Professor of Practical Theology at the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Teaches practical theology and ministry practice to undergraduate students and coordinates the MDiv-program as well as the Post Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry. Research focus is inter alia on leadership development and congregational studies. Address: Stellenbocsh
Western Cape
South Africa
Faith communities are found all over the world as spaces where people find a spiritual home and w... more Faith communities are found all over the world as spaces where people find a spiritual home and where spiritual formation takes place. For this contribution, the research question is: In what ways can the leadership in faith communities contribute towards spiritual resources for their members in the time of the Anthropocene? Faith communities are spaces where three resources (a shared narrative about climate change, shared values and shared symbols and practices) interact and where each of these can also make a unique contribution to raising awareness of ownership and space in the time of the Anthropocene. If the Anthropocene is considered as the period in which human activities have the dominant influence on the climate and the environment, these three resources offer important contributions for a greater awareness of humans' influence on the climate and the environment. The congregational leader as spiritual guide in the modes of storyteller, moral compass and symbolic worker can play a significant role in the process of mobilising people of faith in becoming involved in their environment and climate mobilisation.
Each congregation has its own spirituality. Within the Reformed tradition, it is usually linked t... more Each congregation has its own spirituality. Within the Reformed tradition, it is usually linked to faith formation. The purpose of this contribution is to address the following research question: How does faith formation take place in and through congregations? In answer to this question, attention will be paid to the following: Firstly, the function and purpose of faith formation will be looked at. Secondly, we will focus on some of the challenges that faith formation faces. Thirdly, the embodiment of faith formation is discussed. Fourthly, the connection between faith formation and desires is examined and finally the focus is on faith formation in and through congregations.
Scholars believe that we are amid one of the greatest cultural revolutions since the mass product... more Scholars believe that we are amid one of the greatest cultural revolutions since the mass production of books by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450. The art of book printing, which originated in Central Europe, turned the world on its head within 10 years. The mass production of books resulted in most people in Europe learning to read in less than one generation, which has led to major changes in all areas of social life and has affected the lives of millions of people for over a hundred years. According to these same scholars, we currently find ourselves in a similar position through what is known as the AI (artificial intelligence). In this article, the researcher wants to come to a better understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and AI as part of it and the way they challenge preachers. The central research question is: In our pursuit to speak the truth of Jesus Christ to the powerful economic elite, what are the challenges and opportunities that the 4IR is posing to preachers?
Bringing methodology and theory closer: Development and challenges in South African homiletics. T... more Bringing methodology and theory closer: Development and challenges in South African homiletics. The homiletic landscape in South Africa is rich and varied. In this contribution, we attempt to paint with broad brushstrokes this landscape. We write as practical theologians with a shared love for homiletics, but also with an interest in doing what we preach in terms of research and teaching. Put differently, we argue in the light of existing literature that there should be congruence between theories we advance, and methodologies we employ. We dwell on themes such as decolonisation, justice and reconciliation, poverty and inequality that are characteristic of our homiletical landscape. We conclude with the thought that as Christianity in South Africa grows and preachers increase in number, so do the opportunities for empirical academic involvement in preaching. However, the occasion also poses a challenge for academics engaged in homiletics, namely, to practise what they preach by bringing theory and method in a closer relationship.
We are theologians, we are males, we are also white, middle-aged and privileged. In theology, as ... more We are theologians, we are males, we are also white, middle-aged and privileged. In theology, as in many other disciplines, there are amongst others, African-, Black-, Latin-, Womanist-, and Feminist approaches. There was however until fairly recently 1 no Male-or White Theology. The answer why this is the case is simple-white and male has been, and to an extent still is, the dominant (heteronormative) perspective in many academic disciplines and tertiary institutions. Realising that this is the case, is important, as we cannot divorce who we are from how and what we teach. The students that we teach reflect the full diversity of South African society (race, gender, sexual orientation etc), so in all our lectures, also in our departmental staff room, we represent a minority. A reflexive praxis approach In this reflection, based on ongoing research, we follow a praxis approach and thus ponder questions such as "what is going on?" and "why it is the case?" aimed at improving the practice, in this case, the practice of theological teaching at some African universities. We do this by deliberately surfacing aspects of our own teaching philosophies as they have developed
This article derives from a collaborative higher education project, conceptualised, and implement... more This article derives from a collaborative higher education project, conceptualised, and implemented by academics from seven South African universities. These academics are members of the South African Teaching Advancement at University (TAU) Fellowship. The project has its roots in the Department of Higher Education's National Framework for Enhancing Academics as University Teachers, which identifies six leverage points or 'imperatives for action', one of which is the imperative to develop expectations (attributes) of academics in their role as university teachers. TAU Fellows engaged in the collaborative enquiry over a period of three years, appropriating a conceptual framework posited by Henry Giroux, of teachers as transformative intellectuals. In this article, each author reflects on his/her own scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) endeavours, which provided the conceptual tools to illuminate what for them and the group, are valuable professional attributes. The metaphor of the Baobab tree is appropriated to signify 'rhizomatic thinking', which portrays teaching as subconscious, subversive, non-linear, multi-directional, serendipitous, esoteric, dynamic, unbounded, unpredictable, adaptive, and non-hierarchical. This SoTL enquiry enabled the TAU group to unveil and declare their professional attributes as they made public their praxis. The attributes include academics as imbued with the capacity for critical thinking and actively promoting critical thinking amongst their students; as active learning mediators; as responsive, innovative, and relevant curriculum designers; and as engaged professionals. Appreciation of the article is enhanced when the reader first views this video https://youtu.be/yoA9guMut-8.
The Covid-19 pandemic confronted the world and South Africans with the challenges of health care ... more The Covid-19 pandemic confronted the world and South Africans with the challenges of health care and "Zoomification". From the 29 th of March 2020 it was, because of the restriction and ban on gatherings, expected from ministers and faith leaders in South Africa to use online technology to preach their sermons. Many preachers had to rethink the format and content of their preaching. The question arose as to what sermons may look like during these times, and specifically the content and God images of the sermons. This chapter examines the sermon content of a purposive sample of ministers from the combined Stellenbosch circuit of the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. Twenty-four sermons were analysed, making use of a combination of the Heidelberg method of sermon analysis and grounded theory in order to identify the core themes of their preaching and the God images used at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the sermons, the researcher asked three questions: Which texts did the preachers choose? What themes emerged from the sermons? With which God images did the preachers work? Using ATLAS.ti, the sermons were coded, topics were identified, and God images were discerned. When I began writing these lines it was not, to be sure, inspiration but desperation, to be alive, to believe again in the love of God. The love of God is not a thing one comprehends but that by which-and only by which-one is comprehended. It is like the child's time of pre-reflective being, and like that time, we learn from its lack.
Background: The shifting identity of a first-year class over a decade in terms of demography and ... more Background: The shifting identity of a first-year class over a decade in terms of demography and representation, inevitably led me to reflect deeply on what I teach them and how I facilitate the learning process. I had to pay close attention to decolonisation and contextualisation. The basic research question is: How does one reflect on the shifting identity of a first-year class and how does one decolonise a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology? Aim: To answer the research question by taking the following route. Firstly, aspects of the changed context and shifting identity will be discussed and secondly, attention will be given to what is meant by decolonisation, with specific reference to the curriculum. Thirdly, the focus will be on a proposed curriculum that uses a theo-dramatic approach. Fourthly, I reflect on the learning process (pedagogy) and how it also contributes to a shift in my own identity. Setting: The research is set against the backdrop of changes that took place over the last two decades in Higher Education in South Africa including the commodification of higher education, the lack of adequate financial resources and the #FeesMustFall movement. Methods: As the research design, a case study is selected for the study project. Results: The development of a new pedagogy. Conclusion: With this contribution, I attempted to reflect, in the light of the changing profile of the class composition of a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology in terms of demography (BCI students), to what extent it also leads to a shift of identities. Keywords: decolonisation; contextualisation; practical theology; #FeesMustFall movement; pedagogy; curriculum; theo-drama.
