Theses and Dissertations (Practical Theology)

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Aspects of the experience of ordination by URCSA female ministers in the Western Cape
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Masango, Maake J.S.; darylljcurtis@gmail.com; Curtis, Daryll
I would like to draw attention to the experiences of ordained Coloured women in South Africa, in particular those ministering to congregations in the Uniting Reformed Church South Africa (URCSA) in the Western Cape. Coloured female clergy in the URCSA family are seldom assigned positions of authority in the church, which may blead to a disinterest in pursuing this line of ministry. The main question is, what challenges do Coloured women face after their ordination into the URCSA family? The aim of this research study is to investigate the positive and negative experiences of Coloured women clergy in the URCSA and to journey with them as they minister in a male-dominated environment. The objective is to encourage more Coloured women to consider ordination within this denomination. So that reliable and truthful answers can be shared, interviews will be conducted with an open-minded approach so and no pre-conceived perspectives are projected onto the participants. Female clergy from multiple URCSA congregations across Western Cape Province will be interviewed. It is the responsibility of the church to provide pastoral care to ordained women clergy suffering from marginalisation. They need to be given emotional support and encouragement through counselling before undergoing ordination to prepare them for the journey, and during the ordination process for a long-term effect.
Human trafficking of women : a pastoral challenge
(University of Pretoria, 2024) Masango, Maake J.S.; friesb19@gmail.com; Frieslaar, Brent
Human trafficking or Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a global problem and a significant human rights crisis. A large body of scholarship agrees that human trafficking is modern day slavery and a gross infringement on the human rights of the trafficked individual. While it is acknowledged that human trafficking takes place in a variety of forms, the focus of the current study is that of sex trafficking or trafficking for sexual exploitation. The phenomenon of human trafficking, especially recruitment into the commercial sex trade for prostitution, is a thriving industry globally and particularly in South Africa where the most vulnerable prey are women and girls. The current study develops the researcher’s work in fulfilment of his Master’s degree which focused on blesser-blessee relationships, and which demonstrated a connection between the blesser phenomenon and human trafficking. The Qualitative research method will be used where structured interviews will be conducted with females over the age of 18. Within the Qualitative method, the Narrative approach will be followed to enable the women to share their experiences. The principles of Narrative therapy will be integrated with those of Positive Deconstruction theory to help the female survivors of sex trafficking to reconstruct narratives that are life-giving and filled with hope. As part of the formulation of a pastoral care and healing methodology, this study will adopt the Appreciative Inquiry approach, shown to be a philosophy which has incarnational and resurrection aspects. The thesis or central argument of this doctoral study is that Human Trafficking is a modern form of slavery and gender-based violence that results in shame which diminishes the full humanity of women made in the image of God. The researcher asserts that this calls forth from the Church a pastoral approach to journey with our sisters in Christ on the path to healing from trauma.
Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church
(University of Pretoria, 2023-04-24) Nel, Malan; mlbthesis@gmail.com; Beall, Megan Louise
Unquestionably, it is perspicuous that previously “churched” people who fall in the eighteen to thirty-two age demographic, which is also identified by Arnett (1998) as emerging adults, are leaving the church in increasing numbers (Barna Group, 2011; Barber, Setran and Kiesling, 2013; Pew Research Group, 2008; Nel, 2015; Rainer, 2011; and Olson, 2008). What is less evident is an understanding of how congregations are or are not effectively and meaningfully engaging churched emerging adults, in the belief that such knowledge will provide key information to understand the relationship between churched emerging adults and the local church. The research will potentially develop strategies to further engage eighteen- to thirty-two-year-olds; while proposing a praxis which strives to introduce and foster a personal, familial, and communal relationship to God. The research will specifically isolate the dormancy of the Christian Church in the United States of America, focusing on the characteristics that underlie the age fragmentation of the congregation particularly Thus, we endeavor to bring about a clarification to the concept of a lived/ everyday theology, the missio dei “mission of God” for/through the church, and the praxis of believers (Bosch,1996; Johnson, 2004). The research isolates the life of the church and how it interconnects community and theology specifically with/for churched emerging adults. It is important to note that this is not about filling churches it is about the church fostering a relationship between members, specifically churched emerging adults, and God. What new knowledge will be brought to the table? Hypothetically, the research should discover how congregations are or are not effectively engaging churched emerging adults. We will then attempt to re-focus church to the centrality of Jesus not the centrality of programs. The following research questions guided this study: What identifiable characteristics found in the local church meaningfully engage churched emerging adults? What can the local church do about the continuing decline in its membership specifically in terms of eighteen to thirty-two year olds? How does the Christian community find its way back to being Christ-centered and focused upon the mission of God in the world, missio dei? In short, we found that when these seven key identifiable characteristics are missing churched emerging adults are known to go in search of them and this has led to the current and ongoing decline amongst churched emerging adults from most congregations. Worship that provides a meaningful experience of God and Christian Tradition. Worship that is Holy Spirit inspired. Solid teaching that can change or enhance a person’s life from both the pulpit, throughout Sunday school, and all teaching. Giving people the opportunity to have input regarding decisions that affect change in the church. Opportunity for the expression of a person’s Denominational Heritage. Churched emerging adults want to be connected to the greater sense of church, in other words, how do I connect to Church history? The use of effective and up-to-date websites, email, and social media are paramount. Personal sense of making a difference in the church and beyond. Sanctification – the issue of holiness in the leadership These seven areas are at the core the heart of the personhood of each churched emerging adult. They want to know that they are valued as a member of the congregation that their opinion matters yes but more importantly is the leadership thinking through the most important things: Worship, Teaching (i.e. Sunday School), Prayer, Leadership, Church Heritage/ Denomination, Outreach, Service, Sanctification, and are they up to date on their Communication. These are the things that matter to the churched emerging adults and without them they are leaving the church and finding them at a church that takes them into account. Thus, churches must strive to be inclusive and promote missio dei, the mission of God instead of the latest program or trying to put on the best “show.”
