Browsing by Author "De Gruchy, J W"

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    African women in religion and culture Chewa women in the Nkhoma synod of the church of central Africa, presbyterian: a critical study from women's perspective
    (1992) Phiri, Isabel Apawo; De Gruchy, J W
    This thesis is an inter-disciplinary approach to the study of Chewa women in the Nkhoma synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. It is an interpretation, from a women's perspective within the Reformed tradition of their status, roles, and experiences. The introduction provides a detailed explanation of the area of study, African women's perspective of religion and culture, and methodology. I Chapter one aims at examining the context of women in Malawi. This includes the current demography, politics, economy and education as they affect women. The chapter also includes a background history of Chewa people and the church of Central Africa, Presbyterian which provide a base for the understanding of Chewa women in the Nkhoma synod. Chapter two considers the position of Chewa women further by providing a detailed analysis of their position in traditional society. The period under study in this chapter is 1400-1870s. Through the study of the Makewana cult, the chapter aims at showing that Chewa women traditionally had religious leadership roles. This led to a discussion on the concept of God among the Chewa. In studying these traditional roles, the chapter shows both the positive and negative elements in Chewa culture. Chapters one and two then provide a framework for chapters three, four, and five. Chapter three analyzes in detail the issues of Chewa women in religious. leadership and culture under the Dutch Reformed Church Mission and the Nkhoma synod from 1889 to present. It examines church policies on women's participation in church leadership positions and theological education. It also examines how the church has handled cultural issues, especially the women's initiation ceremony, bride wealth, child marriages, polygamy, and widowhood. The concern of this chapter is to show that while Christianity liberated Chewa women from some degrading cultural practices, it also denied women leadership positions. Chapter four takes the issue of women's participation in the church further by examining the Chigwirizano-Women's organization. The aim of this chapter is to explore what the organization means to women, how it runs, and most of all, its relationship with the synod. The chapter establishes that Nkhoma synod women do not only suffer from patriarchy but also from clericalism. Chapter five moves from the historical approach to a sociological one. It is primarily a survey of attitudes of men and women in the synod on the issues raised in chapters three and four. It also aims at finding out if the presence of women in the general synod would make a difference. Chapter six considers the effect on Nkhoma synod women who have participated in continental church women's organizations, especially their aims at raising the consciousness of women and the church with regard to women's issues. Chapter seven provides a summary of the findings. It also raises theological issues on interpreting the Bible from a women's perspective and a new understanding of authority in the church. The chapter concludes by posing a challenge to the synod to develop a theology that takes into account the experiences of women in the church, and enables them to fulfil a creative role within it.
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    The notion of reconciliation as part of the emerging coloured identity
    (1997) Hendricks, Basil John; De Gruchy, J W
    The theology and practice of reconciliation emerged as a major issue of contention during the years of struggle for liberation in South Africa. While this notion is central to the Christian message of salvation and an obligation for all Christian believers, Christians differed among themselves depending upon their respective perceptions of the political struggle which ensued. White theologians urged the oppressed to join them in striving for unity and reconciliation, black and coloured Christians, however, were unanimous in their rejection of cheap reconciliation without justice. Since this country's first democratic elections in April 1994, South Africa has had to face many new challenges to the democratic process. One of these has been the new assertiveness of coloured people in the Western Cape where the coloured population are in the majority. Lately coloured people have expressed that they are unable to feel the blessings of reconciliation since they do not experience themselves as equally part of South Africa yet. Coloured people on the Cape Flats form the biggest section of the Catholic population in the Western Cape. The church which exists within history as a reconciled and reconciling community and as a sign for the 2 community around it, must have something to say to this! This paper attempts to persuade the regional Catholic hierarchy to permit its coloured countenance to be seen and for it to provide coloured people with the space to tell their story and to place it on the national agenda. This identification of the church with the aspirations of coloured people will involve the church itself in giving hope to those who dispair of the future and point to mutual respect and tolerance as the fruits of reconciliation. Part One of this dissertation is made up of three chapters. Chapters Two explores the theoretical underpinning of the notion of reconciliation by exploring biblical roots and the theological debate around reconciliation. Chapter Three deals with a critique of reconciliation in South Africa. Here I examine critique of the Kairos theologians and other prophetic theological voices in South Africa. Chapter Four deals with the South African Catholic Bishops Conference and other Catholic voices on the subject of reconciliation. Part Two of this dissertation is made up of four chapters. Chapter Five explores the history and development of the coloured community and of the effect of National Party racial policy on coloured people. Chapter Six examines racial segregation as a violation of human rights. Chapter Seven deals with the methodology involved designing a research survey 3 of coloured parishioners of Catholic communities on the Cape Flats. Chapter Eight concludes this section by presenting the research findings and discussions. Part Three of the dissertation I revisit my hypothesis that a disparity exists between the theological understanding of the hierarchical church and the cultural understanding of the notion of reconciliation of the coloured people. Part Three also consists of an evaluation of the research survey as well as recommendations for the church's mission in the Western Cape. Finally, it must be said that this is by far not an exhaustive study on the doctrine of reconciliation, but only to indicate its various meanings and its importance within religion and especially in Catholic theology and practice. Secondly, I am not trying to understand the whole question of coloured identity but to ascertain how this relates to Catholic church parishioners on the Cape Flats.