‘n Missionale Inkarnasiemodel vir Nederduitse Gereformeerde gemeentes in voorstedelike gemeenskappe, met spesiale verwysing na die apostoliese leierskap van Paulus

Abstract

In both church as well as theological circles much attention has been paid, during the past decades, to the development of missional congregations. The General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa adopted a policy document in 2013, to encourage and empower local congregations on their way to becoming truly missional churches. This thesis analyses and evaluates one congregation’s attempt to discover the meaning of being a missional congregation in a local setting: Doornkloof Family Church within the Doringkloof community, Centurion.

In the Introductory chapter, Chapter 1, the research proposal is presented. The following Chapter 2 is devoted to a discussion of the theological concepts underpinning the development of a missional theology and practice, namely the concepts of missio Dei and missio ecclesiae.

At the heart of the development of a missional church lies the concept of incarnation. The church needs to follow in the footsteps of Christ, committing itself to be incarnated in the world, as well as in the local community. This is attended to in Chapter 3, by discussing inter alia the importance of contextualisation and inculteration in the local setting.

In Chapter 4 the demands of apostolic leadership are discussed, by analysing the leadership model of the apostle Paul. Attention is given to modern research on Paul’s leadership example, making use –inter alia – of the so called chaos-theory.

Chapter 5 is devoted to the DRC Family Church Doornkloof and its endeavours on the road to becoming a missional church. The role of the clergy as well as other leaders are analysed. After that, the context in which the church operates, on macro-meso- and micro-levels, comes under the lens.

In Chapter 6 the development of a missional strategy for the DRC Family Church Doornkloof is discussed and evaluated. Local projects, inter alia the Straatgeloof (“Faith on the street”) initiative, are scrutinised. In the final chapter, Chapter 7, the results of the research are discussed, together with a brief note on areas for future research on the subject.

In both church as well as theological circles much attention has been paid, during the past decades, to the development of missional congregations. The General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa adopted a policy document in 2013, to encourage and empower local congregations on their way to becoming truly missional churches. This thesis analyses and evaluates one congregation’s attempt to discover the meaning of being a missional congregation in a local setting: Doornkloof Family Church within the Doringkloof community, Centurion. In the Introductory chapter, Chapter 1, the research proposal is presented. The following Chapter 2 is devoted to a discussion of the theological concepts underpinning the development of a missional theology and practice, namely the concepts of missio Dei and missio ecclesiae. At the heart of the development of a missional church lies the concept of incarnation. The church needs to follow in the footsteps of Christ, committing itself to be incarnated in the world, as well as in the local community. This is attended to in Chapter 3, by discussing inter alia the importance of contextualisation and inculteration in the local setting. In Chapter 4 the demands of apostolic leadership are discussed, by analysing the leadership model of the apostle Paul. Attention is given to modern research on Paul’s leadership example, making use –inter alia – of the so called chaos-theory. Chapter 5 is devoted to the DRC Family Church Doornkloof and its endeavours on the road to becoming a missional church. The role of the clergy as well as other leaders are analysed. After that, the context in which the church operates, on macromeso- and micro-levels, comes under the lens. In Chapter 6 the development of a missional strategy for the DRC Family Church Doornkloof is discussed and evaluated. Local projects, inter alia the Straatgeloof (“Faith on the street”) initiative, are scrutinised. In the final chapter, Chapter 7, the results of the research are discussed, together with a brief note on areas for future research on the subject.