Prof E Oliver

Church History modules (highlighted is Prof Erna's Modules)

• THE1503: Africa: A Cradle of Christianity (New BTH)
• THE3703: Contemporary Church History: Change agency and Ecumenism (New BTH)
• THE3705: Church and society across the ages (New BTH)
• HRKEG81: Research report
• HMKEG80: Church historiography and methodology
• KEG4802: A detailed study of a primary text
• KEG4803: A detailed study of a theological theme or a theologian 

• Theology
• Denominational development
• History
• Change agency
• Significance of Church History for the modern church and society
• Effective education: Teaching, learning and assessment
• Gamification, serious games, technology-based microcredentials
• Open Distance e-Learning
• life-long and life-wide learing
• transformation and change

• Church History
• Church and society
• Open Distance e-Learning
• The triangle of effective education: student-centred teaching; life-long, life-wide, interactive and multimedia learning; Transformative assessment  
• Theology
• Curriculum development
• Mentorship

Books and Book Chapters

• Oliver, E. 2024. Religion and Technology (chapter 17) in Chan Sin-wai, Mak Kin-wah, Leung Sze Ming (eds.). Routledge Encyclopaedia of Technology and the Humanities. ISBN 9781032049427
• Oliver, E. (ed.). 2022. Global initiatives and higher education in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Johannesburg: UJ Press. https://doi.org/10.36615/9781776405619
• Virtual ecclesiology on the Rise: Considering the challenges posed by COVID-19 in South Africa, In Kgatle, MS. & Banda, C. 2022. Pastoral interventions during the pandemic. Pentecostal perspectives on Christian ministry in South Africa. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08034-0
• Global Initiatives and Higher Education in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, In Oliver, E. (ed.). 2022. Global initiatives and higher education in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Johannesburg: UJ Press. https://doi.org/10.36615/9781776405619 
• Society 5.0 and Education 5.0 with Reference to Higher Education, In Oliver, E. (ed.). 2022. Global initiatives and higher education in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Johannesburg: UJ Press. https://doi.org/10.36615/9781776405619 
• Openness for student-centredness: A South African perspective, In Singh, D. & Makhanya, M. (eds.).  2019. Essays in Online education. A global perspective, Chapter 6 pp 60-71. 

