Jesus in the mall? Public theology for a public church in South-Africa today

Bloemfontein 27 Augustus 2008Piet.naude@nmmu.ac.za

Public theology Public theology provides frame for

church/Christians to help establish God’s embracing salvation in the world

Against: *professionalisation *individualisation of salvation *establishing of consumerculture *national theology

Public church Public church wants to sensitize members

for issues of public importance and equip them to live their faith in public

Against: *safe space for inner migration *seeking like-mindedness *survival existence

CHALLENGES

CHALLENGES

RECONCILIATION

IDENTITY

RECOVER

ING VALUES

DEMOCRACY

SPIRITUALITY

FIVE CORE-CHALLENGES Reconciliation and restorative justice

(one church) Identity/plurality and globalization (catholic church) Restoring values and lawlessness (holy church) Democracy and gospel

(Christian church) Integrated spirituality (community)

HIGHEST CPI* SCORES 2006 (*Corruption perception index : 10=no corruption)

1.Finland 9.6

Iceland 9.6

New Zealand

9.6

4.Denmark 9.5

5.Singapore 9.4

6.Sweden 9.2

7.Switzerland 9.1

8.Norway 8.8

9.Australia 8.7

Netherlands 8.7

51. South Africa 51. South Africa 4.64.6

42. Mauritius 42. Mauritius 5.15.1

Moral development

AGENTS OF TRANSFORMATION

Tradition (history)

Culture (customs) Parents

Friends

School/teachersReligion

Mass media (TV/Internet/movies/advertisement

Corporate culture

Adult spirituality

Growth in religious fundamentalism Growth in Pentecostalism with signs of

world-avoidance and “glory-theology” Dutch reformed tradition: Calvin,

Warneck and Scottish pietism Communio sanctorum (Heidelberg

Catechism, Gen 12, Mt 5 and Bonhoeffer)

The hymn of Philippians 2!

CONCLUSIONReconciliatio

n

Identity

Restoring values

Democracy

Unity

Catholic

Holy

Christian

Spirituality Community

The world belongs to the Lord…

Responsible Renewal conference, Bloemfontein

English summary compiled by Lyzette Hoffman, from Prof Piet Naudé’s original presentation:“Jesus in die mall? Publieke teologie vir ‘npublieke kerk in Suid-Afrika vandag” delivered inBloemfontein, August 27, 2008.