Congregational studies: A rapidly developing field of study. Congregational studies are not so si... more Congregational studies: A rapidly developing field of study. Congregational studies are not so simple to define. This may be related to the relative novelty of the discipline, but also to the variety of people who practice it and the equally wide range of angles to the field. The purpose of this article is to look at various stages in the development of the field of congregational studies in the South African context, and more specifically within the Dutch Reformed Church over the past 50 years. The phases can be described as follows: the initial church-building phase, followed by the phase where the dynamics and identity of faith communities came into focus, and then by a phase in which the focus shifted to congregational studies specifically within the African context and greater focus on the empirical investigation of congregations in the form of various modes of congregational analysis, as well as the advent of a missional approach to congregations. A further and ever-evolving phase is the move towards a more aesthetic perspective of the field, known as a theo-dramatic approach. Together with the last phase, we just entered what I would call the post- COVID-19 phase. One can see massive changes in congregational ministry since the COVID-19 virus started to spread in South Africa. Overnight, ministers and church boards had to adapt to online modes of being and doing church and I am very sure this will be an enormous shift. In future, we will certainly speak about the church before and after COVID-19.
In Suid-Afrika leef ons in 'n postkoloniale konteks. Die vraag is of mens hoegenaamd sou kon verw... more In Suid-Afrika leef ons in 'n postkoloniale konteks. Die vraag is of mens hoegenaamd sou kon verwys na "postkoloniale leierskap"; dit is dan ook die rede vir die vraagteken in die titel. Nadat begrippe soos kolonialisme, postkolonialisme en dekolonisering onder die soeklig gekom het, word na die belangrikste uitdagings gekyk wat teoloë en godsdienstige leiers in Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar en sal gepoog word om groter helderheid daaroor te verkry. Van die uitdagings wat ondersoek word, sluit in ekologiese, sosiopolitieke, ekonomiese en opvoedkundige uitdagings, die Vierde Nywerheidsrevolusie en ook geestelike uitdagings. Geloofsleiers moet op hierdie uitdagings reageer, en daarom sal die navorser na verskillende leierskapsbevoegdhede kyk wat 'n nuwe generasie teoloë moet toerus. Dit is met ander woorde bekwaamhede wat ons hopelik in staat sal stel om op verantwoordelike wyse op die uitdagings te reageer en wat gemeentes kan help om in 'n uiters onsekere wêreld te floreer.
Background: Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally performed through as... more Background: Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally performed through assignments and oral examinations, which often only concentrate on the knowledge component and outcomes of the program. Assessing students in this way leads to a view of religious practitioners as people who are not really in touch with their parishioners and communicating in language that is not addressing their needs and this normally leads to a disjuncture between knowledge, practice, and context. Disjuncture of this nature signals a need for a broader set of competencies than simply working with and analyzing texts in theological education. Aim: The aim of this research is to develop a set of competencies that responds to the reality that the practice of ministry takes place within a rich diversity of postcolonial settings and practices. Setting: The research was done as part of my own interest in developing a competency framework for religious leaders. I am coordinating the Master of Divinity program as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Ministry at our Faculty of Theology. Both these programs directly relate to the preparation of students for ministerial leadership. Methods: The central research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the central ingredients for developing a competency framework for ministerial formation from a postcolonial perspective at a research-intensive university in South Africa? The method that was used to answer the research question was a literary study of primary and secondary sources related to a broad set of competencies and then narrowing it down to religious leadership as well as some qualitative empirical research in the form of personal interviews. Results: The research in the article looked at the ways in which a competency framework can help translate generic graduate attributes into a set of competencies that is specific to the field of ministerial training. Some empirical work showed evidence of a growing postcolonial awareness in the development of these competencies. Conclusion: Through this research, a competency framework for religious leaders have successfully been developed. The next phase of the research project will be to implement a framework, to have feedback and to make some adjustments.
Since the end of apartheid and the advent of democratic elections, South Africa has made great st... more Since the end of apartheid and the advent of democratic elections, South Africa has made great strides, but we still continue, at times, to be unable to practice sawubona. On one level, this is not surprising given our history of separateness. The article asks whether fresh expressions of church, such as the community supper at St Peters in Mowbray, Cape Town, indeed create a space for genuinely ‘seeing’ each other and practicing being human together. The article also explores some of the problems inherent in ethnographic work amongst the poor and the vulnerable by asking whether some types of ethnographic work actually practice a form of epistemic violence and muses upon the idea of the postcolonial gaze and ‘othering’ in ethnography in contexts of poverty in the global South. Can ethnography, in some cases, be a form of academic pornography?
Outside the confines of the known: Cross-cultural experiences among a random sample of ministers ... more Outside the confines of the known: Cross-cultural experiences among a random sample of ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church This article looks at one of the questions posed in the Church Mirror questionnaire to a number of pastors of the Dutch Reformed Church. The question is: Tell us about the best experience you have had in your congregation where believers met across cultural boundaries or did something together? The sample forms part of a ministerial panel conducted every three years among ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church with the aim of finding out what pastors think and do about a number of current church activities. The choice to focus on this question comes against the backdrop of contemporary discourses related to the missional nature of church life and the challenge of multi-culturalism in faith communities. The study is qualitative in nature and falls within the interpretive paradigm as part of phenomenology. The data shows an interesting number of activities identified by the ministers related to multiculturalism and also provides some directions for missional development in the future.
The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during ... more The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during 2008 was still continuing unabated 10 years later. We were stressed to come to terms with the reality that this occurred in a country that is globally considered to be an example of reconciliation. It is clear that we were confronted by the politics of fear, which were manifested in xenophobia and all the other -isms. In this article, the primary causes of these xenophobic outbreaks were scrutinized and placed within the wider framework of a culture of fear. The central research question is: Why are we still struggling with this phenomenon more than a decade after it first appeared on South African soil? An in-depth analysis will be performed at what is lying behind the culture of fear underlying these acts of violence. After exploring some of the factors related to a culture of fear by making use of a sociological frame, the author moved on to answer a second question: How do we, as preachers, researchers and practical theologians, respond in a theological way to the challenges posed by a xenophobic culture in our preaching activities? Finally, the impact of violence and fear on the practice of preaching within a Christian context was discussed.
Preek Wijzer online preekvoorbereiding en preekschetsen, 2018
Professor Ian Nell (Stellenbosch Universiteit, Departement Praktiese Teologie en Missiologie) las... more Professor Ian Nell (Stellenbosch Universiteit, Departement Praktiese Teologie en Missiologie) las het boek van Beatrice de Graaf, ‘Heilige Strijd: het
verlangen naar veiligheid en het Einde van het kwaad’. Hij brengt in dit artikel haar concept van veiligheid in verband met de Zuid-Afrikaanse context,
met name aan de theologische faculteit van Stellenbosch Universiteit.
In South African higher education institutions, the student protests of 2015–2016 called for the ... more In South African higher education institutions, the student protests of 2015–2016 called for the decolonisation of higher education spaces and equal access to these spaces. We collected data from students and lecturers over the period of one year in order to better understand the reactions of students and lecturers and the effects the protests had on their experiences. Perspectives of affective theory, decolonisation and social justice were used. It was discovered that the protests had a great affective impact on participants. Strong emotions and beliefs affected the relationships between students and lecturers and African centrality was suggested as a framework for curriculum change. Some settler perspectives emerged and polarisation was evident. It is our hope that lecturers could use this research to assist them in decolonising their spaces of teaching and learning.