Technology and family relationships : a narrative pastoral counselling approach
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Dreyer, Yolanda; Mohale, Mamasila Grace
This study explores the use of technology in families. The research question pertains to how the frequent use of technology affects family relationships. The study aims to come to a deeper understanding of how the use of technology affects the way in which family units interact and what the consequences are for their relationships. These insights are utilised to develop guidelines for pastoral care with families. The study explores various theories on media and communication and utilises the Multi-Theoretical Model. Insights with regard to concepts such as family, information communication technologies and the internet that are gleaned from various disciplines are brought into discussion with what a narrative pastoral counselling approach would entail in the context of families and the use of technology. The narrative approach to pastoral counselling focuses on stories that are told and social discourses that are investigated to ascertain their effect on the thinking and practices of people. The narrative approach is nonjudgmental. This focuses on meaning, interpretation and linguistics in order to gain a deeper comprehension of individuals and how they deal with their challenges. The paradigm is postmodern and epistemology social constructionist. In pastoral narrative counselling, the spiritual aspect of being human and individuals perceptions of and relationship with God play a central role. The aim of pastoral care and counselling is to provide holistic care that takes all aspects of personhood into account. The study illustrates the impact of technological use on families. Family relationships are often affected negatively by the overuse of technology by family members. On the other hand, technology can also serve to maintain close contact and good relationships over great distances in a mobile era where family members often find themselves in different countries and continents. In a work environment the positive side of technology is that it provides instant contact. On the other hand this can cause work to intrude in the family environment to the extent that it affects family interactions negatively. From a pastoral care and counselling perspective, the study contributes insight into the situation of families and technology and provides guidelines for mitigating the negative effects on families and households. Internet access should be regulated in such a way that communication in the family can be improved. This would require a disciplined lifestyle for the good of all within the household. Technology should be used in moderation. The findings of the study highlight the significance of technology and how technology influences the family system. Therefore, appropriate strategies to promote healthy family relationships should be implemented in the home and encouraged and guided by pastoral care and narrative pastoral counselling. Such strategies include that family rules are put into place, family time is prioritized, and family cohesion is strengthened.
Evaluation of a HeartMath intervention and faith following a traumatic experience
(University of Pretoria, 2024-02) Dreyer, Yolanda; Steyn, Ben J.M. (Barend Johannes Marthinus); edwards.davidjohn@gmail.com; Edwards, David John
Traumatic experiences can have an impact on faith. HeartMath can be utilised to help overcome traumatic experiences. This research focused on a HeartMath intervention, emphasising psychophysiological coherence, sense of coherence, resilience and faith following a traumatic experience. A quasi-experimental, case study and appreciative inquiry triangulated design was used. The purposeful sample consisted of 10 participants, five females and five males, who had been through a traumatic experience. They had an age range of 29 to 54 years, with a mean age of 36.30 years and standard deviation of 8.99 years, and described years of faith ranged between 17 and 54 with a mean of 23.20 and standard deviation of 17.73. A 12-week HeartMath intervention was undertaken. Related quantitative and qualitative coherence, resilience and faith measures were used at pre-test, re-test and, after intervention, post-test, with participant diaries completed. Quantitively, there were significant post-intervention positive improvements in physiological average coherence, achievement, and low, medium and high coherence level scores. Although not significant, there were improvements in resilience and faith scale, although no improvement in sense of coherence scale total score. Qualitatively, there were positive integrative thematic changes in experiences of sense of coherence, resilience and faith. A case study revealed causal, correlational and relationship mechanisms of change with an appreciative inquiry positively evaluating the intervention. There seemed to be enough data and information to support both the potential that a HeartMath intervention could have a positive effect on faith following a traumatic experience, and for HeartMath to be used as a pastoral care and counselling intervention.
