Shaun Joynt | South African Theological Seminary (original) (raw)

Projects by Shaun Joynt

Research paper thumbnail of Building More Forgiving Communities around the Globe through Engagement to Complete Do-It-Yourself REACH Forgiveness Workbooks

TBA, 2019

Goal: The benefits of forgiveness on physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health are well ... more Goal: The benefits of forgiveness on physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health are well established. However, the majority of research on forgiveness interventions have taken place in the United States or other developed country contexts. This project aims to expand the horizons of forgiveness research globally by evaluating the viability of the two-hour REACH Forgiveness workbook at promoting forgiveness, inspiring hope, and reducing depression and anxiety in six diverse cultural and geographic contexts: Colombia, Indonesia, Mainland China, Ghana, South Africa and the Ukraine. The project will also examine the effectiveness of community-based awareness-raising interventions among the student population in Hong Kong, and test different ways of engaging individuals to participate in and complete the forgiveness interventions.

REACH Forgiveness is a widely used forgiveness intervention developed by Everett Worthington (2001). REACH is an acronym that identifies five steps through which victims may progress to achieve forgiveness: (R) Recall the hurt, (E) Empathize with offender, (A) Altruistic gift of forgiveness, (C) Commit, and (H) Hold onto forgiveness. The efficacy of the REACH Forgiveness intervention is empirically supported by over 30 randomized controlled trials (Wade, Hoyt, Kidwell, & Worthington, 2014). Led by Man Yee Ho of City University Hong Kong, this project is a collaboration between Everett Worthington, one of the world’s leading forgiveness researchers, and Tyler Van Der Weele of Harvard University.

Project info website: https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects-database/building-more-forgiving-communities-around-globe-through-engagement-complete-do

TWCF Number: 0390

Project Duration: 1 July 2019 - 30 June 2022

Core Funding Area: Character Virtue Development

Initiative: Global Innovations for Character Development

Region: Asia

Amount Awarded: $999,986

Date: 1 July 2019 - 30 June 2022

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Research paper thumbnail of Self-Forgiveness in Clergy

Currently busy (2017 to present) with a small grant funded research project that considers self-f... more Currently busy (2017 to present) with a small grant funded research project that considers self-forgiveness in clergy within a South African context. This PDF is a copy of the home page where more information can be obtained regarding the overarching project - http://www.forgiveness-research-in-africa.com/

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Research paper thumbnail of Forgiveness Research in Africa Project

I participated in a two-year project (2016-2017), funded by the Templeton World Charities Foundat... more I participated in a two-year project (2016-2017), funded by the Templeton World Charities Foundation, that focused on upskilling researchers in the area of forgiveness research (regional centres were Ghana & South Africa). This PDF is a list of the different role-players and participants in the project. More is avaialbe at http://www.forgiveness-research-in-africa.com/

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Papers by Shaun Joynt

Research paper thumbnail of Religious Communities and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Practical Theological Consideration of Place

Religion, spirituality and health: a social scientific approach, Dec 31, 2022

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Research paper thumbnail of Toward a Global and Multidisciplinary Understanding of Place, Religion/Spirituality, and Well-Being

Place, Spirituality, and Well-Being

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy : a practical theological grounded theory exploration

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Research paper thumbnail of How do mentally tough athletes overcome self-directed anger, shame, and criticism? A self-forgiveness mediation analysis

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Research paper thumbnail of Trait Forgiveness and Dyadic Adjustment Predict Postnatal Depression

Journal of Child and Family Studies, Mar 22, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of A sixfold biblical approach to social transformation in the local community in terms of the ELIJAH model: A challenge for today’s church

Verbum Et Ecclesia, Oct 24, 2019

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Research paper thumbnail of The pain and gain of religious/spiritual struggles: a longitudinal study of South African adults

Mental Health, Religion & Culture, Dec 6, 2021

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Research paper thumbnail of A systems perspective on human flourishing: Exploring cross-country similarities and differences of a multisystemic flourishing network

The Journal of Positive Psychology, Jul 7, 2022

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Research paper thumbnail of Redemption in the South African West: Violence, Colonialism and Oppression in Five Fingers for Marseilles (2018)

Critical Arts, Oct 28, 2021

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Research paper thumbnail of Screening the church: A study of clergy representation in contemporary Afrikaans cinema

Theological Studies/Teologiese Studies, Jul 18, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy: Responding to, reinterpreting or relinquishing the call

