Doctoral Degrees (Practical Theology)

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Open Access
High school teachers as agents of hope: a practical theological engagement
(University of the Free State, 2014-07-23) Botha, Carolina Stephanusina; Van den Berg, Jan-Albert
English: This participatory action research journey with teachers from old model C high schools in South Africa investigates the possibility that teaching might be a practical theological engagement that sanctions teachers towards becoming agents of hope for themselves and their colleagues. This qualitative study is built upon an epistemology of a postmodern, postfoundationalist approach to practical theology embodied within a narrative, feminist and social constructionist feminist framework. Such a multi-authored approach to research also creates space for the individual voices of silenced, marginalized and often burnt out teachers to be heard. Through a constant migration between theory and praxis within the habitus of practical theology, the academic discourses about teachers, factors causing stress in their lives and their personal relationship with God are explored. This specific context creates a moment of praxis where teachers can feel empowered and in a position to facilitate social transformation. This research journey thus concerns itself with a critical reflection on the secular and religious aspects as it is understood in the specific context of a teacher. The postfoundationalist approach to practical theology forces a researcher to firstly listen to the stories of people in real life situations and does not merely aim to describe a general context, but confronts the participants with a specific and concrete situation, in this case the state of education in South Africa. Two groups of participants took part in this study. Through conversations the first group conceptualized the factors causing stress in their lives and explored the traditional understanding of having a calling. The question is asked whether the traditional concept of calling is still relevant in the lives of modern day teachers. Concepts like stewardship and servant leadership are offered as alternatives. It is then postulated that the awareness of the presence of God in a teacher’s professional life can change the way that this person perceives a calling, will cope with stress and anxiety, as well as reduce the possibility of them experiencing severe burnout. The second group attended a weekend retreat where these teachers could share hope and encourage each other to take part in healing conversations. They were offered the opportunity to re-author their stories and deconstruct the discourses that shapes their lives and identities as teachers. Subsequently, their preferred identities as teachers with a calling to be stewards for the Kingdom of God were strengthened through conceptualizing the influence that living according to such an identity can have on their relationship with the Department of Education, their colleagues, themselves and their relationship with God. The teachers attending the retreat also defined and conceptualized a school driven by a calling. They further committed to transform their school to becoming such a school driven by a calling. Seeing themselves as practical theologians does not eliminate the factors that cause stress in teachers’ lives, but it becomes the driving force that keeps them coping in times of duress. The participants in this research journey learned that having a calling to teach requires a daily commitment to being in the service of God, to viewing the children and the situation in education in South Africa through the eyes of God. Being a practical theologian creates a different kind of responsibility in the Christian teacher, because they are now accountable to an alternative source than only the Department of Education, they answer to God. Thus they become the hands and feet of God in their classrooms and in turn, serve as guardians and agents of hope for each other.
Open Access
Lewe na apartheid: lidmate se narratiewe vanuit 'n longitudinale pastorale betrokkenheid
(University of the Free State, 2013-01) Foot, Leon Michael; Van den Berg, Jan-Albert
English: How do white Afrikaans Christians live in post-apartheid South Africa? This is the question that is investigated in this longitudinal research. The co-researchers are white members of the Dutch Reformed Church (Welkom South congregation). Over a period of fourteen years (1998-2012) they were twice given the opportunity to tell their self-narratives. The study uses the Trust and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) revelations as a backdrop for their stories. The themes include white people’s idea of apartheid, guilt and confession of guilt, reconciliation and the role of the church in all of these. The report is presented according to the ABDCE narrative research model. Chapter one is a story of action. This tells of the 1994 political transition and the following TRC. The report is placed within practical theology and specifically in a postmodern paradigm. Social construction discourse is discussed as well as the methodology used. The method used in the initial and follow-up research is explained as well as the origin of the transcriptions that is included as attachments. The second chapter is a story of the background and focuses on the background and origins of apartheid as seen through the eyes of the co-researchers. Then the fourteen years before the follow-up research is examined. The opinions of the coresearchers are given under the headings of uncertain, disillusioned, excited and dishonest. The role of the church are portrayed in two sections: first the period before 1998 and the time since 1998. Lastly two models are suggested as lenses through which transformation can be viewed. In chapter three (a story of development) the co-researchers are given a bigger voice. With the use of longer and shorted extracts from the transcription the position of each is described. The pertinent question is how they viewed apartheid through their white eyes. The co-researchers then react to the TRC disclosures. Five typical reactions are described. In the final part of the chapter the role of the church up to that stage is discussed. Chapter four is a story of a climax. Here we hear the co-researchers in 2012. The same themes as in the previous chapter are discussed. The participants give their opinion regarding the two worlds we still live in as well as the racism that is still part of their daily lives. Guilt, reconciliation and affirmative action is discussed. The same themes are the discussed from a church point of view. The last chapter is a story of an ending. First the impact of the TRC is discussed. The focus then falls on the heart and legacy of apartheid. Then the path of guilt and reconciliation and the role the church need to play, is examined. The liberating forgiveness is highlighted in contrast to the paralysing guilt that many seems to have. The chapter ends with a look at the road ahead for white Afrikaans Christians. The hope and the challenges are presented. This research looked at how white Afrikaans Christians live in post-apartheid South Africa. The TRC is used as an alternative story to the one usually told by white people. The co-researched unfortunately show little insight into the effects apartheid had on black people and therefore issues of guilt, confession and affirmative action remains controversial.
