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The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a phrase that is frequently heard in the media. This study explores the major changes that this revolution has installed for us. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is an umbrella term for many aspects, and the study takes note of the concepts like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, artificial general intelligence, artificial superintelligence, transhumanism and Homo digitalis. The spin-off effect of this revolution may cause possible disruptive effects on Homo sapiens by creating greater numbers of Homo disruptus. The term Homo disruptus is not a frequently used term, although it can be used in conjunction with the disruption that will be part of our future. Disruption may occur because of emerging technology, robotics, unemployment, digital dictatorships and exploitation, the side effects of Homo digitalis and transhumanism. The church will be part and parcel of this world, although the church does not have to be a victim and can play a significant role in anchoring Homo disruptus with the timeless message of the gospel and finding innovative ways to deal with their disruptive world.

National conscripts and their quest for closure:A Pastoral challenge. During the apartheid era, young white men were conscripted for military service in the South African Defence Force. After the demise of apartheid, these military veterans became part of the transformation process in the country. They were often not prepared for the emotional and psychological impact of the political, economic and social changes. Many of them found and still find it difficult to take their place among the citizenry of the country. The post-apartheid government provided no support for them to reintegrate into the community or to process the often long-lasting effects of war related trauma and moral injury. For many, this resulted in a lack of healing and closure on a psychological, moral and spiritual level. This article aims to contribute from a pastoral care perspective to the process of healing, closure and reintegration of this specific group. A holistic narrative approach integrates the contextual approach of Charles Gerkin, the philosophical counselling of Daniel Louw and the insights of Neil Anderson with regard to the connection between spirituality and identity. A contextual approach promotes a deeper understanding of the veterans and their needs in the context of their local communities, including faith communities. In these local communities, resources are available and should be utilised. Such a constructive engagement between veterans, local communities and faith communities can contribute to healthier individuals, families and communities as well as to a healthier society. Guidelines for pastoral support of these veterans that can contribute to their social and personal transformation and process of psychological closure are proposed.

This article is about the 2nd half (50 years) of the centenary of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) at the University of Pretoria (UP). The NHKA was the first church to join the Faculty of Theology at UP in 1917. The previous article ‘Hervormde footprints on the Tukkie campus – a chronicle of the first fifty years’ contains the humble beginnings, the steady growth, the political background during the apartheid years, and the NHKA’s role in justifying apartheid. The 70s and the 80s was a flourishing time for the Church with a steady growth in membership, an increase in the number of lecturers and students, and more or less enough money to sustain theology education at UP. During the nineties there was a decrease in membership numbers with the pivot point in 1992: from thereon there was a steady decline which was accelerated by the church schism in 2011 and onward. The two Sections of the NHKA and the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK), Section A and B, became one in 2000. The Reformed Theology College (RTC), with the aim of church specific education for students of the NHKA, was also established in 2000 with prof. T.F.J. Dreyer as the first head. In November 2015 a student protest action #FeesMustFall rocked the foundation of higher education in South Africa. The issue of language and curriculum as aftermath of the protest actions was also at stake during 2016. During 2017 the centennial celebration of the Faculty of Theology at UP will take place. It coincides with REFO 500 – the commemoration of 500 years of the Reformation.

In 2017 the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) celebrates its centenary of theological education at the University of Pretoria (UP). In this article the focus is on the build-up to setting up the first 50 years 1917– 1967 at UP. From as early as 1909 there was a yearning for our own theological seminary; however, some of the church leaders expressed their desire for theological education at a university. At the dawn of 1916 everything was in place for the NHKA and the Presbyterian Church of South Africa, as the first two partners, to start a faculty of theology at the Transvaal University College (TUC). On 01 April 1917 the Faculty of Theology commenced its work with prof. J.H.J.A. Greyvenstein of the NHKA and prof. E. MacMillan from the Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian link with the faculty was broken in 1933. From 1938 the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) joined the NHKA and two independent sections were established: Section A for the NHKA and Section B for the NGK. There was a steady growth in the number of students and professors and on 13 June 1967 the NHKA filled its sixth professorship in the person of prof. I.J. de Wet. This era was also characterised by a lot of political tension in the heyday of the policy of apartheid. The NHKA was known for Article III in its constitution that propagates that church membership was for whites only. The NHKA support of the policy of apartheid was the cause of a dispute between the Church and prof. A.S. Geyser. In the end the matter was settled in favour of Geyser. There was also a dispute between professors A.G. Geyser and A.D. Pont that ended up in court in 1967. Pont was accused of defamation against Geyser. The court ruled against Pont and Geyser was granted the largest amount of compensation up till then.

