Browsing by Author "Mostert, Martin"
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- ItemThe liturgy of conversion : evangelism praxis in the Methodist churches of Cape Town(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Mostert, Martin; Cilliers, Johan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The problem addressed is why the Methodist Churches of Cape Town do not expand vigorously through evangelism and conversion. The hypothesis is that a careful listening to church leaders and observation of the Methodist Church should establish a clear understanding of the current theory and praxis of evangelism in the Methodist Churches of Cape Town and then, by bringing Wesleyan writings and the thought of relevant theoreticians into critical conversation with those findings, it should then be possible to establish helpful “best practice” criteria for effective evangelism. This abductive reasoning is tested in various ways. Firstly, ethnographic data was assembled through interviews with eleven Methodist ministers currently working in Cape Town. They were both men and women, representing various South African ethno-cultural backgrounds and age groups. These interviews are transcribed and subjected to ethnographic analysis. The general outlines of a contemporary Capetonian Methodist theory of evangelism and conversion emerges. At this point the ethnographic process of iterative discussion is suspended, for reasons of manageability. The second data source is John Wesley’s Journal which is also subjected to ethnographic analysis. Arguments are made for the Journal to be granted greater weight in the interpreting of Wesley’s life and work by the Methodist Church. A parallel Wesleyan theory of evangelism and conversion emerges. In synthesising a grounded theory from these sources, the theory of a “liturgy of conversion” is developed. Agreements and disagreements between the two sets of data are discussed and the liturgy of conversion theory is then aimed at conceptually extending the locus of ordinary, regular liturgy to include the alternatively faithed in spaces between the churches. Based on Wesley’s model, conversational contact with those with other faith commitments is then proposed as becoming part of the ongoing, geographically seamless “work of the people” (λειτουργια). I argue that liturgical processes that occur inside church buildings can also happen outside of them, and that conversions to Christian faith is unlikely if Christians do not attempt to persuade the alternatively faithed to consider converting to it. “Evangelism” is distinguished from “evangelisation”. The ministers mostly seem to view “evangelism” as the formation of Christian disciples to live in ever-increasing conformity to Gospel values. I refer to this as “evangelisation”. However, this study is confined to a subsection of that process, which I refer to as “evangelism” – the persuasion and decision making that initiates the convert into the road of “evangelisation”. I limit my focus to the conversion experience that energises the subsequent process. The issue of the ethics of persuasion turns out to be critical, due to manipulative and coercive tactics used by many Christian communicators. A model of ethically responsible, culturally relevant persuasion is developed, and applied to the processes of a liturgy of conversion. Lastly several pragmatic possibilities are suggested for enabling and enhancing persuasive liturgical contact between the churches and those in their surrounding micro-cultures. Numerous further questions are raised about the process which would require further investigation and testing through the praxis of individual Methodist churches.
- ItemThe naked liturgist – Church without a building for people without a house(Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2019) Mostert, MartinThe concept of “public” (as used in the term “public worship) is interrogated in the light of Paul’s understanding of nakedness/clothedness in 2 Corinthians 5:1–11. The conclusion drawn is that Christian liturgy is actually “private”, and the resulting dissonance between precept and practice is untenable. A more appropriate approach to public-ness is developed with reference to John Wesley: liturgical events should and could intentionally be convened outside Christian premises – with the liturgists stripped of privilege. This is then illustrated by reference to field notes of an actual instance of such a “naked liturgy” that takes place weekly on the streets of Cape Town.