Prof Gordon E Dames

Qualifications

D Th    (University of the Western Cape 1999)

A study of catechetical models with specific reference to the URCSA (Cape Province).

Supervisor: Prof Russel H Botman

M Th   (University of the Western Cape 1990)

A study of the status quo and needs of catechesis in the Dutch Reformed Mission Church.

Supervisor: Prof Gustav Bam

Hon B Th (University of the Western Cape 1988)

New Testament IV; Old Testament IV

Missiology II; Systematic Theology III

Practical Theology III; Ecclesiology IV

B Th    (University of the Western Cape 1986)

Biblical Studies II; Philosophy II

Hebrew II; Greek III

New Testament II; Old Testament II

NRF Rating

Currently teaching

Teaching:  Interdisciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate courses

2011-2012 Preaching in the context of poverty, CGM2602

2012 Christian leadership and church management, CGM3705

2022 Organising and leading faith communities in an African context, MNY3704

2012-2020 Research in practical theology, HPPTH81

2012 Research project in practical theology, HRPTH85

Fields of academic interests

• African contextual transformational practical theology
• Ethnographic ecclesial studies
• Life narrative and practice-oriented research in leadership and spirituality
• Contextual transformational Christian leadership education

Field of Specialisation

 Pastoral Care and Counseling

Contextual Practical Theology

Black and Liberation Theology

Narrative Research

Ethnographic Research

Christian Leadership and Ecclesiology Research.

Books

2023

• Muthivhi, M.E., Mudimeli, L. & Dames, G.E. 2023/24. ‘Commercial praxis of neo-Pentecostal churches and the prosperity gospel’,’ In The Commercialisation and the regulation of religion, edited by Mookgo, S.J., Chammah, J. Switzerland: Springer Nature. pp. 199-212

 2022

• ‘The church in the midst of Covid-19: An African Christopraxis for a theology of healing,’ In The church during Covid-19 pandemic: Theology of lament, healing and hope. Annual lecture series 2021: Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, edited by Lufuluvhi Mudimeli. Venda: Univen Printing. pp, 36-66.

 2017

• Towards a contextual transformational practical theology for leadership education in South Africa, Zürich: LitVerlag
• ‘The relevance of pedagogical narrative maps: The Confession of Belhar

as a practical theological narrative searching for a pedagogic‑therapeutic methodology,’ In Belhar Confession: The embracing confession of faith for church and society, edited by Mary-Anne Plaatjies-Van Huffel and Leepo Modise. Stellenbosch: Sun Press, pp.387-406.

 2016

• Reconstructing the antiapartheid lived narrative of a liberation theologian, Allan Aubrey Boesak, In: Festschrift in honour of Allan Boesak: A life in Black liberation Theology, Edited by CD Flaendorp ▪ NC Philander ▪ MA Plaatjies van Huffel. Stellenbosch: SunMedia

2014

• A contextual transformational practical theology in South Africa, AcadSA Publishing CC
• ‘A Multicultural Theology of Difference: A Practical Theological Perspective’ in Churches, Blackness, and Contested Multiculturalism: Europe, Africa, and North America, edited by R. Drew Smith, W. Ackah and A Reddie, Palgrave Macmillan Publishers, 202-212.

Journal articles

2025

• Dames G. A., Dames, G.E., 2025, ‘Pastoral care and counselling in current times: Relevance and context of care’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 81(1), a10184. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/hts.v81i1.10184

2024

• ‘Towards an eco-practical theology: An eschatological horizon of true hope’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 80(1), a9768. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v80i1.9768

• Mazantsana, M.K. & Dames, G.E. A practical theology case study of transforming lives of the poor in the Amalinda Forest Community, East London. Stellenbosch Theological Journal 2024, Vol 10, No 2, 1–26 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17570/stj.2024.v10n2.1

2021

• ‘Transformative possibilities of pedagogics for Christian leadership in Higher Education – a South African Practical Theology perspective’, Black Theology: An International Journal.

  2020

• ‘Biblical vistas of brokenness and wholeness in a time such as the COVID-19 pandemic’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies, 1-23.
• ‘Scaffolding leadership dispositions for being radically truthful in the civitas dei and the civitas mundi: An imaginative educative ethical justice praxis’, Stellenbosch Theological Journal
• ‘Didactic scaffolding leadership pedagogy: A case study of learning through participation’, Acta Theologica, 40(1): 28-49.