Pentecostal leadership disputes in Zimbabwe : a pastoral challenge
(University of Pretoria, 2023-10) Masango, Maake J.S.; zetmdhluli@gmail.com; Mundhluri, Zephania
The study assessed the Pentecostal leadership disputes in Zimbabwe in light of Pastoral Challenges. An African proverb states that "When two elephants fight, the grass suffers." This saying is particularly relevant to the Pentecostal church, where leadership disputes between top leaders affected junior pastors and their ability to care for congregants. The challenge is that junior pastors are traumatised due to the leadership disputes caused by two top leaders. The church has not helped these traumatised junior pastors to be able to journey with church congregants during their church conflict. The research seeks to investigate and understand the depth of the trauma caused by leadership disputes among juniors. Conflicts are mainly cantered on power struggles, resulting in physical altercations. As a result, these altercations have affected junior pastors who are traumatised and are struggling due to the unending squabbles for control of power and church infrastructures. As a result, a study is underway to find effective ways to help them heal and journey with junior pastors. In order to fully study issues in depth the research implored qualitative research which allowed the research to gather data in depth. Sampling, In-depth Interviews, and questionnaires we used to gather data. In-depth interviews were carried out with the selected sample group and a single questionnaire was utilized for interviewing junior pastors, with ten being interviewed individually. The researcher then analysed their responses to determine the healing process of the junior pastors while also investigating the impact of leadership disputes. In finding healing for then junior pastors, the pastoral care method of Gerkin and Pollard was used. This healing method will assist pastors and pastoral caregivers to pastorally journey with the traumatised junior pastors. It should, however, be noted that despite aiming at coming up with a healing model, healing is an individual journey and one size does not fit all but acts as a template that can be personally utilised subjective to individual differences.
Gender Based Violence perpetrated against migrant women during lockdowns : a pastoral care challenge
(University of Pretoria, 2023-09-30) Masango, Maake J.S.; nomamsipa@gmail.com; Msipa, Nomathemba Nontokozo
The study was a qualitative inquiry conducted with two set of participants (ZMW and Pentecostal/ Charismatic Clergy). The ZMW were victims of Gender-Based Violence during the Covid-19 pandemic, while the Pentecostal/ Charismatic clergy were pastoral care givers. Both these groups of participants’ lived experiences were used as case studies using the interpretive narrative analysis. The study is embedded in postmodern, interpretive narrative framework and practical theology and investigated the lived experiences of ZMW who were victims of GBV during South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdowns. Their responses will help to shape future pastoral care services that would be case by case sensitive. This study seeks to understand what social and spiritual determinants caused victims of GBV who are migrant women not to or to seek pastoral care during the Covid-19. Some of these migrant women already endured many other traumatic experiences that caused them to leave their native land. While those previous traumatic experiences were not under review during this study, their influence cannot be denied in how they responded to GBV during Covid-19 Lockdowns. The culmination GBV experiences are the essence for this research as it sought to enquire how the migrant women dealt with GBV trauma and approached available pastoral care services during lockdowns. The research study sought to also understand the lived experiences of ZMW who were victims of GBV and how they responded to the lockdown environment while facing GBV and the trauma of being in enclosed spaces with their abuser. The aspect of being migrants and GBV victims while dealing with the uncertainty of lockdowns that they were ill-prepared or inexperienced to deal with formed the basis of the study. This research study acknowledges that GBV was perpetrated against most women and children across the nation of South Africa during the Covid-19 induced lockdowns, however the targeted demography of this research are migrant women from Zimbabwe (in particular) due to their reduced support network considering that they are very far from their people. To deny spiritual and pastoral care to migrants by virtue of them being migrants is a denial of a human right. The difficulties faced by both ZMW in seeking and Clergy in offering pastoral care respectively during the Covid-19 Induced Lockdowns was a concern for this researcher. The role of the clergy to offer spiritual and pastoral care to migrant women during Covid-19 Lockdowns is of paramount importance that serves to close the limited or nonexistent support network caused by migrating. The spotlight of enquiry about the role of the clergy is predicated on the understanding of the unpredictability of the times for consistent spiritual and pastoral care, especially where access was limited as there were no church services. Sunday Church services usually have been previously (prior Covid-19) used as a time where most of pastoral care happened as most of the people in the urban areas work during the week. This study is also an enquiry of the pastoral care techniques that were applied to care for the migrant women who were victims of GBV considering that their services mostly require face-to-face interaction. The issue of lockdowns diminished face-to-face interaction, thereby making it difficult for laity to access pastoral care and for clergy to offer pastoral care to laity. The study looks at the Lockdown-induced hardships that these two groups (clergy and migrant women) sought each other out in order to give or receive pastoral care. While the “New Normal” for interaction during Covid-19 Lockdowns among people and most organisations was technology (WhatsApp, Zoom, etc), understandably so considering that we are in the fourth industrial revolution, humans are creatures of physical interaction. Migrant women are also part of humanity thereby making them desire physical interaction, which in this case became the reason for GBV. While appreciating the technological benefits that have been brought about by the fourth industrial revolution; there can be no avatar that could replace the benefits that come with physical human interaction especially when giving or receiving pastoral care. While most churches resorted to virtual preaching and virtual church services during most of the lockdowns, there was a continued outcry for an opportunity to have face-to-face fellowship. Virtual sermons and other technology-induced forms of communication could not eliminate a need for physical pastoral care.
