Theses
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Item An Examination of the Holistic Ministry Approach of Classical Pentecostal Congregations in Amasaman, Accra, Ghana(Johannesburg South African Theological Seminary) Beddim, Jonas BekpeneItem 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, GodfreyThe 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.Item ΛΟΓΟΣ ΓΝΩΣΕΩΣ as a Prophetic Speech-Act: A Theological and Biblical Evaluation of the Gift of the Word of Knowledge(South African Theological Seminary) Goosen, Hugh Ralph 1979; Asumang, AnnangThis systematic-theological study has sought to provide an account of the nature and purpose of λόγος γνώσεως (logos gnōseōs), the spiritual gift variously translated as a word, message, or utterance of knowledge in 1 Corinthians 12:8. It was shown that throughout history, there has never been a time where there has been a unified understanding of the gift. Broadly defined, it has been interpreted in one of three ways, namely, as a gift that provided either (1) academic insight into the Scriptures, (2) an ability to teach, or (3) supernatural knowledge that allowed the recipient to minister effectively within a particular context. The study argues that while this third understanding comes close to accounting for all the data in the text, it is not sufficiently distinctive to warrant classifying it as something separate from prophecy, a defining characteristic of which is the miraculous provision, and subsequent utterance of special knowledge. The study employs speech-act theory as an exegetical tool, examining the locutionary and illocutionary acts within three select biblical passages where prophecy features. It argues that there were three knowledge components common to prophecy–reception, comprehension, and transmission components–and that it is the transmission component where the spiritual gift of λόγος γνώσεως finds expression. More specifically, the study argues that λόγος γνώσεως is an informative-assertive component of the broader prophetic speech-act that articulates supernaturally revealed information about matters past, present,or future, for the purpose of edifying, or motivating the hearer(s) to conform or adhere to the will of God. This contribution is unique in that it provides a comprehensive account of how the gift has been understood and practiced throughout history, demonstrating not just its ongoing relevance, but also how varying contexts have affected the ways in which it has been interpreted. Furthermore, it is the first systematic and inter-disciplinary study into this elusive gift, employing speech-act theory to comprehensively define, analytically clarify, and theological exemplify its distinctive features, showing how it relates to the widely practised spiritual gift of prophecy, and demonstrating its continuing relevance for church praxis.Item Poder Pastoral E Função Paterna: Uma Análiseda Práxis Pentecostalà Luz Das Representações Depoder Em Jesus No Ambiente Joanino(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Silvério, Luís Gonçalo 1957; de Lara Proença, WanderThis investigation analyzes the pastoral power and paternal function and its relationship with pastoral praxis in the light of representations of power in Jesus in the Johannine environment. The literature review on pastoral power and parental function in psychoanalysis by Michel Foucault, Sigmund Freud, Jaques Lacan, Donald Winnicott, and Pierre Bourdieu. The thesis makes historical notes on the origins and development of Pentecostalism in Brazil and in the city of Londrina (PR). It analyzes the practices of Pentecostal typologies in Brazil. Investigates, through semi-structured interviews, the paternal power and function in the religious field based on the Pentecostal pastoral praxis in the city of Londrina (PR). It addresses the concept of power in Jesus in the Johannine literature and environment, in the context of the power tensions in Palestine in the 1st Century. Discusses Jesus' relationship with the Father in Johannine literature, with special attention to theological aspects.Item Spirit and Mission: the Church of Pentecost as a Growing African Pentecostal Denomination(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Markin, Amos Jimmy; Asamoah-Gyadu, J. KwabenaThere is an acknowledgement in the 21st century of Pentecostalism’s phenomenal growth and influence which has affected global Christian outreach and missions. African Pentecostalism, as part of global Pentecostalism is envisaged to have played an important role in this observation.The main focus of this thesis is that the experience and transformative factor of the Holy Spirit in the life of the individual adherents and the corporate church is the major factor among other religious, missiological and theological factors promoting this growth.This thesis has engaged a historical-theological analysis of the growth and missions of the Church of Pentecost, an African independent indigenous denomination, as a local version of African Pentecostalism to generate and discussthe factors which promote this growth. This has been done through using a qualitative research methodsuch as interviews and reliable literary works.The research has shown that in the CoPparticularly, the religious factorsaccuntingfor its global growth include its: Functional Ministries, Church Governance, Administration and Finance; Pneumatic Phenomena (Holy Spirit Baptism, Signs and Wonders and Prayer Camps), Indigenous Leadership, Manpower and human resource development, Training and Education, Social Services, Print and Electronic Media, Estates and Ecumenism. The CoP’s major strength and focus for growth has been on “conversional” growth through soul winning evangelization. The success of the CoP’s internationalmissions can be attributed partly to the conscientious supervisory role of the International Missions Director in terms of pastoral care, effective administrative and monetary. The pattern of CoP’s missions abroad is observed to go beyond “chaplaincy” and an intention for “reverse mission”. The trend suggests a deliberate intention for foreign mission. The CoP uses its presence in the Northern hemispheric locations as a platform to launch missions in other locations in the global divide.Theologically, the CoP bound up the experience and theology of the Spirit, with other Christological teachings expressed in its tenets of beliefs, practices and other characteristic ethos expressed as its spirituality to promote her growth.This thesis has drawn attention that in this era, Pentecostalism, such as is practiced by the CoP,is moving beyond translating the message into transmiting the Spirit in its global missionary endeavorsItem Christian