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Introducing ourselves
Enter ing Master’s studies – A qualitative change
Our approach: Contextualisation
Programmes and Collaborative Research Projects
Writing a research proposal
Library Information
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TO ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR THE MTH PROGRAMME
Dear Student
Welcome to the community of postgraduate students in the Discipline of Missiology at Unisa! We hope that this tutorial letter will be a helpful reference as you proceed through the Research MTh programme. If you have any unanswered questions or areas of uncertainty after reading this letter, please let us know so that we can answer your query but also improve this letter for future students.
1. Introducing ourselves
Right at the outset, we would like to introduce ourselves to you. There are seven of us (three permanent staff and four on contract appointment) who are responsible for the research MTh programme in missiology at Unisa. The permanent staff is Prof NA Botha (Chair of Department), Prof JNJ (Klippies) Kritzinger and Dr Annalet van Schalkwyk, whereas the contract staff are Prof (emeritus) Willem Saayman, Prof (extraordinarius) Johannes Reimer (Germany) , Prof Jesse
Mugambi (Kenya) and Dr Christof Sauer as an associate. Prof Saayman was, until his early retirement, the head of our department. Prof Reimer, on the other hand, lives and works in Germany and is our department ’ s tutorial consultant for the growing number of German students doing our research MTh degree. Here are our telephone and fax numbers, as well as our e-mail addresses, if you need to contact us:
NAME
Prof NA Botha
Prof JNJ Kritzinger
Prof A van Schalkwyk
Prof WA Saayman (on contract)
Prof J Reimer (on contract)
Dr C Sauer (on contract)
Prof Jesse Mugambi (on contract)
TEL. NO.
(012) 429-4533
(012) 429-4759
(012) 429-4685
(012) 429-4477
(0949)-2261-3024524
(021)-558-7744
(09254)-608 810
FAX NO.
(012) 429 4619 do do do
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(021)-559-7745
(09254)-722-753-227
E-MAIL bothana@unisa.ac.za
kritzjnj@unisa.ac.za
vschaa@unisa.ac.za
saaymw@gmail.com
Johannes.Reimer@GBFE.org
CSauer@metroweb.co.za jmugambi@iconnect.co.ke
2. Entering Masters level studies – A qualitative change
You have made many transitions to get this far. You went from primary to secondary school, and from secondary school to college/seminary/university. Now you are making another very important transition: from undergraduate to postgraduate studies. Some of you may already have done an Honours degree, and will therefore have some perception of what postgraduate studies are about. But even for you this transition will be so different from the transitions you have made before, that we wish to discuss it a bit more fully.
Being admitted into our Master's programme does not signify simply another year in your career as student. It signifies primarily a qualitative change, a transition into a new way of being a student of Missiology. Actually, you are now beginning to do missiology in earnest. Previously we were interested in your mastery of the contents of a limited number of set books and recommended literature, your understanding of the points of view the authors presented, and your ability to reproduce those views in your own words. From now on we will be interested in the first place in your ability to enter into a debate with as large a number of authors as possible, your ability to present their views fairly and concisely, your ability to formulate your own arguments in agreement or disagreement with these authors, and – above all – your ability to become a missiological researcher who can generate and formulate new knowledge . From now on we will not be satisfied if you have simply reproduced the views of others; we will be expecting, first and foremost, an expression of your own evaluation of their views and creative new ways of formulating your own. In terms of the content of your study material, this is the qualitative transition we have referred to.

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3. Our approach − contextualisation
Our fundamental missiological approach is that of contextualisation , as we explained in our Honours course (MSG422-
E) on Mission praxis . This does not mean that we merely acknowledge the influence of context (upbringing, class, gender, etc.) on people ’ s views, but that we consciously integrate context analysis into theology . We do this by encouraging students to think in terms of the – “pastoral cycle” formulated by Holland & Henriot (1983) and developed by Cochrane et al. (1990), which sees a circular relationship between the four dimensions of insertion, analysis, reflection, and planning (see figure 1).
We can explain this further by saying that according to a contextual approach, there is no universally valid theology. An authentic theology arises from the particular context within which it is done. Contextual theologians emphasise that
Jesus has many faces and needs to become uniquely incarnated in every human situation.
