Answers on a Postcard: Photo Elicitation in the Service of Local Ecclesial Strategy

This article reports the findings of a practical Theological Action Research project in a Church of England diocese in the UK, using photo elicitation. This image-based approach resulted in findings that echoed existing diocesan strategies, but also highlighted other issues that may otherwise have remained implicit, specifically the mode of mission and concerns regarding growth and survival. The visual data itself is analysed, revealing that the images do not always function as direct signifiers, but instead were generating creative, intuited responses. From the data, four mirrors were developed to reflect back to the groups their responses. This approach enabled local strategies to emerge from within espoused theologies, but also to make explicit their coherence or departure from the normative missiologies of the diocese. Finally, the authors suggest that the exposure of church leaders within training to qualitative research methodologies is releasing a new kind of leadership to emerge.

As we were or seeking what we ought to be? A practical theological rethinking of the communio sanctorum in the light of COVID-19

The focus of this article is on a 69 year old Dutch Reformed congregation in Lichtenburg (North West province), South Africa. It reflects on the congregation’s understanding of the communio sanctorum, the practice of which was halted due to COVID-19. Initial responses to the crisis suggested a deep longing for the communio sanctorum and a yearning among inactive church members to reconnect to the faith community. This created an expectation of a large-scale return to public worship once social distancing measures were relaxed. Also that the leadership would pursue opportunities to reconnect inactive church members to the faith community post-COVID. It however transpired that the congregation was merely trying to restore its pre-COVID-19 homeostasis. A brief historical probe of the communio sanctorum is compared with results of a small-scale empirical enquiry into congregants’ perceptions of the communio sanctorum from an insider-perspective. The article argues that the congregation may have missed an opportunity to re-imagine the communio sanctorum due to a reductionist view. It concludes by alluding to a need for a reframing of COVID-19 as a kairos moment with a view on a reorientation towards the meaning of the communio sanctorum.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: By engaging church’s historical and empirical insights from an insider perspective of a South African congregation within a practical theological framework, the research challenges reductionist views of the communio sanctorum held by faith communities. The resultant view, that the communio sanctorum has both inward and missional meaning, has implications for post-COVID congregational studies and congregational praxeology.

Descriptive empirical perspectives on participants’ attitudes on virtual worship services kindle an ineluctable revisiting of ecclesial assumptions in a post-pandemic world

When it comes to debating the background of this article, the matter of participants’ attitudes in virtual worship in a post-pandemic world is the central theme. One should always acknowledge that participants in the liturgy and faith communities have to cope with the effects of the pandemic. The physical attendance of worship services is an essential pillar in faith communities understanding of corporeal worship. Because of the lockdown measures and with the insistence on staying away from social gatherings, most people were obliged to adapt to new ways of engaging in virtual worship services. People hope that the previous normal will return whilst participating in virtual liturgy or limited groups of 50 people within church buildings. This article wants to embark on descriptive empirical perspectives to determine whether the virtual environment has not resulted in an inevitable revisiting of ecclesial assumptions regarding people’s understanding of worship. Many complex questions about how worship services will realise when the lockdown measures have been lifted remain unanswered. This article offers a descriptive section on what are the currently concerning aspects related to a topic like this. Secondly, a Likert scale with numerous statements was provided to 60 respondents from three denominations in the Potchefstroom area. The request to respondents was to indicate what their attitudes about certain statements are. This investigation will be conducted from a reformational paradigm and is interested in debating the responses of participants that is related to attitudes on virtual worship services in a post-pandemic world.Contribution: The article concludes with some practical theological perspectives that could lead to a follow-up article on how this matter could be revisited in the light of more clarity on people’s attitudes.

Mewujudkan Keadilan Ekonomi Melalui Perpuluhan di Era Revolusi Industri 4.0

This article aimed to study the prospect of tithe as an instrument of the church in realizing economic justice. The industrial revolution 4.0 era has resulted in economic inequality, where there are parties who can reap huge benefits from the changing working way, on the other hand there are those who must be eliminated from job competition. In this case the church is called to realize one of the Kingdom of God visions, namely justice. This study was conducted by pastoral circle or practical theological circle method. Through this study, it could be concluded that like zakat among Muslims, tithe is an instrument of the church, of which it is properly managed in accordance with the true spirit of tithing, that has the power to realize economic justice.

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.

PERAN PEMIMPIN DALAM GEREJA PEMURIDAN: Studi Kasus di Gereja Kristen Kalam Kudus Pekanbaru

Leaders are a significant factor in realizing a productive church. It is demonstrated through the discipleship in small groups aimed at giving birth to new leaders. But the problem is, not all leaders give birth to a new leader. Therefore, this paper examines the role of the leader to see his role in Holy Word Christian Church Pekanbaru. Richard Robert Osmer's four practical theological tasks is used to refine analysis because it offers methodological novelty, practicality and is comprehensive in understanding or changing contexts. Therefore, a case study approach is used to produce research depth. The data collection process accomplishes through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that the role of leaders in Holy Word Christian Church Pekanbaru is significant in realizing a productive church and giving birth to new leaders. So the discipleship system must lead to the goal of birth to new leaders through small groups that have already been forming. Keywords: role, leader, discipleship, case study, reproductive, small group. Abstrak: Pemimpin merupakan faktor penting dalam mewujudkan jemaat yang reproduktif. Hal tersebut ditunjukkan melalui pemuridan dalam kelompok kecil dengan tujuan melahirkan para pemimpin baru. Tetapi persoalannya, tidak semua pemimpin melahirkan pemimpin baru. Oleh karena itu, artikel ini mengkaji tentang peran pemimpin untuk melihat perannya dalam gereja pemuridan di Gereja Kristen Kalam Kudus (selanjutnya disebut GKKK) Pekanbaru. Empat tugas teologi praktika Richard Robert Osmer digunakan untuk mempertajam analisis karena menawarkan kebaruan metodologi, kepraktisan dan komprehensif dalam memahami atau menggali konteks. Oleh karena itu, pendekatan studi kasus digunakan untuk menghasilkan kedalaman. Proses pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa peran pemimpin di GKKK Pekanbaru signifikan dalam mewujudkan gereja yang reproduktif dan melahirkan pemimpin baru. Jadi, sistem pemuridan harus mengarah pada tujuan untuk melahirkan para pemimpin baru melalui kelompok-kelompok kecil yang sudah terbentuk. Kata-kata kunci: peran, pemimpin, pemuridan, studi kasus, reproduktif, kelompok kecil.

Who are we online? The interplay between online identity formation and Christian marriages

Digital technologies have become an integrated part of everyday life, and this development has not left relationships untouched. A need exists for theological reflection on the interaction between the dynamic contexts of the digital age and Christian marital relationships. The relational implications of the digital age are quite vast; therefore the focus of the article will be limited to online identity formation as a particular challenge of the digital age. Employing the method of a literature study within the scientific field of practical theology, this article explores the interplay between online identity formation and Christian marriage. It suggests that online identity formation exists around a reciprocal interaction with two prominent qualities of Christian marriages: The expansion of the self and one-ness. When considering the interplay between online identity formation and Christian marriage, awareness can be created regarding the marital implications of spouses’ online engagements, which may enhance contextual pastoral care with a relational focus within the digital age.Contribution: The article contributes to practical theological reflection on challenges posed to Christian marriages by the digital age. It is aimed at stimulating pastoral thinking regarding online identity formation and its adverse effects on so-called one-ness in Christian marriages that can enhance pastoral care with a view on the flourishing of couples in the digital age.

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

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.