scholarly journals The role of the church in the #FeesMustFall movement in South Africa: Practical Theological reflection

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mookgo S. Kgatle
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Poor Students ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Church

In 2015 and 2016, South Africa experienced one of the unique student-led protests since the dawn of democracy that touched the world, the #FeesMustFall movement. Out of the many demands that the students made in the movement, one is outstanding, fee-free higher education. A large number of publications have been written on the movement from an economical and educational point of view. Most of these publications argue that a fee-free higher education for all students is not an affordable or sustainable option for South Africa at the moment. What is new in this article is a practical theological reflection on the movement in general and the demand for a fee-free higher education by students in particular. The article looks at the possibilities of fee-free higher education for the poor students in South Africa by exploring the roles of the church in the #FeesMustFall movement.

scholarly journals ‘They worship in our churches’ – An opportunity for the church to intervene in order to diminish the corruption that is hindering service delivery in South Africa?

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benito Khotseng ◽  
A. Roger Tucker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Contextual Theology ◽  
Present System ◽  
Asset Based Community Development ◽  
Theological Study ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Christian Congregations ◽  
The Church

This practical-theological study aims to develop a contextual theology in the areas of business and government that will aid a successful intervention by the church in diminishing the corrupt practices prevalent in South Africa. It seeks to prove that corruption is a major factor in causing the delays experienced in the implementation of service delivery, and that this is causing much anger and increasing disillusionment with the present system of democratic government. At the moment the church has a window of opportunity for this intervention to take place, since many of those responsible for supporting, organising and implementing service delivery, both in government and industry, worship regularly, as committed members, in local Christian congregations. A modified application of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach using focus groups is suggested as both a tool for intervention and for further research.

scholarly journals The local church as a non-governmental organisation in the fight against poverty: A historical overview of Bethulie 1933–1935

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Church ◽  
Dutch Reformed ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Organisation And Administration ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Church

Poverty is one of the greatest threats to society. In South Africa it is also one of the biggest challenges. This article starts with the challenges put to society by Mr Trevor Manuel at the Carnegie 3 conference. It then explores the possibility of if and how the church can act as a non-governmental organisation in the fight against poverty. A historical overview of the actions of Rev. E.P. Groenewald, during the drought of 1933–1934 in the Dutch Reformed Church Bethulie, serves as a case study of how the church can make a difference. It, however, also illustrates the many pitfalls on this challenging road. The article comes to the conclusion that the main challenge of the church in the fight against poverty is to act as a non-governmental organisation, which transforms values and assists society with good organisation and administration.

scholarly journals ’n Waarskynlike bedieningsmilieu vir die GKSA in die dekades na 2000

1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Vorster
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Future ◽  
Broad Framework ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Biblical Principles ◽  
The Church

This article focuses on the possible milieu for the ministry of the Reformed Churches in South Africa in the decades beyond 2000. From a church- historical and futurological point of view the paradigm shift from modernism to postmodernism is investigated. The effect of the paradigm shift as well as the emerging megatrends is analysed and proposals for the focus of the future ministry of these churches are formulated. These proposals are outlined within the broad framework of Biblical principles for the ministry of the church.

scholarly journals Die begrafnisdiens

1989 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Du P Beukes
Keyword(s):  
Historical Data ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Family ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The Church ◽  
Family Matter

The burial service The goal of this study is to indicate that the burialservice is not only the concern of the family, but also that of the church - it is a church-family concern. Biblical and historical data for the greater part confirm this statement. The Church Reformers considered the burial service in principal as a church matter. From the point of view that the burial service is a church-family matter, the church has the responsibility to define the burial service in respect of practical-theological guidelines whilst also taking the needs of the family into consideration.

scholarly journals Party political chaplaincy? – Methodist ministry to political parties

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ndikho Mtshiselwa ◽  
Simphiwe S. Mthembu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
The Political ◽  
Methodist Church ◽  
Political Sphere ◽  
Prophetic Voice ◽  
The Church

The debate on church and party politics is far from being exhausted in South Africa. Although the Methodist Church of Southern Africa discourages the participation of clergy persons in political parties, it is becoming critical that the church offers a prophetic voice in the political sphere. Issues of morality and spirituality within the political parties necessitate a careful involvement of the Church in politics. This article therefore sets out to offer a theological reflection on the (possible) ministry of Methodist clergy persons to political parties in South Africa.

