PROF. NICO KOOPMAN
Professor (Systematic Theology)
Tel: +27 21 808 | Fax: +27 21 808 3251 | Email
Nico Norman Koopman was born in Niekerkshoop in the Northern Cape. He attended school in Koegasbrug, Lime Acres and Kimberley. His academic qualifications were conferred by the University of the Western Cape. During his doctoral studies he spent two study periods at the Free University in Amsterdam. He served as pastor of the Uniting Reformed Church in Atlantis, as student chaplain at the University of the Western Cape, the former Peninsula Technikon and Bellville College of Education, and as lecturer in Theology and vice-rector of the Huguenot College in Wellington. He was appointed as senior lecturer in Systematic Theology at Stellenbosch University in 2001, where he was promoted to associate professor in 2004 and full professor in 2007. Since 2002 he also serves as Director of the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology. His research, teaching and community interaction resorts in the area of Public Theology. He became first chairperson of the Global Network for Public Theology in 2007, where-after he spent ten months at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton for research in Public Theology. As systematic theologian his research focuses on the meaning of Trinitarian faith for various public challenges in contemporary societies. These entail matters like human dignity and human rights, reconciliation and justice, as well as challenges in the field of bio-, sexual, economic, political and virtue ethics. He is member of various local and international research societies. He also serves in the editorial boards of one local and two international theological journals. He speaks regularly, often on invitation, at local and international congresses. He publishes consistently in local and international accredited journals and book publications. In 2003 a book of him and his colleague Robert Vosloo, titled Die ligtheid van die lig. Morele oriëntasie in ‘n postmoderne tyd, won the prestigious Andrew Prize for Theological Literature. Koopman is married to Francina (Skattie, neé Malouly), a teacher. Their two children are Maties, namely William (masters student) and Marilize (first year student). The family lives at university residences Huis Marais and Huis Visser where Koopman serves as warden.
Nico Norman Koopman is in Niekerkshoop in die Noord-Kaap gebore. Hy gaan skool in Koegasbrug, Lime Acres en Kimberley. Sy akademiese kwalifikasies word verwerf aan die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland. Ter voltooiing van sy doktorale studies bring hy twee studieperiodes deur aan die Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Hy werk agtereenvolgens as predikant van die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Atlantis, studenteleraar aan die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland, die voormalige Skiereilandse Technikon en die Onderwyskollege Bellville, en as dosent in Teologie en vise-rektor aan die Hugenote Kollege in Wellington. Hy begin werk as senior lektor in Sistematiese Teologie aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch in 2001, waar hy in 2004 bevorder word tot medeprofessor en in 2007 tot vol professor. Hy is sedert 2002 ook Direkteur van die Beyers Naudé Sentrum vir Publieke Teologie. Sy navorsing, onderrig en gemeenskapsinteraksie ressorteer op die terrein van die Publieke Teologie. In 2007 word hy eerste voorsitter van die Global Network for Public Theology, waarna hy tien maande lank navorsing oor Publieke Teologie doen aan die Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, VSA. As sistematiese teoloog fokus sy navorsing op die betekenis van trinitariese geloof vir die talle openbare vraagstukke in hedendaagse samelewings. Dit behels uitdagings soos menswaardigheid en menseregte, versoening en geregtigheid, asook uitdagings op die terreine van die bio-, seksuele-, ekonomiese, politieke en deugde-etiek. Hy behoort aan verskeie plaaslike en internasionale vakgenootskappe. Hy dien ook in een plaaslike en twee internasionale teologiese vaktydskrifte se redaksies. Hy tree gereeld op, dikwels op uitnodiging, by plaaslike en internasionale kongresse. Insgelyks publiseer hy deurlopend in plaaslike en internasionale geakkrediteerde tydskrifte en boekpublikasies. ‘n Boek van hom en sy kollega Robert Vosloo, getiteld Die ligtheid van die lig. Morele oriëntasie in ‘n postmoderne tyd, het in 2003 die gesogte Andrew Murray Prys vir Teologiese Vakliteratuur gewen. Koopman is getroud met Francina (Skattie, neé Malouly), ‘n onderwyser. Hulle het twee kinders wat albei Maties is, naamlik William (magisterstudent) en Marilize (eerstejaarstudent). Die gesin woon by die universiteitskoshuise Huis Marais en Huis Visser waar Koopman Inwonende Hoof is.
1979 – : Onderwyser, Die Kuil Primêre Skool, Daniëlskuil.
1984-1986: Onderwyser, Athlone Skool vir Blindes, Bellville.
1987-1991: Predikant, Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk, Atlantis.
1991-1994: Kapelaan, Universiteit van die Wes-Kaap.
1994 - : Deeltydse dosent, Universiteit van die Wes-Kaap.