We are busy celebrating 500 years of reformation and one of the basic convictions of the reformer... more We are busy celebrating 500 years of reformation and one of the basic convictions of the reformers was that we know to (W)whom we belong. During the student uprisings that we experienced in 2015 and 2016, it became clear that the notion of ‘belonging’ was deeply contested. Students still experience that black people are socially, economically and psychologically abused by the white systems, including university campuses. In empirical research conducted in 2016 with colleagues from five other faculties, these feelings and experiences of exclusion, of not belonging and of injustice among theology students and even some lecturers, were confirmed. This led to the basic research question focused on the subject field for which I am responsible at the Faculty of Theology: how do we work together as lecturers and students to help create such spaces of human dignity in the training of students who are busy preparing for ministry practice in a postcolonial African context in which they experience belonging? This article endeavours to provide an answer to this question. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The empirical part of the research was conducted by colleagues from five different faculties including Arts and Science, Engineering, Law, Education and Theology. In that sense, the research was not only intradisciplinary but also interdisciplinary.
In discourses on leadership within the African context one regularly finds that scholars draw a d... more In discourses on leadership within the African context one regularly finds that scholars draw a distinction between so-called Western and African approaches to leadership. African leadership approaches are then often linked to notions of an African value system in which one of the first concepts that surface is the loaded notion of 'Ubuntu'. Scholars then point to the fact that in the understanding of 'Ubuntu' one finds a preference for a kind of spiritual collectiveness rather than for individualism with rational thinking as a central feature of Western thought. Applied to leadership, one therefore finds a consensus-seeking and problem-solving approach in Africa, rather than dissension, which is typical of Western styles of leadership. The purpose of this article is firstly to illustrate that this dualistic approach to leadership not only underwrites considerable contestation over the notion of 'Ubuntu' leadership, but that such an oversimplified understanding of African leadership can easily contribute to gender discrimination. Secondly, this problematic situation will be illustrated by referring to a recent case study on the absence of women from leadership positions within a specific denomination in Malawi. Some of the underlying factors contributing to this problematic practice will be scrutinised. Lastly, the article concludes by voicing the trust that a more nuanced approach to leadership from an 'Ubuntu' perspective can indeed make a contribution to the position of women in leadership. According to the understanding of the researcher, this can happen if the notion of 'Ubuntu' is placed within the broader discourses of critical humanism where the focus is on shared humanity.
The findings of the Archbishop’s Council in their 2004 report, to the effect that traditional for... more The findings of the Archbishop’s Council in their 2004 report, to the effect that traditional forms of church in Britain are under threat because of changing cultural patterns, emphasise the need to re-think church for our contemporary contexts. The ‘Fresh Expressions of church’ movement is one such initiative identified and approved of by the Archbishop’s Council. This article reports on research undertaken in a practical theological interpretation of The Filling Station, a Christian ministry that has grown significantly in its 10-year history and was formed as a missional endeavour in recognition of declining church attendance in traditional churches in Britain. This work explores whether The Filling Station is a Fresh Expression of church and whether it meets the values of authentic missional churches. In examining whether The Filling Station ought to be considered for import into appropriate local congregational contexts, it enquires whether it satisfactorily addresses prevailing social trends affecting churches, including consumerism and the need for identity.
Preaching and performance is a relatively recent development in homiletical discourses and preach... more Preaching and performance is a relatively recent development in homiletical discourses and preaching practices. ere is much promise in approaching preaching in this creative way. Attention will be paid to dierent promises related to this homiletical approach. In a next round of reection the attention shis to the way in which a specic approach to performance, also known as theo-drama, can not only enhance the preaching act, but also helps to understand the paradoxical role of the preacher, the audience and even God in the preaching event. is will be illustrated by looking at one of the sermons of John de Gruchy, which he preached in a very specic time in the history of South Africa. Attention will also be given to the way in which he performed a prophetic and therefore paradoxical role in his opposition to the apartheid government.
Faith communities are found all over the world as spaces where people find a spiritual home and w... more Faith communities are found all over the world as spaces where people find a spiritual home and where spiritual formation takes place. For this contribution, the research question is: In what ways can the leadership in faith communities contribute towards spiritual resources for their members in the time of the Anthropocene? Faith communities are spaces where three resources (a shared narrative about climate change, shared values and shared symbols and practices) interact and where each of these can also make a unique contribution to raising awareness of ownership and space in the time of the Anthropocene. If the Anthropocene is considered as the period in which human activities have the dominant influence on the climate and the environment, these three resources offer important contributions for a greater awareness of humans' influence on the climate and the environment. The congregational leader as spiritual guide in the modes of storyteller, moral compass and symbolic worker can play a significant role in the process of mobilising people of faith in becoming involved in their environment and climate mobilisation.
Each congregation has its own spirituality. Within the Reformed tradition, it is usually linked t... more Each congregation has its own spirituality. Within the Reformed tradition, it is usually linked to faith formation. The purpose of this contribution is to address the following research question: How does faith formation take place in and through congregations? In answer to this question, attention will be paid to the following: Firstly, the function and purpose of faith formation will be looked at. Secondly, we will focus on some of the challenges that faith formation faces. Thirdly, the embodiment of faith formation is discussed. Fourthly, the connection between faith formation and desires is examined and finally the focus is on faith formation in and through congregations.
Scholars believe that we are amid one of the greatest cultural revolutions since the mass product... more Scholars believe that we are amid one of the greatest cultural revolutions since the mass production of books by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450. The art of book printing, which originated in Central Europe, turned the world on its head within 10 years. The mass production of books resulted in most people in Europe learning to read in less than one generation, which has led to major changes in all areas of social life and has affected the lives of millions of people for over a hundred years. According to these same scholars, we currently find ourselves in a similar position through what is known as the AI (artificial intelligence). In this article, the researcher wants to come to a better understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and AI as part of it and the way they challenge preachers. The central research question is: In our pursuit to speak the truth of Jesus Christ to the powerful economic elite, what are the challenges and opportunities that the 4IR is posing to preachers?
Bringing methodology and theory closer: Development and challenges in South African homiletics. T... more Bringing methodology and theory closer: Development and challenges in South African homiletics. The homiletic landscape in South Africa is rich and varied. In this contribution, we attempt to paint with broad brushstrokes this landscape. We write as practical theologians with a shared love for homiletics, but also with an interest in doing what we preach in terms of research and teaching. Put differently, we argue in the light of existing literature that there should be congruence between theories we advance, and methodologies we employ. We dwell on themes such as decolonisation, justice and reconciliation, poverty and inequality that are characteristic of our homiletical landscape. We conclude with the thought that as Christianity in South Africa grows and preachers increase in number, so do the opportunities for empirical academic involvement in preaching. However, the occasion also poses a challenge for academics engaged in homiletics, namely, to practise what they preach by bringing theory and method in a closer relationship.
