Jan Grobbelaar

Doing Child Theology: History and methodology

The publisher accepts no responsibility for any statement made or opinion expressed in this publi... more The publisher accepts no responsibility for any statement made or opinion expressed in this publication. Consequently, the publishers and copyright holder will not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of his or her action upon any statement or opinion in this work. Links by third party websites are provided by AOSIS in good faith and for information only. AOSIS disclaims any responsibility for the materials contained in any third party website referenced in this work. Every effort has been made to protect the interest of copyright holders. Should any infringement have occurred inadvertently, the publisher apologises and undertakes to amend the omission in the event of a reprint.

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Sunday School Movements in African Christianity

Doing theology with children: A childist reading of the childhood metaphor in 1 Corinthians and the Synoptic Gospels

Theological Studies/Teologiese Studies, Aug 19, 2020

Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted in 1989, awareness, interest an... more Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted in 1989, awareness, interest and concern for children have grown globally, stimulated by the work of children's rights organisations and other child-focused organisations like the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF). Over the past 30 years, the CRC has introduced and enhanced a broadening understanding of childhood (cf. ). In addition to regarding children as objects to be protected by society, children have also come to be valued as subjects of their own lives with full rights. Children are agents, befitting their age and development. This child-oriented movement has also contributed to a growing focus on studies about children in the academic world, leading to research projects in numerous disciplines that culminated in several child-focussed publications (cf. Grobbelaar 2016a). In these research projects, children have been increasingly involved as co-producers of knowledge. Eventually, Childhood Studies was recognised as a new academic discipline. The complexity of understanding childhood requires a multi-and interdisciplinary research approach (James & James 2012:19), in which theology has begun to participate. Contribution: This article contributes to the enhancement of emancipatory methodologies for doing theology and research with children by exploring the different ways in which the childhood metaphor is used in 1 Corinthians and the Synoptic Gospels through a childist reading of the relevant texts. Through this hermeneutical approach, which places the article clearly in the scope of this Theological Journal, it is established that doing theology with children in an emancipatory way adult theologians have to operate with a high view of childhood, as expressed in the way the childhood metaphor is used in the Synoptic Gospels.

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Die aspek van genesing in die pastoraat aan die siekmens

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 1985.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliograph... more

Wat gebeur globaal en plaaslik met kinders

Practical Theology in South Africa = Praktiese Teologie in Suid-Afrika, 2006

What is happening to children globally and locally? Global changes have immensely negative implic... more What is happening to children globally and locally? Global changes have immensely negative implications for children worldwide as well as for the children of Africa and South Africa in particular. Manuel Castells's trilogy on the information age: economy, society and culture, is used to substantiate this. From a sociological viewpoint, Castells explains how the information era led to information networks that have transformed the economy, and led to network-based social movements, which, in turn, are redefining the formation of social identity. The article offers a statistical picture of children in the world and in South(ern) Africa. It then outlines the way in which information has changed economic processes, the power of networks and the reformulation of identity. All this is leading to the demise of "patriarchalism" - i.e. the typical patriarchal family structure. The shocking implications of these global changes on the life and future of children are then explained in detail. Church and theology are challenged to do something to address this dilemma.

Doing theology with children: Some challenges for adult theologians

Theological Studies/Teologiese Studies, Dec 12, 2019

apt description of conversion in connection with doing liberation theology with the poor is also ... more apt description of conversion in connection with doing liberation theology with the poor is also applicable to doing theology with children: Conversion means leaving one's own way (see Lk 10:25-37) and entering upon the way of the other, the neighbor, and especially of the poor [children] in whom we encounter the Lord (see Mt 25:31-45). (n.p.) Encountering the Lord is also part of entering upon the way of the children. In a pronouncement similar in sentiment to Matthew 25:31-45, Jesus said (Mt 18:5), '[w]hoever receives one such child in my name receives me'. Doing theology with children, which includes children as equal participants in the process, is no easy task. Adult theologians face many challenges in becoming involved in doing theology with children. The probing question is: What are these challenges? This article identifies and discusses a few of them. It does not provide an exhaustive list, nor does it discuss each challenge in detail, although more attention is given to the important and crucial challenge to scrutinise our conceptions of childhood. It rather wants to stimulate a conversation about why it is difficult to involve children as equal partners in doing theology and in theological research.

