Abstract:
This thesis includes a literary, as well as an empirical study examining the degree to which congregations within the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika took church growth into consideration in the planning and erection of church centres during the past ten years. The methodology of practical theology is reflected by means of three concepts, namely: understanding, explanation and change. This study focuses mainly on the first two concepts - expressed as the hermeneutical understanding and the empirical reality. The third concept could be examined in a further study, in conjunction with research already done in this study. The hermeneutical understanding or theory was researched with two focal points in mind, namely: the theological perspective - in which the emphasis was firstly on the identity of the Church in Christ and secondly on the calling of the Church, expressed in the missio Dei and discipleship. The other focal point was the Biblical ideal, as it appears in the Word and is interpreted by theological traditions. The second action in this methodology was the empirical measurement in order to verify whether this hermeneutical understanding in reality, was negotiated within the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika. Apart from a few exceptions, the conclusion reached is that the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika did not consider church growth in the planning and erection of its church centres. It also became clear that the Church’s calling is aimed internally and not externally and the Church does not fulfil its mission- and discipleship calling.
