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In die Skriflig

On-line version ISSN 2305-0853
Print version ISSN 1018-6441

In Skriflig (Online) vol.46 n.2 Pretoria Nov. 2012

 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

A reformed perspective on taking mission and missiology to the heart of theological training

 

'n Gereformeerde perspektief op die neem van sending en sendingwetenskap na die hart van teologiese opleiding

 

 

Thinandavha D. Mashau

School for Ecclesiastical Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 


ABSTRACT

Mission and missiology have been driven to the periphery of the life of both the church and theological institutions. Missiology has, in many theological institutions in the world, struggled to find a home. It has in some instances been regarded as an intruder, in some as an interloper and in others as irrelevant. Missiology is without a doubt a voice from the margins. This article seeks to go beyond the exercise to identify reasons for such a marginalisation by looking at ways in which mission and missiology can be restored to the heart of theological education. This article reminds us that the definition and practice of missiology should be firmly grounded in the missio Dei; hence all theological disciplines should intentionally have a missionary dimension. This will in essence allow missiology to exist as an independent subject but at the same time exercise its multidimensionality. It is, therefore, critical to maintain a dynamic and creative tension between intention and dimension to understand the place of missiology in the theological encyclopaedia.


OPSOMMING

Sending en sendingwetenskap is na die periferie van die lewe van sowel die kerk as teologiese instellings verdryf. Sendingwetenskap het by baie teologiese instellings gesukkel om 'n tuiste te vind. In sommige gevalle is dit as 'n indringer beskou, in ander as 'n tussenganger, en in sommige gevalle as irrelevant. Sendingwetenskap is sonder twyfel 'n stem vanuit die buiterante. Hierdie navorsing poog om die redes vir so 'n marginalisasie te ontdek deur te kyk na maniere waarop sending en sendingwetenskap herstel kan word tot die hart van teologiese opleiding. Die artikel herinner ons dat die definisie en praktyk van sendingwetenskap stewig gegrond behoort te wees in die missio Dei, en daarom behoort alle teologiese dissiplines doelbewus 'n sendingdimensie te hê. Dit sal sendingwetenskap toelaat om as 'n onafhanklike vak te bestaan en om terselfdertyd multidimensionaliteit uit te oefen. Dit is gevolglik krities om 'n dinamiese en kreatiewe spanning tussen intensie en dimensie te behou om sodoende te verstaan wat die plek van sendingwetenskap in die teologiese ensiklopedie is.


 

 

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References

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Bosch, D.J., 1982, 'Theological education in missionary perspective', Missiology X/1, 13-33.         [ Links ]

Bosch, D.J., 1991, Transforming mission: Paradigm shifts in theology of mission, Orbis, New York.         [ Links ]

Broocks, R., 2002, Every nation in our generation: Recovering the apostolic mandate, Struik Christian Books, Cape Town.         [ Links ]

Du Plessis, H., 1960, Die missiologie as 'n teologiese wetenskap, PU vir CHE, Potchefstroom.         [ Links ]

Jongeneel, J.A.B., 1997, Philosophy, science, and theology of mission in the 19th and 20th centuries: A missiological encyclopedia, Part 2, Missionary theology, Peter Lang, Frankfurt.         [ Links ]

Kritzinger, J.J., 1987, 'Introducing Missiology', in H.L. Pretorius, A.A. Odendal, P.J. Robinson & G. Van der Merwe (eds.), Reflecting on mission in the African context, pp. 1-10, Pro Christo Publications, Bloemfontein.         [ Links ]

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Mashau, T.D., 2008, Following Jesus outside the camp: The missionary legacy of Hugo du Plessis, AcadSA, Kempton Park.         [ Links ]

Pachuau, L., 2000, 'Missiology in a pluralistic world: The place of mission study in theological education', International Review of Mission 89(355), 539-555. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-6631.2000.tb00243.x        [ Links ]

Piper, J., 2003, Let the nations be glad! The supremacy of God in missions, Baker, Grand Rapids.         [ Links ]

Soltau, A.P., 1984, 'Mobilizing the seminaries', in H.M. Conn (ed.), Reaching the unreached: The old-new challenge, pp. 149-166, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Phillipsburg.         [ Links ]

Visser, P.J., 2003, Heart for the gospel, heart for the world: The life and thought of a reformed pioneer Missiologist Johan Herman Bavinck [1895-1964], Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene.         [ Links ]

World Reformed Fellowship, 2011, Promoting reformed partnerships worldwide, viewed 25 October 2012, from http://www.wrfnet.org/cZdocumentlibrary/getfile?folderld=20&name=DLFE-46.pdf        [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Thinandavha Mashau
PO Box 20004
Noordbrug 2522
South Africa
Email: derrick.mashau@nwu.ac.za

Received: 19 Oct. 2010
Accepted: 04 Aug. 2011
Published: 14 Dec. 2012

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