• Oliver, E. & Oliver, W.H. 2025. The crown of the Regina Scientiarum in South Africa, Verbum et Ecclesia 46 (1), a3297. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v46i1.3297
• Oliver, E. 2024. Student-centred ODeL support in Theology: Why? and How? Verbum et Ecclesia 45 (1), a3239. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v45i1.3239
• Oliver, E. 2024. A short overview of the development of Historiography in Church History Part 1: From the Development of Language to the Renaissance  https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/16907
• Oliver, WH & Oliver E. 2023. God as One, with reference to Barth and Perichoresis     Verbum et Ecclesia 44(1), a 2711
• https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v44i1.2711
• Oliver, WH & Oliver E. 2024.  Θεός, Father, and the ‘Holy Trinity’ in the New Testament 3040 https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v45i1.3040  
• Oliver, WH & Oliver E. 2022. God as One, with reference to Barth and Perichoresis Verbum et Ecclesia
• Oliver, E. 2022. Pillars of our faith Verbum et Ecclesia 43(1) 2532  
• Oliver, E. 2021. Unfinished business of Church History Verbum et Ecclesia 42(1) https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v42i1.2329
• Oliver, WH & Oliver, E. 2021. Trinity disruption Verbum et Ecclesia 42(1),a2337.  https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v42i1.2337
• Oliver, E. 2021. Aligning praxis of faith and theological theory in theological education through an evaluation of Christianity in South Africa Acta Theologica Supplement 31 (3): 25-47 https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.Sup31.3
• Oliver, WH; Oliver, E. 2020. Sola Scriptura: Authority versus Interpretation? Acta Theologica 40 (1):103-124. https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v40i1.7
• Oliver, E. 2019. The church in dire straits. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 75 (4) Special collection: The Church in need of change (agency), 5577 https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5577
• Rukuni, R & Oliver, E. 2019. African Ethiopia and Byzantine imperial orthodoxy: Politically influenced self-definition of Christianity. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 75 (4), 5314 http://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5314
• Rukuni, R & Oliver, E. 2019. Schism, Syncretism and Politics: Derived and Implied Social Model in in the self-definition of early Christian orthodoxy, HTS Teologiese       Studies / Theological Studies 75 (4), 5341. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5341
• Rukuni, R & Oliver, E. 2019. Nicaea as political orthodoxy: Imperial Christianity versus episcopal polities, HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 74(4), 5313. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5313
• Rukuni, R. & Oliver, E. 2019. Africanism, Apocalypticism, Jihad and Jesuitism: Prelude to Ethiopianism, HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 75 (3), a5384. https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/5384
• Oliver, WH & Oliver, E. 2019. Proud to be African. African Insight 49(1). June 2019.
• Rukuni, R. & Oliver, E. 2019. Ethiopian Christianity: A Continuum of African Early      Christian Polities, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 75 (1), a5335. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.5335
• Oliver, E. 2019. The Great Emergence: An exposition’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 75(4), a53. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5398
• Rukuni, R. & Oliver, E., 2019. A case for organic indigenous Christianity: African Ethiopia as derivate from Jewish Christianity, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 75 (1), a5270. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.5270
• Oliver, E., 2019. ‘Religious Afrikaners, irreligious in conflicts’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 75 (1), a5204. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.5204
• Oliver, E. 2019. The triangle of effective education – implemented for Theology.  HTS Special Collection: OEH: The Online Educated Human, sub-edited by Ignatius Gous (UNISA), in HTS 75, (1), a5234. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.5234
• Oliver, W.H & Oliver, E. 2019. God as one. HTS Theological Studies/ Teologiese Studies 75 (1), a4959. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.4959
• Oliver, E. 2018. Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) and Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) for theological education. Verbum et Ecclesia 39 (1), a1900. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v39i1.1900
• Oliver, E. 2018. Change Agency and Higher Education in South Africa. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 74 (3), a5133. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i3.5133
• Oliver, E. 2018. Blended learning for teaching Theology. Verbum et Ecclesia 39 (1), a1894. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v39i1.1894
• Theron, J. & Oliver, E. 2018. Changing attitudes towards the crusades, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 74 (1), a4691. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i1.4691
• Oliver, E. 2017. Gamification as transformative assessment in Higher Education, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 73 (3), a4527. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4527