Open Access
Middelloopbaan-ontwikkeling deur spirituele lewenstylafrigting
(University of the Free State, 2010-11) Fourie, Magdalena Cornelia; Van den Berg, Jan-Albert
English: The changing landscape of work and careers is attributed to constant world changes. It requires employees’ skill regarding self-management as a locus of responsibility with pro-activity and an openness for new experiences. The population explosion of middle career adults and increasing knowledge regarding the middle career development have led to the identification of the middle life stage as a time worthy of study. In the study the metaphor of opera plays an important role. The research aims at becoming libretto (operatext) itself, with the accompaniment and application of metaphoric meaning where the structural exposition is embodied in the overture, acts and finale. This study is at home in the epistemological and methodological development of a broad and interdisciplinary dialogue, where various voices in the form of different domains converse in order to establish an integrated whole. An interdisciplinary dialogue deals with the attempt to convene a variety of disciplines of reasoning strategies with wide frames of reference, different epistemological catalysts and experimental resources. Four domains in this research study are given an opportunity to speak in an attempt to sensibly be held accountable regarding the challenge of spiritual life coaching as facilitating process would succeed in promoting middle career development. Although the four voices form the main characters, accents and nuances which have been embodied in additional characters representative of co-researchers and the librettis, are also heard. The first domain entails practical theology that does not only want to focus on man’s religious actions, but involves communication. It wants to establish a meeting between God and man, as well as communication with others to create space for God in this world outside the circumference of the church where public importance is underlined with a directedness to public wisdom and social transformation. The pragmatic facilitates a reflective dialogue and the construction of models which are applied by practical theology to provide guidance to individuals and communities regarding the method of activities or practices. Middle career development supposes the second domain and is regarded as a reevaluation and questioning time regarding personal, professional and spiritual development. The middle career entails the age group 40 to 55 years. This phase is characterized by two major variables, namely the confrontation of middle year transition and the retaining of productivity levels. Spirituality in the workplace currently enjoys wide corporative interest due to a worldwide movement which has brought about an emphasis shift to work as meaningful and sensible. It supposes the third dialogue partner representative of the domain, namely spiritual intelligence. The search for meaning and significance is brought into relation with spirituality due to the latter being described and understood as a type of intelligence. Life coaching, as the fourth domain, is multidisciplinary by nature. It is considered to be an eclectic approach where various skills and techniques are borrowed from other disciplines. Life coaching is considered to be a collaborative, solution-focused, resultsorientated and systematic process during which the coach facilitates the increase of life experience and goal achievement in the personal and professional life of the client. These four domains have united to an integrated whole where all participating parties could be heard in unison in the supposed interdisciplinary dialogue. The study reaches a climax in the agreeing illumination that spiritual life coaching as facilitating process can promote middle career development.