We are theologians, we are males, we are also white, middle-aged and privileged. In theology, as ... more We are theologians, we are males, we are also white, middle-aged and privileged. In theology, as in many other disciplines, there are amongst others, African-, Black-, Latin-, Womanist-, and Feminist approaches. There was however until fairly recently 1 no Male-or White Theology. The answer why this is the case is simple-white and male has been, and to an extent still is, the dominant (heteronormative) perspective in many academic disciplines and tertiary institutions. Realising that this is the case, is important, as we cannot divorce who we are from how and what we teach. The students that we teach reflect the full diversity of South African society (race, gender, sexual orientation etc), so in all our lectures, also in our departmental staff room, we represent a minority. A reflexive praxis approach In this reflection, based on ongoing research, we follow a praxis approach and thus ponder questions such as "what is going on?" and "why it is the case?" aimed at improving the practice, in this case, the practice of theological teaching at some African universities. We do this by deliberately surfacing aspects of our own teaching philosophies as they have developed
This article derives from a collaborative higher education project, conceptualised, and implement... more This article derives from a collaborative higher education project, conceptualised, and implemented by academics from seven South African universities. These academics are members of the South African Teaching Advancement at University (TAU) Fellowship. The project has its roots in the Department of Higher Education's National Framework for Enhancing Academics as University Teachers, which identifies six leverage points or 'imperatives for action', one of which is the imperative to develop expectations (attributes) of academics in their role as university teachers. TAU Fellows engaged in the collaborative enquiry over a period of three years, appropriating a conceptual framework posited by Henry Giroux, of teachers as transformative intellectuals. In this article, each author reflects on his/her own scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) endeavours, which provided the conceptual tools to illuminate what for them and the group, are valuable professional attributes. The metaphor of the Baobab tree is appropriated to signify 'rhizomatic thinking', which portrays teaching as subconscious, subversive, non-linear, multi-directional, serendipitous, esoteric, dynamic, unbounded, unpredictable, adaptive, and non-hierarchical. This SoTL enquiry enabled the TAU group to unveil and declare their professional attributes as they made public their praxis. The attributes include academics as imbued with the capacity for critical thinking and actively promoting critical thinking amongst their students; as active learning mediators; as responsive, innovative, and relevant curriculum designers; and as engaged professionals. Appreciation of the article is enhanced when the reader first views this video https://youtu.be/yoA9guMut-8.
The Covid-19 pandemic confronted the world and South Africans with the challenges of health care ... more The Covid-19 pandemic confronted the world and South Africans with the challenges of health care and "Zoomification". From the 29 th of March 2020 it was, because of the restriction and ban on gatherings, expected from ministers and faith leaders in South Africa to use online technology to preach their sermons. Many preachers had to rethink the format and content of their preaching. The question arose as to what sermons may look like during these times, and specifically the content and God images of the sermons. This chapter examines the sermon content of a purposive sample of ministers from the combined Stellenbosch circuit of the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. Twenty-four sermons were analysed, making use of a combination of the Heidelberg method of sermon analysis and grounded theory in order to identify the core themes of their preaching and the God images used at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the sermons, the researcher asked three questions: Which texts did the preachers choose? What themes emerged from the sermons? With which God images did the preachers work? Using ATLAS.ti, the sermons were coded, topics were identified, and God images were discerned. When I began writing these lines it was not, to be sure, inspiration but desperation, to be alive, to believe again in the love of God. The love of God is not a thing one comprehends but that by which-and only by which-one is comprehended. It is like the child's time of pre-reflective being, and like that time, we learn from its lack.
Background: The shifting identity of a first-year class over a decade in terms of demography and ... more Background: The shifting identity of a first-year class over a decade in terms of demography and representation, inevitably led me to reflect deeply on what I teach them and how I facilitate the learning process. I had to pay close attention to decolonisation and contextualisation. The basic research question is: How does one reflect on the shifting identity of a first-year class and how does one decolonise a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology? Aim: To answer the research question by taking the following route. Firstly, aspects of the changed context and shifting identity will be discussed and secondly, attention will be given to what is meant by decolonisation, with specific reference to the curriculum. Thirdly, the focus will be on a proposed curriculum that uses a theo-dramatic approach. Fourthly, I reflect on the learning process (pedagogy) and how it also contributes to a shift in my own identity. Setting: The research is set against the backdrop of changes that took place over the last two decades in Higher Education in South Africa including the commodification of higher education, the lack of adequate financial resources and the #FeesMustFall movement. Methods: As the research design, a case study is selected for the study project. Results: The development of a new pedagogy. Conclusion: With this contribution, I attempted to reflect, in the light of the changing profile of the class composition of a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology in terms of demography (BCI students), to what extent it also leads to a shift of identities. Keywords: decolonisation; contextualisation; practical theology; #FeesMustFall movement; pedagogy; curriculum; theo-drama.
Congregational studies: A rapidly developing field of study. Congregational studies are not so si... more Congregational studies: A rapidly developing field of study. Congregational studies are not so simple to define. This may be related to the relative novelty of the discipline, but also to the variety of people who practice it and the equally wide range of angles to the field. The purpose of this article is to look at various stages in the development of the field of congregational studies in the South African context, and more specifically within the Dutch Reformed Church over the past 50 years. The phases can be described as follows: the initial church-building phase, followed by the phase where the dynamics and identity of faith communities came into focus, and then by a phase in which the focus shifted to congregational studies specifically within the African context and greater focus on the empirical investigation of congregations in the form of various modes of congregational analysis, as well as the advent of a missional approach to congregations. A further and ever-evolving phase is the move towards a more aesthetic perspective of the field, known as a theo-dramatic approach. Together with the last phase, we just entered what I would call the post- COVID-19 phase. One can see massive changes in congregational ministry since the COVID-19 virus started to spread in South Africa. Overnight, ministers and church boards had to adapt to online modes of being and doing church and I am very sure this will be an enormous shift. In future, we will certainly speak about the church before and after COVID-19.
In Suid-Afrika leef ons in 'n postkoloniale konteks. Die vraag is of mens hoegenaamd sou kon verw... more In Suid-Afrika leef ons in 'n postkoloniale konteks. Die vraag is of mens hoegenaamd sou kon verwys na "postkoloniale leierskap"; dit is dan ook die rede vir die vraagteken in die titel. Nadat begrippe soos kolonialisme, postkolonialisme en dekolonisering onder die soeklig gekom het, word na die belangrikste uitdagings gekyk wat teoloë en godsdienstige leiers in Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar en sal gepoog word om groter helderheid daaroor te verkry. Van die uitdagings wat ondersoek word, sluit in ekologiese, sosiopolitieke, ekonomiese en opvoedkundige uitdagings, die Vierde Nywerheidsrevolusie en ook geestelike uitdagings. Geloofsleiers moet op hierdie uitdagings reageer, en daarom sal die navorser na verskillende leierskapsbevoegdhede kyk wat 'n nuwe generasie teoloë moet toerus. Dit is met ander woorde bekwaamhede wat ons hopelik in staat sal stel om op verantwoordelike wyse op die uitdagings te reageer en wat gemeentes kan help om in 'n uiters onsekere wêreld te floreer.
Background: Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally performed through as... more Background: Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally performed through assignments and oral examinations, which often only concentrate on the knowledge component and outcomes of the program. Assessing students in this way leads to a view of religious practitioners as people who are not really in touch with their parishioners and communicating in language that is not addressing their needs and this normally leads to a disjuncture between knowledge, practice, and context. Disjuncture of this nature signals a need for a broader set of competencies than simply working with and analyzing texts in theological education. Aim: The aim of this research is to develop a set of competencies that responds to the reality that the practice of ministry takes place within a rich diversity of postcolonial settings and practices. Setting: The research was done as part of my own interest in developing a competency framework for religious leaders. I am coordinating the Master of Divinity program as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Ministry at our Faculty of Theology. Both these programs directly relate to the preparation of students for ministerial leadership. Methods: The central research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the central ingredients for developing a competency framework for ministerial formation from a postcolonial perspective at a research-intensive university in South Africa? The method that was used to answer the research question was a literary study of primary and secondary sources related to a broad set of competencies and then narrowing it down to religious leadership as well as some qualitative empirical research in the form of personal interviews. Results: The research in the article looked at the ways in which a competency framework can help translate generic graduate attributes into a set of competencies that is specific to the field of ministerial training. Some empirical work showed evidence of a growing postcolonial awareness in the development of these competencies. Conclusion: Through this research, a competency framework for religious leaders have successfully been developed. The next phase of the research project will be to implement a framework, to have feedback and to make some adjustments.
