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Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613881870843904 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Moll, Mignon Jorge |
| author2 | Wepener, Cas, 1972- |
| author_browse | Moll, Mignon Jorge Wepener, Cas, 1972- |
| author_facet | Wepener, Cas, 1972- Moll, Mignon Jorge |
| author_sort | Moll, Mignon Jorge |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132591 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:11.727Z |
| 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:10019.1/132591 Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration Moll, Mignon Jorge Wepener, Cas, 1972- Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology & Missiology. Marriage counseling Dutch Reformed Church -- Liturgy Practical theology UCTD Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Moll, M. J. 2025. Towards an Integration between Pre-Marital Counselling and Marriage Liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church: A Practical Theological Exploration. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/53342e44-db82-4fee-975c-39447885014f ENGLISH SUMMARY: Many people view life as a journey, envisioning a mapped path that they travel alongside God, navigating through various stages. While the detail of this path is not for certain, there are a few matters that stands firmly namely: 1. The path consists of a beginning, middle and end. 2. It starts with birth and concludes with death. 3. Two major transitions occur along this path: coming of age (becoming an adult) and finding a partner (marriage). During these transitions, individuals often experience a period of disorientation known as a period of liminality. This phase requires individuals to adapt to new circumstances, affirm their new identities and realign their values. To navigate this complexity, rituals – particularly rites of passage – are employed to support and deepen individuals' experiences. This dissertation specifically explores the journey of finding a partner and entering into marriage within the context of the DRC. It examines three key aspects: a) marriage rituals and liturgies; b) pre-marital preparation and counselling; and c) faith formation. In response to rising divorce rates and family instability, many DRC congregations have emphasised marriage preparation and enrichment courses, commonly referred to as pre-marital counselling. These courses aim to guide couples during their engagement, a time also characterised as liminal. However, the DRC has not provided official guidelines regarding the materials, content, or duration of these sessions within the past five years. While many pre-marital counselling programs address various topics, they often overlook the theological significance of marriage as expressed in the marriage liturgy, the role and purpose of marriage rituals and liturgies within the DRC, as well as the integration of the value of this theological-liturgical rite of passage in preparing for marriage. This dissertation is a qualitative study within the discipline of Practical Theology, particularly in the sub-discipline of Liturgical Studies. The research draws on both theological disciplines (such as Pastoral Care, Biblical Theology and Liturgical-Ritual Studies) and non-theological disciplines (including Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology) through an interdisciplinary approach. Additionally, two hermeneutical approaches guide this exploration: a) Richard Osmer's four tasks and b) Ronald Grimes' ritual-liturgical systematic framework. The aim of this research is not to assert that the current pre-marital counselling programmes are entirely ineffective and unsuccessful; rather, it suggests that integrating an understanding of the marriage liturgy and the role of marital rituals can hopefully enhance the quality of these programmes and, consequently, the marriages that result from them. Therefore, this research aims to hopefully identify route markers that can serve as a preliminary praxis theory for the DRC, facilitating the development of new pre-marital counselling programmes. These programmes can help couples grasp the purpose of marriage and the importance of the marriage liturgy, particularly in how it shapes and influences their faith. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mense beskou die lewe dikwels as ‘n reis, met ‘n gevisualiseerde pad wat hulle saam met God stap, terwyl hulle verskillende oorgange bereik. Terwyl die besonderhede van hierdie lewensreis nie vir seker is nie, is daar wel ‘n paar dinge wat stewig staan as konstante mylpale, naamlik: 1. Die reis bestaan uit 'n defnitiewe begin, middel en einde. 2. Dit begin met geboorte en eindig in die dood. 3. Twee van die grootste oorgange in hierdie lewenswandel is, met mondigwording (volwasse word) en om ‘n lewens maat te vind (die huwelik). Dikwels tydens hierdie oorgange, ervaar die individu ‘n tydperk van disorientasie, ook bekend as 'n fase van liminaliteit. Hierdie fase vereis dat individuele by nuwe omstandighede moet aanpas, hul nuwe identiteite bevestig en hul waardes herbelyn. Om deur hierdie kompleksiteit te navigeer, word rituele – veral oorgangsrituele – gebruik om die individu se ervarings te ondersteun en te verdiep. Hierdie tesis fokus spesifiek op die reis van die vind van 'n lewensmaat en die betreding van die huwelik binne die konteks van die NG Kerk. Dit verken drie sleutel aspekte: a) huweliksrituele en liturgiee; b) voorhuwelikse voorbereiding en berading; en c) geloofsvorming. In reaksie op stygende egskeidingsyfers en gesinsinstabiliteit, le baie NG Kerk gemeentes klem op huweliksvoorbereiding en -verrykingsprogramme, algemeen bekend as voorhuwelikse berading. Hierdie programme poog om paartjies tydens hul verlowing te begelei, 'n tydperk ook bekend as ‘n periode van liminaliteit. In die afgelope vyf jaar, het die NG Kerk geen amptelike riglyne verskaf oor die materiaal, inhoud of duur van hierdie sessies nie. Terwyl baie voorhuwelikse beradingsprogramme verskeie onderwerpe aanspreek, word die teologiese betekenis van die huwelik soos uitgedruk in die huweliksliturgie, die rol en doel van huweliksrituele en liturgiee binne die NG Kerk, asook die integrasie van die waarde van hierdie teologies-liturgiese oorgangsritueel in die voorbereiding vir die huwelik dikwels oor die hoof gesien. Hierdie tesis is 'n kwalitatiewe studie binne die dissipline van Praktiese Teologie, veral in die subdissipline van Liturgiese Studies. Die navorsing sal put uit beide teologiese dissiplines (soos Pastorale Sorg, Bybelse Teologie en Liturgiese-Rituele Studies) en nie-teologiese dissiplines (insluitend Sielkunde, Sosiologie en Antropologie) deur 'n interdissiplinere benadering. Verder is daar twee hermeneutiese benaderinge wat hierdie ondersoek lei: a) Richard Osmer se vier take en b) Ronald Grimes se ritueel-liturgiese sistematiese raamwerk. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is nie om te beweer dat die huidige voorhuwelikse beradingsprogramme heeltemal oneffektief en onsuksesvol is nie. Die studie stel eerder ‘n weg van intergrasie tussen die begrip van die huweliksliturgie en die rol van huweliksrituele voor, om die kwaliteit van hierdie programme te verbeter en gevolglik die huwelike wat daaruit voortspruit. Daarom poog hierdie navorsing om roetemerkers te identifiseer wat as 'n voorlopige praxisteorie vir die NG Kerk kan dien, wat die ontwikkeling van nuwe voorhuwelikse beradingsprogramme kan fasiliteer. Hierdie programme sal hopenlik paartjies help om die doel van die huwelik en die belangrikheid van die huweliksliturgie te verstaan, veral hoe dit hul geloof vorm en beinvloed. Masters 2025-06-11T10:36:50Z 2025-06-11T10:36:50Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132591 en_ZA Stellenbosch University [227] pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Marriage counseling Dutch Reformed Church -- Liturgy Practical theology UCTD Moll, Mignon Jorge Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration |
| title | Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration |
| title_full | Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration |
| title_fullStr | Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration |
| title_short | Towards an Integration between pre-marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the Dutch Reformed Church : a practical theological exploration |
| title_sort | towards an integration between pre marital counselling and marriage liturgies in the dutch reformed church a practical theological exploration |
| topic | Marriage counseling Dutch Reformed Church -- Liturgy Practical theology UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132591 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mollmignonjorge towardsanintegrationbetweenpremaritalcounsellingandmarriageliturgiesinthedutchreformedchurchapracticaltheologicalexploration |