Inklusiewe bediening aan enkelouergesinne : ‘n Intergenerasionele geloofsvorming benadering
(University of Pretoria, 2024) Nel, Malan; Beukes, Jacques; jwks@mweb.co.za; Scholtz, Johan Willem Kemp
This study focuses on why single-parent families do not experience themselves as true families within a church context and do not receive the necessary equipment and support in the faith formation of their adolescent children. The study has its origins in the researcher's observation that adolescents from single-parent homes are picked up and dropped off by their parents for catechesis, but that the parents are not involved in activities in the congregation, not even to attend the worship service. The researcher decided to use Osmer's approach of Practical-Theological interpretation. One of the advantages of Osmer's approach is that the researcher can start research on any of the tasks. The researcher started with a normative task and did the literary study first. The family was studied as a hermeneutic sphere. The perspectives on the family from the Old and New Testaments were discussed. After that, a historical perspective followed, up to the present . The conclusion of this investigation is that the family is still the most important social unit, even though its structure has changed enormously in the last 50 years. Regarding this structural change of the family, the focus fell on the single-parent family. Single-parent families are not discussed much in the church context, but the study showed how deep their pain lives and what particularly difficult challenges they have to deal with every day. The adolescent came next. Adolescents in a single-parent family are actually good actors: At the home of the primary caregiver, they are themselves, but at the home of the other parent, actors who follow all the right moves and rules. The two hermeneutic spheres, as a source for the understanding of faith bring tension, because the other parent also wants to have a say in the adolescent's faith development and this differ from one home to the other. The empirical study had to answer to the hypothesis that the single-parent family does not experience acceptance in the church. Here the 17 respondents opened up their hearts and every interview was an emotional experience. The empirical study confirmed that single parents find it difficult to survive. The demands placed on them are intense and they depend on a support network to make the basic things of a family happen. They also believe that the church cannot help them with this. The research confirmed that single parents do not experience acceptance in the church and that they do not receive support in the faith formation of their children. In the last chapter, suggestions are made on how the perception of acceptance of the single-parent family can be addressed, as well as how they and their adolescent children can be equipped and supported to help them with their adolescents' faith formation. A factor that stood out was the involvement of parents (grandparents) in the single-parent families. It requires attending to, so that they can be better equipped to support their children.
Bereaved mothers : a pastoral care challenge
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Masango, Maake J.S.; thato_tsautse@hotmail.com; Tsautse, Thato Abegail
This research aims seeks to explore pastoral care models for bereaved mothers and to understand the various approaches clergy members use in providing support and care to mothers who have experienced the loss of a child. By comparing different pastoral care models, this research intends to identify effective strategies and best practices that can enhance the support offered to bereaved mothers by the clergy. The death of a child is the most significant stressor a woman can ever experience. The impact of the death of the child is believed to be long-lasting and perhaps lifelong. A qualitative approach to the study was appropriate as the data collection could only be drawn through interviews; interviews were conducted with the participants who were clergy of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and were encouraged to tell their lived experiences. The comparative analysis of the data that compares the lived experiences of the clergy when they pastorally care for the bereaved mothers validated the gap that was noted in the literature review. The integrative model that is proposed and it incorporates elements from theology, psychology and social support to create a holistic approach that addresses the emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of grieving mothers. By utilising this model, clergy can offer comprehensive and tailored support to bereaved mothers, promoting healing, growth, and resilience during their bereavement. The practical theology field in Southern Africa has under-studied this area of maternal bereavement. It's crucial for the Church to understand the nature of a bereaved mother's grief and how to support her pastorally. Specific ecclesiastical interventions are needed to shape maternal bereavement in practical theology. The study has identified the need for an Anglican pastoral care model that includes four integrated tasks to ensure that bereaved mothers receive comprehensive support in all aspects.