Since the end of apartheid and the advent of democratic elections, South Africa has made great st... more Since the end of apartheid and the advent of democratic elections, South Africa has made great strides, but we still continue, at times, to be unable to practice sawubona. On one level, this is not surprising given our history of separateness. The article asks whether fresh expressions of church, such as the community supper at St Peters in Mowbray, Cape Town, indeed create a space for genuinely ‘seeing’ each other and practicing being human together. The article also explores some of the problems inherent in ethnographic work amongst the poor and the vulnerable by asking whether some types of ethnographic work actually practice a form of epistemic violence and muses upon the idea of the postcolonial gaze and ‘othering’ in ethnography in contexts of poverty in the global South. Can ethnography, in some cases, be a form of academic pornography?
Outside the confines of the known: Cross-cultural experiences among a random sample of ministers ... more Outside the confines of the known: Cross-cultural experiences among a random sample of ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church This article looks at one of the questions posed in the Church Mirror questionnaire to a number of pastors of the Dutch Reformed Church. The question is: Tell us about the best experience you have had in your congregation where believers met across cultural boundaries or did something together? The sample forms part of a ministerial panel conducted every three years among ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church with the aim of finding out what pastors think and do about a number of current church activities. The choice to focus on this question comes against the backdrop of contemporary discourses related to the missional nature of church life and the challenge of multi-culturalism in faith communities. The study is qualitative in nature and falls within the interpretive paradigm as part of phenomenology. The data shows an interesting number of activities identified by the ministers related to multiculturalism and also provides some directions for missional development in the future.
The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during ... more The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during 2008 was still continuing unabated 10 years later. We were stressed to come to terms with the reality that this occurred in a country that is globally considered to be an example of reconciliation. It is clear that we were confronted by the politics of fear, which were manifested in xenophobia and all the other -isms. In this article, the primary causes of these xenophobic outbreaks were scrutinized and placed within the wider framework of a culture of fear. The central research question is: Why are we still struggling with this phenomenon more than a decade after it first appeared on South African soil? An in-depth analysis will be performed at what is lying behind the culture of fear underlying these acts of violence. After exploring some of the factors related to a culture of fear by making use of a sociological frame, the author moved on to answer a second question: How do we, as preachers, researchers and practical theologians, respond in a theological way to the challenges posed by a xenophobic culture in our preaching activities? Finally, the impact of violence and fear on the practice of preaching within a Christian context was discussed.
Preek Wijzer online preekvoorbereiding en preekschetsen, 2018
Professor Ian Nell (Stellenbosch Universiteit, Departement Praktiese Teologie en Missiologie) las... more Professor Ian Nell (Stellenbosch Universiteit, Departement Praktiese Teologie en Missiologie) las het boek van Beatrice de Graaf, ‘Heilige Strijd: het
verlangen naar veiligheid en het Einde van het kwaad’. Hij brengt in dit artikel haar concept van veiligheid in verband met de Zuid-Afrikaanse context,
met name aan de theologische faculteit van Stellenbosch Universiteit.
In South African higher education institutions, the student protests of 2015–2016 called for the ... more In South African higher education institutions, the student protests of 2015–2016 called for the decolonisation of higher education spaces and equal access to these spaces. We collected data from students and lecturers over the period of one year in order to better understand the reactions of students and lecturers and the effects the protests had on their experiences. Perspectives of affective theory, decolonisation and social justice were used. It was discovered that the protests had a great affective impact on participants. Strong emotions and beliefs affected the relationships between students and lecturers and African centrality was suggested as a framework for curriculum change. Some settler perspectives emerged and polarisation was evident. It is our hope that lecturers could use this research to assist them in decolonising their spaces of teaching and learning.
We are busy celebrating 500 years of reformation and one of the basic convictions of the reformer... more We are busy celebrating 500 years of reformation and one of the basic convictions of the reformers was that we know to (W)whom we belong. During the student uprisings that we experienced in 2015 and 2016, it became clear that the notion of ‘belonging’ was deeply contested. Students still experience that black people are socially, economically and psychologically abused by the white systems, including university campuses. In empirical research conducted in 2016 with colleagues from five other faculties, these feelings and experiences of exclusion, of not belonging and of injustice among theology students and even some lecturers, were confirmed. This led to the basic research question focused on the subject field for which I am responsible at the Faculty of Theology: how do we work together as lecturers and students to help create such spaces of human dignity in the training of students who are busy preparing for ministry practice in a postcolonial African context in which they experience belonging? This article endeavours to provide an answer to this question. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The empirical part of the research was conducted by colleagues from five different faculties including Arts and Science, Engineering, Law, Education and Theology. In that sense, the research was not only intradisciplinary but also interdisciplinary.
In discourses on leadership within the African context one regularly finds that scholars draw a d... more In discourses on leadership within the African context one regularly finds that scholars draw a distinction between so-called Western and African approaches to leadership. African leadership approaches are then often linked to notions of an African value system in which one of the first concepts that surface is the loaded notion of 'Ubuntu'. Scholars then point to the fact that in the understanding of 'Ubuntu' one finds a preference for a kind of spiritual collectiveness rather than for individualism with rational thinking as a central feature of Western thought. Applied to leadership, one therefore finds a consensus-seeking and problem-solving approach in Africa, rather than dissension, which is typical of Western styles of leadership. The purpose of this article is firstly to illustrate that this dualistic approach to leadership not only underwrites considerable contestation over the notion of 'Ubuntu' leadership, but that such an oversimplified understanding of African leadership can easily contribute to gender discrimination. Secondly, this problematic situation will be illustrated by referring to a recent case study on the absence of women from leadership positions within a specific denomination in Malawi. Some of the underlying factors contributing to this problematic practice will be scrutinised. Lastly, the article concludes by voicing the trust that a more nuanced approach to leadership from an 'Ubuntu' perspective can indeed make a contribution to the position of women in leadership. According to the understanding of the researcher, this can happen if the notion of 'Ubuntu' is placed within the broader discourses of critical humanism where the focus is on shared humanity.
The findings of the Archbishop’s Council in their 2004 report, to the effect that traditional for... more The findings of the Archbishop’s Council in their 2004 report, to the effect that traditional forms of church in Britain are under threat because of changing cultural patterns, emphasise the need to re-think church for our contemporary contexts. The ‘Fresh Expressions of church’ movement is one such initiative identified and approved of by the Archbishop’s Council. This article reports on research undertaken in a practical theological interpretation of The Filling Station, a Christian ministry that has grown significantly in its 10-year history and was formed as a missional endeavour in recognition of declining church attendance in traditional churches in Britain. This work explores whether The Filling Station is a Fresh Expression of church and whether it meets the values of authentic missional churches. In examining whether The Filling Station ought to be considered for import into appropriate local congregational contexts, it enquires whether it satisfactorily addresses prevailing social trends affecting churches, including consumerism and the need for identity.
Preaching and performance is a relatively recent development in homiletical discourses and preach... more Preaching and performance is a relatively recent development in homiletical discourses and preaching practices. ere is much promise in approaching preaching in this creative way. Attention will be paid to dierent promises related to this homiletical approach. In a next round of reection the attention shis to the way in which a specic approach to performance, also known as theo-drama, can not only enhance the preaching act, but also helps to understand the paradoxical role of the preacher, the audience and even God in the preaching event. is will be illustrated by looking at one of the sermons of John de Gruchy, which he preached in a very specic time in the history of South Africa. Attention will also be given to the way in which he performed a prophetic and therefore paradoxical role in his opposition to the apartheid government.