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Op soek na ’n nuwe wyse om kinderbediening in en deur die gemeente te verstaan

Dutch Reformed Theological Journal = Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, Dec 31, 2009

This article wants to stimulate the development of children's ministry by trying to give some pos... more This article wants to stimulate the development of children's ministry by trying to give some possible answers on the question: How should we think about children's ministry in and through the congregation in the context of the 21 century? This question is answered by taking into account the approach that has been developed by Petra College for children's ministry over the past 20 years. In the first part of the article a few important basic theoretical markers are formulated. In the second part five children's ministry processes are discussed. Thereafter the connection between the calling and ministries of congregations and these children's ministry processes are discussed.

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n Ondersoek na die bediening van laerskoolkinders in en deur die gemeente as intergenerasionele ruimte

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Resources on Theology and Children

The publisher accepts no responsibility for any statement made or opinion expressed in this publi... more The publisher accepts no responsibility for any statement made or opinion expressed in this publication. Consequently, the publishers and copyright holder will not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of his or her action upon any statement or opinion in this work. Links by third party websites are provided by AOSIS in good faith and for information only. AOSIS disclaims any responsibility for the materials contained in any third party website referenced in this work. Every effort has been made to protect the interest of copyright holders. Should any infringement have occurred inadvertently, the publisher apologises and undertakes to amend the omission in the event of a reprint.

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The contentious issue of corporal punishment in South Africa

If a child can't read … we teach, If a child can't spell … we teach, If a child can't swim … we t... more

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The plight and vulnerability of children living in South Africa and the calling of the church

or 28.8% were younger than 15 years. Although reported with a different age interval and estimate... more or 28.8% were younger than 15 years. Although reported with a different age interval and estimated a year earlier, it is important to take cognisance of the estimation of the South African Child Gauge 2019 (Hall 2019a:216) that South Africa's total population in mid-2018 was 57.7 million people of whom 19.7 million were children under 18 years. Stats SA (2018a:x) indicates that in 2016 adolescents made up 18,5% of South Africa's population. From these statistics, it seems fair to assume that about a third of the total population of South Africa is children under 18, only in numbers an important segment of the South African population. The gender division for children is equal (Hall 2019a:216) but it raises the ethical question: Is the position of the girl-child in South African society really equal to the position of the boy-child? It seems that we have to ponder this much more and act accordingly with regard to this situation. In terms of the racial categories used during the apartheid era, 86% of children are African, 8% are Coloured, 4% are White and 2% are Indian (:216). It shows clearly that the child population group in South Africa is not a homogeneous group of people living in the same situations. They are a diverse group of people living in diverse contexts with different real-life experiences. In our reflections about the situation of children in South Africa, we should take this reality into account. Although the situations of some subgroups and individuals and/ or some localities may differ, children are a distinguishable population or social group about whom generalisations may be drawn, as long as it is remembered that these are not true of every child and every context in South Africa. Any generalisation in this chapter, and even in the rest of the book, should, therefore, be academically evaluated with some suspicion because of the many differences present in this population group. The theological ethical challenge is that this population group, and specific subgroups in this totality, as well as the plight of individual children, should more and more become the focus of theological ethical reflection. This is the goal of this chapter and the rest of the book: To contribute to and promote academic theological

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Children and childhood studies

Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted in 1989, awareness, interest an... more Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted in 1989, awareness, interest and concern for children have grown globally, stimulated by the work of children’s rights organisations and other child-focused organisations like the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Over the past 30 years, the CRC has introduced and enhanced a broadening understanding of childhood (cf. https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/ frequently-asked-questions).