Verbum Et Ecclesia, Jan 31, 2017

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Research paper thumbnail of Religious coping with interpersonal hurts: Psychosocial correlates of the brief RCOPE in four non-Western countries

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Aug 26, 2021

Religious coping has emerged as a guiding paradigm for understanding ways in which religion shape... more Religious coping has emerged as a guiding paradigm for understanding ways in which religion shapes how people adapt to life’s most difficult experiences. Although research on religious coping has advanced substantially over the last two decades, there has been a disproportionate focus on noninterpersonal stressors with samples from predominantly Western societies. In this study, we draw on a relational spirituality perspective to examine religious coping in the aftermath of interpersonal hurts among participants from four non-Western countries. With samples from Colombia, Indonesia, South Africa, and Ukraine (N = 3,244), we examined associations of religious coping (as measured by the Brief RCOPE) with anxiety, depression, perceived posttraumatic growth, and well-being. The general patterns that emerged from the country-specific analyses of psychosocial correlates indicated that positive religious coping evidenced its strongest associations with indices of positive functioning (i.e., perceived posttraumatic growth and well-being), whereas negative religious coping yielded its strongest associations with indices of psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression). Hierarchical regressions for each country indicated that the dimensions of religious coping were incrementally associated with all indices of functioning, over and above variance explained by state forgiveness. Overall, the findings were largely comparable to those of prior research with samples from Western societies. Further cross-cultural research is needed to extend our understanding of the role of religious/spiritual coping in dealing with negative life events, particularly in non-Western cultures.

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Research paper thumbnail of Flourishing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study in South Africa

Psychological Reports, Mar 24, 2023

In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional wel... more In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional well-being from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among South African adults. As a secondary purpose, we explore whether pre-pandemic flourishing is protective against subsequent psychological distress during the public health crisis. The analytic sample (n = 293; Mage = 44.27, SD = 14.28; female = 65.19%) completed measures of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and well-being shortly before the stringent nationwide lockdown started in South Africa (T1). A follow-up assessment was completed approximately 6 months later (T2). Paired samples t-tests supported very small improvements in anxiety (d = −0.09) and depression symptoms (d = −0.13). For domains of well-being, small increases were found in close social relationships (d = 0.25) and financial and material stability (d = 0.19). Positive changes in the domains of character and virtue (d = 0.10) and meaning and purpose (d = 0.07) were very small. Changes in physical and mental health (d = −0.03) and life satisfaction and happiness (d = 0.02) were more negligible. Results from the generalized linear models indicated that continuous scores of secure flourishing assessed before the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with lower subsequent psychological distress (particularly depression symptoms) during the public health crisis. We discuss the implications of the findings for the development and delivery of interventions to promote and sustain human flourishing during public health crises, especially in contexts of social-structural vulnerability.

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Research paper thumbnail of The cost of ‘not being heard’ and clergy retention

Acta Theologica, Jun 24, 2019

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy: ‘When the fight is just not worth it anymore’ – The role of conflict in responding to the call

In die skriflig, Jul 23, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Do congruent apologies facilitate forgiveness?

South African Journal of Psychology, Nov 1, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy: A practical theological grounded theory exploration of Hatfield Training Centre trained pastors

Theological Studies/Teologiese Studies, Jan 14, 2013

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Research paper thumbnail of Building More Forgiving Communities around the Globe through Engagement to Complete Do-It-Yourself REACH Forgiveness Workbooks

TBA, 2019

Goal: The benefits of forgiveness on physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health are well ... more Goal: The benefits of forgiveness on physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health are well established. However, the majority of research on forgiveness interventions have taken place in the United States or other developed country contexts. This project aims to expand the horizons of forgiveness research globally by evaluating the viability of the two-hour REACH Forgiveness workbook at promoting forgiveness, inspiring hope, and reducing depression and anxiety in six diverse cultural and geographic contexts: Colombia, Indonesia, Mainland China, Ghana, South Africa and the Ukraine. The project will also examine the effectiveness of community-based awareness-raising interventions among the student population in Hong Kong, and test different ways of engaging individuals to participate in and complete the forgiveness interventions.

