University of the Free State UFS Department of Practical and Missional Theology
UFS Department of Practical and Missional Theology – Check below:
This department houses two disciplines, namely Practical Theology and Missional Theology.
Practical Theology has the following purposes:
• To develop a critical and contextually relevant theological praxis through community interaction.
• To assist people with a vocation to be part of God’s mission to the world, by developing the following as followers of Jesus Christ:
spiritual maturity and awareness of calling;
theological and hermeneutical abilities;
character and personality development;
ministry understanding and skills, and
contextual sensitivity,
so that they can be of service within the faith communities and in society at large.
• To make a contribution, through relevant, timely, and high-quality research, in cooperation with other partners and networks, towards the understanding and transformation of the community and society.
Practical Theology includes the following fields of study:
o pastoral care;
o homiletics and liturgy;
o faith formation;
o congregational studies and leadership, and
o spirituality.
Missional Theology has the following purposes:
• To deal with the service of the church to the Kingdom, and then to focus on the mission of the church in this world through the missio Dei.
• To consider the Biblical foundations of missionary work through the theology of mission.
• To reflect on dialogue with various world religions.
• To engage through the theology of mission with the many challenges of the present world.
• To answer questions posed by the ideologies to the church in mission.
• To reflect on the history of the mission of the church.