Browsing by Author "Davis, Sharon"
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- ItemIn search of meaning : preaching within the context of a "Post-Apartheid" South African society(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-12) Davis, Sharon; Cilliers, Johan; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.The search for meaning, as a universal human quest, seeks to answer questions pertaining to the purpose in life. Preaching, as an ecclesiastical communicative tool, should be a platform from which to address such universal concerns. But how relevant are contemporary pulpit messages in light of this ongoing search and in light of the suffering experienced by many in our South African context with its unique history and ongoing challenges? Revisiting concepts such as meaning, hope and community are foundational components in our contemporary deliberations of the intention and practice of preaching today. If the homiletical intention is to instill hope, establish community and address humanities questions related to embracing the abundance in abundant life, then the praxis thereof should demonstrate a commitment to the relevance of people’s struggles. In the context of a post-apartheid South Africa, these questions are more pronounced as people experience the ongoing effects of poverty, prejudice, injustice and are confronted with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. For preaching to remain relevant it would need to extend its boundaries from the pulpit to the community. It will need to understand the plight of its people by addressing the questions that communities are asking, rather than providing messages far removed from humanities current experiences. In order to maintain this balance of hope, it will require an evaluation of the emphasis placed on representing both the social and spiritual aspects of the gospel. Social, with its focus on following the example of Christ on earth, and Spiritual, with its emphasis on both a realized and eschatological hope. Embracing this holistic message of the gospel should inherently contribute to personal and communal transformation as it is a message of good news for physical, emotional, socio-economic, psychological and spiritual realities. The language employed in this ongoing commitment requires constant renewal in order to synchronize the needs of the people with the message of hope. A message that is needed, longed for and inherently meaningful.
- ItemPreaching as homecoming : a practical theological study of proclaiming belonging and identity in the South African Anglican context from 1990 to 2017(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12) Davis, Sharon; Cilliers, Johan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The notion of ‘home’ is a complex concept that, in the light of contemporary society, requires further exploration. Modern developments have impacted social constructs as global trends influence contemporary lifestyles. This continuous effect of change upon modern life has left many feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned. Furthermore, the experience of displacement has added to the despair of homelessness. The South African context from 1990 to 2017 not only illustrates these modern tendencies but also reveals the unique transitions experienced by a new democratic society that remains in search of ways to find purpose and meaning to enhance its way of life. This study explores the role of preaching as a significant communication channel of the Anglican Church in South Africa and inquires to what extent proclamation may contribute towards a sense of belonging and identity for the community of faith in its longing to return home, to a place and space of wellbeing. Preaching that seeks to offer the Kingdom of God as an alternative reality may therefore assist the faith community to live in liminal spaces, despite the ever-present reality of uncertainty. Preaching may offer an imaginative revelation of the future in which hope is experienced as a tangible encounter rather than an escape from reality. Following the theoretical framework of a four-phase approach to practical theological investigations, this study has sought to evaluate the problem of homecoming in relation to the intention and practice of preaching. A total of 12 sermons by three Anglican Archbishops were analysed using the Heidelberg Method that combines linguistic techniques and theological reflections as a means to evaluate the formation of the preachers’ sermons. The findings of the analysis of these 12 sermons have revealed the correlation between linguistic and theological reflections and substantiated the need for biblical authenticity and the contemporary congregation’s need for relevance. The results have indicated that the use of imaginal language assists in igniting the imagination of the faith community with new perceptions of reality. The theological outcomes of presenting the preaching event as an unfolding narrative have demonstrated God as both present and participating, and have endorsed the identity of the congregation who, being made in the image of God, remains equal in worth and value. This demonstrates Kingdom principles and reveals new ways of being communal in the contemporary context. It is evident that, as a communicative event, preaching encourages the congregation towards perceiving a renewed perception of an alternative reality. Imaginal language therefore contributes toward empowering the community to create open and flexible spaces that may be renamed as ‘home’, sacred spaces that equip congregations to live fully. This study also adds to the ongoing homiletical discourse and literature that seeks to renew the intention and practice of preaching. Preaching as ‘Homecoming’ is thus a vulnerably authentic practice that addresses both the spiritual and social concerns of the Kingdom of God and offers the community of faith place and space to experience the good news of God as a present reality and a future hope.