Narrative Preaching: An Analysis of the Communication Style of Women in Freedomhouse Church, Umhlali, KwaZulu-Natal
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Johannesburg South African Theological Seminary
Abstract
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The thesis aimed to explore and utilise the possible connection between women’s natural communication style and the genre of narrative preaching in Freedomhouse Church, Umhlali, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Communication is the way people share information and derive meaning from the exchange. The way people communicate is complex, involving both verbal and nonverbal means. Society norms, cultural context and biology further influence communication. In this study, I found that men and women generally show differences in their communication style. These differences, whether from biological sex, culture, or social conditioning, are well documented and generally accepted.
Narrative preaching is a creative arrangement and telling of events, a form of communication that holds all the advantages of a story while drawing the listener into God’s narrative. In a storytelling culture, the narrative sermon is a natural and effective persuader towards Biblical transformation.
As a woman and narrative preacher, I wanted to explore if women excel at this form of preaching, and if yes, why is this so? Furthermore, if women’s natural communication style is helpful in narrative preaching, how can I use this information to assist the women preachers from Freedomhouse Church in delivering narrative sermons?
The proposed study falls within the field of homiletics, and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) methodology had the substantial potential to answer the research question. In order to get insight into the communication traits of women at Freedomhouse Church, I invited volunteers to participate in interviews and focus groups. The literature component covered the communication aspect and narrative preaching.
In focusing on women’s unique communication traits, I explored whether these traits would significantly influence when preparing and delivering a narrative sermon. I found there are several areas of overlap between women’s communication style and the requirements of a narrative sermon. In the final steps, and based on these areas of overlap, a course to practically assist the women preachers at Freedomhouse Church in using their natural communication skills to prepare and deliver narrative sermon, was designed.
Keywords
Preaching, Women in church work