Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
South Africa is a culturally diverse country, which is becoming more and more
complex due to secular influences like globalisation and the influx of African
migrants. As different ethnic groups are integrated in South African
communities, pastors are faced with new challenges to develop multicultural
congregations, that reflect the demography of the community. Pastors also face
challenges with regards to the interaction of men and women, as well as the
interaction of various age groups. The handling of current challenges will
however not be effective without an understanding of the painful exclusion of
various ethnic groups and women from certain ministry and leadership positions
that characterised the Pentecostal history. The lack of mentorship from
generation to generation also led to generation gaps.
In order to provide pastors of multicultural Pentecostal-Charismatic
congregations with guidelines to handle these challenges, it was necessary to
give a rich description of the challenges that pastors themselves experiece with
regards to the interaction of various ethnic groups, men and women as well as
the interaction of various age groups in multicultural congregations. The
description of the challenges that pastors of multicultural Pentecostal-
Charismatic congregations face, as well as giving guidelines in handling these
challenges, formed the research goals of the study.
The qualitative model of practical theological reflection developed by Swinton
and Mowat (2006), was used to guide the research process. In the first stage of
the research process, a literature study was done to describe the multicultural
context of Pentecostal-Charismatic congregations. The study took place against
the background of the Pentecostal history. This led to a description of the DNA
of Pentecost, that explained how unity in the initial Pentecostal movements
gained momentum through the work of the Holy Spirit. A description of the
Pentecostal history also explained how the introduction of formal structures, as
well as a shift from the missionary task of Christ to an inward focus on the
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preferences of certain people and groups led to the division of believers, based
on ethnicity, gender and age.
Challenges are also faced with the current integration of various ethnic groups,
men and women, as well as different age groups. In the second stage of the
research process, qualitative research was used to explore and to describe the
challenges that pastors of multicultural congregations face. The themes that
were identified by the study, were compared to current literature as well as
Scriptural guidelines in the third stage of the study. In the final stage, new
practices were given to aid pastors in handling the challenges of multicultural
Pentecostal-Charismatic congregations. These practices include a return to the
original DNA of Pentecost, a strong theological and cultural grounding, as well
as the implementation of practical guidelines under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. The study was concluded with the unique contributions of the study to the
field of Practical Theology and by making recommendations for further
research.