A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis
Chaplaincy in South Africa (SA) recently became an attractive ministry and research fields for both ministers and theologians, respectively, more especially since the dawn of democracy in 1994. The military chaplaincy has been flooded with applications and enquiries from ministers and leaders from r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Verbum et Ecclesia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2071 |
| _version_ | 1818534466408153088 |
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| author | Mnyalaza T. Masuku |
| author_facet | Mnyalaza T. Masuku |
| author_sort | Mnyalaza T. Masuku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chaplaincy in South Africa (SA) recently became an attractive ministry and research fields for both ministers and theologians, respectively, more especially since the dawn of democracy in 1994. The military chaplaincy has been flooded with applications and enquiries from ministers and leaders from religions other than Christianity who want to secure their space in the ministry to the SA armed forces. Individual churches are also joining the queue for enquiries. As SA is a multireligious nation, religions other than Christianity are also knocking at the door of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), claiming their right to be accommodated. For this reason, it is important for churches, other religious organisations, leaders, ministers and theological institutions or faculties to have knowledge of this unique world and its context, as well as the ministry dynamics and challenges involved. This will assist them in order to prepare appropriately in terms of shaping the curricula and qualifications of their ministers for effective ministry to the armed forces with special reference to the SANDF. This article investigates the dynamics of the military chaplaincy in relation to historical developments along similar chaplaincies globally, the nature of its ministry to the SA armed forces and the challenges posed by the ministry context (SANDF environment), and finally, it crafts and proposes a suitable curriculum for a relevant and effective ministry in the SANDF and the world.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article is located in the field of Missiology. However, it has interdisciplinary implications that affect disciplines such as Military Science, Sociology, Practical Theology and Church History, which all assist as building blocks towards a relevant ministry for the armed forces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:12:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de59f7b569a64a739e2505d7d7537321 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1609-9982 2074-7705 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:12:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Verbum et Ecclesia |
| spelling | doaj.art-de59f7b569a64a739e2505d7d75373212022-12-22T00:55:33ZafrAOSISVerbum et Ecclesia1609-99822074-77052020-09-01411e1e810.4102/ve.v41i1.20711571A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxisMnyalaza T. Masuku0Department of Science of Religion and Missiology, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, PretoriaChaplaincy in South Africa (SA) recently became an attractive ministry and research fields for both ministers and theologians, respectively, more especially since the dawn of democracy in 1994. The military chaplaincy has been flooded with applications and enquiries from ministers and leaders from religions other than Christianity who want to secure their space in the ministry to the SA armed forces. Individual churches are also joining the queue for enquiries. As SA is a multireligious nation, religions other than Christianity are also knocking at the door of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), claiming their right to be accommodated. For this reason, it is important for churches, other religious organisations, leaders, ministers and theological institutions or faculties to have knowledge of this unique world and its context, as well as the ministry dynamics and challenges involved. This will assist them in order to prepare appropriately in terms of shaping the curricula and qualifications of their ministers for effective ministry to the armed forces with special reference to the SANDF. This article investigates the dynamics of the military chaplaincy in relation to historical developments along similar chaplaincies globally, the nature of its ministry to the SA armed forces and the challenges posed by the ministry context (SANDF environment), and finally, it crafts and proposes a suitable curriculum for a relevant and effective ministry in the SANDF and the world. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article is located in the field of Missiology. However, it has interdisciplinary implications that affect disciplines such as Military Science, Sociology, Practical Theology and Church History, which all assist as building blocks towards a relevant ministry for the armed forces.https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2071chaplaincyarmed forcessouth african national defence forceministryministerschaplainsdepartment of defencetheological educationcurriculum |
| spellingShingle | Mnyalaza T. Masuku A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis Verbum et Ecclesia chaplaincy armed forces south african national defence force ministry ministers chaplains department of defence theological education curriculum |
| title | A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis |
| title_full | A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis |
| title_fullStr | A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis |
| title_full_unstemmed | A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis |
| title_short | A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis |
| title_sort | relevant ministry for the armed forces an agenda for the south african national defence force chaplains praxis |
| topic | chaplaincy armed forces south african national defence force ministry ministers chaplains department of defence theological education curriculum |
| url | https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2071 |
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