Abstract:
New challenges are constantly emerging in the social sector in South Africa. Various social
(non-profit) organisations are developing new and innovative ways to accommodate these
challenges and to meet social needs. The aim of this research article is to measure the current
social innovation capacity of the Dutch Reformed Church (DR Church), with reference to
innovation capabilities, to determine at what level the church is meeting new social needs.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data from six different congregations
and a governing body in the Pretoria area, South Africa, was included. Twelve participants
were interviewed between August and October 2017. The participants, consisting of ministers
and board members, each held a management position. The social innovation capacity
measurement of the DR Church showed that the organisation was successfully developing
new ways to serve as a social agent in society. There are obstacles that prohibit the DR Church
from developing new innovative ways to meet the social needs of its society, for example,
entrepreneurial, developmental and leadership change capacities. Recommendations are
made to maximise social innovation capacity of the managers (ministers and board members).
