Search Results - "Verbum et Ecclesia"

This article explores how the author’s empirical research of ‘leadership clusters’ can be integrated with Nelus Niemandt’s trialogue of church, culture and biblical narrative to produce a concise paradigm of missional leadership. Franklin’s (a student of Niemandt) development of leadership clusters...

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The application of John 3 and 1 Samuel 17 in O.K. Matsepe’s narrative, Kgorong ya Mošate. In addition to the Bible often being an inspiration for peace advocacy among nations, it is also a notable reference for many literary authors. For instance, the first part of John 3 records Jesus Christ’s conv...

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The article addresses Francis’ involvement in ecumenical dialogue with the Orthodox Churches, Oriental Churches and communities arising from the Reformation, including both historical denominations (Anglicanism, Lutheranism, Calvinism and Methodism) and contemporary evangelical movements, particular...

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This article examines the Acts of Thecla (ATh) through the lens of missional leadership, exploring its implications for early Christian identity and ecclesial formation. Utilising a literary-theological reading, this article analyses the ATh’s portrayal of Thecla’s journey from disciple to missionar...

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This article reviews Sabbath Rest as the biblical and missional incentive towards God’s rest. The relationship between human restlessness and the Sabbath Rest is still one of the most serious, sensitive, contentious, controversial and debatable issues. Many scholars are still discussing this relatio...

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The African Initiated Churches (AICs) suffered a sour relationship with churches and institutions of Western origin from where most originated. Western religious and political institutions adopted a polemic approach towards them. Their critique was primarily on their lack of theological training. Th...

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This theoretical study explores the Zimbabwe Council of Churches’ (ZCC) pivotal role in promoting social justice and economic accountability within Zimbabwe’s repressive political climate under the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The ZCC embodies grassroots agency in resis...

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The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges and experiences that impact harmonious fellowship among sexuality diverse Christians, and to explore strategies for sustaining such fellowship. It used the stance of Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ (MRCC) regarding the membership of homosex...

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Christianity faced different phenomenal situations during its propagation. The world faces a multicultural phenomenon where cultures are crossing geographical boundaries, intermingling and being overtaken by globalisation, which Christian missions must respond to. The article examines the functional...

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The article seeks to bring the effect of the encounter with the Neo-Babylonian Empire on the oracles in Jeremiah 50–51 Masoretic text (MT) to the fore. In these oracles, the Babylonian imperial claim of global rule from Babylon as a manifestation of the kingship of Marduk is countered with the count...

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The article is a historical analysis of Nicholas Bhengu’s vision of women’s empowerment for evangelism and socio-economic development. It was during one of Bhengu’s visits to the United States to raise funds for his Back to God Crusade, God appeared to him in a vision in Brooklyn, New York, in 1960;...

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Conversion through the use of character naming: An intertextual reading of O.K. Matsepe’s Mahlatse a Madimabe. The theme of conversion has received the desired attention by scholars in the field of theology. Other disciplines have done so little in examining this paramount subject within the society...

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Established in 1975 at the University of South Africa (UNISA), the Research Institute for Theology and Religion (RITR), formerly known as the Institute for Theological Research (ITR), will commemorate its 50th anniversary in 2025. Among the ITR’s key scholarly contributions and outputs were the annu...

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This article reflects on and records significant aspects of the life of the 80-year-old Dr Devarakshanam (Betty) Govinden. Emphases of this research are on the last 50 years, focusing on her life in terms of religion, particularly her theological contribution to South African society, especially thr...

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This article reflected on the development of a congregational prototype called In pas met die lewende God [‘In step’ with the Living God], that aids congregations in the process of missional transformation. Although this prototype was developed and implemented by a diverse team, the influence of Nel...

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This article provides an overview of John Mbiti and his African theology over the past half a century. It discusses how African theology has moved from being unwritten to more deliberate, organised, and written forms of articulation since the 1950s. It also discusses the life, teachings, writings an...

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This article examines the work of Nelus Niemandt within both the academy and the church, with a particular focus on his understanding of missionality as shaped by his perspectives on spirituality, ecclesiology and leadership. It also explores key elements of discernment and service leadership. To ha...

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This article explores the conditions required for fostering trustful dialogue between theologians and church members regarding the interpretation of Scripture. The focus is on a study project initiated by the Dutch Reformed Church Western Cape Synod in response to tensions within the denomination su...

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‘The Lord God’: A psychological analysis of religious experience approach. This article claims that the narrator deliberately uses the name ‘The Lord God’. This specific use serves a psychological function within the story. The research will use the book of Jonah as a case study. Therefore, this art...

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The interaction of Reformed theology with African Christian worship creates substantial theological conflicts, especially when local worship manifestations contradict core Reformed beliefs. The Venda chorus “litadulu li a shumelwa halala” demonstrates this contradiction by proposing a performance-ba...

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