Does Christ sustain the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa? The Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCA) that is situated in South-Africa is currently experiencing a serious decline in numbers. The question arises whether Christ will sustain the NRCA in the words of the Afrikaans Hymn 477 in the ‘Liedboek van die Kerk’ (Hymnbook of the Church): ‘Christ will maintain his church …’ Is it a matter of faith, or even more – a matter of obedience? The membership of the NRCA mainly consists of white Afrikaans-speaking people. Apart from the situation in the NRCA there is also a serious decline in the number of white people in South Africa. It raises the question about the sustainability of the NRCA if it continues to maintain a membership of predominately white Afrikaans-speaking people. The NRCA is very much institutionalised with a history that lacks missional intention and involvement in the community. This study investigates the possibility for a more applicable missional curriculum in the training of theology students to counter the lack of missional involvement. It also investigates new ways to reach the unchurched society with a missional approach. The Fresh Expression Movement that originated in the UK provides a new paradigm for the NRCA that will hopefully lead to a new way of thinking and doing. Will Christ sustain the NRCA? The answer lies in the willingness of the NRCA to show a missional heart for all the people of Africa, especially those in Southern Africa.Keywords: Missional; missional curriculum; missional ecclesiology; institutionalism; toxic organization; spiritual; church planting; fringes; Fresh Expressions

Rutger Schutte (1708-1784), the pietistic author of popular hymnbooks, composed his spiritual verses at a time the religious culture of Pietism was approaching its zenith in the Netherlands and other European countries. In addition to his contribution to Een Nieuw Bundeltje Uitgeknipte Geestelyke Gezangen [A new collection of suitable spiritual songs] (third edition, 1721), he composed three collections of Stichtelijke Gezangen [Edifying hymns] from the early 1760s. In addition to the extensive prefaces in these collections, Schutte added long annotations, thereby creating the impression of academic depth – a style which elicited much criticism. However, Schutte’s hymns introduced a new popular culture of hymn-singing. At the time of his death his hymns had found staunch adherents in many spheres of life. This essay identifies several themes central to Schutte’s hymns: the quest for practical piety; the tension between the heavenly Jerusalem and the earthly Jericho; and the spiritual marriage bond between Jesus and the believer. These themes also surface prominently in the spiritual diaries of the Voortrekker woman Susanna Smit. The entries in her diaries from the early 1840s reflect extracts from Schutte’s hymn “The voyage to Jerusalem” in particular. Her descriptions of and reflection on the metaphor of the Christian pilgrim’s voyage to the eternal Jerusalem served as an important point of reference in her spiritual exercises.

Editorial: Tribute The first ministers trained locally by and for the Netherdutch Rerformed Church of Africa (NRCA) were J.J. Kuhn and J.J. Prinsloo. The study of Dr P.J. Muller served as 'the seminary'. The full theological curriculum was taught (see Oberholzer 2010:5). These students were licensed in 1909. Redaksioneel: Huldiging Die eerste predikante wat op eie bodem deur en vir die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) opgelei is, was J.J. Kuhn en J.J. Prinsloo. Die studeerkamer van dr.P.J. Muller het as 'kweekskool' gedien. Die volle teologiese kurrikulum is onderrig (kyk na Oberholzer 2010:5). Hierdie studente is in 1909 in die Kerk beroepbaar gestel.

A practical-theological investigation into the role of the church year in the liturgy and preaching of the Dutch Reformed ChurchThe aim of this article is to discuss the valuable role the church year can play in liturgy and preaching and the service and activities of the church. The article demonstrates that the rediscovery of the church year is one of the most remarkable aspects of the twentiethcentury reform and renewal of Christian worship. Within a context of poverty and continuing change, the church year – if valued positively and if accentuated in the preaching – could lead to the celebration of God.

Hierdie is 'n besonderse boek wat 'n groot rol binne die reformatoriese Praktiese Teologie kan en behoort te speel. Na my mening oorskadu hierdie boek huidige boeke in dieselfde veld. Dit is die mees volledige boek oor Praktiese Teologie wat ek tot op hede onder oe gehad het. Dit bied 'n moderne omskrywing van die rol en doel van die beoefening van Praktiese Teologie, en poog om die metateoretiese faktore van die praktiese teologiese wetenskapsbeoefening uit te spel en te verwoord. Die boek is uiters aktueel en geweldig verrykend.