2019

• ‘Dynamics between spirituality, leadership and life goals: A life narrative grounded theory study’, Acta Theologica 39(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v38i2.8

• ‘A dangerous pedagogy of discomfort: Redressing racism in theology education’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 75(4), a5060. https://doi.org/10. 4102 /hts.v75i4.5060

2018

• ‘Towards a multi-method approach to addressing violent protest action in South Africa: A practical theology perspective’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 74(2), 4788. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/hts.v74i2.4788

2017

• ‘Practical theology as embodiment of Christopraxis-servant leadership in Africa.’ HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies; Vol 73, No 2 (2017), 9 pages. doi: 10.4102/hts.v73i2.4364
• ‘Reconstructing the Anti-Apartheid lived narrative of a Black Theologian, Allan Aubrey Boesak’, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae , https://upjournals.co.za/php/SHE:1--22.

2014

• ‘The pedagogical role of multicultural leadership in post-apartheid South Africa, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 70(1), Art. #2106, http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i1.2106
• ‘Spiritual and ethical transformational leadership: Critical discourse analysis within a practical theology praxis’, Koers – Bulletin for Christian Scholarship 79(2), Art. #2116, 8 pages. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/koers. v79i2.2116

2013

• ‘The healing of life within the HIV and AIDS pandemic: Towards a pedagogical reframing of paradigms concerning dysfunctional civil, health and ecclesial systems’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 69(2), Art. #1256, 5 pages. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts. v69i2.1256
• ‘Knowing, believing, living in Africa: a practical theology perspective of the past, present and future’, HTS Theological Studies. Volume 69, Issue 1, 9 pages. doi: 10.4102/hts.v69i1.1260

2012

• ‘The relevance of pedagogical narrative maps: The Confession of Belhar as a practical theological narrative searching for a pedagogic-therapeutic methodology’, NGTT, 53(1): 25-38. This article is available at http://ngtt.journals.ac.za.
• ‘Enhancing of Teaching and Learning through Constructive Alignment’, Acta Theologia, 32(2): 35-53, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/actat.v32i2.3, http://www.uovs.ac.za/ActaTheologica
• ‘Intercultural Theological Education: Towards a New Future for Theology Faculties at Higher Education Institutions in South Africa’, Scriptura, 110(2): 237-248.

2010

• ‘An Eschatological Journey of Lifehood. Ronald’s Narrative from a Pastoral

Perspective’, NGTT. Vol 51 (3 & 4).

• ‘The dilemma of traditional and 21st-century pastoral ministry: Ministering to families and communities faced with socio-economic pathologies’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 66(2), Art. #817, 7 pages. DOI: 10.4102/hts.v66i2.817. This article is available at: http://www.hts.org.za

2009

• ‘‘Quo Vadis’ Practical Theology? A Response’, Vol 100.
• My research was cited 210 times with a google h-index of 8.
• ‘Encountering God’s faithfulness in the process of loss’, Practical Theology in South Africa. Vol 24(2).

2008

• ‘Missional Encounter of the Gospel Engaging Cultural Edges as Agents of Adaptive Change’, Practical Theology in South Africa. Vol 23(1).
• ‘Ethical Leadership in and through the Family, Religion and Youth’, Vol 49 (3 & 4).
• ‘Ethical Leadership in and through Labour, Business and Politics’, Vol 49 (3 & 4).
• ‘The Ethical Leadership Project. It’s Role as a key Contributor for a Morally

Transformed Society’, NGTT.  Vol 50 (1 & 2).

2007

• ‘New Frontiers for Mission in a Post-Modern Era: Creating Missional Communities’, Vol 35(1).

2006

• ‘Practical Catechesis for a Postmodern Faith Community. Ploeger’s Religious Pedagogic Methodology for Practical Catechesis’,  Practical Theology in South Africa. Vol 21(1).

2005

• ‘A Holistic Practical Pedagogical Moral Approach. The Lord’s Prayer as an Example for a Moral Formative Christian Practice’, Practical Theology in South Africa. Vol 20(1).
• ‘Designing a Religious Pedagogical Communicative Methodology. A Transformative Reciprocal Methodology is proposed for Religious Pedagogical work with Gangsters’, Vol 46 (3 & 4).