In a contextual approach to theology a constant interplay between text and context is suggested. For
Protestants, the Bible is the textual source of knowledge about salvation history, whereas for Orthodox and Catholics the
Bible is seen as the fountainhead of an ongoing Christian tradition that is entrusted to the church as the guardian of the truth. Over against this textual source, there is the context or real life situation. In a contextual approach, text and context have to be integrated and studied together. There should be a constant to and fro (= dialectical) movement between these two poles. Contextual theology exposes the fallacy that theology has to do with timeless truths that can be expounded objectively.
Contextual theology also emphasises the constant interaction between action and reflection . Theological insights should both arise from and culminate in deeds. Missiological reflection can never take the place of active participation in
God ’ s mission, while missional action should in turn stimulate missiological reflection. The study and the practice of mission are vitally important to each other and should never be separated. The term praxis , as used in a contextual missiology, is not a synonym of practice, but refers to this totality of action and reflection, which are seen as having a dialectical (mutually dependent) relationship to each other. This use of the term praxis is derived from the philosophy of
Karl Marx, as this was developed (among others) by the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire. The Marxian influence on this terminology should not, however, make us dismiss the contextual approach as a sinister Communist plot. The notion of the inseparable relationship between thinking (or believing) and acting is deeply rooted in the prophetic biblical tradition, as can be seen in verses like Isaiah 58:1-12; Jeremiah 22:16; Amos 5:21-24; Matthew 7:21-23; James 2:14-17 and many others.
In order to clarify the relationship between the four terms (text-context, action-reflection), it may be helpful to adapt the diagram of the pastoral cycle (which we could also call the cycle of missionary praxis ) as follows (figure 2):

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According to a contextual approach to theology, the first step in doing theology is that of insertion . In other words, practical involvement in Christian praxis for the sake of the kingdom of God. The second step is that of context analysis , which involves the conscious use of analytical tools to unlock the underlying dynamics (often hidden from view in a naive approach to reality) that are at work in a particular situation or context. The third step is that of theological reflection on the situation (which includes the church), which consists of a re-reading of the Bible and the Christian tradition in response to the questions raised by insertion and social analysis. This dimension of doing theology is sometimes regarded as the only “real” theology, but a contextual approach argues that it is only one dimension of a fourfold process of theologising, which can easily become distorted if it is not studied in relation to the other three dimensions of this circular process. The fourth step is that of planning for action , which completes the circle since it leads back to insertion.
This final element underlines the view of contextual theology that theology should not be abstract theories that are of no earthly use to the people of God, but instead give them direction and courage as they worship and struggle to be faithful to the gospel in daily life.
The clockwise movement around the circle (as indicated by the curved arrows), which reveals the “inner logic” of this approach to theology, does not imply a chronological sequence between these elements. There isn ’ t a one-way movement from insertion to analysis to reflection to planning, in a “mechanical” fashion. There is a constant interaction between all four the elements, as indicated by the straight arrows. The four dimensions cannot only be seen as four stages of a process but also as four aspects of a system .
Please note the words in bold. In the actionreflection dialectic, the two “blocks” at the bottom of the diagram represent action and the two “blocks” at the top represent reflection . Likewise, the two “blocks” on the right represent text and the two on the left represent context in the text-context dialectic.
This adaptation of the pastoral cycle expands it to become a cycle of mission praxis , which enables one to study mission activities in a critical way, in other words, to do missiology. The notion of praxis , understood as Christian action aimed at transformation, either of individuals or of whole societies, is most appropriate for understanding mission and missiology. We therefore want to encourage you to use it in your missiological reflections and in your research design.
4. Programmes and collaborative research projects
There are three Research MTh programmes presently available in the Discipline of Missiology: a) The general
Missiology programme, b) the Women, Gender and Religion (focus: missiology) programme, and c) A specialisation in
Urban Ministry. The structural features of the three programmes are identical.

