Browsing by Author "MacMaster, Llewellyn L. M."

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    In search of a family : the challenge of gangsterism to faith communities on the Cape Flats
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-03) MacMaster, Llewellyn L. M.; Louw, D. J. (Daniel Johannes), 1944-; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Gangsterism, as described in this study, is a serious problem. It has deep historical roots in Cape town has developed into a kind of ‘resident evil’ that rears its ugly head time and again, despite several efforts by state organs to crush it. The study was not attempted as a thorough and in-depth research on gangs as such. The main research question was: How do faith communities, in particular Christian churches, respond to the challenges of gangsterism on the Cape Flats. The research gives an overview of gangsterism as a global phenomenon and how it specifically manifests and presents itself within the context of the Cape Flats of Cape Town. The discussion of gangsterism deliberately wanted to dispel the notion that there are quick-fix solutions to gangsterism. People of faith should guard against superficial analyses and over-simplification of social issues, including gangsterism, poverty and unemployment. With this in mind, the research has traced the historical origins of gangsterism in Cape Town, highlighting various socio-political, economic as well as cultural and personal factors that contributed to the formation and establishment of street gangs. It was also noted how some of these factors still exist in postapartheid South Africa and continue to provide fertile ground for gangsterism to continually raise its ugly head in communities on the Cape Flats. It was important to note that many gangs have evolved from ordinary street gangs to sophisticated, high-profile crime syndicates that have built strongholds in poor communities. This furthermore underlines the fact that there are not quick-fix solutions to gangsterism as if it is only a few youngsters causing trouble that should be sorted out [Chapter 2]. Faith communities on the Cape Flats have come a long way themselves. These communities have shown an incredible resilience in the face of many challenges as a result of socio-political factors. It is therefore important to discuss some of the elements that contributed to this resilience as the research explores the nature of the ecclesiology that has developed over a period of time. What transpired is that the ecclesiology under discussion is dynamic, not static in nature. The type of ecclesiology on the Cape Flats may be called a social-systemic ministry of inter-contextual presence. It is responsive to the social context, and is kept alive by the context with a huge emphasis on orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy. The situation on the Cape Flats requires a missional ecclesiology as faith communities are challenged to continuously involve themselves in the mission dei. While reaching out to the world, faith communities are also called iv upon to be open, practicing hospitality as they welcome gangsters and ex-gangsters into their spaces of worship [Chapter 3]. The next question to explore is: What kind of pastoral care is needed when faith communities on the Cape Flats have to deal with the challenge of gangsterism and other social phenomena like poverty, unemployment and substance-abuse? In order to answer this question, it was necessary to trace back the development of pastoral care and counseling over many centuries. Learning from these historical developments, a communal-contextual paradigm for pastoral care was chosen as a base theory. This choice indicates a move away from individual care with a focus on the human “self” to a hermeneutics of systemic, public care and compassionate presence. Some of the elements of this kind of care is discussed which include contextuality, as well as the eco-systemic, hermeneutical, anthropological, relational and public nature of pastoral care. It is also important that pastoral care operates and is practiced inter-disciplinary in order to provide the best possible help to care-seekers. The final question that is posed is: How different is the care that faith communities provide from the care of any other welfare agency or non-governmental organization (NGO)? In order to link an eco-systemic and social hermeneutic paradigm to the theology of presence of God within communal and contextual systems, a pneumatological approach to theory formation in pastoral care is proposed. Pastoral care has to offer more than behavioural and social sciences, because we believe that the salvation and grace it offers are good news to people. Pastoral care offers not only comfort and consolation, but also transformation (change and growth) and the fostering of a mature faith and spirituality by means of Scripture, prayer and the sacraments within the communion sanctorum, the familia dei.
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    Resilience of faith communities on the Cape Flats [SA] : a pastoral theological perspective
    (Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology, 2009) MacMaster, Llewellyn L. M.
    Coloured and Black communities on the Cape Flats were established on the Cape Flats as part of Verwoerdian Apartheid, a massive programme of social engineering implemented by the National Party which came to power in 1948 in South Africa (Schärf, 1990:233). Through legislation such as the Population Registration Act (1950) and its ‘twin partner’, the Group Areas Act (1950), people were forcibly removed and uprooted from homes and communities where they had been living for generations. Old, ordered communities were disrupted, families were forcefully removed from communities where they knew their neighbours and where social life was in many instances organised around the church, to new neighbourhoods where people were strangers to one another – ‘to soulless townships across the Cape Flats’. In these new townships on the Cape Flats, faith communities had to reestablish, re-align and re-invent themselves to face the new challenges presented to the people of the Cape Flats. Faith communities have indeed continued to play a vital role of healing, sustaining, guiding, reconciling, nurturing and empowering people throughout years of oppression and suppression, trials and tribulations. This paper looks at the resilience shown by faith communities on the Cape Flats over many years from a pastoral theological perspective and at some of the lessons we can learn with regard to congregational care.
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    Die trauma van geweldsmisdaad op die funksionering van geloofsgemeenskappe
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-03) MacMaster, Llewellyn L. M.; Louw, D. J. (Daniel Johannes), 1944-; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology & Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Violent crime in South Africa in general and on the Cape Flats in particular, is a very complex phenomenon. This phenomenon has various historical, sociopolitical and economic roots. Furthermore, violent crime has a direct as well as indirect impact on the functioning of faith communities within societies. Congregations and churches do not function in isolation from the rest of society. Theology, and more specifically pastoral care, must be seriously concerned with the problems experienced by the community at large. A pastoral strategy should therefore move away from a spirituality that only focus on the impact of violence on individuals and families. Because violent crime is a systemic phenomenon, a socio-systemic approach should be followed, in which the impact of violent crime on faith communities should be analyzed in order to create a holistic model. In Chapter 1 we look at the reasons for violence. We focus on the appearance of crime, the relationship between aggression and crime. Different types of aggression as well as some underlying causes of aggression are discussed. In Chapter 2 we focus on crime as a national phenomenon. Certain historical roots of the current "culture of violence" are discussed. We also look at the impact of the political transition since 1990 on the socio-economic and moral situation in the country. In Chapter 3 we take a closer look at the situation on the Cape Flats. Particular attention is given to the issue of gangsterism, which in a certain sense has become synonymous with the Cape Peninsula. In Chapter 4 the trauma of violent crime on communities is the focus of discussion. Results of a victim survey in Cape Town are utilized. Violence against women and children enjoy special attention. The effect of violent crime on faith communities is highlighted. In the last chapter we try to put forward some guidelines for a theory of practice for the pastoral care of people living on the Cape Flats, using traditional-historic and current resources. We propose a holistic model with a systemic approach. We choose a theory of practice based upon an eco-hermeneutic model, which implies the following: The interpretation of the salvation of God to people (hermeneutic) within the reality (existence) of their daily lives (systemic). We indicate a few areas for long term, preventative building up and healing intervention and conclude with the results of this research.