Die doel met hierdie artikel is om vas te stel wat die belewenis van uitbranding by nagraadse teologiese studente van die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) is. Deur middel van kwantitatiewe empiriese navorsing is vasgestel wat die vlak van uitbranding by nagraadse teologiese studente van die GKSA is. Met die navorsing is vasgestel dat 75% van die nagraadse teologiese studente wat aan die studie deelgeneem het, 'n mate van emosionele uitbranding beleef. Van hierdie 75% het 35% van die deelnemers akute uitbranding beleef en 'n verdere 15% kan binne die ineenstortingstadium van uitbranding gekategoriseer word. Verskeie faktore is geïdentifiseer wat moontlik tot die nagraadse teologiese studente se belewenis van uitbranding kan bydra. Hierdie faktore sluit onder meer in die oneffektiewe bestuur van die werkslading; die belewenis van werksoorlading en 'n gebrek aan die beheer en bestuur van hulle akademiese werkslading; 'n persepsie dat hulle nie genoeg erkenning vir hulle bydrae en of insette ontvang nie; persoonlike probleme in die private lewe van die studente; 'n verlies aan werksvreugde en gebrekkige interpersoonlike verhoudings; 'n gebrek aan die opleiding van emosionele vaardighede en interpersoonlike verhoudings in die kurrikulum; 'n gebrek aan die handhawing van gesonde emosionele grense en die volhoubare ontwikkeling van die student se eie geestelike lewe; asook 'n tekort aan die vervulling van persoonlike doelwitte. 1 Konings 19 word as bybelse vertrekpunt gebruik vir die behandeling en voorkoming van uitbranding by nagraadse teologiese studente van die GKSA. The aim of this article is to establish to what extent the postgraduate theological students of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (RCSA) experience burnout. Quantitative empirical research was conducted to establish their levels of burnout. The researcher found that 75% of the postgraduate students had experienced burnout to some extent. Out of these 75% participants, 35% experienced acute burnout, and a further 15% could be classified as being in the breakdown phase of burnout. Various factors were identified that may contribute to the postgraduate theological students' experiencing of burnout. These factors include inter alia the ineffective management of the academic work load; their experiencing of overload and a lack of control over the amount of academic work; perceptions that they are not rewarded sufficiently for their contributions; personal problems in their private lives; a lack of emotional development and growth and a need for interpersonal skills training in their curriculum; a lack of maintaining healthy emotional boundaries; structuring and ordering of the postgraduate theological students' own spiritual life; and a lack of fulfilment of goals. 1 Kings 19 is used as a biblical basis for the treatment and prevention of emotional burnout among the postgraduate theological students of the RCSA.

A Practical Theological research on the involvement of congregations in the community where they exist The study deals with the question about the involvement of congregations of the two traditional Reformational churches in South Africa, namely the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCA) in their communities. The question posed is whether the love of God is kept for the benefit of the congregation or whether it is also for the well-being of the community. The study comprises two parts, an introduction that deals with the theory of mission and service to the community. The second part is an empirical study where 12 projects were given as examples and congregations were asked about their involvement.

This article dealt with the process of building up the local congregation and the manner in which missional objectives are achieved. The article was undertaken against the background of the disturbing decline in membership numbers, particularly in the two traditional Reformational churches in South Africa, namely the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa. This decline is in line with similar tendencies in mainstream churches the world over. The key aspects of the theory of building up the local church was discussed and mission in the current South African context dealt with, particularly in view of the fact that an entirely new mission field has opened itself up with the influx into the country of so many people from neighbouring countries who have come to live in our midst. Missional objectives for the local church, as well as aspects that can be subjected to empirical testing are determined all along. The hypothesis wanted to verify whether local churches that have undergone a structured process of building up the local church are more successful missionally than those that have not undergone a structured process.

Book review : Towards the light : hope in the face of depression / Jeanne Els. Publisher : Lux Verbi BM, Cape Town, 2008, pp. 224.

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Thesis--PU for CHO. No abstract available

MA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus "No abstract available" Masters