• Oliver, E. & Oliver, WH. 2017. The colonisation of South Africa: A unique case, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 73 (3), a4498. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4498
• Oliver, E. Tshabele, V. Baartman, F. Masooa A. & Laister, L. 2017. Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 73 (3), 4351. Special collection: Reformation, Transformation, Change Agency. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4351
• Oliver, E. & Oliver, WH. 2017. An African Reformation, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 73 (3), 4386.    
• Special collection: Reformation, Transformation, Change Agency. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4386
• Oliver, E. & Oliver, WH. 2016. Regina Mundi: Serving the liberation movement in South Africa, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72 (1), a3409. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i1.3409
• Oliver, E. 2016. A move towards heutagogy to empower theology students, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72 (1), a3394.
• http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i1.3394 https://youtu.be/J2XCuMwKLzw
• Oliver, E. 2016. Theology: still a queen of science in the post-modern era, In die Skriflig/In luce verbi 50 (1), a2064. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ids.v50i1.2064
• Oliver, E. 2015. Alternative assessment to enhance Theological education, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 71 (3), a3002. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v71i3.3002
• Oliver, E. 2014. The Afrikaner Nation’s Search for a Christian Identity as a Consequence of the Reformed Theology that was Practiced between 1961 and 1990, Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif 54 (1&2), pp. 285-299.
• Oliver, E. 2014. Theological education with the help of technology, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 70 (1), a2643.
• http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i1.2643
• Oliver, WH & Oliver, E. 2013. Tuisonderwys: 'n Uitdagende alternatief vir hoofstroomonderwys in SA, Tydskrif vir Christelike wetenskap/Journal for Christian scholarship, 2013 (4), pp. 237-274.
• Oliver, E. 2013. Teaching Open Distance Learning (ODL) undergraduates in Theology to become effective change agents, Verbum et Ecclesia 34(1) Art. #845, 7 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v34i1.845
• Oliver, E. 2012. Closing gaps in Open Distance Learning for Theology students, Acta Theologica 32 (2), 162-183. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/actat.v32i2.10
• Oliver, E. 2011. Violence: The Church is part of the problem, Verbum et Ecclesia 32(2), Art. #510, 5 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v32i2.510
• Oliver, E. 2011. The history of Afrikaans speaking churches in South Africa and the option of ecumenism, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 37 (1), 39-57.
• Oliver, E. 2011. South Africa: The arduous task of facing our religious past, Acta Theologica 2011 (1), 72-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/actat.v31i1.5
• Oliver, E. 2010. Redefining Christianity as an identity frame for Afrikaners, Journal for Alternative Perspectives in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
•  Oliver, E. 2010. Afrikaner Christianity and the concept of empire, Verbum et Ecclesia 31 (1), Art. #393. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v31i1.393
• Oliver, E. 2009. His blood I will require from your hands, The issue of theological education for the laity, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 35, Suplementum, 67-79.
• Oliver, E. 2009. Suid-Afrikaanse Calvinisme onder die loep, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 35 (2), 169-182.
• Oliver, E. 2008. South Africa: From Calvinistic exclusivism to religious freedom 1652-2008, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 34 (1), 93-114.
• Oliver, E. 2008. Die invloed van die Christelike geloof op die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing, In die Skriflig 42 (2), 305-326.
• Oliver, E. 2008. Vrouepredikante in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika: ‘n opdraande stryd, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae SHE, Special supplement, 213-233.
• Oliver, E. 2007. Die rol en taak van die kerk ten opsigte van begrafnisgebruike, Verbum et Ecclesia 28 (2), 558-579.
• Oliver, E. 2007. ‘n Historiese perspektief op onderwys en opvoeding, Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif (NGTT) 48 (3&4), 583-594.
• Oliver, E. 2007. Thoughts on writing Afrikaner church history, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae SHE 33 (1), 23-40.
• Oliver, E. 2006. Afrikaner Spirituality: A complex mixture, Hervormde Teologiese Strudies 62 (4), 1469-1487.
• Oliver, E. 2006. Sunday School: Past and Present, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 32 (1), 117-134. http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/viewFile/405/305
• Oliver, E. 1993. Geskiedskrywing, HTS 49 (4), 887-893. http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/viewFile/2527/4340
• Oliver, E. 1992. Ds Dirk van der Hoff se bydrae tot die ontwikkeling van die Christelik-Nasionale Onderwysstelsel in die Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek, HTS 48 (3&4), 871-882. http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/viewFile/2450/4264
• Oliver, E & Pont, AD. 1990. Dirk van der Hoff: Skeurmaker? HTS 46 (3), 414-427. http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/viewFile/2331/4145

