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Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613740763971584 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Manual, Charmaine |
| author2 | Weber, Shantelle |
| author_browse | Manual, Charmaine Weber, Shantelle |
| author_facet | Weber, Shantelle Manual, Charmaine |
| author_sort | Manual, Charmaine |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131819 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:40:57.522Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131819 Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study Manual, Charmaine Weber, Shantelle Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology. Disabilities -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Church work with children with disabilities Social integration -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH SUMMARY: In South Africa, disability research is not sufficiently solution focused. This calls for an activist approach to research. This Practical Theological Action Research describes the situation of children with disabilities (CWD) and their families in South Africa and the role of the Church in their lives. This is an empirical investigation, under the domain of a qualitative study. Learnings were enhanced by a 2-year prolonged engagement as a volunteer in disability ministry. CWD are marginalized and excluded in South Africa. Disability prevalence is at 15% yet this prevalence is not visible in church. The high prevalence makes disability an important topic for the church. In Africa, religion has contributed to stigma around disability. Religious actors have a role in how a community views disability. Pastoral leaders have a platform to broadcast positive messages about disability and can act as entry points to a community. Disability theologians posit that the Church is instrumental in actualising the dignity of CWD. Outsiders witness the inclusive church as a radical expression of hospitality. This research study promotes a theological framework for church leaders that supports religious institution advocacy for CWD. Several studies indicate that for many individuals with disability, religion is important. For many, belonging to a faith community is important to faith praxis. This study explores a framework of belonging, focusing on what this means for CWD and their families. Chapter 2 describes the political and social context of these families in South Africa. The Church has an opportunity to transform inadequate responses to the political mainstreaming agenda. Chapter 3 incorporates a belonging tool (The “10 dimensions of belonging”) in dialogue with disability organizations as those closest to the lived realities of these families. It highlights that the invisible CWD must be sought out by the church before they can belong. This study explores what churches can do to build inclusive communities. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 presents focus group interviews with disability experts, special need families and pastoral leaders for practical insight into the ways in which local churches can broaden access for PWD. Chapter 6 combines participants from all the stakeholders into one final dialogue to exchange ideas between the stakeholders (disability experts, special need families and pastoral leaders) fulfilling the aim of developing and testing a pastoral leadership training model that leads to an appreciative enquiry about CWD and their families. The church is urged to consider CWD and their families as a large, unreached people group. The church is a pivotal actor in addressing the hidden realities of CWD and their families, by restoring them into community. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid-Afrika is gestremdheidsnavorsing nie voldoende oplossingsgerig nie. Dit vra vir 'n aktivistiese benadering tot navorsing. Hierdie Praktiese Teologiese Aksienavorsingbeskryf die situasie van kinders met gestremdhede en hul gesinne in Suid-Afrika en die rol van die Kerk in hul lewens. Dit is 'n empiriese ondersoek, onder die domein van 'n kwalitatiewe studie. Leer is verbeter deur 'n langdurige betrokkenheid van 2 jaar as 'nvrywilliger in gestremdheidsbediening. Kinders met gestremdhede in Suid Afrika word gemarginaliseer en uitgesluit. Die voorkoms van gestremdheid is op 15%, maar hierdie voorkoms is nie sigbaar in die kerk nie. Die hoe voorkoms maak gestremdheid 'n belangrike onderwerp vir die kerk. In Afrika het godsdiens bygedra tot stigma rondom gestremdheid. Godsdienstige akteurs speel 'n rol in hoe 'n gemeenskap gestremdheid beskou. Pastore het 'n platform om positiewe boodskappe uit te saai oor gestremdheid en kan as toegangspunte tot 'n gemeenskap dien. Gestremdheidsteoloe beweer dat die Kerk instrumenteel is in die aktualisering van die waardigheid van kinders met gestremdhede. Buitestanders sien die inklusiewe kerk as 'n radikale uitdrukking van gasvryheid. Die navorsingstudie bevorder 'n teologiese raamwerk vir kerkleiers wat godsdiensinstelling se voorspraak vir kinders met gestremdhede ondersteun. 'n Teologiese besinning vind progressief dwarsdeur die proefskrif plaas. Verskeie studies dui aan dat godsdiens belangrik is vir baie individue met gestremdheid. Vir baie is dit belangrik om aan 'n geloofsgemeenskap te behoort vir geloofsbeoefening. Hierdie studie ondersoek 'n raamwerk van behoort, met die fokus op wat hierdie beteken vir kinders met gestremdhede en hul gesinne. Hoofstuk 2 beskryf die politieke en sosiale konteks van hierdie gesinne in Suid-Afrika. Die Kerk het ‘n geleentheid om onvoldoende reaksies op die politieke hoofstroomagenda ontoereikend te transformeer. Hoofstuk 3 inkorporeer 'n hulpmiddel vir behoort (Die 10 dimensies van behoort) in dialoog met gestremdheid organisasies as diegene wat die naaste aan die geleefde realiteite van hierdie gesinne is. Daar word bevind dat die onsigbare kinders met gestremdhede opgesoek moet word, deur die kerk, voordat hulle kan behoort. Hierdie studie ondersoek wat kerke kan doen om inklusiewe gemeenskappe te bou . Hoofstukke 3, 4 en 5 bied fokusgroeponderhoude met gestremdheidskenners, gesinne met spesiale behoeftes en pastorale leiers vir praktiese insig in die wyses waarop plaaslike kerke toegang kan verbreed vir mense met gestremdhede. Hoofstuk 6 kombineer deelnemers van al die belanghebbendes in een laaste dialoog om idees uit te ruil tussen die belanghebbendes (gestremdheidskenners, gesinne met spesiale behoeftes en pastorale leiers) om die doel van die navorsing te vervul: Ontwikkeling en toetsing van 'n pastorale leierskap opleidingsmodel wat lei tot waarderende navraag oor kinders met gestremdhede en hul gesinne. Die kerk word aangespoor om kinders met gestremdhede en hul gesinne as 'n groot, onbereikte mensegroep te beskou. Die kerk is 'n deurslaggewende rolspeler in die aanspreek van die verborge realiteite van kinders met gestremdhede en hul gesinne, deur hulle in die gemeenskap te herstel. Doctoral 2025-03-31T08:55:56Z 2025-03-31T08:55:56Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131819 Stellenbosch University xxiii, 367 pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Disabilities -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Church work with children with disabilities Social integration -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD Manual, Charmaine Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study |
| title | Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study |
| title_full | Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study |
| title_fullStr | Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study |
| title_short | Churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities : a practical theological study |
| title_sort | churches as communities of belonging for children of all abilities a practical theological study |
| topic | Disabilities -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Church work with children with disabilities Social integration -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131819 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manualcharmaine churchesascommunitiesofbelongingforchildrenofallabilitiesapracticaltheologicalstudy |