Faculty of Theology
Prof J Buitendag, Dean
Telephone number: 012 420 3157
E-mail address: Johan.buitendag@up.ac.za
The Faculty has a strong research culture with an inquiry-led and research-
intensive approach. All the Faculty's personnel are active research staff,
and with the exception of only one member, all academic staff members
have at least one doctoral degree. The publication units in accredited
journals for full-time personnel increased from 6.4 in 2010 to 7.7 in 2011. Of the
145.5 publication units published in accredited theological journals, almost
65% appeared in ISI Web of Science journals. Currently, seven people who
are connected to the Faculty as staff members, emeriti or extraordinary
professors hold NRF ratings. These are Prof Johannes van Oort (A), Prof Gert
Steyn (B), Prof Dirk Human (C), Prof Jurie le Roux (C), Prof Hennie Pieterse (C),
Prof Andries van Aarde (C) and Prof Cas Wepener (Y).
Research and postgraduate studies form the two pillars of strength
in the Faculty. In 2011, there was an increase in the number of
research postgraduate degrees conferred by the Faculty since
2008. There was also a growth in the percentage of both master's
and doctoral graduates in relation to the total postgraduate
enrolments. To extend its research network, the Faculty continued
to pursue international collaborations and cooperation alliances.
A variety of research themes link to UP's goal to strengthen the
University's impact on economic and social development. This
includes, inter alia, the role of the church and religion in poverty,
apartheid, social cohesion and reconciliation, HIV/AIDS, personal
trauma and child abuse, gender, power and sexuality, violence, as well as theology, culture and society. Both theological journals
HTS Theological Studies and Verbum et Ecclesia contributed to aspects of transformation.
In the different academic departments, various research activities have taken place. In Church History and Church Polity, Prof Graham
Duncan, in collaboration with P Denis (University of KwaZulu-Natal), published a book on the history of the Federal Theological
Seminary of Southern Africa. In Practical Theology, Prof Hennie Pieterse analysed sermons on Matthew 25:31-46 in eight South African
provinces. Prof Julian Müller focused on personal trauma and adult spirituality, religious identity and the interplay between rural, urban
and virtual worlds, forgiveness, reconciliation, restitution and social cohesion, while Prof Cas Wepener investigated religious rituals and
social capital formation, as well as worship in a network culture. Prof Yolanda Dreyer explored gender, power, sexuality and pastoral
engagement and Prof Maake Masango undertook a book project on pastoral care and violence. Prof Johann Meylahn focused on
practical philosophical theology, culture and society.
Quantitatively and qualitatively, it was a good year for lecturers in the Department of Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, with 16 articles
published in accredited journals, and 10 contributions at international and national conferences. Prof Johan Buitendag published two
articles and three chapters in books. Prof Danie Veldsman completed a contribution to the Festschrift of the Dutch scholar Bram van
de Beek on his understanding of the theology-science dialogue. Dr Vuyani Vellum is doing research that is funded by the Research
Development Programme (RDP) at Thabo Mbeki Village, focusing on identifying the life-giving resources in squalid conditions of
poverty and informal settlement.
In a New Testament project, entitled "NTW Fokus", the Department hosted an international conference on mission and ethics, and
collaborated with the Scriptorium Bible Focus Centre in a seminar on the theme Christians and their bibles. Prof Gert Steyn worked on
the Old Testament quotations in the New Testament, Prof Ernest van Eck focused on the parables, while Prof Kobus Kok did research on
the topic of mission and ethics. Dr Elijah Mahlangu concentrated on the reading of the Bible in Africa, and Prof McGlory Speckman did
research on the biblical hermeneutics of development.
Two international congresses with the themes Deuteronomy, Theology and Ethics, and Psalms and Suffering were presented by the
Department of Old Testament Studies. The ProPent and ProPsalms seminars are two international flagships for biblical exegesis at UP
and are organised in collaboration with the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. Prof Alphonso Groenewald is writing
an international commentary on the Book of Isaiah, Prof Piet Venter examined research themes on Second Temple literature, while
Dr Sias Meyer focuses his research emphasis on Pentateuch studies.
In the Department of Religion and Missiology, Prof Nelus Niemandt published on the relationship between mission and power, and
on the "legacy" of David Bosch. Prof Thias Kgatla worked on themes like the South African Council of Churches, unity in the Dutch
Reformed family, as well as on African independent churches, while Dr Jaco Beyers conducted research on the origin of religion
from the insights gathered at a new archaeological discovery in Turkey. Prof Attie van Niekerk was project leader of a South Africa-
Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD) project, which resulted in a book, The People's Power
Project, with Paul Hebinck of Wageningen of the Netherlands.
Prof Johan Buitendag
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