REACH Forgiveness is a widely used forgiveness intervention developed by Everett Worthington (2001). REACH is an acronym that identifies five steps through which victims may progress to achieve forgiveness: (R) Recall the hurt, (E) Empathize with offender, (A) Altruistic gift of forgiveness, (C) Commit, and (H) Hold onto forgiveness. The efficacy of the REACH Forgiveness intervention is empirically supported by over 30 randomized controlled trials (Wade, Hoyt, Kidwell, & Worthington, 2014). Led by Man Yee Ho of City University Hong Kong, this project is a collaboration between Everett Worthington, one of the world’s leading forgiveness researchers, and Tyler Van Der Weele of Harvard University.

Project info website: https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects-database/building-more-forgiving-communities-around-globe-through-engagement-complete-do

TWCF Number: 0390

Project Duration: 1 July 2019 - 30 June 2022

Core Funding Area: Character Virtue Development

Initiative: Global Innovations for Character Development

Region: Asia

Amount Awarded: $999,986

Date: 1 July 2019 - 30 June 2022

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Self-Forgiveness in Clergy

Currently busy (2017 to present) with a small grant funded research project that considers self-f... more Currently busy (2017 to present) with a small grant funded research project that considers self-forgiveness in clergy within a South African context. This PDF is a copy of the home page where more information can be obtained regarding the overarching project - http://www.forgiveness-research-in-africa.com/

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Research paper thumbnail of Forgiveness Research in Africa Project

I participated in a two-year project (2016-2017), funded by the Templeton World Charities Foundat... more I participated in a two-year project (2016-2017), funded by the Templeton World Charities Foundation, that focused on upskilling researchers in the area of forgiveness research (regional centres were Ghana & South Africa). This PDF is a list of the different role-players and participants in the project. More is avaialbe at http://www.forgiveness-research-in-africa.com/

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Research paper thumbnail of Religious Communities and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Practical Theological Consideration of Place

Religion, spirituality and health: a social scientific approach, Dec 31, 2022

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Research paper thumbnail of Toward a Global and Multidisciplinary Understanding of Place, Religion/Spirituality, and Well-Being

Place, Spirituality, and Well-Being

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy : a practical theological grounded theory exploration

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of How do mentally tough athletes overcome self-directed anger, shame, and criticism? A self-forgiveness mediation analysis

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Trait Forgiveness and Dyadic Adjustment Predict Postnatal Depression

Journal of Child and Family Studies, Mar 22, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of A sixfold biblical approach to social transformation in the local community in terms of the ELIJAH model: A challenge for today’s church

Verbum Et Ecclesia, Oct 24, 2019

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of The pain and gain of religious/spiritual struggles: a longitudinal study of South African adults

Mental Health, Religion & Culture, Dec 6, 2021

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Research paper thumbnail of A systems perspective on human flourishing: Exploring cross-country similarities and differences of a multisystemic flourishing network

The Journal of Positive Psychology, Jul 7, 2022

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Research paper thumbnail of Redemption in the South African West: Violence, Colonialism and Oppression in Five Fingers for Marseilles (2018)

Critical Arts, Oct 28, 2021

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Research paper thumbnail of Screening the church: A study of clergy representation in contemporary Afrikaans cinema

Theological Studies/Teologiese Studies, Jul 18, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy: Responding to, reinterpreting or relinquishing the call

Verbum Et Ecclesia, Jan 31, 2017

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Research paper thumbnail of Religious coping with interpersonal hurts: Psychosocial correlates of the brief RCOPE in four non-Western countries

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Aug 26, 2021

Religious coping has emerged as a guiding paradigm for understanding ways in which religion shape... more Religious coping has emerged as a guiding paradigm for understanding ways in which religion shapes how people adapt to life’s most difficult experiences. Although research on religious coping has advanced substantially over the last two decades, there has been a disproportionate focus on noninterpersonal stressors with samples from predominantly Western societies. In this study, we draw on a relational spirituality perspective to examine religious coping in the aftermath of interpersonal hurts among participants from four non-Western countries. With samples from Colombia, Indonesia, South Africa, and Ukraine (N = 3,244), we examined associations of religious coping (as measured by the Brief RCOPE) with anxiety, depression, perceived posttraumatic growth, and well-being. The general patterns that emerged from the country-specific analyses of psychosocial correlates indicated that positive religious coping evidenced its strongest associations with indices of positive functioning (i.e., perceived posttraumatic growth and well-being), whereas negative religious coping yielded its strongest associations with indices of psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression). Hierarchical regressions for each country indicated that the dimensions of religious coping were incrementally associated with all indices of functioning, over and above variance explained by state forgiveness. Overall, the findings were largely comparable to those of prior research with samples from Western societies. Further cross-cultural research is needed to extend our understanding of the role of religious/spiritual coping in dealing with negative life events, particularly in non-Western cultures.