1995 - 2001: Dosent: Dogmatiek en Etiek, Hugenote Kollege.
1997 en 1999: Waarnemende Voorsitter: Departement Teologie, Hugenote Kollege.
1999: Waarnemende Voorsitter: Komitee Hoof van Departemente, Hugenote Kollege.
2000: Voorsitter – Departement Teologie, Hugenote Kollege.
2001: Vise-rektor – Hugenote Kollege.
April 2001 – 2004: Senior lektor in Departement Sistematiese Teologie en Ekklesiologie, Fakulteit Teologie, Universiteit Stellenbosch.
Augustus 2002 – Direkteur: Beyers Naudé Sentrum vir Publieke Teologie, Universiteit Stellenbosch.
2004 – Inwonende Hoof: Universiteitskoshuise Huis Visser en Huis Marais, Universiteit Stellenbosch.
April 2004 – Voorsitter: Departement Sistematiese Teologie en Ekklesiologie, Universiteit Stellenbosch.
November 2004 –: Mede-professor Sistematiese Teologie, Universiteit Stellenbosch
Januarie 2008 –: Vol professor Sistematiese Teologie, Universiteit Stellenbosch.
Januarie 2008 –: Rubriekskrywer: Die Burger dagblad, asook Rapport Sondagkoerant.
B.A. (UWK) 1984.
B.Th.Hons. (UWK) 1987.
M.Th. (UWK) 1993 God en die lyding? ‘n Ondersoek na die paradigma-teorieë van A van de Beek oor die lydingsvraag.
Promotor: Prof D.J. Smit, Universiteit Stellenbosch.
D.Th. (UWK) 2001 Titel van proefskrif: Dade of deugde? Implikasies vir Suid-Afrikaanse kerke van ‘n modern-postmoderne debat oor die moraliteit.
Promotor: Prof. D.J.Smit, Universiteit Stellenbosch
Mede-promotor: Prof. J.S.Reinders, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.
Christian theology investigates (a) the contents of Christian faith, (b) the rationality and reasonability of Christian faith and (c) the concrete implications and meaning of Christian faith. My research and teaching focus specifically on the contents, rationality and implications of Trinitarian faith. Within this framework various research themes are investigated, various undergraduate modules in systematic theology are taught, and various postgraduate students are supervised.
The three publics in which I strive to do theology is the academy, churches and broader society. As a systematic theologian I aim to develop a Public Theology, which is intra-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary.
From the comprehensive perspective of doctrine of God, Christology and pneumatology I reflect on various concrete public challenges, i.e. human dignity and human rights (especially socio-economic rights), human dignity in educational institutions, poverty and economic justice, Africa as vulnerable continent, globalization differently abled persons, gender relations, the ubuntu discourse, social identity, violence and peace, illness and public health.
Various methodological questions pertaining to understandings of concepts like Public Theology, public church, public life in all its complexity (politics, economy, civil society, public opinion-formation, public policy), and the role and modes of presence of religion in modern-postmodern pluralistic public life, are addressed.
Christelike teologie ondersoek (a) die inhoud van Christelike geloof, (b) die rasionaliteit en redelikheid van die Christelike geloof en (c) die konkrete implikasies en betekenis van die Christelike geloof. My navorsing en onderrig fokus spesifiek op die inhoud, rasionaliteit en implikasies van Trinitariese geloof. In hierdie raamwerk word verskeie navorsingstemas ge-ondersoek, voorgraadse modules in sistematiese teologie gedoseer, en verskeie nagraadse studente begelei.
Die drie publieke waarin ek teologie probeer beoefen is die akademie, kerke en die breër samelewing.As sistematiese teoloog wil ek ‘n Publieke Teologie ontwikkel wat intra-dissiplinêr, inter-dissiplinêr en trans-dissiplinêr is.
Vanuit die omvattende perspektief van die leer aangaande God, die Christologie en die pneumatologie dink ek na oor konkrete publieke uitdagings, onder andere menswaardigheid en menseregte (veral sosio-ekonomiese regte), menswaardigheid in opvoedkundige inrigtings, armoede en ekonomiese geregtigheid, Afrika as brose kontinent, globalisering, gestremde persone, genderverhoudinge, die ubuntu-diskoers, sosiale identiteit, geweld en vrede, siekte en openbare gesondheid.
Verskeie metodologiese vrae word ondersoek met betrekking tot die verstaan van konsepte soos Publieke Teologie, publieke kerk, die publieke lewe in al sy kompleksiteit (politiek, ekonomie, burgerlike samelewing, publieke opinievorming, publieke beleid ens.), en die rol en modi van die teenwoordigheid van godsdiens in die modern-postmoderne, pluralistiese publieke lewe.
