Masters Degrees (Practical Theology and Missiology)

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    Woordverkondiging aan die Shambiu van die Kavango
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1974-12) Fourie, Jacobus Johannes; Van der Merwe, W. J.; Smith, N. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar nie
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    Facing a masculine God : towards a pastoral care response in the context of gender-based violence
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03 ) Msibi, Msizi Cyprian; Mouton, Dawid P.; Claassens, L. Juliana M.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aimed to provide a critical theological reflection on the possible links between masculine images of God and gender-based violence. The objectives of the study included exploring possible alternative images of God that could be helpful in providing pastoral care to victims of gender-based violence (GBV). As such the study further set out to explore and reframe appropriate pastoral care approaches in response to the plight of victims of GBV. Osmer’s four tasks of practical theology provided a broad framework for the research methodology and theological reflection. This study made use of desktop research to conduct an extensive literature survey as input for the conceptualisation presented in the thesis. In addition to engaging with pastoral care, as an academic field and its associated concepts, the thesis also unpacks and engages the concepts of gender, gender-based violence and various nuances in the discourse on masculinity and its relation to GBV. It includes reflections on Biblical texts containing potentially problematic notions of masculinity with regard to characters in these texts and which are also applied to God. In engaging with some of the violent and abusive male metaphors of God in Scripture, the study highlighted the potential for these depictions to be abused in perpetuating the phenomenon of GBV. However, the study also succeeds in presenting life-giving and feminine images of God which might offer tools for pastoral care and hope for those living with the effects of GBV. These alternative female images of God have been employed as a pastoral care response to the scourge of GBV. Feminist pastoral care, womanist pastoral care and narrative pastoral care together may offer a framework for even more practical responses in this regard.
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    The role of the church in bridging the gender inequality gap in Malawi through secondary school education : a case of the Livingstonia Synod
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03 ) Khoswe, Bongani; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Gender equality stands as one of key important elements of development discourse and practice. Nevertheless, for a long time there have been several barriers to women’s participation in development due to patriarchal systems which do not enable women to contribute fully to development. Education is one of the tools that empowers humans by unleashing their potential towards meaningful participation in society both through the empowerment of skilled labor and via the ability it develops in order for people to understand and act on addressing challenges which may lead to a better life. Malawi is widely recognised as a country with high levels of gender inequality and in addition itis also identified as one of the countries in the world where many girls do not make it to secondary school. For those that do, there remain high dropout rates emanating from either early pregnancy and early marriages or financial challenges. These challenges raise the question as to the role of the church in addressing the challenges of the Malawian girl child with regards to its role in education. This study, therefore, aims at investigating the role of the church in bridging the gender inequality gap in Malawi by using the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian as the case study in its involvement in the provision of education at secondary school level to gain an in-depth understanding on this issue. Through lenses of African Women Theologies cultural hermeneutics and Gender and Development theory, the study seeks to critically analyse the Malawian socio-cultural context and investigate how this problem is still persistent in spite of the various efforts from the different stakeholders. It, therefore, critically analyses developmental strategies such as the Sustainable Development Goals in relation to issues concerning gender equality and investigates government policies intended to increase the enrolment rates and increase school retention have impact girl child. In analysing the approach of the Synod of Livingstonia, the research observes that the Synod is an important actor in the provision of education in Malawi, especially in the northern region. The Synod also plays a critical role in the implementation of various programs that deal with different social issues, some of which affect a girl child directly. The study finds that while the Synod should be commended for it work with regards to this issue, recommendations such as the Synod getting involved in not only training ministers on issues of gender equality but other congregants with the aim that they will train fellow congregants on these issues are made.
