Conflict resolution and reconciliation within congregations

dc.contributor.advisorNel, M
dc.contributor.emailderek@gracewell.co.zaen_ZA
dc.contributor.postgraduateOppenshaw, Derek Leonard
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-07T07:36:10Z
dc.date.available2017-11-07T07:36:10Z
dc.date.created2017
dc.date.issued2017
dc.descriptionThesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe foundational hypothesis to this study is that congregations which have a healthy perception and a greater understanding of conflict will develop more effective responses to conflict that will translate into more effective conflict resolution and reconciliation. The process and sustainability of the development of a missional church, the context of the study, is pregnant with potential conflict. Untamed conflict has the propensity to retard, jeopardise or even destroy the development of a missional church. When conflict arises, it must be understood and dealt with theologically. The inherent problem is that conflict appears to be neither understood nor appreciated sociologically and theologically. This knowledge and praxis vacuum has the potential for conflict to translate into inappropriate or ineffective responses that do not always make for effective resolution and reconciliation. The research focuses mainly on an empirical study based on the four practical theological questions of Osmer (2008). Participants for this study were randomly selected from specific sectors of Methodist congregations in the wider Pretoria area. The research explores congregants’ perceptions, understanding and views of conflict; their responses to conflict; and some felt and observed outcomes of conflict. The presupposition is that the development of the local missional church would be more effective and efficient when the management and process of conflict resolution and reconciliation are well led and well managed. This study confirmed that conflict, despite its normalcy and necessity, carries a negative undertone and is mostly avoided in congregations. This is compounded by the evidence that there is little, if any, theological or scriptural understanding of conflict. There is also no indication that churches intentionally and purposefully educate their members to appreciate and understand conflict. In so doing, churches are harming their innate calling as the glory and manifestation of God’s divine grace through faith communities for the transformation of all peoples. Yet, the church understands the dangers of unhealthy conflict, and on occasion even expects conflict to arise, although deeming it inappropriate. Practical theological discernment is sought as to why this may be so and remedial action is proposed to address the problem of conflict within congregations.en_ZA
dc.description.availabilityUnrestricteden_ZA
dc.description.degreePhDen_ZA
dc.description.departmentPractical Theologyen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationOppenshaw, DL 2017, Conflict resolution and reconciliation within congregations, PhD Thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/63030>en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/63030
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoria
dc.rights© 2017 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
dc.subjectPractical theologyen_ZA
dc.subjectHermeneutical spiralen_ZA
dc.subjectDevelopment of a missional churchen_ZA
dc.subjectResolutionen_ZA
dc.subjectReconciliationen_ZA
dc.subjectQuantitative researchen_ZA
dc.subjectStrataen_ZA
dc.subjectPerceptionen_ZA
dc.subjectBehaviouren_ZA
dc.subjectDestinyen_ZA
dc.subjectHealthyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherTheology theses SDG-03
dc.subject.otherSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.subject.otherTheology theses SDG-10
dc.subject.otherSDG-10: Reduced inequalities
dc.subject.otherTheology theses SDG-16
dc.subject.otherSDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
dc.titleConflict resolution and reconciliation within congregationsen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA

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