Prof E Oliver

Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology

College of Human Sciences
School of Humanities
Department: Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
Professor
Tel:	012 429 4597
E-mail:	Olivee@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

M.Ed in ODL (2016 Unisa)
D.Th (2005 Unisa)
M.Div (1989 UP)
BD (1987 UP)
BA Hons (1984 UP)
BA (1983 UP)

NRF Rating

Currently teaching

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

Fields of academic interests

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

Field of Specialisation

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

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.

Journal articles

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

Paper presentations

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.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

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

Projects

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

Other

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