Die afgelope tyd is die drie teologiese fakulteite in die spervuur. Die Kairos Netwerk het byvoorbeeld in hulle nuusbrief op 24 September 2021 amptelik gesê dat hulle voornemende teologiese studente aanmoedig om elders te gaan studeer – kyk Kairos Netwerk: Studeer eerder by Doppers.

Daarom is daar gaan kyk hoe die drie teologiese fakulteite van die NG Kerk hulleself adverteer.

Universiteit van Pretoria, Universiteit van Stellenbosch, Universiteit van Vrystaat

Universiteit van Pretoria

Op hulle webwerf skryf hulle die volgende:

Die missie van die Fakulteit Teologie en Religie is om die kerk, gemeenskap en wetenskap te dien, teen die agtergrond van ons toegewydheid aan die Afrika-konteks en met sensitiwiteit vir bekommernisse van die verskillende Christelike geloofstradisies. John Mbiti het eenmaal opgemerk: “Jy is omdat ons is, ons is omdat jy is.” Daarom is ons trots daarop dat ons mense van oor die wêreld heen onder ons studente en alumni is.

Dit sluit aan by wat die dekaan, Jerry Pillay gesê het in UP stel hulle kurrikulum transformasie bekend (18 Aug 2021)

Op 21 Oktober 2021 sê prof Ernest van Eck in die video Why should you study with the Department of New Testament and Related Literature? die volgende:

(0:28) … starting off in the first year with an introductory module on what studying the New Testament is all about, specifically focusing on political, economical, religious and social-cultural world in which the New Testament originated.

(0:57) We also aim to stimulate critical debate on ethical issues and morality in public life and society and therefore always address topics such as inclusivity, social justice, gender equality and the like in our lectures.

(1:15) Therefore, expect to read the New Testament with us from example a feminist, liberal theological, post-colonial, anti-imperial of African perspective.

(1:35) If you want to write a dissertation of thesis of … healing in an African environment, … you are knocking on the right door.

Kyk ook:

• Why should you study with the Department of Old Testament and Hebrew Literature? (Dirk Human)
• Why should you study with the Department of New Testament and Related Literature? (Ernest van Eck)
• Why should you study with the Department of Practical Theology and Mission Studies? (Yolanda Dreyer)
• Why should you study with the Department of Religion Studies? (Jaco Beyers)

The way in which we study these matters, is not from the lens of a particular religion, but as a purely scientific endeavour.

We focus on experience and peer review learning.

Our goal is to create awareness of religious diversity in society and through understanding the other, to contribute to social cohesion.

• Why should you study with the Department of Historical and Systematic Theology? (Danie Veldsman)

Universiteit van Stellenbosch

In die dekaan prof Reggie Nel se verwelkomingsboodskap skemer die voorgenome veranderings soos by UP ook deur. Hy skryf:

“In hierdie jaar wil ons egter ook wyer, eerlike, maar deernisvolle gesprekke open. Ons doen dit as ’n gemeenskap in Afrika wat trots is op ons wortels…. Ons bly toegewyd en dra wêreldwyd by tot wetenskaplike navorsing en praktyk. Ons streef ook daarna om ons wye verskeidenheid studente voortdurend uit verskillende kontekste te bemagtig in terme van ras, geslag, ouderdom, denominasie en godsdiens, seksuele oriëntasie, sosio-ekonomiese status, ensovoorts.

(Kyk Bylaag A.)

Universiteit van die Vrystaat

Prof Rantoa Letšosa die dekaan van die Fakulteit Teologie en Godsdiens (LW: dit is nie net meer fakulteite van teologie nie) sê “die fakulteit bevind hom tans in ’n baie opwindende fase van sy bestaan”. Hulle koester die volgende strategiese waardes: ’n klassieke teologiese oriëntasie, rasse-, geslags- en kulturele inklusiwiteit, akademiese en intellektuele uitnemendheid en innovasie, geestelike en etiese integriteit, gemeenskaplikheid en gasvryheid. Navorsingsprojekte kan gedoen word in enige van die volgende dissiplines: Ou Testament, Nuwe Testament, Sistematiese Teologie en Etiek, Praktiese Teologie, Kerkgeskiedenis en Polisie, Missiologie, Religiestudies, Jonathan Edwards Studies, Bybelse spiritualiteit, spiritualiteit en Bybelvertaling. Wat gemeenskapsdiens betref, poog die fakulteit om geleerdheid met gemeenskapsdiens in die ware sin van die woord te kombineer.

(Kyk Bylaag B.)

