'n Ondersoek na 'n kerklike konsultasiebediening

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We live in an age characterised by constant and accelerating change. In the secularworld the competition among businesses is so intense that change, adaptation andreorientation have become indispensable to the survival of any large organisation.Organisational management has developed into a science with professional advisors(known as consultants) who are employed on a full-time basis.The Church is an integral part of society and cannot distance itself from the latter. Thiscalls for adaptation and reorientation within the Church as well.However, it has become increasingly evident that within the various denominationalChurches no effective mechanisms exist by means of which parishes and synods can besupported in the process of transformation. Church consultants have begun to addressthis need. Consequently, a new discipline has emerged which employs the methodsdeveloped in the secular sciences of management and related, as well as supportive,fields of study.It is important to remember, though, that the Church is a unique kind of organisation withits own nature and identity. Any consultation which does not take this into consideration,is not reliable. For this reason, experts in the field of Practical Theology are studying theentire phenomenon of consultation from a theological point of view.In South Africa, the idea of consultation has also taken root as this kind of service hasestablished itself spontaneously and in an unstructured manner. At present it is beingdone on an increasingly professional basis, and there are church members who havetaken on this task as a full-time ministry.The time has, therefore, come for us to explore, describe and evaluate this issue. This studyendeavours to analyse and give a critical account of consultation from a South African- and specifically the Dutch Reformed Church - standpoint. The ultimate aim is to attempt to lay down guidelines which should give theological and structural direction tothe development of this kind of ministry within the Dutch Reformed Church.Consequently, this study strives to define the theological principles fundamental toconsultation. It has established that the guidance of faith-communities towards changeis a basic principle in Scripture. Hence, the Church is seen as an organisation, as well asan organism, and the study emphasises that consultation will have to take into accountboth these aspects.The development of consultational ministry is reviewed critically by tracing the history andactivities of various leading consulting bodies in the U.S.A., Germany and the Netherlands.The course of the process of consultation - a dynamic and interactive process whichmoves through distinctive stages - has been carefully plotted. Parish involvement seemsto be a basic prerequisite in this process.The critical analysis of all the available information is followed by carefully detailedguidelines for parish consultation in South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University