A praxis-based approach to liberating theological education : a Cape Town case study
(University of Pretoria, 2021-11) De Beer, Stephan F.; selenaheadley@gmail.com; Headley, Selena Diane
This study begins by framing the challenges for theological education/formation which remain disconnected from urban realities. The rationale for the study stems from a personal experience as a participant in a praxis-based approach to theological education during the Leadership in Urban Transformation (LUT) course in 2016, which opened up a quest to understand liberative pedagogy for the urban context. The aim of the principal research question is to discover how a praxis-based approach shapes the consciousness and actions of urban practitioners towards liberating engagements with their urban contexts. The research methodology is grounded in the transformative paradigms of a praxis-based approach and Womanist theological conceptions which are presented as the vehicle to explore theological education in Cape Town. The aim of the study is investigated in three ways, namely (1) focus groups with theological educators, alumni of theological education programmes, community-based practitioners and ministers, (2) an auto ethnographic exploration and (3) semi-structured interviews with 2016 LUT participants. As a methodology the praxis cycle and the requisite series of action-reflection movements – exploring immersion, social analysis, theological reflection and co- constructing plans for action – were used as a framework to analyse lived spiritualty in the city. Utilising the praxis cycle, participatory action research methods and pastoral ethnographic interviews, data was collected, complied, transcribed, reviewed and scrutinised using thematic analysis to identify themes for examination. An autoethnographic chapter expounding on the biography of the researcher in conversation with Womanist theological literature and a praxis-based approach preceded the ethnographic investigation of the narratives of the LUT participants. Throughout the autoethnography, four quintessential resources of Womanist theology – redemptive self-love, critical engagement, radical subjectivity, and traditional communalism – were amalgamated with the movements of the praxis cycle to contribute to a developing pedagogical method for urban challenges. In the ethnographic research, the praxis cycle movements and Womanist ideals aided in identifying: (1) how the context of the city was brought to life for LUT participants, (2) how participants received new lenses to read the past, present and future of urban contexts, (3) how the participants refined or developed fresh faith practices, and (4) what dissonances were generated for participants in the learning process. Finally, a revitalising orientation of theological education/formation using the praxis cycle methodology preparing practitioners for informed engagement with urban challenges was outlined. Synthesising the study, focus group themes and imaginative scenarios were brought into conversation with the ethnographic explorations and relevant literature to substantiate how the praxis-based approach in tandem with womanist theology were joined reflecting liberative pedagogical and epistemological features for urban theological education. Finally, praxis-based and Womanist approaches where used to propose a transformative urban pedagogical framework employing Katie Geneva Cannon’s transformative pedagogical imperatives consisting of historic ethos, embodied pathos and communal logos. In addition, a fresh conception of imaginative oikos was fused together with Cannon’s ideals towards a liberative praxis-based pedagogical framework suitable to prepare practitioners for urban challenges.
Faith-based agency towards the 'good city' in the Gauteng City-Region : a theological portraiture
(University of Pretoria, 2023-10-06) De Beer, Stephan F.; u04937075@up.ac.za; Ribbens, Michael Lee
Population and economic growth in and around Gauteng Province in South Africa gave rise to the Gauteng City-Region. Previous research within the Gauteng City-Region indicates positive correlation between perceived quality of life and participation in faith-based organisations, and yet little research goes on to describe faith-based organisations. This qualitative research employs a variant of portraiture known as theological portraiture through the interdisciplinary notion of the ‘good city’ in order to describe the character and culture of four faith-based organisations in the Gauteng City-Region. In what way, if any, do the selected faith-based organisations animate the ‘good city’ in the Gauteng City-Region? Whilst thousands of faith-based organisations dot the Gauteng City-Region, this research engages four Christian faith-based organisations within three different municipalities. The faith-based organisations are: Ebenezer Bible Church, the Tshwane Leadership Foundation, Institute for Urban Ministry, and Sandspruit Christian Fellowship. They are community-based within vulnerable people and contexts such as the inner city, townships, and informal settlements. To engage the main research question through theological portraiture, the researcher traces how four faith-based organisations understand goodness and observes the extent to which goodness is expressed by their lived faith. Integrating empirical study with art-form, the urban theological portraitist is a story-listener, story-weaver, and story-teller. Through six to eight weeks of immersion with each organisation and fifty-six interviews, the researcher crafts a theological portrait of each faith-based organisation and one group theological portrait which coheres the dissertation. What came to light through the research is that the four faith-based organisations are animating a good city within the Gauteng City-Region. Being activated by faith in Jesus Christ, the faith-based organisations are urban theological animators and servant leaders through inextricable solidarity with the urban poor. In concrete solidarity with the most vulnerable, the faith-based organisations participate in urban planning. Whilst this expression of their faith-based agency is considered good (enough), with opportunity for better engagement, the faith-based organisations identify four interventions to more actively participate in urban planning. A suggested recommendation is to deepen and expand the transdisciplinary Urban Studio within the Gauteng City-Region.