2004

• ‘Aspects of a Discipleship-Pedagogic in the Formation of Disciples in a Postmodern Society’, Practical Theology in South Africa. Vol 19(1)

Paper presentations

Dames, G.E. 2023. ‘Nomadic ecclesia praxes as an eschatological movement in, with, from the margins of oppression: A practical theology of freedom and justice’. IATP Seoul Conference: Practical wisdom on the living web of the Anthropocene, June 8. pp. 1-19.

 Dames, G.E. 2024. ‘The danger of modelising and idolising leaders. A practical theological critique.’ Christian Leadership Conference 2024: Leaders between role model and idol. Budapest, Hungary. 4-6 September.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

CHS College Tuition and Learning Support Committee.

CHS School Tuition Committee

Member of the Internation Academy of Practical Theology

Member of the American Academy of Religion

Member of the South African Missiology Society

Member of the Society of Practical Theology in South Africa.

EMPIRICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS.

1. Redesigning the programme Master of Theology in Pastoral Therapy (98383)

within the Discipline of Practical Theology at an ODeL University. R&D Leave Research Project.

2. Moral Injury inflicted upon South African citizens: An ethnographic practical theological study at a University in South Africa. R&D Leave Research Project.
3. Exploring moral Injury in the life-narratives of church leaders and prominent educational, social, political leaders – former activists in the liberation struggle (1970-1990): A Southern African practical theological perspective.

Projects

School Leaders Research Project: Lived Spirituality and Life Narrative Research

Contextual practice-oriented research (Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 2015)

Allelon Center for Missional Leadership Summer Conference (Idaho, 2006)

Missional Engagement with Western Culture Think Tank (Allelon Foundation; Eagle, Idaho, 2006).

Designed 3 pull-up banners: Practical Theology in the 21^st Century; Developing practical theologians and spiritual and value-based leaders for Africa’s future; Developing practical theologians and spiritual and value-based leaders for Africa’s future. Why study Practical Theology at Unisa? (Unisa, 2012)

1. Redesigning the programme Master of Theology in Pastoral Therapy (98383)

within the Discipline of Practical Theology at an ODeL University. R&D Leave Research Project.

2. Moral Injury inflicted upon South African citizens: An ethnographic practical theological study at a University in South Africa. R&D Leave Research Project.

Exploring moral Injury in the life-narratives of church leaders and prominent educational, social, political leaders – former activists in the liberation struggle (1970-1990): A Southern African practical theological perspective.

Other

SUPERVISION OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

 DOCTORAL

• Ntetha MV, 2019. Developing young leaders in relational youth ministry, as an effective tool for evangelising young people of Khayelitsha, PHD. Unisa.

• Nyandoro, R, 2014. The pastoral role of the sacrament of confession: A life narrative study in the Masvingo Diocese in Zimbabwe. PHD, Unisa.
• Rhyno, JK, 2015. Viable long-term church planting situations in the Maritime Provinces of Atlantic Canada: an analysis of common characteristics, PHD. Unisa.
• Muzenda, VTM, 2021. Effects of domestic violence on family cohesion: A pastoral view in the Masvingo diocese, PHD, Unisa.
• Ntseno, CJ, 2022. Higher educational policies and institutional theological educational needs: A practical theological exploration with specific reference to private theological institutions in South Africa, PHD, Unisa.
• Mazantsana, MK, 2023. Transformational development of the poor in the Amalinda Forest Community, East London: An explorative practical theology study, PHD. Unisa.
• Sam Tlali Dipali, 2024. Dichotomies between Mainstream churches and African Indigenous churches: A Practical Theology exploration of ancestral veneration, PHD. Unisa.
• Mashudu Edward Muthivhi, 2024. Deviant Healing Practices within Contemporary Religious Movements in Ṱhohoyanḓou, Limpopo: Towards a Post-Colonial African Practical Theology Perspective, PHD, University of Venda.

 MASTERS

• Bonis, CR. 2015. The (un) successful pastor: An investigation of pastoral leadership selection within churches in Ontario.
• Hendricks, C. 2014. Money raining from heaven? An appraisal of the prosperity gospel in a missiological framework.
• Monametsi, A. 2019. Coaching in the South African Police Services: A Practical Theological study of the Soweto East Cluster and its satellites.