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Research paper thumbnail of Flourishing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study in South Africa

Psychological Reports, Mar 24, 2023

In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional wel... more In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional well-being from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among South African adults. As a secondary purpose, we explore whether pre-pandemic flourishing is protective against subsequent psychological distress during the public health crisis. The analytic sample (n = 293; Mage = 44.27, SD = 14.28; female = 65.19%) completed measures of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and well-being shortly before the stringent nationwide lockdown started in South Africa (T1). A follow-up assessment was completed approximately 6 months later (T2). Paired samples t-tests supported very small improvements in anxiety (d = −0.09) and depression symptoms (d = −0.13). For domains of well-being, small increases were found in close social relationships (d = 0.25) and financial and material stability (d = 0.19). Positive changes in the domains of character and virtue (d = 0.10) and meaning and purpose (d = 0.07) were very small. Changes in physical and mental health (d = −0.03) and life satisfaction and happiness (d = 0.02) were more negligible. Results from the generalized linear models indicated that continuous scores of secure flourishing assessed before the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with lower subsequent psychological distress (particularly depression symptoms) during the public health crisis. We discuss the implications of the findings for the development and delivery of interventions to promote and sustain human flourishing during public health crises, especially in contexts of social-structural vulnerability.

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Research paper thumbnail of The cost of ‘not being heard’ and clergy retention

Acta Theologica, Jun 24, 2019

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy: ‘When the fight is just not worth it anymore’ – The role of conflict in responding to the call

In die skriflig, Jul 23, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Do congruent apologies facilitate forgiveness?

South African Journal of Psychology, Nov 1, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy: A practical theological grounded theory exploration of Hatfield Training Centre trained pastors

Theological Studies/Teologiese Studies, Jan 14, 2013

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Research paper thumbnail of Flourishing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study in South Africa

Psychological Reports

In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional wel... more In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional well-being from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among South African adults. As a secondary purpose, we explore whether pre-pandemic flourishing is protective against subsequent psychological distress during the public health crisis. The analytic sample ( n = 293; Mage = 44.27, SD = 14.28; female = 65.19%) completed measures of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and well-being shortly before the stringent nationwide lockdown started in South Africa (T1). A follow-up assessment was completed approximately 6 months later (T2). Paired samples t-tests supported very small improvements in anxiety ( d = −0.09) and depression symptoms ( d = −0.13). For domains of well-being, small increases were found in close social relationships ( d = 0.25) and financial and material stability ( d = 0.19). Positive changes in the domains of character and virtue ( d = 0.10) and meaning and purpose ( d =...

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Research paper thumbnail of Covid-19 in Congregations and Communities

Stellenbosch Theological Journal

Covid-19 in Congregations and Communities explores the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on c... more Covid-19 in Congregations and Communities explores the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on congregational and community life from a predominantly South African perspective, with the inclusion of one chapter on Covid-19’s influence in Ghana. The chapter authors hail from the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and offer “a theological response to the collective trauma we experienced as a result of the pandemic” (p. 1). Chapters include a variety of topics, namely, “spirituality, liturgy, homiletics, pastoral care, community development, ecclesiology, child ministry, interreligious dialogue, ritual studies, and missional theology” (p. 1). Methodologies include literature engagement, participant observation, interviews, Grounded Theory, and more. Each author offers original research focusing on the first lockdown in South Africa.

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Research paper thumbnail of International REACH Forgiveness Intervention: A Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of Clergy: When the Fight is Just Not Worth It Anymore - The Role of Conflict in Responding to the Call (contains only the conference listing)

Conflict affects clergy’s response to the call. Unresolved conflict negatively influences their d... more Conflict affects clergy’s response to the call. Unresolved conflict negatively influences their decision to remain in full-time pastoral ministry. This contributes to a shortage of clergy in the Roman Catholic Church but to a lesser extent the Protestant church, as it faces a distribution or displacement challenge. This shortage of clergy poses a risk to the continued existence of the church as clergy equip congregants to live the faith and transmit it to the next generation. The purpose of this study was to discover what factors are involved in responding to the call to full-time pastoral ministry. A practical theological grounded theory approach was used to discover the properties of the category conflict. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and data coded using Glaser and Strauss’ grounded theory methodology in order to determine a basic social psychological process, namely responding to the call. The category of conflict includes properties such immaturity in dealing with conflict, conflict due to miscommunication, congregational conflict, dealing with favoritism, conflict with leadership, and managing conflict or leaving due to conflict. Osmer’s descriptive-empirical model was used to view the category conflict from a practical theological perspective. The results of this study indicate three responses to the call by clergy who left full-time pastoral ministry: not being called in the first place, a dual call (being bi-vocational or it was ‘seasonal’), and being called but leaving anyway due to, among other factors, conflict. Possibilities for equipping clergy in conflict management are considered.