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4.1 MTh programmes
4.1.1 General MTh in missiology
This is the basic programme, in which you can focus on any missiological field of specialisation, as indicated below in section 4.2
4.1.2 Women, Gender and Religion (WGR) MTh programme
The Women, Gender and Religion (WGR) MTh programme is an interdisciplinary MTh course presented by a group
(“cluster”) of lecturers from different departments in the School of Religion and Theology. Full details of the programme are available from Prof Annalet van Schalkwyk. It is very important to state that the WGR programme is not reserved for women. It is open to anyone who wishes to study the position of women in mission or (more broadly) the role of gender in mission, primarily in the African context. It may interest you to know that a number of men are enrolled for this programme. For those who are not aware of the terminology used here, gender refers to more than sexual (biological) differences between men and women. It refers to the social roles and statuses assigned to women and men in society, in accordance with the values of particular cultures, religions and classes. In other words, this course does not look at the relationships between men and women in a static way, as based on fixed “natural” or “God-given” laws, but as social constructs that are learnt from one ’ s culture and that are therefore changeable in the light of Christian faith and Christian mission.
4.1.3 MTh with specialisation in Urban Ministry
This programme is offered in collaboration with the Institute for Urban Ministry (IUM), which is based in Pretoria. To enrol for this programme, you need to contact IUM, since the programme requires of you to attend their annual Summer
School in January and their annual Winter School in July. These events will put you in contact with the wide network of urban mission practitioners and researchers that IUM has built up over the past 12 years, thereby enhancing the relevance and quality of your urban ministry research. If you enrol for this programme, you will be allocated a supervisor form Unisa and a joint supervisor from IUM.
4.2 Collaborative Research Projects
Due to the width of the field of missiology, our discipline has decided to focus on our fields of expertise in four
Collaborative Research Projects. Research MTh students are expected to choose the subjects of their dissertations within one of those projects and to include this information in their application.
The objective is to have whole groups of researchers, including research fellows, associates and partners collaborate more intensively in their research on different facets of the same subjects. The benefit for the individual researcher will be to enter a larger project, which offers impetus and synergy through peer review and group interaction beyond the solitary research. The benefit for the Department will be to build up clusters of expertise with ongoing research output through publications and a growing potential of peer review, particularly through workshops and conferences.

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Project
Studying Mission as holistic, contextual action in
Africa / The South
Co-ordinator
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2 Doing Urban Public Theology in Africa
Prof JNJ Kritzinger
Prof A v Schalkwyk and
Dr Stephan de Beer (Institute for Urban
Ministry)
Dr C Sauer 3 Christian-Muslim Encounter
4 Contextual Evangelical Missiology in Europe Prof J Reimer (GBFE)
4.2.1
4.2.1.1.
Studying Mission as holistic, contextual action in Africa / The South
4.2.1.2.
4.2.1.3.
4.2.1.4.
Historical studies (early first reception of Christianity in African/Southern communities, with the focus on the incorporation of Christian impulses into local communities).
African/Southern Christian initiatives for social justice (i.a. attempts to address the challenges of racism, sexism, poverty and HIV/AIDS).
Contextualised forms of theology, evangelism and service initiated by African/Southern Christians.
The translation and interpretation of the Bible by African/Southern Christians (i.a. in theologies, songs, sermons, testimonies).
4.2.2
4.2.2.1.
4.2.2.2.
4.2.2.3.
4.2.2.4.
Doing Urban Public Theology in Africa
The broader issues of globalisation , urban dynamics in Africa, and the implications for the church.
Sustainable livelihoods and alternative (i.e. inclusive) local economies. A sub-project on Ecofeminist spirituality and sustainable development might be included here.
The role of social and citizens’ movements (including religious communities), and their interface with governments, in the development of sustainable communities and alternative economies.
Aspects of missiology and ecclesiology , exploring the implications of all the above for global and
African urban churches, and mapping out some of the elements that should be part of new and emerging “models” of being a 21st century global and African urban church.
4.2.3
4.2.3.1
Christian-Muslim Encounter
Christian Muslim encounter in Africa
Researches models, ideals, quality of Christian-Muslims encounters in Africa in history and present on the background of African Traditional Religions and the challenge to live together peacefully. Studies intensity and success of Muslim Dawah and Christian witness, their respective ethos, goals, strategies, methods, effects, sponsors, agencies, and agents. Examines possibilities, motives, processes and effects of change of allegiance of individuals, including persecution and martyrdom. Describes common ground and points of contention between Muslims and Christians; all from a missiological perspective.
Christian Muslim encounter in Europe
Same as above with a focus on the particular situation in Europe.
4.2.3.2
4.2.4
Limited to continental Europe but including post-Marxist countries stretching beyond Europe into Central Asia.
