Faculty of Theology
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/1873
2024-03-28T21:01:11ZClergies and self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic : a challenge to pastoral care
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/41704
Clergies and self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic : a challenge to pastoral care
Khosa-Nkatini, Hundzukani Portia
On the 15th of March 2020, the current president of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril
Ramaphosa, declared a National State of Disaster as a response to the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19). A range of regulations and directions were effected in many countries to
respond to this pandemic. Essential service workers were deployed across the country to help
minimise the spread of the virus. Some of these essential service workers lost their lives in the
line of duty. Clergies found themselves having to bury more people in a short period of time.
The increase in the death rate resulted in an increase in funerals. Therefore, clergies were also
part of the essential workers during this pandemic. Clergies also found themselves having to
bury fellow clergies. Congregants and clergies became mourners. The church found itself
having to adjust to the ‘new normal’, because the way church nine-function has changed, it
will never be the same again. Clergies like many South Africans became chief mourners
because they also had to bury their relatives. However, they also had to bury members of their
own congregations because of COVID-19 related illnesses. This challenged the way pastoral
care has always been done. It challenged clergies to find new ways of doing pastoral care
while keeping social distance, protecting themselves and others. This article looked at the
practice of practical theology during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflected on caregiving during
the pandemic, referred to literature to encourage clergies to acknowledge their own pain and
also briefly discussed the change in ministry since the beginning of the pandemic. The aim of
this article was to challenge pastoral care to look deep into caring for clergies, especially
during the COVID-19 pandemic. As they care for others, they also need to be cared for.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The contextual perspective
challenged by this research is the understanding of self-care for clergies, especially during
the COVID-19 pandemic. This research calls for a change in the traditional cause of Practical
Theology. This research will be done using a literature review on suicide according to both
Christianity and psychology.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZA critical assessment of Church and political engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/41703
A critical assessment of Church and political engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation
Magezi, Christopher; Tagwirei, Kimion
Since the reign of the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Zimbabwe has been seized by retrogressive puppetisation of partisan gospel ministers and churches, worsened by state victimisation of those who stand against political ills. Church and state relations were compromised and fear gripped most citizens. At his inauguration, the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged a ‘new dispensation’ but contrarily remained similar to the preceding regime. Today, Church and state relations remain compromised as leaders appear accommodative when supported and vindictive when critiqued. The prevailing situation divided the Church, leaving some pastors dining with oppressive leaders whilst others side with the oppressed, culminating in disturbing polarisation. Ruling politicians captured some gospel ministers to sanitise the ‘new dispensation’ and vilify its critics. Although multiple researches have been carried out on Church and politics in Zimbabwe, the lack of clarity on how churches should engage with the state remains an ongoing challenge. Using a literature-based approach, this article evaluates ecclesial engagement with national politics in view of the Old Testament’s fearless prophetic involvement in politics and the New Testament’s understanding of the Church as the salt and the light of the world (Mt 5:13–16). Results of this assessment are that Church engagements with politics have been defined by economic volatility, polarisation, corruptibility, hermeneutical weaknesses and theological differences. The article concludes that the Church should contextually apply the Old Testament’s prophetic stance and the New Testament’s ‘salt and light’ engagement in Zimbabwe.
Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Assessing Church and political engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation in light of the Old Testament’s prophetic involvement in politics and the New Testament’s conceptualisation of the Church as salt and light (Mt 5:13–16) is a contextually critical contribution that interfaces ecclesiology with Christian, biblical, public and political theologies.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Church as God’s agent in uniting immigrants and natives: A case from Ephesians 2:11–22
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/41702
The Church as God’s agent in uniting immigrants and natives: A case from Ephesians 2:11–22
Magezi, Christopher
As the number of people migrating from many different countries to South Africa constantly
increases, there is bound to be immense tension between the immigrants and the citizens
for many and different reasons. Within this context, the South African Church is expected
to play a critical role in bringing peace and unity between the immigrants and the natives.
In responding to the proposed challenge, this article submits that the Church has a God-
given role of uniting immigrants and native South Africans by utilising Ephesians 2:11–22.
This conception arises from locating Ephesians 2:11–22 in the broader context of Scripture.
In so doing, the article submits that the role of the Church entails both preaching and
practising the social aspects of the vertical (God’s reconciliation with humans) and the
horizontal (human to human reconciliation) reconciliation that were accomplished by
the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. That is to say, the Church should be perceived as the
agent of God in uniting the immigrants and the native South Africans by proclaiming
the doctrine of vertical and horizontal reconciliation to Christians and non-Christians in
both word and deeds.
Interdisciplinary implication: This is an interdisciplinary article that conducts a thorough
exegetical work on Ephesians 2:11–22. Thereafter, the article alludes to relevant biblical
passages to draw some ensuing social implications of Ephesians 2:11–22 in easing the existing
tensions between immigrants and native South Africans. In bringing the aforesaid together,
the former aspect of the article falls within biblical studies, while the latter falls within practical-
missional theology.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZDevelopment and the role of the church : exploring public pastoral care positioning within congregational ministry
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/41701
Development and the role of the church : exploring public pastoral care positioning within congregational ministry
Magezi, Vhumani; Nanthambwe, Patrick
Discussions on development have been ongoing for many decades. Within these discussions,
approaches such as human and community-focused development have gained prominence in
recent years. Churches are acknowledged as critical actors and vehicles that foster human
development. However, locating development within church discussions raises the question
of theological and praxeological relevance. This challenges theology and the church to both
develop theological and ecclesiological justification. Within that justification is embedded the
challenge of discerning and developing church ministry frameworks that interfaces with
people in communities to ensure authentic human and community-focused development
approaches. To that end, church public pastoral care is suggested, and its positioning needs to
be clearly established, while emerging issues requiring research unveiled for investigation.
This article describes the developments on the subject of development and the church, as well
as position church public pastoral care as an approach that drives church development while
highlighting questions for research on the subject.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study employs an
interdisciplinary approach whereby international development discussion and public role of
churches within congregations are integrated to propose the role of church pastoral care as a
ministry nexus. It contributes to public pastoral care and congregational ministry designs that
respond to poverty and community-social challenges. It employs a critical literature analysis
to make recommendations.
2022-01-01T00:00:00Z