Work
4.3 SURVEY OF THE ECCLESIAL ANALYSIS
Cochrane et al purport that this analysis should cover four dimensions namely
i) situation ii) structure iii) ethos iv) praxis
4.3.1 ECCLESIAL ANALYSIS BASED ON THE SITUATION
• A strong point made by Cochrane et al is that the church in South Africa is not homogeneous. This situation also prevails at the level of the "Indian" church as defined above, in ministering ln the context of the area of the Informal Settlements.
Most of the churches in this vicinity are autonomous and operate with their own or no constitution. There are some efforts to unify the ministry in this geographic area. Up until now the unity has only been at a fraternal level with no firm obligation or commitment to each other.
•
The membership of these churches range from small congregations of fifty (50) people to large congregations of two thousand
(2 000) people.
The type of membership vary. For some congregations members are from lower income, middle income and the affluent economic levels . There are in some congregations a combination of all these three groups. Thus the dynamics presented in the ministry based on the ecclesial situation is not a clear one but rather one with complexities.
4.3.2 ECCLESIAL ANALYSIS BASED ON THE STRUCTURE
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Since these congregations are from different traditions, the structure differs greatly. Leadership and power could be vested in one person, a church council, executive committee, church board, management committee, board of trustees, the bishop, local bodies, regional bodies and national bodies. Due to the operation of the administration of a congregation having different procedures in management and control, the ministry of working together has to be fragmented to best suit the congregation and its institution.
Many congregations are bound by their physical structures of properties and buildings. This particular aspect captures much of their time and resources. The maintenance and improvement of buildings have become a costly and time-consuming feature of the local congregation.
For many of these congregations the institutional structures are either the controlling body or just an associated body. The link
•
on this basis determines the level of involvement with an endeavour or social need in one's vicinity.
4.3.3 ECCLESIAL ANALYSIS BASED ON THE ETHOS OF THE CHURCH
Cochrane et al state that one of the aspects of the ethos of a church could be strongly influenced by anyone of three strands, being 'moralism, conservatism and authoritarianism'. Elements of
these strands are evident in almost any congregation. However the churches in this area would mostly fit the conservative mould regarding their theology, ministry and ecclesial outlook and function.
This brings a strong slant to church-centredness where the focus
• is one of a in-house nature. As Cochrane et al state ."This engenders an introspective and self-indulgent faith. "
(Cochrane et al 1991:50)
4.3.4 ECCLESIAL ANALYSIS BASED ON THE PRAXIS OF THE CHURCH
From the previous section, the logical follow through, is a church-orientated praxis. The praxis focuses on the upbuilding and growth of a local congregation. Whilst this may be a noble feature of one's ministry, if this is the only focus then the church loses its catholicity and kingdom approach. Is a church
• I
I .
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really a church if it is isolated from the corporate body of Christ? Then the church cannot be true to Romans 12:12-13
" Christ is a single body, wh i c h has many parts".
One has also to understand the fears and reservations that many people have to work across the race and ethnic barrier. These barriers which were entrenched ln the time of separate development has to undergo a process of evolution. People have to be spiritually and ecclesiastically delivered from these hidden fears and reservations in order to work and minister across the racial divide. This is so, due the manner in which the practical situation presents itself as the dwellers of the Informal Settlements being mainly from the indigenous African population and the people needing to minister from the churches being mainly from Indian origin. Some church workers ' invo l v eme n t in the Informal Settlements means risks to their own safety. A worker in the interview openly declared a scaling down of her involvement after being threatened and intimidated whilst working in the informal settlement.
"What does i t mean for a local congregation to become 'world orientated', that is to see the locus of its mission as the community in which i t exists, in its personal, cultural, political and socio-economic context? It ~s clear that a
theological shift from "church" to "kingdom of God" is
, ;:
necessary. The church needs to move "from an ambulance ministry to a ministry of involvement and participation"
(Cochrane et al 1991:53)
Thus the church in this situation and praxis must realise its own motive, inspiration and values. In keeping with the broader vision of the primary text of the Bible, the church needs to work out its local vision and endeavour to implement this vision with guidance from God and His Holy Spirit.
Thus the church lS called to hold In a creative balance the fusion of its situation, structure, ethos and praxis In understanding i t ecclesial posi tion, function and operation. This then would inform its ecclesiastical outlook and ministry to the Informal Settlements as is the emphases In this mlnl- dissertation.
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CHAPTER 5
A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE NEED FOR A MINISTRY TO PEOPLE IN THE INFORMAL SETTLEMENT