ThM (Etiek), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus Die Bybel word tradisioneel deur Christene as die onfeilbare Woord van God gesien. Daarin word duidelike vereistes vir leierskap gestel wat insluit dat God van leiers verwag dat hulle nederig, eerlik, en verantwoordelik moet wees. Dit raak hoe langer hoe meer duidelik dat heelparty politici en maghebbers in Suid-Afrika hulself aan immorele leierskap skuldig maak. Hul optrede strook nie met God se verwagting van leiers nie. By hierdie leiers word egter meer as gewone ongehoorsaamheid gevind. Koning Dawid was ongehoorsaam, maar het tot bekering gekom, en die straf van God aanvaar (vgl. 2 Sam. 12), maar in plaas van bekering, word korrupsie en immoraliteit deur hierdie hedendaagse leiers regverdig of verdoesel. Dit kom dus voor asof hier meer is as net ongehoorsaamheid, ook meer as net gewone korrupsie. Saam met korrupsie wat duidelik nie as verkeerd beskou word nie, is ook ʼn tipe hoogmoed in optredes te bespeur. Hoe hierdie politici hulself en hul rol in die samelewing beskou word ondersoek en ʼn paradigma word getoets om hierdie fenomeen te begrond, ten einde toepaslike remedies te kan voorstel. Sosiale Darwinisme, die toepassing van die teorieë van Charles Darwin op die mensdom, blyk so ʼn moontlike paradigma te wees. Hierdie studie ondersoek die moontlikheid van ‘n sosiaal Darwinistiese wêreldbeskouing as bydraende faktor tot hierdie immorele leierskap. Masters

MA (Apologetiek), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus Die eens “Christelike Weste" is besig om radikaal te verander. Tot 85% van kinders in Amerikaanse publieke skole en heelwat van die kinders in Christenskole het nie meer ? Bybelse wêreldbeskouing nie (McDowell & Bellis, 2006:14). Ongeveer 86% van Suid-Afrikaners assosieer hulle met die Christelike godsdiens. Byna die helfte van die groep neem weekliks deel aan openbare godsdiensbeoefening wat ? skerp daling in betrokkenheid verteenwoordig teenoor twee dekades gelede (Statistics-SA, 2015:27-28). Dit is ? sterk aanduiding dat ? groot deel van die Christendom in Suid-Afrika, soos ook in dele van die Westerse wêreld, uit nominale Christene bestaan. Die eens “Christelike Weste" is besig om radikaal te verander. Tot 85% van kinders in Amerikaanse publieke skole en heelwat van die kinders in Christenskole het nie meer ? Bybelse wêreldbeskouing nie (McDowell & Bellis, 2006:14). Ongeveer 86% van Suid-Afrikaners assosieer hulle met die Christelike godsdiens. Byna die helfte van die groep neem weekliks deel aan openbare godsdiensbeoefening wat ? skerp daling in betrokkenheid verteenwoordig teenoor twee dekades gelede (Statistics-SA, 2015:27-28). Dit is ? sterk aanduiding dat? groot deel van die Christendom in Suid-Afrika, soos ook in dele van die Westerse wêreld, uit nominale Christene bestaan. Om dit wat genoem is na te gaan, fokus die studie op die onderbou van klein kinders se geloofsvorming en geloofsgroei. Omdat die gesin3 die primêre invloed in die eerste sewe jaar van meeste kinders se lewens is, word ingegaan op die belang van die gesin en sy regmatige plek in die deelname van die geloofsvorming van die kind. Gevolglik word daar gefokus daarop om ouers toe te rus om ? Bybelse wêreldbeskouing (en as’t ware ? geloofslewe) te vestig in die gesin sowel as by die kind Masters

The different models for the criminal liability of juristic persons reveal a tension between individualist and realistic approaches. For individualists a corporation is the product of a union of individuals. This means that a juristic person can only be held criminally responsible if the conduct and fault of an individual involved in the entity are attributed to the juristic person. For realists a corporate entity has an existence independent of its individual members. The juristic person is blameworthy because its corporate identity or corporate ethos encouraged the criminal conduct. A study of organisational theory reveals that corporate crime may not necessarily be traced to the fault of specific individuals. Corporate criminality often is the result of complex decisions on different levels of the corporate hierarchy and furthermore is encouraged by the manner in which the organisation is structured. Prominent scholars such as the American philosopher Peter A French and the Australian Brent Fisse rejected an individualist approach and attempted to develop models of corporate fault based on the corporate identity idea. The failure of a corporation to take preventative or corrective measures in reaction to corporate criminal conduct is regarded as the basis for corporate fault by these authors. French calls this the "principle of responsive adjustment" whilst Fisse names it the concept of "reactive fault." A more sophisticated model (the "corporate ethos" model), which is also more reconcilable with the basic notions of criminal law, was developed by the American legal scholar Pamela Bucy. * A corporation will be held criminally responsible if its corporate ethos has encouraged the criminal conduct. The corporate ethos can be established with reference to numerous factors such as the corporate hierarchy, corporate goals, the existing monitoring and compliance systems and the question whether employees are rewarded or indemnified for inappropriate behavior.