ own interest in the specific context of the Dutch Reformed congregation of Simondium in the Western Cape and the case study work that they have conducted in this context, an argument about the potential role of this congregation is developed through the conceptual lens of ‘societal entrepreneurship’. After exploring some recent thoughts on this concept in the literature, the authors use the results of their recently conducted case study work to show how the dynamics of a new entrepreneurial drive amongst long-established residents and newcomers in the Simondium region shape the social reality of both the region and the congregation in a forceful way. This insight leads the authors to develop a sociologically and theologically motivated argument about the way in which this changing reality offers newfound opportunities to the Simondium congregation to fulfil its Christian calling. As such, the notion of becoming an ‘entrepreneurial church’ is introduced and a more detailed perspective is offered on those factors that a contextually orientated practical theological ecclesiology should take into account in building the entrepreneurial model in the congregation.
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    Die nomen hamas in die Ou Testament
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1988) Swart, Ignatius ; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of . Dept. of .
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    The struggle against poverty, unemployment and social injustice in present-day South Africa : exploring the involvement of the Dutch Reformed Church at congregational level
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2015) Van der Westhuizen, Marichen; Swart, Ignatius
    This article is based on an exploration of the involvement of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) at congregational level in the struggle against poverty, unemployment and social injustice in present-day South Africa. The exploration arises from the thesis that South African citizens continue to regard poverty, unemployment and social injustice as the key challenges to be met in order to build a healthy nation. Historically, the DRC acted as a prominent partner of the government to address the basic needs of the poor and the sick, especially among the country’s white population. But the structural and social changes that followed the transformation to the new democratic South Africa impacted significantly on this partnership. This in turn required that the role of the DRC in addressing social issues in the country be revisited. The essential purpose of this article is, firstly, to provide better insight into the nature and extent of the current social services rendered by congregations of the DRC in addressing the challenges of poverty, unemployment and social injustice; and secondly, from this vantage point, to present some recommendations in conclusion on how the DRC could, in terms of its own striving towards even deeper and more effective social engagement, further enhance its contribution to address the identified challenges at congregational level.