How Jesus Communicates #Metoo

This article offers a practical theological praxis of how the church may participate in Christ’s atoning ministry of healing towards persons who have experienced sexual violence. Drawing from the theory of intergenerational trauma, it uses the mentioning of “the wife of Uriah” in Matthew’s genealogy to convey how Jesus identifies with survivors of sexual violence. The article then focuses on the hypostatic union to establish how Jesus provides ontological healing in the atonement for said survivors. It concludes by demonstrating how Matthew’s Gospel calls radical disciples to a healing praxis of listening to stories of the disenfranchised, thereby pointing towards Christ’s atoning work of bearing and healing humanity’s weaknesses.

A theology of gratitude for rising generations

Anglican Theological Review ◽

10.1177/00033286211023901 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 103 (3) ◽

pp. 347-359

Author(s):

Stephanie Townes

Keyword(s):

Popular Culture ◽

Gift Giving ◽

Practical Theological ◽

The Church ◽

The Trinity

Rising generations (Millennials and Gen Z) already have a solid understanding of gratitude from gratitude’s pervasiveness in popular culture, and because of this, gratitude is an opportunity for the Church to reach rising generations where they already are. To do this, the Church should underscore a theological why of gratitude and a practical theological how of gratitude. The theological why of gratitude is based on Kathryn Tanner’s gift-giving nature of God, from her book Jesus, Humanity, and the Trinity. The practical theological how of gratitude will rise up from our holy habits of gratitude, both personal and collective, reinforced by the Eucharist, and taught through discipleship and practices of stewardship.

Sexual violence: The sacred witness of the Church

Review & Expositor ◽

10.1177/0034637318790748 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 115 (3) ◽

pp. 362-371

Author(s):

Elizabeth O. Pierre

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Religious Community ◽

The trauma of sexual violence is pandemic. Such trauma contributes to numerous physical and psychological symptoms that affect individuals throughout their lifespan. Survivors are most inclined to turn to their faith and their religious community for support. Given the prevalence of sexual violence and the severity of its symptoms, it is critical that the Church serve as a sacred witness to facilitate the recovery process.

’n Prakties-teologiese ondersoek na die kerklike jaar in die prediking van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk

10.4102/hts.v61i4.480 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 61 (4) ◽

Author(s):

G. Bothma

Keyword(s):

Dutch Reformed ◽

Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk ◽

Christian Worship ◽

Practical Theological ◽

The Church ◽

Valuable Role

A practical-theological investigation into the role of the church year in the liturgy and preaching of the Dutch Reformed ChurchThe aim of this article is to discuss the valuable role the church year can play in liturgy and preaching and the service and activities of the church. The article demonstrates that the rediscovery of the church year is one of the most remarkable aspects of the twentiethcentury reform and renewal of Christian worship. Within a context of poverty and continuing change, the church year – if valued positively and if accentuated in the preaching – could lead to the celebration of God.

Practising piety in a (post-) pandemic time: A spatial reading of piety in Psalm 66 from the perspectives of memory and bodily imagery

10.4102/hts.v77i4.6883 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Lodewyk Sutton

Keyword(s):

Old Testament ◽

Social Anthropology ◽

The Past ◽

Body Imagery ◽

Research Article ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Practical Theological ◽

The Individual ◽

Exodus Narrative ◽

Situated in the larger collection of Psalms 51–72, also known as the second Davidic Psalter, the smaller group of Psalms 65–68 is found. This smaller collection of psalms can be classified mostly as psalms of praise and thanksgiving. The relation and compositional work in this cluster of psalms become apparent on many points in the pious expressions between groups and persons at prayer, especially in the universal praise of God, and in the imagery referring to the exodus, the Jerusalem cult and blessing. Such piety becomes most discernible in the imagery and expressions in Psalm 66. The psalm’s two main sections may be described as praise, with verses 1–12 being praise by the group or the ‘we’, and verses 13–20 being praise by the individual or the ‘I’. Personal or individual piety and private piety are expressed by the desire of the ‘we’ and the ‘I’, and the experienced immediacy to God by transposing the past into the present through the memory of the exodus narrative, the Jerusalem cultic imagery and the use of body imagery. In this research article, an understanding of piety in Psalm 66 in terms of the memory of past events and body imagery is discussed from a perspective of space and appropriated for a time of (post-) pandemic where normal or traditional ecclesiological formal practices cannot take place.Contribution: This article makes an interdisciplinary contribution based on knowledge from the Psalms in the Old Testament, social anthropology, literary spatial theories and practical theological perspectives on the church in order to contribute to the relevance and practice of theology today, during a time of turmoil and a global pandemic.

