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Verbum et Ecclesia
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.575

Number of Followers: 2

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 1609-9982 - ISSN (Online) 2074-7705
Published by AOSIS Publishing

[32 journals]

Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Department of Old Testament and
Hebrew Scriptures, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of
Pretoria, Pretoria
- Authors: Gilbert N. Alaribe, Lawrence N. Okwuosa
  First page: 1
  Abstract: No abstract available.
  PubDate: 2023-05-11
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2538
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
God is my inheritance: The voice of the woman in Psalm 16
- Authors: Armand Barus
  First page: 8
  Abstract: Differing with most scholars Psalm 16 was a personal lament Psalm voiced by a woman, with the central theme being, God is the portion of my inheritance. The concluding statement was revealed to us through the use of poetic criticism on Psalm 16. Poetic criticism is a new method of reading lament Psalms through the careful observation of elements contained in the lament Psalms, such as lament, feeling, the concept of God and mood of the text. The application of poetic criticism on Psalm 16 by studying the elements of the lament, feeling, concept of God, and changes of mood, has shown us that the psalmist successfully faced the struggles of life when she lost her husband and as a result, her inheritance, because God is her inheritance. In and through her suffering the psalmist was able to know God as her portion of inheritance.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This research helps the readers understand the involvement of women in arranging the Psalms in the spiritual lives of Israel and Psalms can be studied now from feminist perspective.
  PubDate: 2023-05-29
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2797
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
The identification of misplaced moral ingredients that obscure sustainable
leadership
- Authors: Jennifer Slater
  First page: 8
  Abstract: This article endeavours to liberate the concept of ‘morality’ and debrief the term ‘sustainability’ by exploring the fundamental moral questions that relate to leadership based on ethical living connected with self, others, nature and the environment. It investigates sustainability that cultivates leadership and undergirds the social, economic, political and moral subsistence of humanity. It explores the dire deficiencies of moral ingredients that have infiltrated all kinds of leadership that consequently restrain social transformation. The decay of unethical leadership that resulted in the unsustainability of regular life requires investigation because both morality and sustainability need liberation, to be ‘unfrozen’ from their ‘static’ or inoperative states so as to become once again positively functional in the practice of leadership. While ethics and morality focus on building correct relationships that uphold honourable living, it is also defined by an affiliation with a divine component that nourishes our collective well-being on earth. Entrenched moral assumptions that make it impossible to move morality forward are challenged so as to discharge our principled obligations to humans and the planet alike. The overarching aim is to formulate an ethical theory that defines a set of moral qualities that are exclusively aimed at sustaining the intrinsic worth of all, promoted by both individual and corporate leadership, that embraces reasonableness, independence, integrity, productiveness and justice.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article is housed in the discipline of Christian Leadership with theological ethics, moral theology and gospel values that interrogate the emasculation of sustainable leadership.
  PubDate: 2023-05-29
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2691
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
Weibliche Führungskräfte nachhaltig führen
- Authors: Martina Kessler
  First page: 8
  Abstract: Women lead differently than men. In order for them to be able to lead sustainably as leaders, it is necessary to reflect on typical female traits. In doing so, the way of typical female leadership, which is biologically anchored, should be taken into account. The aim should be to deal with them appropriately and fairly so that they themselves can lead sustainably. The biological requirements in women are centered on community, relationships, social skills, and communication. These findings are reflected in psychology and linguistics and are also evident when women are described as leaders. Three examples from practice corroborate the findings and show the necessity to understand diversity as an opportunity, to regard female leaders as ‘normal’, to convey appreciation for their typical leadership style just as much as it is appreciated as for male leadership and to deal with female images of leadership and to enthrone female leaders.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article is interdisciplinary in that it combines insights from biology, psychology, linguist and management theory.
