Disagreements between pastors and church members in the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCH) require a unique space in the church in terms of a postmodern society. Different perspectives can easily lead to conflict in the Church. Unresolved conflict may jeopardise the work of the clergy in a congregation. In this research, I follow a contextual approach to the pursuit of practical theology. A postfundamental practical theological framework is followed in the research. The social construction discourse and narrative epistemology offer new perspectives for developing a liminal space where more than one perspective can exist. Within a society characterised by secularism and privatisation, I examine the possibility of a space of unity amid diversity in the Church. I involved six fellow researchers who have experienced conflict in a specific context within the Church. We also examined the possibility of an alternative space where moments of communitas can once again occur in these stories. The research found space for this in the description of two metaphors, namely the liminal suspension bridge of grace and the dance of peace. The stories of the fellow researchers are retold within these two metaphors. My research highlights the important contribution of an interdisciplinary conversation in research. In the study, the journey theme plays an important role, and the reader is invited along with the fellow researchers into a (liminal) space to explore the conflict between the church minister and the church member.<p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> Delport, H., Müller, J.C., 2010, ‘Die liminale ruimte vir inkongruensie tussen predikant en lidmaat: ’n Narratief gebaseerde prakties-teologiese ondersoek in gemeentes van die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika’, <em>HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies</em> 66(2), Art. #852, 6 pages. DOI: 10.4102/hts.v66i2.852</p>
<strong>The Narrative therapy and the Gestalt therapy: A comparison between a phemenological existensial approach and a social construction approach to therapy</strong><br /> In this article the author takes a bird’s-eye view of the background and fundamentals of the narrative therapy as well as the Gestalt therapy to show similarities between these approaches in an attempt to establish a combined or complimentary approach to therapy.<p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> Delport, H., 2011, ‘Die Narratiewe terapie en die Gestalt terapie: ‘n Vergelyking tussen ‘n fenomenologiese eksistensiële benadering en ‘n sosiaal konstruksionistiese beskouing tot terapie’, <em>HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies</em> 67(3), Art. #1097, 9 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v67i3.1097</p>
This article explores Professor T.F.J. Dreyer’s definition for preaching that he developed for preaching in the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCA) three decades ago. Dreyer’s own homiletical perspective towards preaching developed continuously through numerous philosophical paradigm shifts since 1989. His basis theory plays an important role in the theological training of the church’s students today. The aim of the research is to reflect on the changes, following Dreyer’s homiletical development over three decades. The research discovers a strong prophetical character in the homiletical approach of Dreyer and concludes by asking how a kairos moment of prophetical speech can benefit the NRCA.Contribution: This research hopes to contribute to the existing research that was done in the homiletical field of traditional Afrikaans-speaking churches in South Africa. The research also contributes by identifying some homiletical perspectives that can help the church to proclaim the gospel in times of transition.
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