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy: The role of leadership in responding to the call (contains conference paper draft)

Leaders play an important role in clergy’s response to their call. Toxic leadership, also known a... more Leaders play an important role in clergy’s response to their call. Toxic leadership, also known as the dark side of leadership, negatively influences their decision to remain in full-time pastoral ministry. There is a shortage of clergy in the Roman Catholic Church and a distribution or displacement challenge facing the Protestant church. This poses a risk to the future of the church as without clergy, congregants will not be grounded in the faith nor will the faith be transmitted to the next generation. The purpose of this study was to discover what factors were involved in clergy’s response to the call to full-time pastoral ministry. A practical theological grounded theory approach was used to discover the properties of the category ‘leadership.’ Semi-structured interviews were conducted and data coded using Glaser and Strauss’ grounded theory methodology. The category of ‘leadership’ includes properties such as favouritism, leaders abdicating responsibilities, leaders taking no action/being inactive, leaders ‘labeling’ subordinates, leaders ‘unethical’ behavior, nepotism, poor conflict handling, poor handling of multi-racial issues, being placed on a pedestal, affirming subordinates, and autocratic leadership style. Osmer’s descriptive-empirical task was used as a practical theological lens through which to view the category ‘leadership’. The results indicated three responses by clergy to the call to full-time pastoral ministry: not being called in the first place, a dual call (being bi-vocational or ‘seasonal’), and being called but leaving anyway due to, among other factors, toxic leadership. A steward leadership approach is recommended in response to the dark side of leadership. (Conference paper presented at the Society for Practical Theology in South Africa conference held in Stellenbosch, 18-20 January 2017).

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of Clergy: Responding to, Reinterpreting, or Relinquishing the Call (contains only the abstract)

Religion Abstracts First Annual International Conference on Religion, 27-30 June 2016. Edited by Gregory T. Papanikos. ISBN: 978-960-598-087-0, 2016

Who will lead the sheep when the shepherds are gone? Clergy play an important role in the establi... more Who will lead the sheep when the shepherds are gone? Clergy play an important role in the establishing and sustaining of the church; without them congregants will not be rooted in the faith nor will the faith be transmitted to the next generation. The shortage of clergy in the Roman Catholic Church and the distribution or displacement challenge facing the Protestant church pose a risk to the future of the church, therefore the response of clergy to their call to full-time service is crucial for the continued existence of the church. Even though an understanding of the call assists clergy in responding to it, a number of them leave full-time service anyway. In addition to their call is the challenge of changing roles and responsibilities. These influence clergy’s response to their call. The purpose of this study is to discover the variables involved in responding to the call to full-time service in a church and explore how clergy exhibit these. A practical theological grounded theory approach is used to discover the properties of the core category calling. Semi-structured interviews are conducted and data are coded using Glaser and Strauss’ grounded theory methodology. The core category of calling includes properties such as age, defining what a call is or isn’t, it evolves over time, it has an aspect of timing, and it requires “worldly experience” to be effective. Osmer’s descriptive-empirical task is used as a practical theological lens through which to view the core category calling. The results indicate three responses of clergy to the call to full-time service in a church: not being called in the first place, a dual call (being bi-vocational), and being called but leaving anyway. (Abstract found on page 42, no. 23 in TOC as at https://www.atiner.gr/abstracts/2016ABST-REL.pdf)

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Research paper thumbnail of Exodus of clergy : a practical theological grounded theory exploration