• The triangle of effective education – a model. FODES PechaKucha. 2024.

  Developing a toolkit for Higher Education student success. Botswana Open University. First International Conference on Open and     Distance Learning. Exploring teaching and learning in open and distance learning. 8-10 May 2024. Gaborone, Botswana.

• Student support: The Why? and the How? UNISA TEIR conference, Swakopmund, Namibia. 2023
• Networking for online access and material: an ODeL perspective. World Council of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, Evangelische Mission Weltweit hybrid conference: Theological education: Pandemic and Pedagogy 4-7 December, Trinity Theological Seminary Accra, Ghana. 2022
• Organising/hosting international workshops, seminars, conferences
• First annual UJ-Unisa online Gaming for education/Serious games symposium and workshop. 2023
• USA-Unisa post graduate supervision conference, Dallas, Texas. 2020
• Towards a missionary spirituality in the traditional South African churches. Towards an Ecumenical Missiology (TEM) Conference. Mainz, Germany. 2022.
• Twenty-first century Christianity – some ideals, achievements and failures. (keynote). GBFE/Unisa Conference. Wiedenest, Germany. 2020.
• Giving and receiving effective feedback. Unisa/SMU Postgraduate conference. (conference organiser). Dallas, Texas. 2020. 
• Implementing gamification to enhance digital competency. International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). Dublin, Ireland. 2019. 
• God as One. International conference for Spirituality, New Testament and Education conference. Unisa. Pretoria, South Africa. 2018.
• Blended learning. International Journal of Arts and Sciences (IJAS) multidiscipline conference. Budapest, Hungary. 2018. 
• Student-centredness in ODL from a South African perspective. International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). Toronto, Canada. 2017.
• Gamification as a Transformative Online Assessment tool. Spring Global Education conference. University of Riverside. Los Angeles, California. 2017.
• Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place. Trans-Atlantic Roundtable for Religion and Race (TRRR). Port of Spain, Trinidad. 2016.
• The triangle of Effective education: teaching, learning, assessment. International Journal of Arts and Sciences (IJAS) multidiscipline conference. Toronto, Canada. 2016.
• Alternative assessment to provide effective education. 36^th International Seminar for teacher education (ISfTE) Conference. Skukuza, South Africa. 2016.
• Heutagogy for Theology students. International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Conference. Sun City, South Africa. 2015.               
• Alternative assessment to enhance Theological education. Biennial International Study Association of Teachers and Teaching Conference (ISATT). University of Auckland. Auckland, New Zeeland. 2015.           
• Teaching Theology through technology. International Centre of Economics, Humanities and Management (ICEHM) Conference. Dubai, UAE. 2015.
• The close relationship between Afrikaner religion and conflict. Australian Historical Association 33rd Annual Conference. University of Queensland. Brisbane, Australia.2014. 
• Theology still the queen of science. 3^rd colloquium Voices and voicelessness. Gaborone, Botswana. 2013.           
• Is there a space for heutagogy in Open Distance Learning (ODL) for theology students? Clute Institute European Conference. Copenhagen, Denmark. 2013. 
• Teaching ODL undergraduates in Theology to become effective change agents. Clute Institute European Conference. Rome, Italy. 2012.
• Cultural diversity counters national unity. 2^nd International Conference on Alternative Perspectives in the Humanities and the Social Sciences on Culture and Heritage. San Jose, Costa Rica. 2011.         
• Closing the gap in Higher education. 18^th International Conference on Learning. Masuritius University. Port Louis, Mauritius. 2011.          .
• Redefining Christianity as an identity frame for Afrikaners. International Conference of Alternative Perspectives in the Humanities and the Social Sciences. Kanchanaburi, Thailand. 2010.             
• South Africa: The arduous task of facing our religious past. 21st International Congress of Historical Sciences. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 2010.      
• Mission and Empire: South Africa – Is Christianity to blame? Bi-annual Spring meeting of the American Society of Church History. Montreal, Canada. 2009.           
• The triangle of effective education: Student-centred teaching, Blended learning and transformative assessment. CHS seminar on Assessment, Unisa. Pretoria, South Africa. 2015.
• Die Afrikaner se soeke na n Christelike identiteit as ‘n uitvloeisel van die Gereformeerde teologie tussen 1960 en 1990. The Reformed Churches in South Africa and the struggle for justice: Remembering 1960-1990, Stellenbosch University. Stellenbosch, South Africa. 2012.
• Clsing the Gap in Higher Education. Research seminar: Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology. UNISA.  Pretoria, South Africa. 2011.
• Is ecumenism an option? Church History Society of South Africa (CHSSA) North West University. Potchefstroom, South Africa. 2011.     
• The Church is part of the problem. CHSSA. University of Pretoria. Pretoria, South Africa. 2010.
• His blood I will require from your hands. The issue of theological education for the laity. (CHSSA). University of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch, South Africa. 2009.
• South Africa: from Calvinistic exclusivism to religious freedom, 1652-2008. CHSSA. South Africa. 2008.
• Thoughts on writing Afrikaner church history . CHSSA. South Africa. 2007.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration. Departmental M and D seminar. UNISA. Pretorian, South Africa. 2007.
• Sunday school – a fallacy. CHSSA. Stellenbosch University. Stellenbosch, South Africa. 2006.