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Tendense in kinderbediening aan die begin van die 21ste eeu

Tendencies in children’s ministry at the beginning of the 21st century At the beginning of the 21... more Tendencies in children’s ministry at the beginning of the 21st century At the beginning of the 21 century it seems that children decide to leave the church at an early stage. In trying to get a better understanding of the problems the church is facing in this regard this article describes a few tendencies in children’s ministry. Where possible these tendencies are illustrated with available statistics from the ministry of the Dutch Reformed Church. The article concludes that these tendencies challenge the church and theology to think more theologically about the foundations and practices of children’s ministry.

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Die kwesbaarheid van kinders in die konteks van Suid-Afrikaanse huishoudings en families

Tydskrif vir geesteswetenskappe, Dec 1, 2020

The vulnerability of children in the context of South African households and families In this art... more The vulnerability of children in the context of South African households and families In this article, we discuss the vulnerability of many children living in South Africa, with the aim of promoting critical insight into the daily living conditions of so many vulnerable children in South Africa. The article begins by briefly referring to the social and political contexts that threaten the lives of children. It then focuses more specifically on households and family structures and how we should think about these complex, intertwined and at times difficult to differentiate concepts. What is clear is that South Africa's children grow up in households with diverse family structures resulting in diverse living arrangements. Following is a brief discussion of present and absent parents, which shows that South Africa is unique in the extent to which parents, especially fathers, are absent in the daily activities of their children. This is partly the effect of the fact that in Africa the child bearer is not always also the child carer. It furthermore seems that the unique history and circumstances of the South African society, hugely influenced by the system of migrant labour, played a significant role in the fragmentation of families resulting in these different living arrangements. This situation, so it seems, did not change much in the post-apartheid era. Although the political system changed, its effects over many decades will probably be with us, influencing the living arrangements for children, for many years to come. The important role that the family plays in raising children is also highlighted. In the partial or total absence of parents, relatives play a significant role in the care of children of the extended family. In this regard many grandparents take on several responsibilities to complement the parental care their children provide for their grandchildren. In some cases, grandparents do not only complement the parental care, but more and more they are actually taking over the role and duties of the parents and become the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The living arrangements of many households are also affected by the familiar trend of adolescents migrating within South Africa to gain access to new opportunities. Quite a number of them migrate independently. Although these movements can have positive results, adolescents can in the process also be exposed to certain vulnerabilities that may affect their lives negatively. In addition to this, many parents who migrate leave their children "behind" when they relocate. The spotlight also falls on orphaned children. The situation of all orphans is not the same and the quality of care they receive varies tremendously. The term "orphan" is also used to refer to children in different contexts. Although the number of orphans in South Africa is decreasing, orphanhood, in whichever form, still affects the wellbeing of a substantial number of children, which poses major challenges to the South African society. In the South African context, we also have to deal with households that consist of children only. In these households a minor is the head of the household fulfilling the role of a primary caregiver for all the other members of the household, being responsible for decision-making and the provision of all their basic physical, social and emotional needs. This concept indicates a new form of family structure, which differs considerably from the nuclear, two-generational family of the Western world, as well as the extended, multigenerational family of the African context. While not all the children in child-only-households are double orphans, the situation of all these children are still a cause for concern. They are prone to many challenges, even risks. Furthermore, the child-heads of these households also experience the ambivalence of fulfilling the roles of adults while they are still viewed and treated by the adult world as children. Part of this problem is that some young people experience hostile surveillance from adults. This surveillance is particularly gendered, with girls positioned as "whores" and boys as "thugs". Finally, the very important issue of housing and basic services comes to the fore, and the great inequality in our country, as reflected in the access or lack of basic services, is highlighted. A factor that plays a crucial role in the

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A Church Where Children are Welcome

Handbook of Theological Education in Africa

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Papers by Jan Grobbelaar