UPSpace, Dec 15, 2012

There is a shortage of clergy, at least in the Roman Catholic Church (cf Schoenherr&Sorenson 1982... more There is a shortage of clergy, at least in the Roman Catholic Church (cf Schoenherr&Sorenson 1982:23; Heilbronner 1998:11; Tentler 1998:348; Carroll 2001:1; Fernandez 2001:ix-x; see Seidler 1979:764; Berger 1987; Hoge et al 1988:264, 280). The Protestant Church in general is experiencing more of a distribution problem than a shortage (cf Chaves 2001:36; see Jud et al 1970:59). The two greatest hindrances to addressing this clergy distribution problem among Protestant churches is a lack of adequate compensation for clergy and the undesirable location, as perceived by clergy, of the church (Chaves 2001:36; see Jud et al 1970:59). Challenges such as secularization, duality of vocation, time management, change in type of ministry, family issues, congregational and denominational conflict, burnout, sexual misconduct, divorce or marital problems, and suicide, affect clergy. Studies on the shortage of clergy have been conducted mostly in the USA and Europe and not in South Africa. This study seeks to address this research gap by means of a practical theological grounded theory exploration of the exodus of clergy. Grounded theory methodology is used to identify the reasons why clergy trained at a Bible College of a Protestant Charismatic mega church leave full-time pastoral ministry. Findings correspond to previous studies with two reasons appearing more frequently than others: responding to a call and leadership related issues. Firstly, respondents differed in their replies with respect to reconciling their leaving full-time pastoral ministry to their call with responses of: not being called, a dual call, or called but left anyway. Secondly, respondents indicated that leadership influence was mostly negative with regard to affirming their call. (Read FULL thesis at http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27595)

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need a God"

Reading Religion, 2021

In his book The End of Youth Ministry? Andrew Root explores why youth groups rank low on parents’... more In his book The End of Youth Ministry? Andrew Root explores why youth groups rank low on parents’ pursuit of a good life for their children and offers a way forward to youth workers by concluding that “youth ministry is for joy … in friendship and rejoicing in the summum bonum [the highest good] of Jesus Christ” (225). His journey to this conclusion takes the form of..." (Completed 16 March 2021; North-West University affiliation; review available at https://readingreligion.org/books/pastor-secular-age)

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "The End of Youth Ministry? Why Parents Don’t Really Care about Youth Groups and What Youth Workers Should Do about It"

Reading Religion, 2021

"In his book The End of Youth Ministry? Andrew Root explores why youth groups rank low on parents... more "In his book The End of Youth Ministry? Andrew Root explores why youth groups rank low on parents’ pursuit of a good life for their children and offers a way forward to youth workers by concluding that “youth ministry is for joy … in friendship and rejoicing in the summum bonum [the highest good] of Jesus Christ” (225). His journey to this conclusion takes the form of..." (Completed 23 March 2021; Noth-West University affiliation; review available at https://readingreligion.org/books/end-youth-ministry).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "Moral Leadership for a Divided Age: Fourteen People Who Dared to Change Our World"

Reading Religion, 2019

"David P. Gushee and Colin Holtz begin and conclude Moral Leadership for a Divided Age: Fourteen ... more "David P. Gushee and Colin Holtz begin and conclude Moral Leadership for a Divided Age: Fourteen People Who Dared to Changed Our World by observing that a fascination or obsession with leadership is a result of the rarity or absence of true leadership (4, 348). They state that leadership requires three elements: leaders, followers, and a goal (4), and that this text focuses on a specific type of leadership—moral leadership consisting of moral impact, moral character, and moral purpose (6). The authors give several reasons for..." (Completed 8 February 2019; North-West University affiliation; review available at https://readingreligion.org/books/moral-leadership-divided-age).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "Sources of the Christian Self: A Cultural History of Christian Identity"

Reading Religion, 2018

"What does it mean to identify oneself as Christian?” (xv) is the question answered by a selectio... more "What does it mean to identify oneself as Christian?” (xv) is the question answered by a selection of essays that focus on specific individuals and some groups over a four-thousand-year period, starting with Abraham and concluding with the shared Christian communities of Africa. The editors state that the first use of the word Christian is found in the book of Acts (11:26), referring to those who simply and wholly identified with Jesus (xv), responding to it as a calling (xvi). They indicate that..." (Completed 2 October 2018; North-West University affiliation; review available at https://readingreligion.org/books/sources-christian-self).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church's Obsession with Youthfulness"

Reading Religion, 2020

"Andrew Root’s Faith Formation in a Secular Age is the first of a three-volume series titled Mini... more "Andrew Root’s Faith Formation in a Secular Age is the first of a three-volume series titled Ministry in a Secular Age that considers faith formation (2017), the pastor (2019), and a yet-to-be-published volume 3, all drawing from Charles Taylor’s seminal work A Secular Age. For Root, the crux of the matter is Taylor’s observation of a shift from belief in God to an easy and even inescapable nonbelief in God (ix-x), which Root describes as a seismic shift comparable to the introduction of a “new calendar” (x). He contends however..." (Completed 23 April 202; North-West University affiliation; review available at https://readingreligion.org/books/faith-formation-secular-age).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "Introducing Practical Theology: Mission, Ministry, and the Life of the Church"