Obrona integralnego człowieczeństwa Chrystusa przeciw apolinaryzmowi w dziełach Epifaniusza z Salaminy

Vox Patrum ◽

10.31743/vp.3352 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 68 ◽

pp. 253-269

Author(s):

Roland Marcin Pancerz

Keyword(s):

Human Nature ◽

Human Mind ◽

Church Fathers ◽

Hypostatic Union ◽

Apostolic Fathers ◽

Communicatio Idiomatum ◽

The One ◽

In The Beginning ◽

The Church ◽

Technical Terms

Epiphanius of Salamis was one of the Church Fathers, who reacted resolutely against incorrect Christology of Apollinaris of Laodicea. The latter asserted that the divine Logos took the place of Christ’s human mind (noàj). In the beginning, the bishop of Salamis tackled the problem of Christ’s human body, since – as he told himself – followers of Apollinaris, that arrived in Cyprus, put about incorrect doctrine on the Saviour’s body. Among other things, they asserted it was consubstantial with his godhead. Beyond doubt, this idea constituted a deformation of the original thought of Apollinaris. Anyway, Epiphanius opposing that error took up again expressions, which had been employed before by the Apostolic Fathers and Apologists in the fight against Docetism. Besides, Epiphanius told that some followers of Apollinaris denied the existence of Christ’s human soul (yuc»). Also in this matter, in all probability, we come across a deformation of the original doctrine of the bishop of Laodicea. A real controversy with Apollinaris was the defence of the human mind of the Saviour. Epiphanius emphasized that He becoming man took all components of human nature: “body, soul, mind and everything that man is”, in accordance with the axiom “What is not assumed is not saved” (Quod non assumptum, non sanatum). A proof of the integrity of human nature was the reasonable human feelings the Saviour experienced (hunger, tiredness, sorrow, anxiety) as well as knowledge he had to gain partly from experience, which was witnessed by Luke 2, 52. In the latter question, the bishop of Salamis was a forerunner of contemporary Christology. The fact that Epiphanius admitted a complete human nature in Christ didn’t bring dividing the incarnate Logos into two persons. Although the bishop of Salamis didn’t use technical terms for the one person of Jesus Christ, he outlined nonetheless the idea of the hypostatic union in his own words, as well as through employing the rule of the communicatio idiomatum. The ontological union of the divine Logos with his human nature assured Christ’s holiness, too.

Die liminale ruimte vir inkongruensie tussen predikant en lidmaat: ’n Narratief gebaseerde prakties-teologiese ondersoek in gemeentes van die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika

10.4102/hts.v66i2.852 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Hein Delport ◽

Julian C. Müller

Keyword(s):

Practical Theology ◽

Suspension Bridge ◽

Church Member ◽

Specific Context ◽

Liminal Space ◽

Reformed Church ◽

The Social ◽

Unresolved Conflict ◽

Practical Theological ◽

Disagreements between pastors and church members in the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCH) require a unique space in the church in terms of a postmodern society. Different perspectives can easily lead to conflict in the Church. Unresolved conflict may jeopardise the work of the clergy in a congregation. In this research, I follow a contextual approach to the pursuit of practical theology. A postfundamental practical theological framework is followed in the research. The social construction discourse and narrative epistemology offer new perspectives for developing a liminal space where more than one perspective can exist. Within a society characterised by secularism and privatisation, I examine the possibility of a space of unity amid diversity in the Church. I involved six fellow researchers who have experienced conflict in a specific context within the Church. We also examined the possibility of an alternative space where moments of communitas can once again occur in these stories. The research found space for this in the description of two metaphors, namely the liminal suspension bridge of grace and the dance of peace. The stories of the fellow researchers are retold within these two metaphors. My research highlights the important contribution of an interdisciplinary conversation in research. In the study, the journey theme plays an important role, and the reader is invited along with the fellow researchers into a (liminal) space to explore the conflict between the church minister and the church member.