Open Access
'n Narratief-pastorale betrokkenheid by adolessente dogters wat seksueel misbruik is
(University of the Free State, 2013-06) Fourie, Hester Aletta; Van den Berg, Jan-Albert
English: This research is portrayed by the metaphor of cartography. The mapping of the research journey occurs in the light of five directives. These directives are chosen according to the ABDCE approach to therapy (Müller, Van Deventer & Human 2001:1-13). The purpose is to convey the role of hope therapy from an eschatological perspective. This refers to the healing process of adolescent girls that were sexually abused during their lives. Guideline 1 explains the Action taken in regard with what is happening in the present. This refers to perception and the forming of theory by reflection, interpretation and an analytical discourse. Exploring questions according to the rationale, purpose, paradigm, epistemology, methodology and research expectations serve as basis for and contours, of the research journey. The background narrative of every co-researcher are enlightened by this guide and serves as primary cause of this study. Guideline 2 as Basic start of this study is concerned with information about the roads of the past as well as roads still under construction. These roads, mapped as conseptualisation, are an important source of communication. Interpretation of these concepts take place when questions are asked regarding what the text is trying to portray and how it can be understood in comparison to other texts. The research focus on the impact of abuse on the Christian spirituality as source of hope for the teenage girl who was abused. Therefore the concepts of female adolescence and sexual abuse are discussed. Guideline 3 serves as the Dinamics of the research narrative. This can be compared to the development of a photo of the field of research. The researcher are both inquisitive and patient during the development of the photo while the aspects of the research field are studied from different perspectives. These perspectives are precented under guidance of the narrative pastoral approach to research therapy. Therefore the importance of theological theory and practical theological interpretation within a qualitative research paradigm is indicated. The reason is that the researcher attempts to discover the essence of the phenomena of adolescence and abuse. Guideline 4 as Climax serves as the most important highlight of the research process. This serves as an explorative mapping journey of the ideas and principles which are clarified by the narrative pastoral approach. In this approach the hermeneutics is used as strategy to interpret and understand the stories of my coresearchers. This understanding takes place in the circular movement between theory and praxis in an attempt to explain the connection between the narrative approach and a text of hope. Guideline 5 as the End of the research process is viewed by Müller, Van Deventer and Human (2001:8) as follows: “And then there is the ending: what is our sense of who these people are now, what are they left with, what happened, and what did it mean?” A narrative pastoral approach is compiled from a source of different therapeutic initiatives. The narrative hermeneutical approach serves as an important route of discourse by which the stories of my co-researchers are told and retold until re-interpretation and re-construction takes place (Müller 1996:104). The biographies of my co-researchers are presented by their stories. The researcher’s autobiography is also important because of the role of her own narrative in the research. Care was taken during the reflection process not to apply one summary to a general public. Conclutions are only applicable to the co-researchers in their own context.
Open Access
Pastorale terapie aan die persoon bo tagtig jaar
(University of the Free State, 2010) De Wet, Roelof; Van den Berg, Jan-Albert
English: Chapter 1 of this study focuses on the growing numbers of older persons and the corresponding pastoral-therapeutic implications. Progressive developments in medical research and treatment and socio-economical change offer persons older than 65 a longer life expectancy and enable them to remain active for a longer period. The demographical implication is that persons in this age group form a larger proportion of populations across the world. These worldwide trends are also evident among all population groups in South Africa with comprehensive consequences in all areas of life, in particular also in respect of the pastoral care and spiritual well-being of the aged. The largest proportional increase in numbers is in the age group above 80. This population segment also includes the largest number of frail elderly persons, who have a special need of pastoral therapeutic support and involvement. In the context of developments in Practical Theology special reference is made to the effects of a hermeneutic approach manifested in post-modern and post-foundationalist paradigms. A diaconiological frame of reference is maintained in the discussion of basistheoretical, meta-theoretical and practical-theoretical methods of approach. In research studies of meetings with elderly residents, based on participative action research, observations are made using the different pastoral-therapeutic approaches as lenses. In chapter 2 the historical development of hermeneutic theory leading to the construction of a hermeneutic paradigmatic frame is pursued. Pastoral-therapeutic implications of a hermeneutic paradigm, which include a systemic and narrative approach, are critically considered. Metatheoretical psychotherapeutic narrative methods and pastoral therapeutic models, which represent different emphases, are critically evaluated from a diaconiological position. In chapter 3 metatheoretical gerontological and psychological scientific contributions are discussed. Residents in a retirement village who wish to receive pastoral therapy are involved in practical applications. The circumstances and views of residents were solicited