Towards the development of inclusive missional congregations : biblical hospitality as a paradigm for building hospitable communities of faith
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Nel, Malan; Meyer, Esias E.; timwshirley@gmail.com; Shirley, Timothy Wade
This study explores the way that ancient Near Eastern hospitality, as revealed in the Bible, can inform and impact contemporary ecclesial welcome and inclusiveness, with specific attention to inviting LGBTQQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual/Aromantic/Agender) persons into the life of local missional congregations. The study was carried out through practical biblical analysis and empirical, qualitative research. The study falls within the field of congregational studies specifically within Congregational Development, i.e., “Gemeindeaufbau.” The thesis describes the biblical and cultural background undergirding the ancient custom of Near Eastern hospitality and the way it was instituted among the nomads and later codified among the Bedouins. These customs are then applied to a contemporary, postmodern, context advocating for the hospitable welcome and inclusion of all people in the life of local missional churches. The question is “how can congregations that exhibit prejudice toward LGBTQQIA+ persons overcome bias and discriminatory practices and become missionally holistic, hospitably welcoming and inclusive?” The research problem is that numerous missional congregations fail to be hospitably welcoming and inclusive, especially concerning persons of LGBTQQIA+ orientation. The reason for this lack of inclusivity, stems from a lack of understanding of hospitality as a major biblical and theological theme. The answer to how congregations that exhibit prejudice toward LGBTQQIA+ persons can overcome bias and discriminatory practices to become missionally holistic and inclusive, may be found in an alternative biblical hermeneutic that creates a better understanding of the principle of radical hospitality as a theological premise inherent within the Judeo-Christian scriptures. Accomplishing this degree of reformational transformative change demands intentionality by church leadership, specifically clergy who implement transformational change within the congregational system. A church can be authentically hospitable only if it engages in processes toward discernment, achieving clarity about its identity, an absolute necessity in determining the missional ethos of a local congregation. This study offers a paradigm from which congregations can engage LGBTQQIA+ persons from an alternative biblical hermeneutical perspective. An exegesis of specific biblical references reveals the various ways that biblical peoples, tribes, and clans related to one another. Described as a detailed event in Genesis 18, hospitality then emerges as a pervasive theological theme throughout the biblical narrative.
Growing together : inclusivity in youth ministry praxis and the challenge of mainline church attrition
(University of Pretoria, 2023-09-24) Nel, Malan; michaelwdroege@gmail.com; Droege, Michael William
The problem concerning this research is why, after a century of professional study, training, and resourcing in youth ministry, does the American church still experience generational attrition? This research argues that 20th century hegemonic ideas surrounding adolescence transformed emerging adults transitioning from childhood to adulthood into a problematic sub-culture that needed specialized programming to protect and mold into productive members of the hegemonic class. The mixed methodology and multi-disciplinary approach to the development of youth ministry demonstrates a historical and methodological connection to mainline church attrition, but it also invites us to reconsider the foundational concepts of adolescence that inspired 20th century youth programming. The common complaint among churches today is the lack of teenagers that they “have”. However, an empirical investigation into their historical practice demonstrates a lack of inclusion on the part of churches who no longer have a vibrant teenage population vs those that do. Utilizing the inclusive missional ecclesiology of Malan Nel as a point of departure, this research includes a theoretical consideration of a kinship model, most often practiced in African American churches, and a consideration of adolescence itself as a theological conversation partner. Empirical research provides a vital “text” for consideration as the theoretical and the empirical are brought into conversation to provide a practical theological approach to reformation in not only the praxis of youth ministry, but the posture toward adolescence. As a result, a way forward is suggested that moves a congregation from an exclusive programmatic structure that does not foster intergenerational community to one that considers all voices and all gifs as vital to a missional identity.
Lutheran homiletics and Francophone African contexts : how to connect Lutheran orthodoxy with African culture
(University of Pretoria, 2024) Meylahn, Johann-Albrecht; mcdermor@gmail.com; McDermott, Ryan Michael
Many factors come together to make Christian preaching effective and authentic. This thesis examines the current state of homiletical practice and formation in Francophone African Lutheran church bodies, with the goal of formulating a theoretical framework for practice that is both orthodox Lutheran and authentically African. The research problem is two-fold. Sermons preached in Francophone African Lutheran congregations are deemed to be inadequate. Why is this the case? What does Lutheran orthodoxy have to offer in the way of a remedy to this problem? The methodology used to examine these questions is Osmer's four questions regarding practical theology. Sermons and source materials from the current field as well as from historical sources are examined within. Consideration is given to questions of modernism and postmodernism, colonialism and decolonialism, and African identity. This thesis seeks to open conversation and hold space for these subject fields to intersect in the cross of Christ.