  PubDate: 2023-05-18
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2723
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
Ubuntu and mourning practices in the Tsonga culture: Rite of passage
- Authors: Hundzukani P. Khosa-Nkatini
  First page: 9
  Abstract: The article focusses on ubuntu and mourning rituals practised in the Tsonga culture. Tsonga cultures and rituals have been proclaimed as being different from province to province with a few similarities. The rituals referred to in this research do not however encompass the belief systems of all Tsonga people in South Africa. This study discusses ubuntu in the Tsonga context and how they partake in the processes of bereavement, grieving, mourning, death rituals, mourning practice and unveiling of the tombstone. This article addresses some challenges and the theme of liturgical inculturation in the Tsonga mourning processes. The study also addresses the necessary liturgical aggiornamento needed in the Tsonga mourning processes. It covers the social and religious aspects of the process Ubuntu and mourning practices in the Tsonga culture.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The contextual perspective challenged by this research is the understanding of ubuntu and mourning rituals of the Tsonga people in accordance with their culture. This research made use of a literature review based on mourning rituals, which solidifies this research as a study within Practical Theology because it is a liturgical inculturation study.
  PubDate: 2023-05-31
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2682
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
Diens van barmhartigheid of diakonaat – hoe belangrik is ’n
naam'
- Authors: William van der Merwe
  First page: 9
  Abstract: Churches hold different views regarding the office of deacon and role of deacons in the church. Churches also use different terms for their social ministries. This lack of a common language regarding the church’s diaconal ministry often creates confusion in the ecumenical discourse on the diaconate of the church. This article explores the hypothesis that the conceptualisation of a church’s diaconal ministry is influenced by a specific frame of reference, be it a historical perspective, a specific theology or tradition. In this case study of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) it is shown how a specific historical and theological understanding of diaconal ministry determines not only this church’s preference for the term ‘service of compassion’ but also its diaconal praxis. The article concludes with a suggestion to the DRC to consider the use of the concept diakonia in contemplation of more active participation in ecumenical disourses regarding the diaconate of the church.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article describes how a specific historical and theological understanding of diaconal ministry determines not only the DRC’s preference for the term ‘service of compassion’ but also its diaconal praxis. The suggestion to more actively participate in developing a common understanding of diakonia ecumenically has implications for the DRC’s ecclesiology, as well as its missional and social ministries.
  PubDate: 2023-05-29
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2783
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
Diakonaat en die Afrikaanssprekende AGS van SA
- Authors: Marius Nel
  First page: 9
  Abstract: The diaconate and the Afrikaans-speaking Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa. The aim is to discuss the development of the diaconate in the Afrikaans-speaking white Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (AFM) in order to examine its effectiveness. This is done on the basis of a comparative literature analysis. To understand this development, the church’s early antipathy towards established mainline churches must be understood, born out of the pentecostal movement’s self-definition and experience of rejection and discrimination. One consequence was that all traditional offices were denied, including the office of minister, elder and deacon. Early members were generally poor, like most other Afrikaners. Yet they supported each other and helped where possible. Their assistance excluded people of colour. There was no organised diaconate until the AFM was eventually forced by reality to institutionalise. From this a Welfare Department was born in time which also organised welfare work through Dorcas councils at regional and parish levels. The Welfare Department also established and administered old age and children’s homes. In general, only women served on Dorcas councils while the congregational council (church council) consisted only of men. Still, welfare work was mainly limited to the ‘own people’. In the run-up to unification, the ‘white’ AFM relegated all power to the local level as much as possible to protect their own identity. After unification in 1996, as a result of this process, local congregations were again left on their own to do welfare work. At the same time, many Afrikaans-speaking congregations exclusively use Afrikaans in their worship services, excluding non-Afrikaans speaking people of colour. As a result, their welfare work is mainly limited to white people. The importance of the conclusion is that the church needs to address deficiencies in the diaconate task, which is essential to the church’s mission.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The evaluation of the diaconate in the AFM implies a new welfare strategy and redesign of the diaconate based on the church-historical description, exegesis of relevant Scripture passages and description of the current South African scene marred by social inequality and the occurrence of widespread poverty to relate to the church’s task.