With this 2nd volume of the International Academy of Practical Theology Conference Series, we com... more With this 2nd volume of the International Academy of Practical Theology Conference Series, we commemorate the 30 th anniversary of IAPT. Founded in August 1991 at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey, USA by eight charter members, our organization upholds its commitment to the study of and critical reflection on theological thought and action. We have carried out this task particularly by attending to the various historical and cultural contexts of praxis and by striving to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. This volume also celebrates another milestone for IAPT: the academy's first biennial conference in Latin America. It is an anthology of keynote speeches and selected papers presented at the 2019 biennial conference hosted by Faculdades EST in São Leopoldo, Brazil. Focusing on the theme (De)coloniality and Religious Practices: Liberating Hope, this collection is organized into three topic areas: Decolonizing Theological Concepts and Practices; Religious Practices, Cultures, and Spiritualties; and Liberating Hope-Practical Theology in Action. It includes essays reflecting the global reach of our research and practices on subjects such as Latino/a/x theoethics, unlearning religion among GDR children from Namibia, the influence of the "Prosperity Gospel" in Brazil, a competency framework for ministerial formation in South Africa, and promoting interreligious transformation Valburga Schmiedt Streck, Júlio Cézar Adam, Cláudio Carvalhaes, eds. 2021. (De)coloniality and religious practices: liberating hope. IAPT.CS 2: III-IV
Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verz... more Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.dnb.de abrufbar.
It is a privilege to react to the insightful contribution of James Kombo on the role and relevanc... more It is a privilege to react to the insightful contribution of James Kombo on the role and relevance of theology for the future of African Christianity. I want to structure my own contribution in the following way: I will be making use of Kombo’s three basic statements on the role of theology in Africa, but I want to reframe his arguments by making use of a theodramatic approach. By making use of this approach I hope to illustrate some of my own convictions concerning the future of theology from a South African perspective.
We would like to situate our work by aligning it with the principals of queer theory. Queer theor... more We would like to situate our work by aligning it with the principals of queer theory. Queer theory strives to question the normal and to trouble the generally excepted. "While queer studies have become well-known for interrogating the boundaries and categories that structure discourses of sexuality and gender (e.g., the binary distinction between "heterosexual" and "homosexual," "straight" and "gay," "male" and "female," etc.) queer analysis today increasingly brings a critical lens to bear on the intersection of sexual dynamics with other dynamics such as race, class, nation and culture" (Hornsby & Stone 2011:ix). 2 Vosloo (2003:66) argues for an ethic of hospitality when stating: "The challenge posed by the moral crisis does not merely ask for tolerance and peaceful coexistence or some abstract plea for community, but for an ethos of hospitality. The opposite of cruelty and hostility is not simply freedom from the cruel and hostile relationship, but hospitality. Without an ethos of hospitality it is difficult to envisage a way to challenge economic injustice, racism and xenophobia, lack of communication, the recognition of the rights of another, etc. Hospitality is a prerequisite for a more public life." 12 14 From 1935 when Dietrich Bonhoeffer returned from London to act as Director of Training for the Confessing Church in Finkenwalde, he introduced the old disciplines of silence, solitude, fasting and confession as a central part of the theological training (Anthonissen, 73 vv)
The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Thinking in Higher Education.
In selecting contributors, we h... more The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Thinking in Higher Education.
In selecting contributors, we have been mindful that critical thinking in higher education is a global concern with a potential worldwide audience of millions. All educators across all the disciplines are interested—or should be interested—in critical thinking. It is arguably a central concern of higher education of our time. We have, therefore, been keen in embarking on this volume to solicit contributors from around the world and from all continents, as well as from a range of disciplines and wide perspectives. To this end, this volume includes contributions from five continents, ten countries, and over eighty institutions, making the resulting book a truly global product of the collective efforts of dozens of scholars.
Religious leadership is a contested field of study in the process of finding a footing in the aca... more Religious leadership is a contested field of study in the process of finding a footing in the academic world. In Africa, we have experienced a long history of hierarchical leadership not only in the spheres of politics, economics and culture but specifically also in the sphere of religion. Many factors are influencing the transformation of religious leadership and the accompanying identity formation. The purpose of this article is to do a descriptive-empirical investigation into some of these processes of leadership transformation among postgraduate students studying theology at the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. As part of the interpretation of the data four clusters of theories will be used as heuristic tools while different perspectives on leadership in Africa will inform the discussion. This will be done with a keen interest to see whether the concepts we are using are still adequate and to search for the possibility of new understandings of religious leadership identities that might emerge.
Thank you for the privilege and opportunity to respond in this way to your thought-provoking cont... more Thank you for the privilege and opportunity to respond in this way to your thought-provoking contribution on the "missing links in mainline churches" as these relate to biblical life stories and their claims in today's family preaching. In my response I want to take up your central image of "missing links, " and structure my letter to you around four of the topics that you address in your essay. The purpose of my letter is to look at possible "missing links" from a South African perspective. In this way I hope to contribute to the issue that you have brought to the table, but also to the overall theme of this volume, namely "human dignity under threat. "
During the times of ‘Apartheid South Africa’ prophetic preaching played an enormous part in bring... more During the times of ‘Apartheid South Africa’ prophetic preaching played an enormous part in bringing about the changes this country experienced throughout the last three decades. The prophetic preaching of exponents such as Desmond Tutu, Allan Boesak and Beyers Naudé paved the way for the relatively peaceful transitions South Africans experienced. Within Christian communities it assisted people in their search for meaning and thereby created a framework of understanding for the necessity of socio-political change. Fourteen years into the new dispensation the question remains: Does prophetic preaching still make a difference? Also: Does such preaching help Christian communities in their search for meaning in these changing times? These questions will be addressed in the paper. It will be argued that prophetic preaching could and should play a part in a new search for meaning. This should however be practiced anew and under changed conditions. It will also be argued that a ‘theodramatic paradigm’ provides a helpful practical-prophetic framework in the search for meaning in this regard. Such a framework will be based on the theological model (theorems) provided by classical and recent studies and expanded by applying it to the notion of prophetic performance derived from the Belhar Confession.
Rhetoric conceived as the theory of persuasive communication hasn't only aroused growing interest... more Rhetoric conceived as the theory of persuasive communication hasn't only aroused growing interest among philosophers but also among scholars working in the field of homiletics. Although homileticians from time to time refer to the works of Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca, an evaluation of the contribution of their work has not been undertaken.
Scholars believe that we are amid one of the greatest cultural revolutions since the mass product... more Scholars believe that we are amid one of the greatest cultural revolutions since the mass production of books by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450. The art of book printing, which originated in Central Europe, turned the world on its head within 10 years. The mass production of books resulted in most people in Europe learning to read in less than one generation, which has led to major changes in all areas of social life and has affected the lives of millions of people for over a hundred years. According to these same scholars, we currently find ourselves in a similar position through what is known as the AI (artificial intelligence). In this article, the researcher wants to come to a better understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and AI as part of it and the way they challenge preachers. The central research question is: In our pursuit to speak the truth of Jesus Christ to the powerful economic elite, what are the challenges and opportunities that the 4IR is posing to p...
The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during ... more The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during 2008 is still continuing unabated ten years later. We are still under pressure to come to terms with the reality that this occurred in a country that is globally considered to be an example of reconciliation. In this article the primary causes of these xenophobic outbreaks stemming from fear are scrutinised and placed within the wider framework of a culture of fear. Finally, the impact of violence and fear on practice of preaching within a Christian context is discussed, asking the question: How do we go about preaching within this fearful context?
Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally done through assignments and ora... more Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally done through assignments and oral examinations, which often only concentrate on the knowledge component and outcomes of the program. Assessing students in this way has mimicked a view of ministerial practitioners as intellectuals preaching over the heads of the congregants and not being in touch with the pastoral and contextual needs of the members and normally leads to a disjuncture between knowledge, practice, and context. Disjuncture of this nature signals a need for a broader set of competencies than simply working with and analyzing texts in theological education. Developing a set of competencies also responds to the reality that the practice of ministry takes place within a rich diversity of postcolonial settings and practices. The central research question of this study was therefore formulated as follows: What are the central ingredients for developing a competency framework for ministerial formation from a pos...
The research is set against the backdrop of changes that took place over the last two decades in ... more The research is set against the backdrop of changes that took place over the last two decades in Higher Education in South Africa including the commodification of higher education, the lack of adequate financial resources and the #FeesMustFall movement. Methods: As the research design, a case study is selected for the study project. Results: The development of a new pedagogy. Conclusion: With this contribution I attempted to reflect, in the light of the changing profile of the class composition of a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology in terms of demography (BCI students), to what extent it also leads to a shift of identities.
CITATION: Nell, I. A. 2017. Korrupsie en die toerusting van Christen-leiers. In die Skriflig/In L... more CITATION: Nell, I. A. 2017. Korrupsie en die toerusting van Christen-leiers. In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi, 51(1):a2319, doi:10.4102/ids.v51i1.2319.
In discourses on leadership within the African context one regularly finds that scholars make a c... more In discourses on leadership within the African context one regularly finds that scholars make a contrast between so-called Western and African approaches to leadership. African leadership approaches are then often linked to notions of an African value system in which one of the first concepts that surface is the loaded notion of ‘Ubuntu’. Scholars then point to the fact that in the understanding of ‘Ubuntu’ one finds a preference for a kind of spiritual collectiveness rather than for individualism with rational thinking as a central feature of Western thought. Applied to leadership, one therefore finds a consensus-seeking and problem-solving approach in Africa, rather than dissension, which is typical of Western styles of leadership. The purpose of this paper is firstly to illustrate that this dualistic approach to leadership not only underwrites considerable contestation over the notion of ‘Ubuntu’ leadership, but that such an oversimplified understanding of African leadership can ...
Scriptura : international journal of bible, religion and theology in southern Africa, 2009
In order to ask the question about the future of a discipline, one must realise where one comes f... more In order to ask the question about the future of a discipline, one must realise where one comes from. This article seeks to answer the "quo vadis" question in conversation with some perspectives offered by the sixteenth century Reformer John Calvin. It is argued that Calvin lived in a century that scholars regard as one of the golden periods in which the world of the arts and theatre flourished. Hence Calvin's age was characterised by a dramatic vision of human existence and such a vision also had an impact on his own theological thinking. Against this backdrop, the article engages the question of the future of Practical Theology by proposing a theodramatic approach in which the possibilities that the notion of "re-dramatisation" holds, come to the fore.
This article derives from a collaborative higher education project, conceptualised, and implement... more This article derives from a collaborative higher education project, conceptualised, and implemented by academics from seven South African universities. These academics are members of the South African Teaching Advancement at University (TAU) Fellowship. The project has its roots in the Department of Higher Education’s National Framework for Enhancing Academics as University Teachers, which identifies six leverage points or ‘imperatives for action’, one of which is the imperative to develop expectations (attributes) of academics in their role as university teachers. TAU Fellows engaged in the collaborative enquiry over a period of three years, appropriating a conceptual framework posited by Henry Giroux, of teachers as transformative intellectuals. In this article, each author reflects on his/her own scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) endeavours, which provided the conceptual tools to illuminate what for them and the group, are valuable professional attributes. The metaphor ...
Preaching and performance is a relatively recent development in homiletical discourses and preach... more Preaching and performance is a relatively recent development in homiletical discourses and preaching practices. There is much promise in approaching preaching in this creative way. Attention will be paid to different promises related to this homiletical approach. In a next round of reflection the attention shifts to the way in which a specific approach to performance, also known as theo-drama, can not only enhance the preaching act, but also helps to understand the paradoxical role of the preacher, the audience and even God in the preaching event. This will be illustrated by looking at one of the sermons of John de Gruchy, which he preached in a very specific time in the history of South Africa. Attention will also be given to the way in which he performed a prophetic and therefore paradoxical role in his opposition to the apartheid government.
Therefore, the assessment of students enjoys a high priority in higher education institutions all... more Therefore, the assessment of students enjoys a high priority in higher education institutions all around the world, and there are also ongoing efforts to improve it by adopting new policies every year. All this is related to quality assurance and control and forms an integral part of the Higher Education Qualification Framework in South Africa. At the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU) (2013), we are currently in the process of going through a new phase of policy renewal in this regard and it forces every lecturer to investigate in depth his or her various forms of assessment. Background: Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally performed through assignments and oral examinations, which often only concentrate on the knowledge component and outcomes of the programme. Assessing students in this way lead to a view of religious practitioners as people who are not really in touch with their parishioners and communicating in language that is not addressing their needs and this normally leads to a disjuncture between knowledge, practice and context. Disjuncture of this nature signals a need for a broader set of competencies than simply working with and analysing texts in theological education. Aim: The aim of this research is to develop a set of competencies that responds to the reality that the practice of ministry takes place within a rich diversity of postcolonial settings and practices. Setting: The research was done as part of my own interest in developing a competency framework for religious leaders. I am coordinating the Master of Divinity program as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Ministry at our Faculty of Theology. Both these programs directly relate to the preparation of students for ministerial leadership. Methods: The central research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the central ingredients for developing a competency framework for ministerial formation from a postcolonial perspective at a research-intensive university in South Africa? The method that was used to answer the research question was a literary study of primary and secondary sources related to a broad set of competencies and then narrowing it down to religious leadership as well as some qualitative empirical research in the form of personal interviews. Results: The research in the article looked at the ways in which a competency framework can help translate generic graduate attributes into a set of competencies that is specific to the field of ministerial training. Some empirical work showed evidence of a growing postcolonial awareness in the development of these competencies. Conclusion: Through this research a competency framework for religious leaders has successfully been developed. The next phase of the research project will be to implement the framework, to have feedback and to make some adjustments.
The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during ... more The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during 2008 was still continuing unabated 10 years later. We were stressed to come to terms with the reality that this occurred in a country that is globally considered to be an example of reconciliation. It is clear that we were confronted by the politics of fear, which were manifested in xenophobia and all the other -isms. In this article, the primary causes of these xenophobic outbreaks were scrutinised and placed within the wider framework of a culture of fear. The central research question is: Why are we still struggling with this phenomenon more than a decade after it first appeared on South African soil? In-depth analysis will be performed on what is lying behind the culture of fear underlying these acts of violence. After exploring some of the factors related to a culture of fear by making use of a sociological frame, the author moved on to answer a second question: How do we, as preach...
The stage, text, plot, and characters of Together in God’s Theatre are rooted in (South) Africa a... more The stage, text, plot, and characters of Together in God’s Theatre are rooted in (South) Africa and globally connected. As such it enculturates Practical Theology as a discipline in (South) Africa and a global network culture. We have been waiting for a Practical Theology that takes the important contribution of African Independent churches regarding faith practices seriously, whilst simultaneously not neglecting the practices of mainline churches. This book is a timely gift that will help with the understanding and appreciation of practices across denominational borders. Cas Wepener, Professor in Homile cs and Liturgy, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University.
