Exposure to vulnerability as a new opportunity in preaching the gospel to vulnerable people

Abstract

Preachers, white and black, in a patriarchal South-African society used to be in a virtually unassailable position of authority. Hence they could easily abuse their power and manipulate their listeners in sermons. Finding themselves in a situation of cultural change with the resulting changes in power structures, they are now in a vulnerable situation that calls for new possibility to open up new opportunities for finding a legitimate base of authority in making authentic contact with people living vulnerable lives in a vulnerable situation. In this article we research the impact of change on these preachers, their ability to adapt and opportunities posed by a position of vulnerability. Information obtained from sermon analysis and interviews culminate in the construction of initial theoretical guidelines for a new praxis.