Dosente-oriënteringskursus van die Buro vir Universiteit en Voortgesette Opleiding, sowel as die Buro vir Mediese en Tandheelkundige Opleiding, Universiteit Stellenbosch: 5-9 Februarie 1996.
Prontak-kursus van Uni-ed, Universiteit Stellenbosch, sowel as verskeie ander Prontak-kursusse gedurende 2002.
Transformasie-leierskap-kursus van SANLAM en die Departement Menslike Hulpbronne van Universiteit Stellenbosch: 2004.
1.1 Akademiese artikels in portuur-geëvalueerde (meestal gesubsidieerde) tydskrifte
2009. Public Theology as Prophetic Theology. More than utopianism and criticism, in Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 134, Julie 2009, p.117-130.
2009. The reception of the Barmen Declaration in South Africa, in: The Ecumenical review, 61.1, p.60 – 71.
2008. On violence, the Belhar Confession and human dignity, in: NGTT 49/3 and 4, p.159 – 166.
2008. Holiness and public life in South Africa: The quest for wholeness, embrace and justice, in Colloquium 40/2, p.166-181.
2008. Vulnerable Church in a Vulnerable World? Towards an Ecclesiology of Vulnerability, in: Journal of Reformed Theology. Leiden/Boston: Brill, p.240-254
1.2 Hoofstukke in portuur-geëvalueerde boeke
2009. Endgültige Heilung? Vorläufige Heilung? Fürsorge? Christliche Hoffnung und Krankheit, in: Thomas, G en Karle, I (reds.) Krankheitsdeutung in der postsäkularen Gesellschaft. Theologische Ansätze im interdisziplinären Gespräch. Stuttgart: Verlag W. Kohlhammer, p.393 – 407.
2008. Suid-Afrikaanse kerke en die openbare lewe. Enkele lesse uit die teologie van Willie Jonker, in: Jonker, WD, Die relevansie van die kerk. Teologiese reaksies op die betekenis van die kerk in die wêreld. Wellington: Bybelmedia, p.165 – 178.
2008. Towards reconciliation and justice in South Africa. Can church unity make a difference?, in: Kim, S, Kollontai, P and Hoyland, G (eds) Peace and reconciliation. In search of shared identity. Hampshire/Burlington: Ashgate, p.95-108.
2008. Religion, Public Life and Public Policy in South Africa, in: Le Bruyns, C and Ulshoefer, G (eds) The Humanization of Globalization: South African and German Perspectives, Haag & Herchen Verlag, Frankfurt, Germany, p.73-86.
2008. Globalization and Rehumanization? in Le Bruyns, C and Ulshoefer,G (eds) The Humanization of Globalization: South African and German Perspectives, Haag & Herchen Verlag, Frankfurt, Germany, p.235-246.
2008. Christian Baptism and an identity of inclusivity, dignity and holiness, in: Van der Borght, E et. al. (eds) Christian identity. Studies in Reformed Theology, vol. 16. Leiden: Brill.
2008. (Saam met Smit, DJ) Human Dignity and Human Rights as Guiding Principles for the Economy?, in: Le Bruyns, S and Ulshoeffer, G (eds) The Humanization of Globalization: South African and German Perspectives, Haag & Herchen Verlag, Frankfurt, Germany, p.59-70.
2008. (In gesprek met Koopman, FC) Churches, public life and development: Restoration of dignity in the context of education, in De Gruchy, S, Koopman, N and Strijbos, S (eds) From our side: Emerging perspectives on development and ethics. Leiden: Brill, p.33 – 44.
1.3 Akademiese Boeke
2002. Saam met Vosloo, R Die ligtheid van die lig. Morele oriëntasie in ‘n postmoderne tyd. Wellington: Lux Verbi.(Hierdie boek het die Andrew Murray Prys vir Teologie Literatuur gewen in 2003).
Redigering van akademiese tydskrif
2007. Gasredakteur van die spesiale uitgawe van Journal of Reformed Theology wat fokus op Publieke Teologie. Leiden: Brill.
1.5 Redigering van akademiese boeke
2008. De Gruchy, S, Koopman, N and Strijbos, S (eds) From our side: Emerging perspectives on development and ethics. Amsterdam: Brill.
1.6 Hoofstukke in geredigeerde populêre boeke en tydskrifte
2007. Die universiteit – ’n plek van diversiteit, in Fourie, J (ed) Uniwrsityt. Wat jy moet weet (‘n boek oor universiteitslewe in hedendaagse Suid Afrika), p. 127-141.
2004. HIV en aids als etische en theologische uitdaging in Zuid-Africa. Theologisch Debat 1(4), Desember, p. 53-57.
Download Full Curiculum Vitae and List of Publications here (.doc; 116 kb)