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Discipline of Practical Theology

Prof HJC Pieterse

Prof Dr Hendrik JC Pieterse (born in the Pretoria district, South Africa, June 11, 1936) holds the BA and BD degrees (University of Pretoria) and a DTh (University of Stellenbosch, 1978).

Academic Career

  • Lecturer in Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, 1976-1979.
  • Senior Lecturer, Practical Theology, University of South Africa (Unisa), 1980-1982.
  • Professor of Practical Theology, University of South Africa (Unisa), 1983-2001.
  • Head of the Department of Practical Theology, Unisa (1983-1996).
  • Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Unisa (1988-1989).
  • Professor of extra-ordinary academic merit, Unisa (1990-1991, 1993-1994).
  • Recipient of Chancellor’s Prize for research in theology, University of South Africa (1997).
  • Extra-Ordinary Professor in Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, 2002-2012.
  • Emeritus Professor University of South Africa, 2002-.

Membership of Professional Societies

  • Member Society for Practical Theology in South Africa.
  • Founder member, International Academy for Practical Theology – membership until 2006.
  • Founder member, International Society for the Sociological Study of Reformed Communities -- membership until 1998.
  • Member, Arbeitsgemeinschaft fürHomiletik – membership until 1996.

Membership of Editorial Boards

Current:

  • Co-editor Practical Theology in South Africa, section in HTS Theological Studies 2003--

Past:

  • Founding member, International Journal of Practical Theology, published by De Gruyter – member until 2001.
  • Founding member, Religion and Theology, South African journal published by Brill. – member until 2001.
  • Founding member, Journal of Empirical Theology, international journal published by Peeters, Belgium – member until 2001.

Membership of International Research Evaluation Commissions

  • Member of international commissions for the evaluation of theological research at the theological faculties in the Dutch universities (the Netherlands) 1999 and for research at Dutch university training of clergy 2006.

International Research Activities

  • Part of the research group of theological professors from University of Pretoria with a group from Utrecht and Leiden, the Netherlands on the theme: “Spreken over God in een veranderende wereld.” Published by Protea (South Africa) and Boekencentrum (the Netherlands) under the title: God in ‘n kantelende wêreld (2009).
  • Co-project leader with professor JA van der Ven, Nijmegen, and in co-operation with professor Jaco S Dreyer, of a longitudinal theological-empirical research project on human rights and religion (1992-2004), published by Brill under the title Is there a God of Human Rights (2004).

National Research Activity

  • New research project after C2 rating by the National Research Foundation in 2008: Content analysis of sermons on poverty and to the poor as listeners with a grounded theory methodology starting in 2009 through to 2014.
  • Research project on the meta-theoretical approach to research in Practical Theology with the staff of the Faculty of Theology at North West University (Potchefstroom Kampus) – 2009 –2012.
  • Inter alia, project leader for the publication of a series of seven Handbooks in Practical Theology by the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa (1990-1998).
  • Research project in my capacity as extra-ordinary professor at UP on the language question of our reference to God in preaching, completed in 2007 with the outcome: 4 published articles in accredited journals.

Promotership/Supervisor

  • Promoter for 45 DTh students in practical theology at the University of South Africa (1980-2012). Co-promoter with prof. CJA Vos for 12 PhD students at the University of Pretoria who already receiv.ed their degrees (2006-2012).

Latest conference attendance

2010.

  • Paper at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
  • Paper at Society for Practical Theology in SA.

2011:

  • Paper at Perth Bible College in Australia.
  • Paper at Society for Practical Theology in SA.

2012:

  • Paper at Free University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • Paper at Society for Practical Theology in SA.

Latest Publications

Books:

  • Preaching in a Context of Poverty Third printing 2010; Second printing 2004; First printing 2001. Pretoria: Unisa Press, 127 pages.
  • A faithful witness 2009. Wellington: Bible Media, 211 pages (Co-Editor with C.H. Thesnaar).
  • Is There a God of Human Rights? The complex relationship between human rights and religion. A South African case. 2004. Leiden-Boston: Brill (with J.A. van der Ven and J.S. Dreyer). 643 pages.
  • Desmond Tutu’s Message. A qualitative Analysis 2001 (Second Edition). Leiden-Boston-Köln, 158 pages.

