PhD Theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14194/2796

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A Critical Examination of the Role of the South African Evangelical Church in the African Renaissance
(South African Theological Seminary) Lockard, Anna-Marie; Domeris, William R.
This research examines the key role of the South African evangelical church in the African Renaissance movement. A paradigm for assessing this role was taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles. The hermeneutics of a socio-rhetorical interpretation of chapters two through four was used to identify ways whereby the first century church engaged with its culture without losing its unique identity.The origins and objectives of the African Renaissance have been carefully considered, particularly within the South African context. A critical examination of the ideology of the movement was examined in order to determine the feasibility of the church engaging with the movement’s philosophy and objectives.Although several scholars maintain that the African Renaissance has objectives within the political, socio-economic, and cultural arenas, few scholars suggest the role of faith and the church in their goals.Therefore, this research presents biblical strategies whereby the South African evangelical church may engage with the African Renaissance as a bold and innovative witness.
A Theological and Biblical Appraisal of Ozotitle Taking and its Implications for Current Leadership Issues in Igbo Catholic Church (Nigeria)
(South African Theological Seminary) Oforchukwu, Joachim Ifezuo; Turaki, Yusufu
Igbo society is one of the densely inhabited ethnic groups in Nigeria, an ethnic group with enviable cultures, traditions, and religions. The Igbo people are deeply religious by nature. They have a sense of deep respect for the sacred. The early Missionaries, Colonialists, and neighbouring ethnic groups have misconceptions of the Igbo people. The Colonialists have referred to the Igbo nation as Kingless race –Igbo Enwe Eze. Prior to the Vatican Council II, the Church had a negative attitude towards Igbo Traditional Religions. Unfortunately, this negative impression had resulted in an intensive controversy over the reconciliation of the Igbo Traditional Religion with the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. In this dissertation scholarship,the researcher tried to explore the analysis of Ozo title taking and its implications for current leadership issues in Igbo Catholic Church. The purpose of this research study is threefold. First, to investigate if the Igbo nation has kings/leaders (Igbo Nwere Eze). Second, to demonstrate that Ozo titled holders had legislative, executive and judicial powers in Igbo communities. Finally, to establish that the Ozo title taking in Igbo communities could be in culturated into the Igbo Catholic Church.In this study, small populations of Igbo communities were chosen. A small population of study permitted the researcher to do in-depth study (Miles and Huber man 1994). The target population of this study is clergy, Ndi Nze na Ozo titled holders and non-titled men. This research used both comparative and polemical methodologies. As an empirical study, the researcher found Richard Osmer‘s model in practical theology as a useful methodology. The data for this study therefore was garnered through in-depth interviews. The result of this study indicated that the Igbo nation has leaders/kings –Igbo Nwere Eze. Igbo communities have conventional rules that were made and implemented by the Ozo titled holders. The Igbo communities operated on indigenous democracy, a democracy where every Igbo man has a voice. The study showed that Igbo republicanism goes with the consensus philosophy of Umunna Kwenu. This study demonstrated that the Ozo titled men are willing to listen to, and abide by the rules of Igbo Church leadership. The study proposed some pragmatic guidelines that would serve as the benchmark in Ozo title taking across Igbo communities. These guidelines were made to safe guard the Igbo Church from syncretism.
Christological Conceptions within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhado Church (EOTC) and the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches (EEC): Possible Christological-Soteriological Unity Between the EOTC-EEC
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, South Africa) Woldegebrial, Esckinder Taddesse; Grover, Bill
This dissertation explores the Christological conceptions within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) and the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches (EEC), with the aim of investigating the potential for Christological and soteriological unity between these two major Christian traditions in Ethiopia. The study traces the historical and theological developments of Christological debates, particularly focusing on the divergent understandings of Christ's nature from key figures such as Nestorius, Cyril of Alexandria, and the outcomes of the Council of Chalcedon. By examining the distinct Christological frameworks in both the EOTC and EEC, this research addresses the theological rifts that have historically separated these denominations, particularly concerning the nature of Christ between the incarnation and the resurrection. The study highlights the influence of Cyril’s miaphysite Christology on the EOTC and explores how this tradition diverges from the dyophysite stance of the Chalcedonian Creed, which is more aligned with the evangelical perspective. The research employs a reflective epistemological critique to assess the implications of these differences for the soteriological understanding of salvation in both traditions. It also proposes potential pathways for dialogue and reconciliation, arguing that the differences in Christological views are not substantial enough to warrant ongoing division between the two Christian communities. The thesis concludes with practical recommendations for fostering unity between the EOTC and EEC, emphasizing the shared theological heritage and the possibility of theological and ecclesial collaboration.
