Ries, Johannes (2012-03)
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the relationship between koinonia and diakonia. Where koinonia and diakonia are in proximity, an opportunity arises to draw individuals from different context together. This leads to an inter-cultural space where individuals from different contexts are encouraged to welcome and support each other in a mutual way.
Chapter 3 presents a hermeneutical Scriptural and a theological framework illustrating the important relationship between koinonia and diakonia. It is argued that such a “full koinonia” is embodied in the life of Jesus Christ. Not only did Christ came to live among human beings (koinonia ) but He also gave his life to us (diakonia).
In chapter 4 the early Christian Church is evaluated as a community that exemplified a form of “full koinonia”. Within the cultural diverse community in the Roman Empire, the church was able to reach out to the so called “other” by their positive approach to the many crises and challenges of the day. Christian help and support presented itself as a unique support network.
In chapter 5 “ full koinonia” is evaluated through an interdisciplinary approach by listening to sociology and community development. Both disciplines argue for a more personal or holistic approach in rendering service to communities. This calls for the addressing of greater societal issues over and above individual interests.
In chapter 6 “full koinonia” is discussed from a missional perspective. A cross-cultural or intercultural framework for servanthood is explored. Six principles for a “full koinonia” is outlined: openness, acceptance, trust, learning, understanding and serving.
With this hermeneutical framework as point of departure, the empirical component of the research is discussed in the following chapters. The research focuses on three Christian community projects, Shiloh Synergy, Sarfat Community Projects and the Elsiesrivier Care Centre exploring how they dealt with “full koinonia.”
The design of the empirical study in chapter 7 is presented in the form of a comparative study for the discernment of: 1) The processes and structures within inter-cultural Christian community projects; and 2) an evaluation of the level of a transformation in relationships. The qualitative data is analysed and discussed in chapter 8.
The study concludes in chapter 9 by establishing a meaningful interpretation of “full koinonia” in faith based involvement within a context full of societal challenges.
The literature study as well as the empirical component of the research proved the hypothesis that stated that faith based personal involvement leads to holistic growth for all concerned and contributes to social transformation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die relasie tussen koinonia en diakonia. Waar koinonia en diakonia nader aan mekaar gebring word, ontstaan ŉ geleentheid om individue vanuit verskillende kontekste byeen te bring. Dit baan die weg tot ŉ inter-kulturele ontmoeting waarbinne individue vanuit verskillende kontekste mekaar wedersyds verwelkom en versorg.
In hoofstuk 3 van hierdie studie is ŉ hermeneutiese raamwerk vir die noue relasie tussen koinonia en diakonia vanuit die Skrif en die teologie verskaf. Daar is geargumenteer vir “volle koinonia” wat beliggaam is deur Jesus Christus. Nie net het Christus onder die mensdom kom woon nie (koinonia), maar het Hy sy lewe vir ander afgelê (diakonia).
In Hoofstuk 4 word die vroeë Christelike kerk bespreek as ŉ gemeenskap wat gestalte wou gee aan “volle koinonia”. In die kultureel diverse samelewing van die Romeinse Ryk, was die kerk in staat om die “ander” te verwelkom deur positief te reageer op bepaalde krisisse en uitdagings. Christelike hulp en ondersteuning het na vore getree as ŉ unieke ondersteunings-netwerk.
In hoofstuk 5 is daar aan die hand van ŉ interdissiplinêre benadering vanuit die sosiologie en gemeenskapsontwikkeling ondersoek ingestel na die verstaan van “volle koinonia” binne samelewingsverband. Beide dissiplines argumenteer vir ŉ meer personalistiese of holistiese benadering, waar dit nie net gaan om individuele belange nie, maar die aanspreek van dieperliggende oorsake.
In hoofstuk 6 is daar vanuit ŉ missionêre perspektief gesoek na ŉ teologiese raamwerk wat so ŉ “volle koinonia” bevorder. ŉ Kruis-kulturele of inter-kulturele raamwerk vir diens word voorgestel. Ses belangrike beginsels is in die bevordering van “volle koinonia” uitgelig, naamlik die bevordering van openheid, aanvaarding, vertroue, lering, verstaan en diens.
Met hierdie hermeneutiese raamwerk as uitgangspunt, is die empiriese komponent van die studie in die volgende hoofstukke beskryf. Aan die hand van drie Christelike gemeenskaps-projekte, naamlik Shiloh Synergy, Sarfat Community Projects en die Elsiesrivier Care Centre is die ervaring van “volle koinonia” prakties getoets.
Die ontwerp van die empiriese deel van die studie (hoofstuk 7), was in die vorm van ŉ vergelykende studie ter onderskeiding van: 1) Die prosesse en strukture van die inter-kulturele ontmoeting by Christelike gemeenskapsprojekte; en 2) ŉ evaluering van die vlak van transformasie in verhoudinge. Die kwalitatiewe data is in hoofstuk 8 geanaliseer en bespreek.
Die gevolgtrekking van die studie, in hoofstuk 9, bied ŉ interpretasie van wat “volle koinonia” in geloofsgebaseerde betrokkenheid behels en bereik.
Die literatuurstudie en die empiriese komponent van die navorsing het die hipotese bewys. Dit toon aan dat geloofsgebaseerde betrokkenheid op ŉ persoonlike vlak ruim geleentheid bied vir die holistiese groei van die betrokkenes en die weg baan tot sosiale transformasie.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20192