Articles (last 8 years):

  • Hoe kom God aan die woord in die prediking? Die probleemstelling 2005. Praktiese Teologie in Suid-Afrika. 20(1), 77-95.
  • Die rol van Godskennis in die ontmoetingsgebeure met God in die prediking. 2005. In die Skriflig. 39(3), 409-422.
  • Hoe kom God aan die woord in die prediking? Die vaste vertroue op God se beloftes noodsaaklik 2005. Praktiese Teologie in Suid-Afrika. 20(2).
  • Contextualised preaching in Australia 2006. Practical Theology in South Africa. 21 (2), with D.G. Michie, 113-133.
  • The evil of violence: A trigger for a human rights culture 2006. Religion & Theology. 13 (3-4), with J.A. van der Ven and J.S. Dreyer.
  • Hoe kom God aan die woord in die prediking? Die werklikheid en taal waarin ons oor God praat 2007. Praktiese Telogie in Suid-Afrika 22 (1), 118-134.
  • Deelname van gemeentelede aan die prediking: ‘n Herbesinning 2008. Praktiese Teologie in Suid-Afrika 23 (1), 139-154.
  • Liturgy on the edge of community 2008. Practical Theology in South Africa 23 (2), 124-139 (with JS Masango).
  • Die hoof dryfkragte agter die eietydse transformasieprosesse soos dit die nywerheidsbediening beïnvloed 2008. Praktiese Teologie in Suid-Afrika 23 (2), 124-139 (met M Müller as mede-outeur).
  • Prediking oor die Koninkryk van God: ‘n Uitdaging in ‘n nuwe konteks van armoede 2009. HTS Theological Studies. Online: www.hts.org.za, 1-7.
  • Beskouinge oor die prediking in situasies van armoede volgens homiletiese literatuur 2009. Practical Theology in South Africa Vol. 24 (1), 134-148.
  • Religion in the public sphere: What can public theology learn from Habermas’ latest work? 2010 (with J.S. Dreyer as co-author). HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 66(1), Art# 798, 7 pages. DOI: 10.4102/hts.v66i1.798.
  • Die kerklike stimulasie van die eietydse transformasieprosesse en die geleentheid wat dit aan nywerheidsbediening bied 2010 (met M. Müller as mede-outeur).  HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 66(2), Art# 903, 5 pages.DOI:10.4102/hts.v66i2.903. (Section Practical Theology).
  • Die noodsaak van die verrekening van metateoretiese vertrekpunte in prakties-teologiese wetenskapsbeoefening 2010 (met F.W. de Wet as mede-outeur). In die Skriflig 44 (3&4).
  • Die keuse van ‘n model vir inhoudsanalise van preke oor armoede en aan armes as hoorders: A model for content analysis of sermons on poverty and to the poor as listeners 2010. In die Skriflig Vol. 44 (1), 121-136.
  • A grounded theory approach in sermon analysis of sermons on poverty and directed to the poor as listeners.2010. Acta Theologica 30(2): 113-129.
  • Die dialektiek tussen leser en teks: ‘n Gesprek oor hermeneutiese homiletiek. 2010. Verbum et Ecclesia 31(1), Art. #391, 6 pages.DOI: 10.4102/ve.v31i1.391.
  • Metatheoretical decisions for the Grounded Theory research of sermons on poverty and to the poor as listeners. 2010. Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif (NGTT) 51 (3&4).

2011

  • Die kerklike hantering van eietydse transformasieprosesse deur die bedryf van ‘n arbeidspsigologiese nywerheidsbedieningsmodel. 2011 (met M. Müller as mede-outeur). HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 67(2): Art. #1119, 7 pages. (Section Practical Theology).
  • An open coding analytical model of sermons on poverty with Matthew 25:31-46 as sermon text. 2011. Acta Theologica 31(1):95-112.
  • A church with character and its social capital for projects amongst the poor. 2011. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 67(3), Art.#1046, 8 pages, http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v6713.1046.

2012

  • A grounded theory approach to the analysis of sermons on poverty: Congregational projects as social capital. Verbum et Ecclesia 33(1), Art. #689, 7 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v33i1. 689
  • Die noodsaak van die verrekening van metateoretiese aspekte rakende ‘n hermeneutiese benadering tot die Praktiese Teologie. In die Skriflig 45(4) 2011 (published in May 2012 – letter of Editor for 2012 publication available), 719-737.  
  • Social analysis of the poverty situation in South Africa revisited. Theologia Viatorum. Journal of Theology and Religion in Africa 36(1): 1-22).