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Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614093468237824 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Kekana, Mokgethwa Boipelo Atlegang |
| author2 | Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine |
| author_browse | Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine Kekana, Mokgethwa Boipelo Atlegang |
| author_facet | Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine Kekana, Mokgethwa Boipelo Atlegang |
| author_sort | Kekana, Mokgethwa Boipelo Atlegang |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132572 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:33.531Z |
| 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:10019.1/132572 Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg Kekana, Mokgethwa Boipelo Atlegang Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology. Wealth -- Religious aspects Social change -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Church and social problems Social change -- Religious aspects Poverty -- Religious aspects UCTD Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Kekana, M. B. A. 2025. Economic Sharing as a Ministry Model for Poverty Alleviation? Perceptions of Church leaders in the City of Johannesburg. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/dae9c36c-7e0f-4127-8173-d264b068b98b ENGLISH SUMMARY: The scourge of poverty and inequality continues to be a devastating reality in South Africa, existing in the context of 80% of the population identifying as Christian. When assessing the normative responses to poverty in the Bible, the principle of economic sharing is prevalent. This study is concerned with determining the perspectives of church leaders on the theological principles of economic sharing and whether or not they could be applied to address poverty and inequality in South Africa. The study assesses the extent and effects of poverty and inequality in South Africa, with a particular focus on the City of Johannesburg, discussed an African theology of poverty, wealth and economic sharing and finally explored the perceptions of Johannesburg church leaders on the principle of economic sharing. The findings indicate that poverty is a complex issue that affects all aspects of life. More than half of the South African population lives in poverty, and based on Gini-coefficient, the nation is considered to be the most unequal in the world. In terms of the church’s response, research indicates that churches’ efforts have been primarily focused on relief centred initiatives. It was also determined that the principle of economic sharing aligns not only with the biblical notion of Shalom, but also with the African ethical values, making it a component of African Christian theology. In the empirical component of the study it became evident that although the clergy are dissatisfied with limited responses to poverty, they also feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of work required to establish alleviation efforts centred on justice and equity, especially without government participation. The study thus concludes that poverty is a multidimensional issue, rather than a simple economic deficit, and that church’s current relief-centred efforts, while helpful in providing immediate relief, do not align with the notion of Shalom. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die plaag van armoede en ongelykheid bly 'n verwoestende werklikheid in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie werklikheid bestaan ook in die konteks van 80% van die bevolking wat as Christen identifiseer. Wanneer die normatiewe reaksies op armoede in die Bybel geassesseer word, is die beginsel van ekonomiese deelgenootskap oorheersend. Hierdie studie is dus besorg oor die bepaling van die perspektiewe van kerkleiers oor die teologiese beginsels van ekonomiese deelgenootskap en of dit in die konteks van armoede en ongelykheid in Suid-Afrika gebruik kan word. Die studie evalueer die omvang en gevolge van armoede en ongelykheid in Suid-Afrika, met 'n spesifieke fokus op die Stad Johannesburg, 'n Afrikaanse teologie van armoede, rykdom en ekonomiese deelgenootskap, en uiteindelik die persepsies van Johannesburg se kerkleiers oor die beginsel van ekonomiese deelgenootskap. Die bevindinge dui aan dat armoede 'n komplekse kwessie is wat alle aspekte van die lewe beinvloed. Benewens dit, is meer as helfte van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking arm, en op grond van die Gini-koeffisient word die nasie beskou as die mees ongelyke ter wereld. Wat betref die reaksie van die kerk, dui navorsing oor die jare aan dat kerke se reaksies hoofsaaklik gefokus was op hulpgerigteinisiatiewe. Dit is ook bepaal dat die beginsel van ekonomiese deelgenootskap nie net ooreenstem met die bybelse begrip van Shalom nie, maar ook met Afrikaanse etiese waardes, wat dit binne die omvang van 'n Afrikaanse Christelike teologie plaas. In die onderhoude het dit duidelik geword dat hoewel die geestelikes ontevrede is met 'n beperkte reaksie op armoede, hulle ook oorweldig voel deur die grootte van die werk wat vereis word om verligtingspogings wat op geregtigheid en gelykheid gefokus is, te vestig, veral sonder enige regeringsdeelname. Die studie het dus afgelei dat armoede meer 'n multidimensionele kwessie is as hoe dit gewoonlik verstaan word en dat die kerk se huidige hulpgerigte pogings, terwyl dit nuttig is om onmiddellike hulp te bied, nie ooreenstem met die begrip van Shalom nie. Masters 2025-06-11T09:18:11Z 2025-06-11T09:18:11Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132572 Stellenbosch University 123 pages ; includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Wealth -- Religious aspects Social change -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Church and social problems Social change -- Religious aspects Poverty -- Religious aspects UCTD Kekana, Mokgethwa Boipelo Atlegang Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg |
| title | Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg |
| title_full | Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg |
| title_fullStr | Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg |
| title_short | Economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation? perceptions of church leaders in the City of Johannesburg |
| title_sort | economic sharing as a ministry model for poverty alleviation perceptions of church leaders in the city of johannesburg |
| topic | Wealth -- Religious aspects Social change -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Church and social problems Social change -- Religious aspects Poverty -- Religious aspects UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132572 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kekanamokgethwaboipeloatlegang economicsharingasaministrymodelforpovertyalleviationperceptionsofchurchleadersinthecityofjohannesburg |