Spiritualität im Führungskontext zur Burnoutprophylaxe bei diakonisch-klinischem Pflegepersonal
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Kessler, Volker; bewegt@gmx.net; Eschmann, Sarah Rahel
Nurses encounter many requirements from patients and other professional groups. Due to the increasing complexity, nurses cannot care for the patients according to their values. As a result, more and more nurses question the meaning of their work and are continuously getting burned out. This master's thesis examines the following question: What is the possibility of consciously integrating spirituality as a leadership tool in the prevention of burnout of nursing staff in diaconal clinics. In order to answer this question, the topic of burnout is analysed on the findings of Maslach and Leiter. Furthermore, the topic of leadership in the traditional sense andin the Christian understanding is outlined. To add further context to the discussions, the historical roots of nursing with the topic of spirituality are shown. Also discussedare the effects of the loss of spirituality in healthcare. The topic of spirituality is analysed in relation to practical theology along with the term diaconia with biblical references. In the main part of the work, two spiritual leadership concepts are compared and the knowledge gained from them is derived. One concept is "Spiritual Leadership" by Louis W. Fry, and the other “Existential Communication and Spiritual Resources in Nursing”, developed from the German Evangelical Church. The comparison of leadership concepts includes the understanding of spirituality and leadership as well as their impact their well-being effects. The prophylactic effects of each concept are investigated with the causes of burnout and from a Christian theological perspective.
Substance abuse by learners : a pastoral care challenge
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Beukes, Jacques; Nthite, Sello Solomon
Substance abuse by learners in South African schools has become a daunting task that requires all the stakeholders to work together to normalise the situation which has escalated to greater heights because of the illicit street drug called Nyaope. The drug market has risen proportionally resulting in most learners indulging in the usage of Nyaope at schools. The substance Nyaope has impacted the lives of the learners psychologically and physiologically and consequently abscond from school, do crime, show poor performance in their schoolwork, disrupt classes at any given time, and instigate violence, thus rendering schools ungovernable. This scourge of Nyaope has caused learners to commit petty crimes such as stealing and burglary which resulted in most of them being convicted of such crimes. The purpose of this study is to care for individuals through pastoral care and to address the issue of Nyaope. In the end, the learners might be able to consider the morality of their actions. The researcher who is a teacher, pastor and caregiver had used sources of Gerkin, Wimberly and Pollard interchangeably to sustain pastoral care and guidance to assist learners to make confident and informed choices between alternative thoughts and actions in the present and the future state of the soul. The sources will also help them endure and transcend circumstances that seem improbable. The method that was selected for this study was qualitative to ensure that different views, meanings, and understanding of the phenomenon of learners, allow them to describe, motivate and justify the phenomenon being studied. Qualitative will also assist in the interview of the participants and again assist the researcher to understand the worldview of the participants. This study was conducted in the schools around the suburb of Sunnyside, notoriously known, as the drug hub of the capital city of Pretoria, which is on the north-eastern side. This research has been conducted solely to assist learners who are in drugs to understand the facts about common drugs, substance abuse, and substance-related problems and recovery. Through therapeutic attention, the learners will self-correct problem behaviours as well as negative thought patterns that led to these behaviours.
