Making a difference? : societal entrepreneurship and its significance for a practical theological ecclesiology in a local Western Cape context
Date
2011-10
Authors
Swart, Ignatius
Orsmond, Edward
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
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.
Description
The orginal publication is available at http://www.hts.org.za
Keywords
Practical theology, Church, Social entrepreneurship
Citation
Swart, I. & Orsmond, E. 2011. Making a difference? : societal entrepreneurship and its significance for a practical theological ecclesiology in a local Western Cape context. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 67(2), 11 p., doi:10.4102/hts.v67i2.1001.