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    Enriching the functioning of church discipline in an URCSA congregation : an intergenerational pastoral study
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03 ) Cloete, Rafle Edmund; Thesnaar, C. H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Belgic Confession regards church discipline as one of the three marks of the true church. The other two characteristics of this true church, namely that the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached and the sacraments are administered regularly, are regarded as important and not contentious at all. However, congregants are generally not concerned about whether discipline is exercised because unlike the preaching of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments, this ministry does not affect all members. Consequently, this part of the ministry of a congregation is seemingly regarded as an annoying practice and a hindrance for members to enjoying their ‘rights’ in church. As in the period before the 16th-century protestant reformation, church discipline has over the years become neglected in some congregations and thus the need for a refreshed approach is essential. Despite its neglect, it remains a core requirement for being the church of Christ and it is still a clear biblical responsibility of the congregation. The congregation is the body of Christ and as such the different parts of it are connected. It brings the notion of interconnected living, which is a core concept of the Dialogical Intergenerational Pastoral Process (DIPP), to the fore. The premise of this pastoral process is that human existence involves living in relation with other human beings in vertical and horizontal relations. Vertical relations entail living interrelated in family ties while horizontal relations entail interrelated living with partners, and friends. The premise of this approach furthermore involves living intergenerational with consideration of different generations’ indebted and entitled to one another. In view that the aim of church discipline involves the well-being of the congregation, the congregation consequently takes responsibility for the spiritual well-being of its members. This means functioning as spiritual family members in the one household of God, taking care of one another. This is also the view of John Calvin that pastoral care involves living together in the body of Christ. This study aims to explore the possibility to enrich the practice of church discipline and confirm anew its relevance for the ministry of the church. Utilizing the core principles of the DIPP in the exercising of church discipline in the congregation – which is interconnected and consists of different generations – this ministry can get new momentum and be appreciated anew as a valuable instrument in the kingdom of God. Where the sins of humanity necessitate church discipline to address them effectively, the concepts of relational justice, fairness, forgiveness for your trespasser and dealing with his/her guilt by exonerating him/her, i.e., lifting the culpability of him/her, can contribute not only to the enrichment of discipline in the church but also to the well-being of the congregant and congregation. If the goals of this study are not completely reached, or if the church is not yet ready to adopt a new approach to ecclesial discipline, then the researcher hopes that it will at least ignite a new conversation about the relevance of church discipline in the post-modern era we live in.
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    “Sustainable pastoral practices within the continuous reality of the COVID-19 pandemic within the Church of Pentecost, in South Africa”
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03 ) Anyimadu, Bernard Boakye; Thesnaar, C. H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research study investigated how the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the shortcomings of the traditional ways of pastoral care and counselling practices within the Church of Pentecost (COP) in South Africa. The study utilized some aspects of the Dialogical Intergenerational Pastoral Process (DIPP) approach as a theoretical framework to explore sustainable pastoral practices within the continuous reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aspects of the DIPP approach as a branch of Pastoral Care and Counselling allow one to better understand the complexity of relational ethics as well as the interrelatedness of people living across generations (past, present and future). An aspect of the DIPP espouses on how pastoral caregivers should learn to do what Boszormenyi-Nagy & Krasner (1986:421) calls self-delineation and self-validation. These are the first and second phases of the dialogic process in dialogue. The tendency in putting more stress on oneself and becomes emotionally drained and exhausted. This kind of over-giving due to difficulty to set boundaries leads to burnout. One becomes spiritually affected and intoxicated and eventually compassion fatigue sets in (Van Doorn, 2020:157). The limitations in the conventional way of pastoral practice within local congregations of the COP in South Africa have been laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst such practices are physical visitation to members before attending church, laying on of hands, baptism by immersion and christening of babies. The problem this research seeks to address is how to develop sustainable pastoral practices in the COP in responding to the emotional, mental, socio-economic and spiritual needs of those suffering as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the pastoral caregiver. The research methodology that informed this study was Richard Osmer’s four tasks of practical theology; namely descriptive-empirical task, interpretive task, normative task and pragmatic task. The finding of this study was that pastoral caregivers need to be responsible and accountable in their pastoral care and counselling. Pastors must be matured enough to know if they fall within the high risk age bracket, making them more susceptible to the virus infection. This will require the pastor referring suffering congregants to other colleagues, or skilled professionals or to continue with the caring and counselling process via the digital platforms.