Die verhoog, teks, plot en karakters in Saam in God se Teater staan in (Suid) Afrika gewortel, ma... more Die verhoog, teks, plot en karakters in Saam in God se Teater staan in (Suid) Afrika gewortel, maar bly ook globaal gekoppel. As sodanig bring dit Praktiese Teologie tuis as (Suid) Afrikaanse dissipline, sonder om die band met globale netwerke te sny. Ons het gewag op ’n Praktiese Teologie wat die belangrike bydrae van die Afrika Onafhanklike Kerke se geloofspraktyke ernstig neem, terwyl dit dié van die hoofstroomkerke nie nalaat nie. Hierdie boek is ’n tydige en nodige bydrae tot die verstaan en waardering van geloofspraktyke oor denominasionele grense heen. Cas Wepener, Professor in Homeletiek en Liturgie , Fakulteit Teologie, Universiteit Stellenbosch.
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Academic articles by Prof. Ian Nell
Theology and Missiology?
Aim: To answer the research question by taking the following route. Firstly, aspects of the changed context and shifting identity will be discussed and secondly, attention will be given to what is meant by decolonisation, with specific reference to the curriculum. Thirdly, the focus will be on a proposed curriculum that uses a theo-dramatic approach. Fourthly, I reflect on the
learning process (pedagogy) and how it also contributes to a shift in my own identity.
Setting: The research is set against the backdrop of changes that took place over the last two decades in Higher Education in South Africa including the commodification of higher education, the lack of adequate financial resources and the #FeesMustFall movement.
Methods: As the research design, a case study is selected for the study project.
Results: The development of a new pedagogy.
Conclusion: With this contribution, I attempted to reflect, in the light of the changing profile of the class composition of a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology in terms of demography (BCI students), to what extent it also leads to a shift of identities.
Keywords: decolonisation; contextualisation; practical theology; #FeesMustFall movement;
pedagogy; curriculum; theo-drama.
Aim: The aim of this research is to develop a set of competencies that responds to the reality that the practice of ministry takes place within a rich diversity of postcolonial settings and practices.
Setting: The research was done as part of my own interest in developing a competency framework for religious leaders. I am coordinating the Master of Divinity program as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Ministry at our Faculty of Theology. Both these programs directly relate to the preparation of students for ministerial leadership.
Methods: The central research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the central ingredients for developing a competency framework for ministerial formation from a postcolonial perspective at a research-intensive university in South Africa? The method that was used to answer the research question was a literary study of primary and secondary sources related to a broad set of competencies and then narrowing it down to religious leadership as well as some qualitative empirical research in the form of personal interviews.
Results: The research in the article looked at the ways in which a competency framework can help translate generic graduate attributes into a set of competencies that is specific to the field of ministerial training. Some empirical work showed evidence of a growing postcolonial
awareness in the development of these competencies.
Conclusion: Through this research, a competency framework for religious leaders have successfully been developed. The next phase of the research project will be to implement a framework, to have feedback and to make some adjustments.
ethnography in contexts of poverty in the global South. Can ethnography, in some cases, be a form of academic pornography?
what is lying behind the culture of fear underlying these acts of violence. After exploring some of the factors related to a culture of fear by making use of a sociological frame, the author moved on to answer a second question: How do we, as preachers, researchers and practical theologians, respond in a theological way to the challenges posed by a xenophobic culture in our preaching activities? Finally, the impact of violence and fear on the practice of preaching
within a Christian context was discussed.
verlangen naar veiligheid en het Einde van het kwaad’. Hij brengt in dit artikel haar concept van veiligheid in verband met de Zuid-Afrikaanse context,
met name aan de theologische faculteit van Stellenbosch Universiteit.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The empirical part of the research was conducted by colleagues from five different faculties including Arts and Science, Engineering, Law, Education and Theology. In that sense, the research was not only intradisciplinary but also interdisciplinary.
enquires whether it satisfactorily addresses prevailing social trends affecting churches, including consumerism and the need for identity.
Theology and Missiology?
Aim: To answer the research question by taking the following route. Firstly, aspects of the changed context and shifting identity will be discussed and secondly, attention will be given to what is meant by decolonisation, with specific reference to the curriculum. Thirdly, the focus will be on a proposed curriculum that uses a theo-dramatic approach. Fourthly, I reflect on the
learning process (pedagogy) and how it also contributes to a shift in my own identity.
Setting: The research is set against the backdrop of changes that took place over the last two decades in Higher Education in South Africa including the commodification of higher education, the lack of adequate financial resources and the #FeesMustFall movement.
Methods: As the research design, a case study is selected for the study project.
Results: The development of a new pedagogy.
Conclusion: With this contribution, I attempted to reflect, in the light of the changing profile of the class composition of a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology in terms of demography (BCI students), to what extent it also leads to a shift of identities.
Keywords: decolonisation; contextualisation; practical theology; #FeesMustFall movement;
pedagogy; curriculum; theo-drama.
Aim: The aim of this research is to develop a set of competencies that responds to the reality that the practice of ministry takes place within a rich diversity of postcolonial settings and practices.
Setting: The research was done as part of my own interest in developing a competency framework for religious leaders. I am coordinating the Master of Divinity program as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Ministry at our Faculty of Theology. Both these programs directly relate to the preparation of students for ministerial leadership.
Methods: The central research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the central ingredients for developing a competency framework for ministerial formation from a postcolonial perspective at a research-intensive university in South Africa? The method that was used to answer the research question was a literary study of primary and secondary sources related to a broad set of competencies and then narrowing it down to religious leadership as well as some qualitative empirical research in the form of personal interviews.
Results: The research in the article looked at the ways in which a competency framework can help translate generic graduate attributes into a set of competencies that is specific to the field of ministerial training. Some empirical work showed evidence of a growing postcolonial
awareness in the development of these competencies.
Conclusion: Through this research, a competency framework for religious leaders have successfully been developed. The next phase of the research project will be to implement a framework, to have feedback and to make some adjustments.
ethnography in contexts of poverty in the global South. Can ethnography, in some cases, be a form of academic pornography?
what is lying behind the culture of fear underlying these acts of violence. After exploring some of the factors related to a culture of fear by making use of a sociological frame, the author moved on to answer a second question: How do we, as preachers, researchers and practical theologians, respond in a theological way to the challenges posed by a xenophobic culture in our preaching activities? Finally, the impact of violence and fear on the practice of preaching
within a Christian context was discussed.
verlangen naar veiligheid en het Einde van het kwaad’. Hij brengt in dit artikel haar concept van veiligheid in verband met de Zuid-Afrikaanse context,
met name aan de theologische faculteit van Stellenbosch Universiteit.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The empirical part of the research was conducted by colleagues from five different faculties including Arts and Science, Engineering, Law, Education and Theology. In that sense, the research was not only intradisciplinary but also interdisciplinary.
enquires whether it satisfactorily addresses prevailing social trends affecting churches, including consumerism and the need for identity.
In selecting contributors, we have been mindful that critical thinking in higher education is a global concern with a potential worldwide audience of millions. All educators across all the disciplines are interested—or should be interested—in critical thinking. It is arguably a central concern of higher education of our time. We have, therefore, been keen in embarking on this volume to solicit contributors from around the world and from all continents, as well as from a range of disciplines and wide perspectives. To this end, this volume includes contributions from five continents, ten countries, and over eighty institutions, making the resulting book a truly global product of the collective efforts of dozens of scholars.
changing times? These questions will be addressed in the paper. It will be argued that prophetic preaching could and should play a part in a new search for meaning. This should however be practiced anew and under changed conditions. It will also be argued that a ‘theodramatic paradigm’ provides a helpful practical-prophetic framework in the search for meaning in this regard. Such a framework will be based
on the theological model (theorems) provided by classical and recent studies and expanded by applying it to the notion of prophetic performance derived from the Belhar Confession.
Cas Wepener, Professor in Homile cs and Liturgy, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch
University.
van geloofspraktyke oor denominasionele grense heen.
Cas Wepener, Professor in Homeletiek en Liturgie , Fakulteit Teologie, Universiteit Stellenbosch.