Trauma and conflict as prerequisites for identity transformation – lessons from the South African Partnership for Missional Churches

Authors

  • HJ Hendriks

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17570/ngtt.2009.v50n1.a10

Keywords:

Conflict, Culture, Identity, Missional church, Transformation, Trauma

Abstract

This paper researches the process of identity transformation that is taking place in mainline congrega­tions in post-apartheid South Africa. I is a descriptive study of the growth in the South African Partnership for Missional Churches and describes the transformation by making use of the pattern found in the Psalms: orientation-disorientation-reorientation transition,

The research will test the following hypotheses that are viewed as prerequisites for identity transformation:

• Trauma and conflict caused by new power structures in society were the necessary disorientating forces that led to a theologically-based reorientation in churches;

• The change in theological epistemology led to a new culture of doing theology (including the way church meetings are held);

• Other prerequisites for a change in identity within the Southern African scenario are: leadership, the crossing of boundaries, the art of listening to “the other” and the mystery and motivation of the movement of the Spirit of God.

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Published

2009-06-30

How to Cite

Hendriks, H. (2009). Trauma and conflict as prerequisites for identity transformation – lessons from the South African Partnership for Missional Churches. NGTT | Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 50(1&2). https://doi.org/10.17570/ngtt.2009.v50n1.a10

Issue

Vol. 50 No. 1&2 (2009)

Section

General Articles (articles from all theological disciplines)

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