Transformational Community Development

Discipleship in Action: A Mission-Oriented Framework for Restoring Humanity, by Samuel Tigah, presents a transformative approach to discipleship rooted in theological insights, spiritual formation, and community engagement.  The book explores the missional, communal, and progressive dimensions of discipleship, emphasizing its role in restoring humanity to God through Christ's incarnation in community under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Tigah introduces the Mission-Oriented Community-Based Discipleship (MOCBD) model, a practical framework that integrates worship, mentorship, community-based relationships, and social justice to cultivate disciples of Christ who actively confront societal evils and empower marginalized communities. Drawing from theological literature, personal experiences, and biblical principles, the book challenges church leaders, scholars, and practitioners to rethink discipleship and leadership for the betterment of communities and the world.  With a focus on intercessory prayer, spiritual disciplines, and radical confrontation with injustice, Discipleship in Action offers a compelling vision for discipleship as a continual, transformative process that advances God's kingdom and glory on earth.

Around the world, there exist many organisations who claim a Christian motivation and whose work falls within the scope of the development sector. These organisations are distinctly different from local congregations, and whilst development as a field of theological study is becoming increasingly well-defined and established, there has been limited theological research and reflection on these organisations. Much about them remains unstudied and unclear, raising questions about their purpose, legitimacy and theological contribution. This in turn hampers a responsive and responsible engagement with them within the academy. Contributing to this oversight is the absence of an appropriate, commonly shared name and definition around which research and discourse can occur. This article reviews names and definitions currently being used and then proposes the name ‘Christian developmental organisation’ (CDO). It provides a rich definition, considering the CDO’s organisational, societal, purp...

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The disciplines of social work, theology and the arts entered into a transdisciplinary dialogue and work over the past years. The transdisciplinary team engaged in four participatory research projects to include input from grassroots levels to inform their understanding of how the different disciplines can better contribute towards a process of authentic community development in the diverse South African society. This resulted in the process proposed in this article.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The disciplines of social work, theology and the arts entered into a transdisciplinary dialogue and work over the past years. The transdisciplinary team engaged in four participatory research projects to include input from grassroots levels to inform their understanding of how the different disciplines can better contribute towards a process of authentic community development in the diverse South African society. This resulted in the process proposed in this article.

The primary objective of this article is to explore some distinctions between Christian and secular views of transformation, characteristics of transformational development and the holistic practitioner. To meet this aim, relevant literature has been explored. The article argues that the Christian's development motivation, goal and process are distinctive. The affirmation of indigenous knowledge; peaceful relationships, self-worth, empowerment and spiritual development are basic characteristics of transformational development. The paper also insists that the attitudes and characteristics of a holistic practitioner play a crucial role in realising these characteristics of transformational development. Understanding the value of this could assist faith-based organization and church-based development agency staff in engaging holistically.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The disciplines of social work, theology and the arts entered into a transdisciplinary dialogue and work over the past years. The transdisciplinary team engaged in four participatory research projects to include input from grassroots levels to inform their understanding of how the different disciplines can better contribute towards a process of authentic community development in the diverse South African society. This resulted in the process proposed in this article.

Even if legalised segregation (i.e. Apartheid) has ceased, individuals, groups and communities remain sensitive owing to past experiences. Furthermore communication obstacles lead to ongoing misunderstandings that result in mistrust (Williams, 2002:51-67). Without a process to stimulate intercultural awareness and tolerance, the legacy of the past cannot be undone. The question therefore is: How can we approach intercultural misunderstanding and mistrust so as to find a way to work towards intercultural awareness and tolerance? The aim of this contribution has been to identify a theoretical framework that could pave the way to finding practical ways of addressing the remaining misunderstandings and mistrust in present-day South Africa. The authors, working from a trans-disciplinary framework, first did a review of the literature in search of a theoretical framework. The contribution concludes with a proposed theoretical framework and some recommendations for further exploration of this topic.

The study conducted in 2017, in the Cape Metropole to explore the nature of partnership between local congregations and Christian Development Organisations, entitled, ‘Enhanced partnership between local congregations and Faith-based Organisations: towards a holistic congregational praxis’ reveal that, there are enough collaboration efforts between these two entities of the church. These efforts revolve around issues, such as spiritual support, volunteerism and discipleship. The view is that, even though elements of partnership such as volunteerism, prayer and discipleship are essential in the journey of development, there is a need for these efforts to be coupled by resources such as finances and expertise. Central to the argument of this paper is the view that says, enhanced partnership between local congregations and Christian Development Organisations has a potential to facilitate holistic congregational praxis. In most cases, these entities of the church are found in the same lo...