Grieving unnatural death : a pastoral care challenge
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Masango, Maake J.S.; simnikiwe.mqunyana@gmail.com; Mqunyana, Simnikiwe Oswald Nkosivumile
Groepe en pastorale sorg in 'n gemeentelike konteks : 'n narratiewe benadering
(University of Pretoria, 2022) Dreyer, Yolanda; alisnabloem@gmail.com; Slabbert, Alisna
Groepe vorm oral in die samelewing. Sommige word doelbewus gegenereer. Ander ontstaan spontaan. Die uitgangspunt van hierdie studie is dat kleingroepe ’n kardinale deel van gemeentes en geloofsgemeenskappe kan uitmaak en dat individue deur middel van die groepe die steun van ’n gemeenskap kan ervaar. Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe formele en informele groepe met behulp van die deel van narratiewe kan bydra tot die pastorale versorging van mense. Groepe en groepsdinkamika word onder andere ondersoek in die sosiale wetenskappe en sosiale psigologie. Die insigte en teorie van Donelson Forsyth (2014) ten opsigte van groepvorming word benut om aan te dui hoe formele en informele groepe vorm. David Johnson en Frank Johnson (2003) se beskrywing van groepe word ook vir die doel aangewend omdat dit spesifieke aspekte van groepvorming belig. Hierdie teorie fokus onder meer op die effektiwe funksionering van groepe asook die verskillende kommunkasienetwerke in groepe. Met behulp van hierdie teorieë toon die studie aan dat betrokkenheid by ’n ondersteuningsgroep kan bydra tot mense se welsyn. Pastorale sorg het ten doel om mense te begelei tot heling, genesing, heelheid en hoop. So word hulle bemagtig om aktief in die geloofsgemeenskap by te dra tot onderlinge sorg. Julian Müller (2000) se reisgeselskap-model word benut om aan te toon wat in formele groepe of een-tot-een pastorale sorg gesprekke plaasvind. Pastorale sorg is nie net die pastor se taak nie. Onderlinge sorg is die taak van die hele geloofsgemeenskap. Maria Maritnez (2018) se narratologiese model met die naam Storyworld Possible Selves word in die studie benut om die kompleksiteit van die betrokkenheid by ander se verhale te verduidelik. Formele en informele groepe is ’n onvermydelike deel van geloofsgemeenskappe en kerkwees. Met behulp van Charles Gerkin (1997) se pastoraatteorie word die verwagting van pastorale sorg ondersoek. Sy driedeling van ‘n gemeenskap van ondersoek, ‘n gemeenskap van onderlinge sorg en ‘n gemeenskap van gestuurdes is vir die werk van kleingroepe en onderlinge sorg in ’n gemeentelike konteks relevant. Mense kan pastoraal versorg word in formele en informele groepe ervaar. Hulle kan dit toepas in hulle eie lewe en positiewe verandering te weeg bring as hulle mekaar pastoraal versorg.
Behoeftes van en bediening aan universiteitstudente in Suid-Afrika : 'n empiriese studie
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Nel, Malan; nienke.kemm@gmail.com; Kemm, Nienke
Behoeftes van en bediening aan universiteitstudente in Suid-Afrika: ‘n Empiriese studie (Needs of and ministry to university students in South Africa: an Empirical study) is an empirical study conducted in the student congregations of the Reformed Church in South Africa, the Dutch Reformed Church and the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa. The primary research question that this study answers is as follows: What are the ministry needs of Afrikaans-speaking university students in South-Africa? The research problem that necessitates this study is that there is a lack of understanding and knowledge of the ministry needs of Afrikaans-speaking student members of the Reformed student congregations in South-Africa. There is little research on student ministry in the South African context to support student ministers in their respective ministries. The goal of this study is to determine who the present-day student is and what the reality in which they live looks like in order to determine the ministry needs of Afrikaans-speaking university students so that they can be ministered in more meaningful and effective ways. The theoretical framework underlying the research is Richard Osmer’s four tasks of practical theological interpretation, namely the empirical descriptive task, the interpretative task, the normative task and the pragmatic task. Chapters 1 and 2 serve as the introductory chapters for this study. Chapter 2 entails a literature study of the origin and history of student ministry in South Africa. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are the empirical descriptive chapters. Chapter 6 entails a literature review of student ministry and faith formation. Chapters 7 and 8 comprise a literature review on the psychological development of the student to understand the developmental phase of the student. Three sets of empirical research have been conducted for this study. The first is quantitative research done by means of a questionnaire that was sent to the second-year students of the selected congregations. The second is qualitative structured interviews that have been conducted by the researcher with 11 of the students who have completed the questionnaire. Thirdly, more qualitative structured interviews have been conducted with 17 of the student ministers across South Africa. The qualitative data from the interviews were analysed by using ATLAS.ti. From the empirical data, the following three ministry needs of Afrikaans-speaking university students were identified: the need for faith formation, the need for mentorship and the need for faith community. The data also shows that the students and student ministers differ about the importance these needs and understand the contents of each need differently.
Pastoral care with homeless people in Sunnyside
(University of Pretoria, 2023) Masango, Maake J.S.; u05005532@tuks.co.za; Msipa, Charles
The purpose of this study was to investigate how pastors should pastorally intervene in addressing the street homelessness that is becoming a rampant issue, with a focus on Sunnyside, in the City of Tshwane. The study argued that street homeless people should not be considered abandoned people but full human beings who need to pastorally be cared for. Therefore, this study deployed Gerkin’s shepherding model and Pollard’s positive deconstruction as the theoretical framework and healing method. The relevance and significance of using Gerkin’s shepherding model are that it was an adequate tool to be used by the pastors to justify their leadership in intervening and journeying with troubled souls such as street homeless people. However, as Gerkin's model was only able to journey with homeless people and not able to enter their souls, therefore, the study recalled the intervention of Pollard's Model of positive deconstruction as it could enter the souls of the troubled homeless people who live under bridges in Sunnyside and to pastorally deconstruct and re-construct their lives.

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