4.2.4.1 Past Context
Contextual Evangelical Missiology in Europe a. Europe at the stage of its first evangelisation b. Faith missions in Europe: - Pietistic tradition
- Non-denominational approaches
- Free church influences
- Other

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4.2.4.2
4.2.4.3
Present Context a. Evangelical missions in Central and Eastern Europe b. Evangelical Diasporas in Europe and their mission c. Increasing migrant population in Europe
Theological Perspectives a. Models of Evangelical theology in context from a European perspective b. Empirical missiology c. Applied missiology in context d. The Evangelical-Ecumenical Debate
5. Writing your research proposal
In future, every Masters student at Unisa will have to pass a formal module that comprises the writing of the research proposal for the dissertation. This module carries the code MPCHS91 and you will receive separate study material for that module. A mentor will be appointed to guide you through that module. There is no examination in it; the only outcome is a completed (and academically acceptable) research proposal.
If you have any further questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Prof JNJ Kritzinger kritzjnj@unisa.ac.za
012 429 4759 (office)
OR:
012 429 4477 (Departmental Secretary)
Unisa
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The Unisa Library
The librarian responsible for the information needs of the Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and
Missiology is Elsabé Nell, email address nelle@unisa.ac.za,
+27 12 429 3633
+27 12 429 3489
You will need a library PIN (personal identification number) for most of your library transactions. To create your
PIN, go to http://oasis.unisa.ac.za
and Login . If you have problems with your PIN, go to the help screen at http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=12068
Requesting books from the library
Electronic requests
The preferred way of requesting a book is online via OASIS, the library’s catalogue.
Go to http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/illb , or via MyUnisa, go to http://my.unisa.ac.za
> Login > Library > Library catalogue, or for mobile access (AirPAC), go to http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/airpac
Postal requests
Books may also be requested by completing one library book request card for each book.
These should be mailed to
Unisa Library
Request Services
PO Box 392
Pretoria 0003 or faxed to +27 12 429 2925.
Telephonic book requests
This can be done on +27 12 429 3133. Please supply the reservation order number (RON).
Enquiries about requested books should be addressed to bib-circ@unisa.ac.za
; telephonic enquiries can be made at +27 12 429 3133/3134. An after-hour voicemail service is also available at these numbers.
Requesting journal articles from the library
Recommended journal articles
These can be downloaded from OASIS. First click on login and create your library PIN.
Under search options , click on Course code search and type in your course code, eg. CST1501. Click on the
Electronic reserves for the current year. The articles are available in PDF (portable document format).
The Adobe Reader should be loaded on your computer so that you can view or print scanned PDF documents.
This can be done free of charge at http://www.adobe.com
.
Additional journal articles
The preferred way of requesting journal articles is online via OASIS, the library’s catalogue.
Go to http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/illj , or via MyUnisa, go to http://my.unisa.ac.za
> Login > Library > Library catalogue, or for mobile access (AirPAC), go to http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/airpac
Postal requests
Journal articles may also be requested by completing an article request card for each item.

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These should be mailed to the address above or faxed to +27 12 429 2925.
Enquiries about requested articles should be addressed to bib-circ@unisa.ac.za
; telephonic enquiries can be made at +27 12 429 3432.
The following points are particularly important
The my Studies @ Unisa booklet, which is part of your registration package, lists all the services offered by the
Unisa Library at https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal .
Branch Libraries
A list of Unisa’s branch libraries is available at http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=6981 .
The Branch Librarians at each regional centre offer training in the use of the library’s catalogue and keyword searches.
Clients with special needs
If you have special needs, please contact your Branch Librarian for assistance or go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=7095 or call +27 12 429 3206 for more information.
Literature searches
You are encouraged to submit online requests for literature lists on your topic to http://www.unisa.ac.za/litsearch.html
The search request form is also available in both PDF and MS Word on OASIS under Library Links > Request a
Literature Search .
Requests for literature searches can be e-mailed to lib-search@unisa.ac.za
, faxed to +27 12 429 8101, or mailed to
IR Request Services: Information Search Librarians
Department of Library Services
UNISA
PO Box 392
0003 UNISA
South Africa
Personal Librarians
If you intend visiting the Pretoria or Florida campus, you are welcome to make an appointment with your Personal
Librarian to learn how to use the library’s information resources or to consult the Branch Librarians at the
Information Desk.
Enjoy your studies this year.