Kyk ook wat Prof Francis Petersen, rektor van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat oor die teologiefakulteit gesê het in 2022: Video: NG Kerk Vrystaat | Teologiese Opleiding 2022

Bylaag A: Reggie Nel

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/theology/home/welcome

Welcome to all our students at the new academic year.

​What an exciting year awaits us! Last year was a year of reflection, growth – and therefore of setting new prospects and making new commitments. We have been challenged by our students to walk closely with each other in order to experience and embody what we talk about (and write about!); what we confess. This is especially relevant to gender violence, but also about a greater degree of inclusivity as a community.

Towards the end of last year we reflected on the question: What kind of community do we want to be? This led to us embracing the values of our university, but also wanting to pursue a specific vision and mission. Hopefully you will see – and experience – all the values we confess: compassion, respect, accountability, excellence and equity. However, in this year we also want to open up wider honest yet compassionate conversations.

We do this as a community in Africa that is proud of our roots. But we remain committed and contribute to scientific research and practice worldwide. We also strive to continuously empower our wide range of students from diverse contexts in terms of race, gender, age, denomination and religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status etc. As a community we would consciously cultivate and nurture a transformative student experience. Change is not always comfortable, but it is essential to be relevant and innovative.

To be part of this culture and to contribute to it, we invite you to take part in it. The faculty and university have numerous structures and processes in place in which you can participate. Remember, your success is also our success. This is a shared journey. We invest in your future, which is also our future.

It is at this point where this booklet comes in. Please make use of it to equip yourself with all the information you need to participate, grow, and communicate in all the aspects of faculty life. If you do not communicate with us – especially your lecturers and fellow students – we cannot offer you the support you need. So, take responsibility for your own progress, but remember that you don’t have to do it alone. Be accountable, be safe… And enjoy this exciting year with all its opportunities and possibilities!

You are part of the new culture in which we EMBODY our values.

Dean: Prof Reggie Nel

Tel: +27 21 808 3254​

Email: rwnel@sun.ac.za

Bylaag B: Rantoa Letšosa

https://www.ufs.ac.za/theology/departments-and-centres/office-of-the-dean-theology-home

A warm word of welcome to the Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State!

To be part of a Faculty of Theology and Religion in the heart of South Africa is indeed a privilege. The faculty currently finds itself in a very exciting phase of its existence. Building upon past achievements, we are determined to even further develop our service to the university, the church, and the community. The vision we have for the future is guided by several cherished strategic values:

• a classical theological orientation,
• racial, gender, and cultural inclusivity,
• academic and intellectual excellence and innovation,
• spiritual and ethical integrity,
• communality and
• hospitality.

These values underpin everything that we do in the faculty: teaching, research, and community service.

On teaching level, we offer a wide variety of options. At undergraduate level we offer a Certificate in Theology, an Advanced Diploma in Theology, and a BDiv degree. With our teaching in these courses, we aim to combine high academic standards, good teaching methods, and practical relevance for the ministry. We avoid excessively large groups in our classes – promoting a learning environment conducive to effective teaching.

On postgraduate level we offer an MDiv and an MA/MTh, followed by a PhD/DTh. The MDiv is aimed at students who wish to enter the ministry, and therefore includes a large practical component presented in collaboration with churches. Students thus receive a solid grounding in both theory and practice. The MA/MTh is not specifically aimed at the ministry, but could focus on a theme that is relevant to the ministry. These degrees are largely research-orientated and students enrol for a research project, producing a thesis in any of the following disciplines: Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology and Ethics, Practical Theology, Church History and Polity, Missiology, Religion Studies, Jonathan Edwards Studies, Biblical Spirituality, Spirituality, and Bible Translation. Some of our success stories in this regard are master’s degrees in Pastoral Therapy and Biblical Spirituality, offering students the unique opportunity of specialising in fields which are often neglected by other academic institutions. Students holding a master’s degree in Theology may continue with a PhD or a DTh in any of the disciplines mentioned above. In all of these disciplines we have full-time scholars who have already made solid academic contributions to particular areas of research in their fields. Most of our MA, MTh, and all of our PhD/DTh degrees can be done on a part-time basis.

Research is regarded very highly in the faculty. A wide range of research interests are pursued by faculty members, which allows for postgraduate guidance on a large variety of themes. Several of the faculty members have also published or contributed to books published internationally.

In terms of community service, the faculty aims to combine scholarship with community service in the true sense of the word. For example, the faculty partners with a privatised maximum security prison in the Free State where offenders and victims of crime receive attention from a religious perspective. In addition, members of the faculty regularly preach in local communities, making valuable contributions to church life and the writing of well received books and articles.

Please feel free to contact us or become involved in our activities in any way you wish.

Prof Rantoa Letšosa
Dean: Faculty of Theology and Religion