African emerging adults’ epistemological understanding of the authority of the Bible with particular reference to contextual evangelism within a Lutheran, Catholic and Charismatic church in Mamelodi, Tshwane, Gauteng(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Korner, Talitha Mathilda 1959; Semmelink, Willem; Joynt, ShaunThe focus of this thesis is on Christian African emerging adults’ epistemic understanding of the authority of the Bible with particular regard to contextual evangelism within a Lutheran, Catholic and Charismatic church in Mamelodi, Tshwane, Gauteng. The primary objective of this thesis was to demonstrate that among the emerging adults of Mamelodi, Gauteng, South Africa, there appears to be a perceived lack of comprehension of the Bible’s authority which currently hinders the proclamation of the gospel in a significant and contextual manner. The goal was to develop practical strategies arising from the findings to help the broader church addressing the challenges facing emerging adults. Through semi-structured interviews, the researcher explored Christian African emerging adults’ epistemic understanding of the Bible, focusing on contextual evangelism. Fifteen participants (eight males and seven females) from three different denominations (Catholic, Charismatic, and Lutheran) participated in the study. The researcher conducts a case study to investigate her perception of a lack of understanding of the Bible’s authority. The researcher utilises Browning’s fundamental practical theology research methodology. The findings based on the interviews reveal a disturbing neglect in reading and understanding the Bible and applying biblical principles in participants’ lives. Although emerging adults still believe that the Bible is reliable and authoritative, and crucial to read, they lack a thorough epistemological understanding of it. This thesis concludes with a summary of a clearer understanding of the Bible's authority amongst emerging adults. After summarising findings, further research and recommendations are offered to assist the church's impact concerning emerging adults reading and studying the Bible, proclaiming the gospel of Christ effectively.Item Towards a Ministry Strategy for the Copperbelt District Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Zambia for Urban Church Mobilization for Raising Rural Missional Churches(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Kalombo, Mulenga 1975; Light, Vernon E.; Light, Vernon E.The passion to embark on this research was birthed from the realization that the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Zambia, Copperbelt District (PAOG-Z, CD) appears to have a deficient operative theology regarding missions’ mobilization for founding and establishing rural missional churches. The primary objective of this study is, therefore, to formulate a theologically informed strategic plan to ensure that the praxis of the PAOG-Z, CD with respect to missions’ mobilization and mission are faithful to God and optimally relevant to its ministry context. This primary objective is achieved by dividing it into three secondary objectives, which are (1) to interpret the operative theology of the PAOG-Z, CD with respect to urban church resources mobilization for effectively raising rural missional churches; (2) to determine what a faithful praxis ought to look like for the PAOG-Z, CD in its context with respect to urban church resources mobilization for actually producing rural missional churches; and (3) to develop a communicative and strategic plan to strengthen the praxis of the PAOG-Z, CD in relation to urban church resources mobilization for effective raising of rural missional churches. The study commences with an analysis of the PAOG-Z constitution and other literary sources, followed by a small-scale empirical research project to determine whether the current operative theology of the PAOG-Z, CD with regard to rural missions and mission’s mobilization is faithful according to PAOG-Z’s position on missions and whether the praxis is successful (chapter 2). The study proceeds to chapter 3 where various theological perspectives on missions’ mobilization are established to formulate through integrative theology a normative theology of resources mobilization for rural missions contextualized for PAOG-Z, CD. The norms of the operative theology are then defended. This is followed by formulating a communicative and strategic plan for acceptance and implementation of the operative theology (chapter 4).Item Towards a Missiological Evaluation of the Three-Selves Mission Theory as the Missional praxis of the Church of Pentecost in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Denteh, Vincent Anane 1970; Kipimo, Jesse F.; Kipimo, Jesse F.The indigenous church mission principle has been the flagship missional praxis of The Church of Pentecost (CoP) since its inception, and that has culminated in the tremendous growth of the Church’s mission work across the globe. This thesis project examines the implementation of the indigenous church mission theory as a missional praxis of CoP in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and its general impact on the development of the Church in the nation. The research analyses the factors of growth, missional strategies, and praxis of the CoP. The historical trajectory of the development of the Church and its influence in shaping the Church’s missional praxis have been discussed. This thesis project raises serious concerns about the slow growth of the CoP among the indigenous South African believers as well as the rampant resignations of the indigenous leaders in the Church. During the study, structured interviews were conducted with some ministers, former missionaries, and officers of the Church in South Africa and Ghana. The findings led to the conclusion that there is the need for an improvement in the way the indigenous church mission principle is practiced by the CoP in South Africa. The research recommended, inter alia, that the Church must consider its missional praxis within the contextual realities of South Africa. Attention to urban mission, focus on effective and intentional discipleship in the local church, partnership between the mission-planted church and the mother church, and using indigenous leaders as strategic partners in the development of the Church are all parts of the recommendations of this thesis project. The study has also revealed that an effective way of implementing the indigenous church mission principle is fundamental to the self-reliance policy of the CoP. The research then concluded by recommending other areas of research for a significant transformation of the CoP’s missional praxis.