in a general opinion survey. Basis-theoretical points of departure are elucidated with reference to the pastoraltherapeutic models of Louw and Gerkin. Basic-theoretical and other practical theological points of departure are applied as lenses in participative action research. Practical theoretical pastoral therapeutical approaches are introduced in chapter 4 with special reference to the practice-theory-practice spiralling model of Müller. This is followed by research reports of meetings with persons older than 80, in which perspectives that arose from views through the different practical-theological lenses are given. Perspectives gleaned from the different approaches enhanced the value of results separately and jointly. Contemplation of the Christian truths of salvation and particularly the comfort of eschatological promise afforded basis-theoretical opportunities for the affirmation of faith. Memories from the respondents’ own life stories, in particular of the experience of weakness, pain and dependency, could be placed in the context of the Grand Narrative in the process of therapeutic narrative involvement. The metatheoretical gerontological and psychological lenses contributed valuable perspectives to the experience of later old age, leading to meaningful pastoral-therapeutic application. A better understanding of the need for spiritual growth and the achievement of integrity through self-acceptance and gerotranscendancy could be gained. Psychotherapeutic narrative methods such as deconstruction, externalization and unique outcomes could be applied with good outcomes in a diaconiological scriptural normative approach. Through the application of a practicaltheoretical spiralling practice-theory-practice lens special value could be added by close integration of the own story with the story of the Bible. Although behavioural changes in older persons who have set thinking patterns are difficult to achieve, limited success was achieved in the positive handling of mutual relations of inmates and influencing their actions. The most beneficial pastoral-therapeutical effects were probably achieved in respect of the integration of memories of life, which surfaced in stories told in conjunction with the reality of Christian experience at this late stage of life.
Open Access
Publieke pastorale sorg aan persone geïnfekteer met en geaffekteer deur MIV en/of VIGS in die bruin gemeenskap van Oudtshoorn
(University of the Free State, 2008-11) Fourie, Jerry; Van den Berg, Jan-Albert
English: Chapter 1 forms the base of the study in which the whole action plan is provided. The schematic exposition for the research journey expresses a reconnisance route for theory and practice. This journey takes place in the Brown community of Oudtshoorn. Public care as embodiment of interlinked social constructs is being managed by means of the ARV Clinic’s programme. Qualitative research in the form of Participatory Action Research takes into service the narrators’ stories in a participatory way. The narrative study crystallises in the ABCDE formula (Action, Background, Development, Climax, Ending) that strengthens the circular movement between practice and theory. Practical Theology and Pastoral Theology facilitate a meeting between co-researchers and the narrative of Jesus. Chapter two forms part of the background in which epistemological and theological presuppositions are discussed. Social constructionist discourse, as perspective according to which the truth in a postmodern society is understood, interacts with Practical Theology. The paradigm shifts within Practical Theology form part of the background and contributes towards understanding the process of theory formation and praxis within a social context. The aspects that are handled are the confessional approach and the correlative and communicative approach with the emphasis on praxis in the contextual approach. The ecological foundation of Practical Theology, together with postfoundationalism and public theology, form an integral part of the understanding of reality. Practical Theology accepts the challenge, with methodical skill, to facilitate dialogue between the knowledge of spirituality and the world within which it is practiced. Chapter 3 discusses the development of Pastoral Theology and the care models for journeying together. The three base approaches under discussion are the eductive-relational approach, the kerugmatic approach, and the phenomenological approach. The researcher’s anthropology forms part of his epistemology. The dualism and the impact of this on anthropological perspectives are explained. This research is based on the narrative approach. Collecting data, journeying together, and mutual care is done by means of the narrative conversational method. The circular movement between practice and theory is being strengthened with the use of verbatim quotations and reflection on it. The literary study in Chapter 4 forms the climax and enhances the knowledge and information regarding HIV and/or AIDS. The social aspects of the epidemic and its impact on local communities are explained. Poverty is a factor that accelerates the spread of the disease. The role of the church in bringing pastoral care to the community, in co-operation with the ubuntu principle, is essential for pastoral care. The South African National Strategic Plan for 2007 to 2011 is expounded as part of the action steps to bring hop and make a difference. Chapter 5 relates the homecoming of the travellers and writing an alternative narrative. The relationship between pastor and partners is discussed by means of fragments from the expressed lives of co-travellers. The practical part of the research at the ARV Clinic in Oudtshoorn becomes public by creating an audience for it. The end is open to provide space for themes and questions that are able to enrich and develop the research further.

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Practical Theology) by Advisor "Van den Berg, Jan-Albert"

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