Doing theology with children in a South African context : children as collaborators in intergenerational ministry

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Authors

Weber, Shantelle
De Beer, Stephanus Francois

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

AOSIS Open Journals

Abstract

The vision of Child Theology Africa is to advance a child-friendly continent by doing theology with, for, about and through African children. In this article we would like to explore the voice, role and position of the child in church and society, as important and integral to authentic intergenerational church praxis. This is based on the presuppositions that children should be regarded as collaborators in doing theology; children should be engaged not merely as objects but as subjects of research and knowledge generation; children articulate their own experiences with God; and the biblical imperatives to listen carefully to and engage with children.

Description

This research is part of the research project, ‘Social Justice and Reconciliation’, which is directed by Dr Stephan de Beer, Director of the Centre for Contextual Ministry and member of the Department of Practical Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria.
This research article forms part of a special edition entitled: Theology Disrupted: Doing Theology with children in African Contexts.

Keywords

African children, Intergenerational ministry, Voice of the child, Role of the child, Position of the child, Church and society

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Weber, S. & De Beer, S., 2016, ‘Doing theology with children in a South African context: Children as collaborators in intergenerational ministry’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72(1), a3572. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v72i1.3572