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In part, this failure can be blamed on the continued rapid explosion of the human population. The sheer fact that global famines and government collapse have not taken place more widely is testimony to the fact that significant gains have been made in food production and in the establishment of stable governments. But these gains have not been experienced by the poor and the oppressed. If anything, inequality between the privileged few and the marginalized many has increased. In countries and between countries the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few continues. What has gone wrong? And what role does religion, or the lack of it, play in this failure?

The primary objective of this article is to explore some distinctions between Christian and secular views of transformation, characteristics of transformational development and the holistic practitioner. To meet this aim, relevant literature has been explored. The article argues that the Christian's development motivation, goal and process are distinctive. The affirmation of indigenous knowledge; peaceful relationships , self-worth, empowerment and spiritual development are basic characteristics of transformational development. The paper also insists that the attitudes and characteristics of a holistic practitioner play a crucial role in realising these characteristics of transformational development. Understanding the value of this could assist faith-based organization and church-based development agency staff in engaging holistically.

The South African people continuously engage in social actions characterised by intolerance, pointing to frustrations and disillusionment in a post-apartheid era. A need to find creative ways to engage diverse communities to work together to participate in their own development
and well-being was identified. This article is based on long-term transdisciplinary discourse and work. The aim is to explore how the disciplines of social work, theology and the arts could contribute together towards the development of communities where participation,
collaboration and cooperation as key principles of authentic community development are actively implemented. Within a transdisciplinary framework, the disciplines engaged in participatory research projects that resulted in findings that informed the development of a process where people at grassroots level become aware and more tolerant of each other, begin to work together and as such become involved in their own futures. It is concluded that by encouraging participation, collaboration and cooperation in social change processes, the South African people can be empowered towards working together and becoming involved in their own futures.

The study conducted in 2017, in the Cape Metropole to explore the nature of partnership between local congregations and Christian Development Organisations, entitled, ‘Enhanced partnership between local congregations and Faith-based Organisations: towards a holistic congregational praxis’ reveal that, there are enough collaboration efforts between these two entities of the church. These efforts revolve around issues, such as spiritual support, volunteerism and discipleship. The view is that, even though elements of partnership such as volunteerism, prayer and discipleship are essential in the journey of development, there is a need for these efforts to be coupled by resources such as finances and expertise. Central to the argument of this paper is the view that says, enhanced partnership between local congregations and Christian Development Organisations has a potential to facilitate holistic congregational praxis. In most cases, these entities of the church are found in the same lo...

This chapter contains a practical theological reflection on the meaning of Article 4 of the Confession of Belhar as a basis for the establishment of a theology of development in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). The Confession of Belhar came about following the social injustices of the past that resulted from the policy of apartheid. However, since the democratic transition in 1994, remarkable and fundamental political changes in South African society occurred. The unjust system of apartheid was replaced by a democratic system of government in which all South Africans could enjoy a new constitution that protect and recognised everyone’s freedom and dignity (pieterse 2001:75). There were political as well as economic expectations by many South Africans — especially by the previously disadvantaged people, that the democratisation would result in a better life for all, especially since the ANCs 1994 ‘A Better Life for all’ campaign promised this better future for all South African citizens. However, more than twenty years after democracy, the current South African context shows that increasing widespread inconsistency, poverty and social problems in the country still exist. This chapter aims to make a theological contribution to effectively address the poverty situation in South Africa by being faithful to the biblical command of a just society, and also by being faithful to the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa’s Confession of Belhar, more predominantly Article 4, which supports the establishment of a theology of development. Also, because of the magnitude of the human need, inequality, widespread poverty and social problems in our country, the church is challenged to engage in a mode of development. The post-apartheid context requires effective involvement of the church.

An upsurge in interest with regard to the role of religion in development has also seen an increase in the study of Faith Based Organisations (FBO's). These organisations have been less well studied within the South African context, yet both in light of South African Christianity's colonial and apartheid past – and the practical challenges that arise within a Global South development context such as northern donors, the cultural relevance of programmes and the tension between justice and charity within a South African context (where the face of poverty is still largely black) they should be the subject of academic inquiry. In light of the latter as well a growing trend within Development Studies with regard to decolonial and post-colonial critiques of development, this paper seeks to argue for the relevance of a both Black Consciousness and a Black Theology of Liberation in challenging and re-positioning the identity, role and practical challenges faced by FBOs within the South African context.

The primary objective of this article is to explore some distinctions between Christian and secular views of transformation, characteristics of transformational development and the holistic practitioner. To meet this aim, relevant literature has been explored. The article argues that the Christian's development motivation, goal and process are distinctive. The affirmation of indigenous knowledge; peaceful relationships , self-worth, empowerment and spiritual development are basic characteristics of transformational development. The paper also insists that the attitudes and characteristics of a holistic practitioner play a crucial role in realising these characteristics of transformational development. Understanding the value of this could assist faith-based organization and church-based development agency staff in engaging holistically.