  PubDate: 2023-05-26
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2786
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
Mobilising towards environmental sustainability – challenges and chances
for churches in Germany
- Authors: Thomas Kroeck
  First page: 9
  Abstract: The current ecological crisis is considered a major challenge for humanity. Various scholars suggest that Christian congregations may contribute to the changes of mind-set and behaviour necessary to meet this challenge. The article presents the results of an empirical study on how Protestant congregations in Germany deal with this issue. Data were collected in an online survey and group discussions with members of the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD), the Free Evangelical Church (FeG) and the Gnadau movement. The study showed that the environmental awareness of church members is similar to the population in general. Major pragmatic obstacles to mobilise congregations for environmental sustainability were the (1) views that it may compete with other tasks of the congregation, (2) that church members may feel excluded and (3) the lack of knowledge and competence regarding this topic. However, creation care was seen as a bridge to the community which allows the congregation to engage with people outside the church. The study shows which issues need to be addressed for Christian congregations to play a more active role in creation care.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The research is concerned with church management fostering ecologically sustainable practices and is situated in the discipline of practical theology. As church management is based on the understanding of the mission of the church it is linked to ecclesiology. The practice of local congregations may have effects on the general public and can therefore be studied from a sociological perspective as well as in development studies.
  PubDate: 2023-05-16
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2701
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
Towards a theology of human praxis: A proposal from liberation theologies
in a neoliberal world
- Authors: Jose F. Castrillón Restrepo
  First page: 9
  Abstract: Neoliberalism is an anti-utopian and kind of patron–client theory that threatens not only the human utopian thought, and therefore the human praxis, but also the ‘conditio humana’. Therefore, this threat also challenges the current visions of praxis in contextual theologies. From a dialogue between the traditions of praxis present in Latin American liberation theology and black liberation theology, particularly from a renewed understanding of human relationships in terms of God’s grace and human spirituality-kenosis, it could be possible to overcome the ideological character of neoliberalism by offering some elements for the development of a human praxis oriented to the creation of possible worlds that reproduce the natural circuit of life and acknowledge the rising and dignity of the new subjects.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The critical analysis of the ideological character of neoliberalism implies an interdisciplinary approach that considers the contribution of Christian theology. From the inductive orientation of Latin American liberation theology and black liberation theology, this research proposes some theological elements to discuss the feasibility of a human praxis that orients the creation of possible worlds.
  PubDate: 2023-05-10
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2705
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)
Gemeentediakonaat – Nuut gedink
- Authors: Gert Breed
  First page: 10
  Abstract: The diaconate of the congregation – Considered anew. From the earliest times, the content given to the diaconate of the congregation varied greatly from denomination to denomination. Different methods and sources were used to determine the content and essence of the diaconate. This article attempts to look at the diaconate of the congregation from a new angle to determine what the diaconal task of the congregation can be. Use is made of previous exegetical work done by the author (2018) of this article. He exegeted specific texts in the New Testament in depth with the research question of what meaning possibility of the diacon words (diakoneo, diakonos, diakonia) the authors had in mind when using the words in those texts. These results are used in an attempt to establish what the diaconate can mean when it is built on the meaning contents of the deacon-words. The result is that new insights are exploited and practically applied to the diaconate. The conclusion of this article is that the deacons should work towards involving each member in the diaconate by guiding them to discover their gifts and to encourage them to use those gifts. The members undertake to do specific service work and to be held accountable for it. In this way, the congregation distributes the grace of God and the diaconate takes on a missionary character and God can work mightily through the diakonia of each member.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: An exegetical study of the New Testament informs the discussion and opens a dialogue between Practical Theology and Hermeneutics. The results of this research have implications for church polity. The outcome of the practical implementation of the results can be a field of study for pastoral counselling, psychology and sociology.
  PubDate: 2023-05-31
  DOI: 10.4102/ve.v44i1.2785
  Issue No: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2023)