Establishing a model of ecclesiastical discipline in the Church of Pentecost, Ghana
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, 2023) Kumi-Woode, Benjamin Godson 1964–; Mzondi, Modisa
The Church of Pentecost–Ghana (CoP–Ghana) is a Ghanaian classical Pentecostal Church with a transnational reach. In this study, ecclesiastical discipline as practiced in the CoP–Ghana was researched using Robert Osmer’s method with the view to develop a model of ecclesiastical discipline for the church. Robert Osmer’s method of research outlines a four-step process which involves the descriptive-empirical task, the interpretative task, the normative task and the pragmatic task (Osmer 2008, 31–218). Thirty respondents each from ministers, presbyters and members were interviewed using semi- structured questions. Views of ministers, presbyters, and members interviewed about ecclesiastical discipline in the CoP–Ghana were that ecclesiastical discipline was relevant to the CoP–Ghana due to the necessity to show the church, Christ's bride, as holy and that discipline is an expression of God's love. Additionally, the purpose of ecclesiastical discipline is to uphold the church's reputation and help it carry out the divine mission of preparing individuals for God's kingdom. The major concerns raised by the participants regarding the application of ecclesiastical discipline in the CoP–Ghana include the absence of clear guidelines for ecclesiastical discipline, lack of counselling resources for both pre- and post-discipline phases, aggressive approach of the process, lack of confidence in the reliability of the investigative process, and lethargy in carrying out discipline due to criticism of the practice in contemporary times. For this reason, membership should be classified into new members, members, presbyters, ministers, and higher calling for purposes of ecclesiastical discipline, and disciplinary measures rated from leniency to severe sanctions in that order. Education on ecclesiastical discipline should be integrated into the church’s discipleship program to include new converts classes, pulpit ministry, Bible studies, lay leaders’ school, ministerial formation course and a manual on ecclesiastical discipline, as one the church’s key discipleship documents. Further, an objective means which considers maturity, nature of the offense, status of the offender, attitude of the offender, mode of disclosure of offense and type of offense should be prayerfully adopted in determining sanctions to be meted out to offenders, in such a way that the nature of the offense and the dynamics of the offender are considered in sanctioning. Finally, the church must deliberately ensure that sanctioned members are assigned mature believers or counsellors to assist in their reconciliation and restoration to fellowship. Recommendations made were that a systematic means and pastoral care to ensure reconciliation and restoration of offenders should be developed and adopted which involve clemency, godly counselling and ministry of love, and further research to be done to ascertain the extent to which previous offenders have been properly healed, reconciled, and restored after undergoing ecclesiastical discipline.
Homelessness and Poverty in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States of America, and a Theology of Hope: Rethinking the Church
(Johannesburg South African Theological Seminary) Bagley, Curtis Glen
Polity of the New Apostolic Movement in light of Biblical and Historical Precedents in the Christian Church.
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, 2022) Adams, Mark Allen; Harold, Godfrey
The New Apostolic Movement (NAM), also and originally known as the New Apostolic Reformation, is marked by two tenets: the legitimacy of the ministry of modern-day apostles and ‘theocratic single-headship’ of churches by apostolic leaders. While much has been written debating the legitimacy of a modern charismatic apostolate, there is a lack of specialized research regarding the polity of NAM networks and NAM churches. What is the polity of the New Apostolic Movement and how can that polity be evaluated in the light of biblical and historical precedents? In the identification of biblical and historical polity precedents of the Christian church, the simpler, more encompassing and less partisan categories of autocratic plurocratic and democratic have been favoured over the traditional categories of episcopal, presbyterian and congregational. Identification of polity precedents, exegesis of key texts and an examination of the ‘question of normativeness’ mark the New Testament survey. A fresh and comprehensive review of the major churches, movements and denominations—and their founders—is presented in the chapter regarding polity precedents in the historical Christian church. New research concerning New Apostolic Movement churches found that local-church polity in NAM churches is consistently autocratic but with enough plurocratic function to provide a measure of accountability and that there is little to no democratic function in NAM churches. Study of the largest and most influential trans-local apostolic networks found an absence of autocratic governance, contradicting previous assumptions in the literature. Biblical exegesis concluded that the primacy of apostolic ministry is given for building the church not for governing it, and that the governing role of New Testament apostles was conducted collegially, not autocratically.