• Since 2021: Member of Unisa Christian Leadership Cluster (CLC). 
• 2021-2022: HELTASA:  Media and communication team member. 
• 2020-2021: Sub-editor of HTS Theological Studies: all special collections.
• 2019:   Sub-editor for HTS Theological Studies special collection: God as One.
• 2017-2021: Sub-editor of HTS Theological Studies special collection series: Change agency.
• Since 2019: Editorial board member of the online journal Sacrum Testamentum.  
• Since 2018: Editorial board member of the International Journal of Arts and Social Science (IJASS).
• Since 2016: Member of the Postgraduate Forum for Southern Africa.
• Since 2015: Associate membership of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE).
• 2015-2018: Scientific Committee Member of the International Association of Humanities, Social Sciences & Management Researchers (HSSMR-UAE).
• Since 2014: Academician of Social Sciences. International Academic of Social Sciences. 
• Since 2014: Member of the Australian Historical Association.

• Since 2014: Member of Higher Education Learning and teaching Association of    Southern Africa (HELTASA) (executive member since 2021).
• Since 2008: Member of International Editorial board: Journal of alternative perspectives in the Social Sciences. 
• Since 2006: Member of American Society of Church History.
• Since 2004: Member of Church History Society of Southern Africa. (Secretary 2009-2015).  
• 2005: David Bosch Prestige bursary.  
• 2005-2012: Tourism. Religious. Studies National Chief examiner BCVO; OAER; SACAI.  
• Sub-editor: Journal of ExoTechnology and Education (UJ Press). 2024

• Serious Games/Gaming for Education Symposium cum Workshop. 22, 23 May 2025.
• Serious Games/Gaming for Education Symposium cum Workshop, Co-hosting with UJ.  17 September 2024.
• Serious Games/Gaming for Education Symposium cum Workshop, Co-hosting with UJ.  18 March 2024.
• Defining the triangle of effective Higher Education
• Meal of peace: Departmental Community Engagement Project with Tshwane Leadership.
• Postgraduate supervision liaison with Polycarp community. Dallas, Texas, USA.
• 2017-2021: Change Agency Project. 
• New Journal establishment: Journal of ExoTechnology and Education.
• Curriculum development: Short Learning Programme: Toolkit for student success.      
• Unisa 150 Jubilee: Plant a tree CHS project 2023-2024. Project leader

Topics of completed PHDs

• 2023 Mainstreaming Youth Development in the Catholic Church Post-Apartheid in South Africa: 1994-2014

Topics of completed PHDs:

• 2022: Re-examination of the Reformation in its Context of Political and Theological Struggles.
• 2022: The Influence of Islam on the Course of the Protestant Reformation.
• 2019: The Bible as a problematic text – a critical analysis based on controversies in the Dutch Reformed Church: from Johannes du Plessis to Willem Vorster and Ferdinand Deist (1920-2000). In Afrikaans, co-supervision with Prof Spangenberg.

Topics of completed Master degrees:

• 2021: Reflecting on Two Revolutionary Characters of Faith:The Apostle Paul (from Christianity) and Jenab-i Táhirih (from Babi/Baha’i).  Baha’i expert: Dr. Iraj Abedian.
• 2021: The influence of a changing society on young adults’ exodus from the church over the last fifty years in South Africa.
• 2020: The Herrnhutters in Southern Russia 18^th and 19^th century.
• 2018: The Schism, Hellenism and Politics: A review of the emergence of Ecumenical Orthodoxy AD 100-400.
• 2018: The Catholic church and land ownership in South Africa: 1994-2014.
• 2014: Changing perspectives on the Crusades.

Online Resources

• 2021    Academic writing skills for undergrads and Hons students - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKpB86Of6x4
• 2021    M and D proposal writing workshop part 1: The What, why and how? - https://youtu.be/znpgR_H28Ag
• 2015   Is there space for Heutagogy in Open Distance Learning (ODL) for Theology students? - https://youtu.be/J2XCuMwKLzw

Unisa Catalytic Niche areas

• Nr. 6: Fourth Industrial Revolution and Digitalisation
• Nr. 10: Student support and co-curriculation

Editorship

• Journal manager: jeXed https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jexed/news