Prof Olehile A Buffel

Qualifications

• Ph.D. (Practical Theology) (University of Pretoria) (2007);
• M.Th. (University of South Africa) (2003);
• B.Th. (Hons.) (University of South Africa) (1993);
• Advanced Theological Studies (Swedish Theological Institute, Jerusalem) (1986);
• B.Th. (University of South Africa) (1985);
• Ministerial Studies (Marang Lutheran Theological Seminary) (1985)

Fields of academic interests

• Pastoral ministry in a context of poverty
• Interface between theology (pastoral care) and psychology
• Preaching in a context of poverty
• Liberation Theology, Black Theology
• Missiology in a context of poverty and migration
• Theology and Development
• Land from a theological perspective
• Lutheran Theology

Field of Specialisation

• Pastoral care and counselling
• Homiletics
• Liberation Theology

Books

Book chapter:

The South African Land Problem: A Case Study in Region and Religion, Land from a Theological Perspective, Lutheran World Federation, Geneva 1994.

Journal articles

Journal articles: 

• Deliver us from Individualism and Clericalism: Liberating Pastoral care from Western individualism and clericalism. In Practical Theology in Southern Africa. 19(2) 2004.
• Pastoral care to people living with H.I.V and Aids: A pastoral response that is contextual and liberating in Practical Theology in Southern Africa 21(1) 2006.
• Black Theology and the Black Masses: The organic relationship between black theology and the black masses, in Scriptura, 2010.
• Self-supporting ministry from a Lutheran historical perspective: Looking back to the time of Luther and looking ahead with Luther’s example in mind, in Studia Ecclesiaticae (Vol xxxviii, No.2 (2012).
• Mission as liberation in socio-economic and political contexts: towards contextual and liberating theology of mission in the context of migration and human dislocation. In Missionalia, Vol 41, No 3 (2013).
• Joint authorship with D.Th student, Mrs Sinenhlahla Chisale) The culturally engendered pastoral care model of women caring for refugee girls in a context of H.I.V/Aids, in Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, Vol XL, 2014
• A journey of the people of Bethany marked by dispossession, struggle for return of land and continued impoverishment: A case study of land reform that has not yet reduced poverty. Studia Hist. Ecc. vol.41 n.2 Pretoria 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2015/102
• Bringing the crucified down from the cross: Preferential option for the poor in the South African context of poverty. Missionalia (Online) [online]. 2015, vol.43, n.3, pp.349-364. ISSN 2312-878X. http://dx.doi.org/10.7832/43-3-123.

Projects

• Pastoral ministry to communities that are still impoverished by forced removals of the past and the ineffective land reform: Bethany community in the Free State as a case study.
• Pastoral ministry to impoverished communities in the mining areas around Brits and Rustenburg: Marikana as a case study.
• African Approaches to Pastoral care and counselling
• The doctrine of the two Kingdoms and its implications for oppression and liberation in the socio-economic context of South Africa
• Pastoral care with and to people living with mental illness (depression)