Gesinsbediening in ’n postmoderne kerk: Modelle en metodes

10.4102/hts.v70i1.2783 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jacobus M. Van Staden

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Family Life ◽

Early Church ◽

Faith Formation ◽

Family Ministry ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Practical Theological ◽

Family ministry in a postmodern church. The aim of the article is to reflect on the necessity for family ministry in the church today, and to explore different models and methods for doing it. This article must be understood against the backdrop of the challenges facing mainline churches, of which the decline in numbers, the lack of support for programmes and initiatives on behalf of families, and the apparent inability to minister effectively to young people, are the most pressing. Since the early church there has been a close relationship between church and home. Not only did rituals and liturgies spill from the gathered congregation into homes; metaphors from family life also provided images and language to the early church. In the last few decades there has been a rekindled interest in the home as the primary incubator for faith formation. Several books, articles, organisations, programs, consultants and churches have described their approach as ‘family ministry’. From a practical-theological viewpoint, there must be a set of criteria by which these approaches could be evaluated. This article aims to contribute in this regard, and to critique different approaches to family ministry.

Pentecostalism and schisms in the Reformed Church in Zambia (1996–2001): Listening to the people

10.4102/hts.v67i3.1016 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Lukas Soko ◽

H. Jurgens Hendriks

Keyword(s):

Empirical Evidence ◽

Christian Reformed ◽

Reformed Church ◽

The Bible ◽

The People ◽

Christian Reformed Church ◽

Practical Theological ◽

This article is descriptive in nature and a practical theological assessment of the schisms that took place in the Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) between 1996 and 2001. It analyses empirical evidence to find an answer to the question why it happened. Pentecostal or charismatic tendencies have challenged the long inherited tradition of mainline churches. Subsequently, Pentecostal or charismatic movements have caused intense conflict in the church between the pro-conservatives and pro-Pentecostals. In the RCZ this led to the formation of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in 1999 and the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) in 2001.

Dari Liturgi Baptisan menuju Liturgi Kehidupan: Menjadi Gereja bagi Perempuan Korban Kawin Tangkap

KENOSIS: Jurnal Kajian Teologi ◽

10.37196/kenosis.v6i2.181 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Irene Umbu Lolo

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Women Victims ◽

Past Experiences ◽

This article is a feminist liturgical imagination that aims to provide a recovery space for women victims of sexual violence. With the background of women experience as victims of marriage by abduction, this paper presents imaginative theological thoughts using the views of Ruether and Berger in the framework of providing an ecclesiastical ritual in favor of women victims. The church must stand with women victims of sexual violence. The support of the church can be shown through the provision of a liturgical space where women victims can share their experiences and at the same time reclaim one of the important symbols in the Christian liturgy, namely water as a sacred symbol of restoration. This ecclesiastical ritual is a space for women victims to show reversal movements, from circumstances and events where water marks past experiences of violence, to circumstances and events where water marks the present and future experience of healing. AbstrakTulisan ini merupakan suatu imajinasi liturgi feminis yang bertujuan menyediakan ruang pemulihan bagi perempuan korban kekerasan seksual. Dengan dilatari oleh pengalaman korban kawin tangkap, tulisan ini menyuguhkan pemikiran imajinatif teologis dengan menggunakan pandangan Ruether dan Berger dalam kerangka menyediakan suatu ritual gerejawi yang berpihak pada perempuan korban. Gereja mesti berdiri bersama perempuan korban kekerasan seksual. Keberpihakan gereja itu dapat ditunjukkan melalui penyediaan ruang liturgis dengan mana perempuan korban dapat membagi pengalamannya sekaligus mengklaim kembali salah satu simbol penting dalam liturgi Kristen yaitu air sebagai simbol sakral yang memulihkan. Ritual gerejawi ini merupakan ruang bagi perempuan korban untuk menunjukkan gerakan berbalik arah, dari keadaan dan peristiwa di mana air menandai pengalaman kekerasan di masa lampau, menuju keadaan dan peristiwa di mana air menandai pengalaman pemulihan di masa kini dan masa yang akan datang.

Barth and Patristic Theology

The Oxford Handbook of Karl Barth ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199689781.013.5 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 69-85

Author(s):

Tom Greggs

Keyword(s):

Early Church ◽

The Bible ◽

Hypostatic Union ◽

Critical Heritage ◽

This chapter examines Barth’s approach to patristic theology as well as his engagement with key doctrines and councils of the patristic era. It is clear in relation to Barth’s use of, and engagement with, the patristic fathers that the Bible is always sovereign over the church and its teachings; even so, the patristic witness is thought to proffer an authoritative reading of Scripture. This chapter, therefore, explores Barth’s approach to the patristic fathers in relation to the ‘Scripture principle’ and Barth’s Protestant, modern, and critical heritage. Having outlined Barth’s orientation, the chapter considers Barth’s approach to the major councils and definitions of the early church. It pays particular attention to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed in relation to the divinity of Christ and the Symbol of Chalcedonian in relation to the hypostatic union.