Technology versus Quality Education in an Underdeveloped Region: A Case Study of UNISA Students in Former Ciskei Homeland in Eastern Cape

10.28945/3780 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agyei Fosu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Regional Economies ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
Underdeveloped Region

Aim/Purpose: This paper seeks to show how University of South Africa (UNISA) is using technology to connect lecturers, tutors and students of [UNISA] in an underdeveloped region in South Africa (SA) to reduce cost and time of travelling to access information, tutorials and help [available] in designated centers, hence making quality and higher education more accessible and less costly. Background: This empirical study gives evidence to back the effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of using technology as a medium of making quality and higher education accessible to under developed regions. Methodology Quantitative and purposeful sampling was deemed appropriate for the study, whereby 200 questionnaires was developed and specifically distributed to UNISA students from former Ciskei towns at East London Tutorial Center. Contribution: The paper is about the usage of mobile technology for knowledge creation and dissemination, instruction and learning, The data generated and presented add to the knowledge base about underdeveloped countries. This data and the conclusions reached based the analysis could be of interest to researchers, university administrators, politicians, planners and policy makers in underdeveloped countries. Findings: Evaluation of the overall effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of e-tutorials show a slight advantage over the face-face tutorials. Recommendations for Practitioners: In the quest for ways and means of making quality and higher education accessible to underdeveloped regions, no matter which medium is chosen, the periodic measurement of success in terms of effectiveness, helpfulness, and cost implication in relation to the learner cannot be over looked. Recommendation for Researchers: More work needs to be done to check the effectiveness of technology as an efficient medium to provide access to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies. Impact on Society The results could have significant implications for raising the level of education and advancing employment equity by improving the delivery and accessibility to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies. Future Research: The analysis of cost efficiency and effectiveness done in this work is just representative of one point of view: the student one of accessibility and cost. There is, however, need in future work to research the implications for the institutions of higher education (in terms teaching design, curriculum design, knowledge of individual learning types, need for change in and rate of change in knowledge view, learning philosophies), individual stakeholders, and the competitive repositioning of society.

Let them Come to Me: A Youth Inclusive and Missional Perspective in Presbyterian Context

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Kevin Muriithi Ndereba
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Theological Education ◽  
Youth Ministry ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Presbyterian Church ◽  
Education Experience ◽  
Practical Ministry ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The Church ◽  
Contemporary Context

Abstract The contemporary context creates complexities for the young person. These include the political and socio-economic realities of African states, the cultural renaissance of Africanism and the reality of postmodernity. From both a practical theological perspective as well as experience in higher education, the author claims that ministers in the Presbyterian Church lack a missional perspective to the contemporary African (Kenyan) youth. The author proposes that theological education in Kenya must seriously consider youth ministry education. Second, Presbyterian ecclesiology must be missional minded by moving from an inward posture to a missional posture that considers the African (Kenyan) youth. This reflection will engage practical ministry and higher education experience, as well as an inter-disciplinary literature survey, to offer a missional perspective for the church and theological education.

scholarly journals Is poverty a matter of perspective? Significance of Amartya Sen for the church’s response to poverty: A public practical theological reflection

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah K. Tenai
Keyword(s):  
Capability Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Domain ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Amartya Sen ◽  
Integrated Framework ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Face ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The Church

Poverty continues to present an enormous challenge to the well-being of humanity. Different frameworks on poverty tend to identify different persons as poor, impacting on efforts to fight poverty. The church as a role player in the public domain needs a framework that can assist it in its task of working for salvation and liberation in the face of overwhelming poverty. Acombined framework, from Amartya Sen’s entitlement approach and capability approach, is amalgamated and suggested as an integrated framework that could act as a lens or a viewpoint from which the church could venture to conceptualise, quantify and respond to instances of poverty. Keywords: Poverty; Church; Well-being; Amartya Sen; Entitlement Approach; Capability Approach

scholarly journals The causes and nature of the June 2016 protests in the city of Tshwane: A practical theological reflection

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mookgo S. Kgatle
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Committee Member ◽  
African National Congress ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Common Element ◽  
Patronage Politics ◽  
Executive Committee Member ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The City

South Africa has recently experienced a series of public protests. The common element is that violence is becoming evident in these protests. This article uses the June 2016 protests in the city of Tshwane as an example to address the root causes of such protests. On 20 June 2016, the African National Congress (ANC) announced that the city of Tshwane mayoral candidate for the 3 August 2016 municipal elections in South Africa is the former public works minister and ANC National Executive Committee member, Thoko Didiza. Consequently, public protests in the city of Tshwane emerged immediately after this announcement. These public protests were very violent, such as protesters killed one another, burned buses, looted shops and barricaded roads. The root causes of these violent protests are identified as factionalism, tribalism, sexism, economic exclusion and patronage politics. The purpose of this article is a practical theological reflection on the root causes of June 2016 protests in the city of Tshwane. The main aim of this article is a practical theological solution to the general problem of violent protests.

scholarly journals From the tower to the pews: A call for academic theology to re-engage with the local context

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Womack ◽  
Jerry Pillay
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Theological Education ◽  
Current Problem ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Academic Theology ◽  
The Church

This article assesses the shortcomings and the disconnectedness of the current academic theological education in South Africa. It offers a brief history to provide a guiding principle for academic theology. It then proceeds to show the current disconnect and challenges between academic theology and the church, with its primary focus on academic theology. Drawing on original research and reflection on these responses, commodification, euro-centricity and rankings are seen as three traps of modern academics. These three areas have distorted the true content of theological reflection. This article thus clearly highlights the current problem and motivates the need for academic theology and the local church to reconnect with each other. With this article focussing on academic institutions, it calls for the academy to change not in nature but in content, and to draw its content for the local context.

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