ORIGINAL RESEARCH
DOI: 10.4102/ VE.V30I3.183

 

Sharing in God's surprise: The place and role of the Department of Science of Religion and Missiology at the University of Pretoria

 

 

Pieter (Piet) G.J. Meiring

Department of Science of Religion and Missiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

During the centenary year of the University of Pretoria (2008), the Department of Science of Religion and Missiology took stock of its activities during the past 55 years, since the first professor in Missiology, H.D.A. du Toit, was appointed. In his wake a number of missiologists followed - C.W.H. Boshoff, D. Crafford, P.G.J. Meiring, J.J. Kritzinger, P.J. van der Merwe, A.S. van Niekerk and C.J.P. Niemandt - each of whom has contributed to the formation of hundreds of ministers and missionaries, as well as to the development of missiology and science of religion in South Africa through their research and writings. In this article, the place of missiology among the other theological disciplines at the University of Pretoria is discussed, together with an analysis of the nature and the mandate of missiology and science of religion in South Africa in our day. This article discusses five specific challenges to missiology at the beginning of the third millennium, namely to maintain its theological 'roots'; to operate in close relationship with the church; to focus on our African context; to concentrate on a relevant agenda; and to develop a responsible methodology. Attention is given to some of the more important publications by members of the Department.

Keywords: Department of Science of Religion and Missiology; University of Pretoria; mission; missiology; Dutch Reformed Church

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Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

REFERENCES

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Boshoff, C.W.H., 1980, Swart teologie van Amerika tot in Suid-Afrika, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Bühlmann, W., 1974, The coming of the Third Church, St Paul, Slough.         [ Links ]

Cracknell, K. & Lamb, C. (eds.), 1986, Theology on full alert, British Council of Churches, London.         [ Links ]

Crafford, D., 1981, Aan God die dank, Part 1, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Crafford, D., 1988, Uitdagings vir die kerk in Afrika, UP Teologiese Studies No 8, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Crafford, D. (ed.), 1991, Trailblazers of the Gospel: Black pioneers in mission history in Southern Africa, IMER, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Crafford, D. & Gous, G. (eds.), 1993, Een liggaam - baie lede, Verba Vitae, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Cronje, J.M., 1982, Aan God die dank, Part 2, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Du Toit, H.D.A., 1967, Die kerstening van die Bantoe, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

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Freire, P., 1970, Pedagogy of the oppressed, Penguin, Harmondsworth.         [ Links ]

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Meiring, P.G.J., 1975, Stemme uit die swart kerk, Tafelberg, Cape Town.         [ Links ]

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Meiring, P.G.J., 1996, Suid-Afrika, land van baie godsdienste, Kagiso, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

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Meiring, P.G.J., 1999a, Kroniek van die Waarheidskommissie, Carpe Diem, Vanderbijlpark.         [ Links ]

Meiring, P.G.J., 1999b, 'Sendingwetenskap vir die derde millennium, Deel II', Skrif en Kerk 20(1), 139-149.         [ Links ]

Meiring, P.G.J., 2002, Christen in 'n land van baie godsdienste, Lux Verbi BM, Wellington.         [ Links ]

Meiring P.G.J. & Joubert, S.J. (eds.), 1992, Fokus op die kerk, CUM, Vereeniging.         [ Links ]

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Niemandt, C.J.P., 2007, Nuwe drome, nuwe werklikhede, Lux Verbi BM, Wellington.         [ Links ]

Van der Merwe, P.J., 1992, 'Die resente geskiedenis en ontwikkeling van die Department Godsdiens- en Sendingwetenskap (Afd. A) 1979-1992', Hervormde Teologiese Studies 48/1&2, n.p.         [ Links ]

Van der Merwe, W.J., 1968, 'Die beoefening van sendingweten-skap in Afrika', in D.J. Bosch (ed.), Sendingwetenskap vandag, n.p., SAWS, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Van Niekerk, A.S., 1982, Dominee, are you listening to the drums?, Tafelberg, Cape Town.         [ Links ]

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Woodberry, J.D., Van Engen, C. & Elliston, E.J. (eds.), 1996, Missiological education for the 21st century, Orbis, Maryknoll.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Pieter (Piet) Meiring
327 Camellia Ave
Lynnwood Glen
Pretoria, 0081, Gauteng
South Africa
E-mail: pietmeiring@telkomsa.net

Received: 16 July 2009
Accepted: 29 Aug. 2009
Published: 17 Dec. 2009