Reading Religion, 2018

"Pete Ward outlines his monograph Introducing Practical Theology: Mission, Ministry, and the Life... more "Pete Ward outlines his monograph Introducing Practical Theology: Mission, Ministry, and the Life of the Church by stating that “an introduction to a field of study always has two purposes [for beginners:] to orient themselves and grasp the basic ideas, methods, and writers in the field [and] to attempt to shape the field of study by drawing attention to certain ways of thinking and by advocating a particular approach over another” (1)"... (Completed 8 June 2018; Noth-West University affiliation; review available at http://readingreligion.org/books/introducing-practical-theology).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "Young People and Church Since 1900: Engagement and Exclusion"

Reading Religion, 2018

"In her monograph Young People and Church Since 1900: Engagement and Exclusion, Naomi Thompson “e... more "In her monograph Young People and Church Since 1900: Engagement and Exclusion, Naomi Thompson “explores young people’s engagement with organized Christianity in England from the early twentieth century up to the present day” by focusing on “the Sunday School movement’s peak at the start of the twentieth century, its virtual demise in the mid-century, and the growth of Christian youth work in recent years” (1). Thompson focuses on the following three time periods: 1900-1910 (peak), 1955-1972 (decline), and 2008 to the present (focusing on Christian youth work)..." (Completed 18 May 2018; Noth-West University affiliation; review available at http://readingreligion.org/books/young-people-and-church-1900).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "The Rise of Pentecostalism in Modern El Salvador: From the Blood of the Martyrs to the Baptism of the Spirit"

"The Rise of Pentecostalism in Modern El Salvador forms part of a series that seeks to address th... more "The Rise of Pentecostalism in Modern El Salvador forms part of a series that seeks to address the “seismic shift in Christianity’s location, vitality and expression” (vi). The author’s aim in this volume is to “examine the origins and cultural implications of a wide ranging religious resurgence that has taken place over the past half-century in El Salvador” (xi). Timothy H. Wadkins’s training, as a cultural and theological historian with an interest in the intersection between religion and modernization, is evident in achieving this specific aim. Of particular importance is the focus on Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement’s influence in modern El Salvador’s religious resurgence..." (Completed 12 February 2018; Noth-West University affiliation; review available at http://readingreligion.org/books/rise-pentecostalism-modern-el-salvador).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "The Rise of Network Christianity: How Independent Leaders are Changing the Religious Landscape"

"In their monograph, The Rise of Network Christianity: How Independent Leaders Are Changing the R... more "In their monograph, The Rise of Network Christianity: How Independent Leaders Are Changing the Religious Landscape, Brad Christerson and Richard Flory aim to “explain the phenomenal growth rates of one particular subgroup of independent neo-Charismatic believers…labelled Independent Network Charismatic [INC]”..." (Completed 31 October 2017; North-West University affliation; review available at http://readingreligion.org/books/rise-network-christianity).

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "Collaborative Parish Leadership: Contexts, Models, Theology"

"In Collaborative Parish Leadership: Contexts, Models, Theology editors William A. Clark and Dani... more "In Collaborative Parish Leadership: Contexts, Models, Theology editors William A. Clark and Daniel Gast provide a thoroughly engaging account of INSPIRE—the collaborative leadership project funded by both the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program and a partnership between Loyola University Chicago and the Archdiocese of Chicago..." (Completed 5 July 2017; North-West University affliation; review available at http://readingreligion.org/books/collaborative-parish-leadership)

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Research paper thumbnail of BOOK REVIEW of "The Limits of Forgiveness: Case Studies in the Distortion of a Biblical Ideal"

"In The Limits of Forgiveness: Case Studies in the Distortion of a Biblical Ideal Maria Mayo cont... more "In The Limits of Forgiveness: Case Studies in the Distortion of a Biblical Ideal Maria Mayo contributes to the ongoing discussion in forgiveness research by challenging the notion that forgiveness should be unlimited, unconditional, and unilateral..." (Completed 7 March 2017; University of Pretoria affliation; review available at http://readingreligion.org/books/limits-forgiveness).

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