| Summary: | Thesis (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 1994. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This is an empirical, qualitative study of racially-mixed urban churches (congregations) as social
institutions, which includes a practical-theological perspective. Research was motivated by the rareness
of mixed congregations, compared to the profusion of homogenous congregations. My purpose was to
uncover social factors which support the formation, maintenance, and functioning of mixed congregations.
A New Testament section is included because of the normative value that these texts hold for
contemporary Christians and church structures.
My theoretical base is informed by history, theology, biblical studies, sociology, and anthropology. The
development of relevant aspects in these fields are sketched. Special attention is given to assimilation,
pluralism, and multi-culturalism as forms of inter-ethnic interaction based on structure and culture. My
methodological base incorporates congregational studies and social-scientific literary analysis. The
historical development of both is sketched by means of an overview of relevant literature. The general
qualitative analytical social and literary techniques that I apply are indicated, including
participant-observation, semi-structured interviews, structured questionnaires, and document-analysis.
A social history of South African congregations shows that the ideal of mixed congregations existed since
the start, but was gradually repressed by several factors. Some studies of mixed congregations are
discussed, and various mixed US and South African congregations are outlined. Three contemporary
Johannesburg congregations are introduced, including Johweto, an independent charismatic church in the
black city of Soweto; St. Francis Xavier, a Roman Catholic church on the borders of coloured and white
suburbs in western Johannesburg; and Central Methodist Mission, an inner-city Protestant church. The
Johannesburg congregations are idiographically and empirically analysed in terms of their context, identity,
process, and programme. Social factors contributing to their ethnic mix are indicated.
The insights from the contemporary research are applied to early Christian congregations in a social scientific
reconstruction of the social world of appropriate New Testament texts. The purpose is to
discover the role of ethnicity in their composition and functioning, and to show whether ethnically-mixed
congregations were normative. I suggest a theory concerning the effects of ethno-cultural factors on the
structures and functioning of Pauline congregations between AD 30 and 70.
I conclude with a summary of the theoretical and practical implications of the study's results, and an
evaluation of goals and methods. Practical strategies are suggested for dealing with commonly indicated
difficulties in the formation of mixed congregations. A theory of the influence of social factors on
formation is supplied, and a dynamic model of formation constructed. I posit three types of mixed
churches according to the processes by which they are formed: contextual, inclusive, or intentional. These
are evaluated as formation strategies, and a two-tiered typology in terms of internal structure is also
proposed. The types are illustrated with reference to congregations from the US and South Africa.
Segregated and integrated congregations are evaluated in theological, social and political terms and I
indicate why mixed congregations are preferable. An overall theory of the formation and functioning of
mixed congregations is put forward. Assimilation is seen as a contributive cause, but modified where
counter-status quo and multi-cultural strategies are employed. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie is 'n empiriese en kwalitatiewe studie van ras- en etnies-gemengde kerke (gemeentes) as sosiale
instellings, wat prakties-teologiese perspektiewe insluit. Navorsing is gemotiveer deur die skaarsheid van
gemengde gemeentes, in vergelyking met die groot aantal gemeentes waartoe slegs een rasgroep behoort.
My doelwit was om sosiale faktore te ontdek wat bydra tot die vorming, instandhouding, en funksionering
van gemengde gemeentes. 'n Nuwe Testamentiese afdeling is ingesluit weens die normatiewe waarde van
hierdie vroeg-Christelike tekste vir hedendaagse Christene en kerke-strukture.
Die teoretiese begronding van die studie word toegelig deur die geskiedenis, teologie, bybelkunde,
sosiologie, en antropologie. Ek skets die ontwikkeling van relevante aspekte binne hierdie velde. Spesiale
aandag word geskenk aan assimilasie. pluralisme, en multikulturalisme as vorme van inter-etniese
interaksie rondom struktuur en kultuur. My metodologiese grondslag word gevorm deur gemeentestudie
en sosiaal-wetenskaplike letterkundige analise. Die historiese ontwikkeling van beide hierdie gebiede word
geskets deur middel van 'n oorsig van relevante literatuur. Die oorkoepelende kwalitatiewe analitiese
tegnieke wat ek aanwend word aangedui, insluitend deelnemende-waarneming, semi-gestruktureerde
vraelyste, gestruktureerde vraelyste, en dokumentontleding.
'n Sosiale geskiedenis van Suid-Afrikaanse gemeentes dui aan dat die ideaal van gemengdheid van die
begin gehuldig is, maar in die praktyk verdwyn het onder aanslag van sekere faktore. 'n Paar studies van
gemengde gemeentes word bespreek, en bondige opsommings van verskeie gemengde gemeentes in die
VSA en Suid-Afrika verskaf. Drie Johannesburgse gemeentes word bekendgestel, insluitend Johweto, 'n
onafhanklike charismatiese kerk wat in die swart stad Soweto byeenkom; St Francis Xavier, 'n Rooms Katolieke
kerk op die grens van bruin en wit voorstede in westelike Johannesburg; en Central Methodist
Mission, 'n Protestantse kerk in die middestad.
Die insigte van die kontemporere navorsing word aangewend in 'n sosiaal-wetenskaplike rekonstruksie van
die sosiale wereld van toepaslike Nuwe Testament-tekste. Die doelwit is om die rol van etnisiteit in die
ontstaan en funksionering van vroee Christelike gemeentes te ontdek, en om aan te dui of etnies gemengde
gemeentes normatief was. Ek stel 'n teorie voor oor die gevolge van etnies-kulturele faktore
vir Pauliniese gemeentes tussen 30 en 70 n.C.
Ek sluit af met 'n opsomming van die teoretiese en praktiese implikasies van die navorsingsresultate, en
'n evaluasie van doelwitte en metodes. Praktiese antwoorde word aangedui op algemene vraagstukke
rondom die vorming van gemengde gemeentes. 'n Teorie word voorgestel oor die invloede van sosiale
faktore op die ontstaan van sulke kerke, en 'n dinamiese model van onstaansfaktore opgestel. Ek stel ook
drie tipes gemengde kerke voor na aanleiding van die prosesse waardeur hulle gevorm word: kontekstueel,
inklusief, of doelbewus. Die tipes word evalueer as ontstaans-strategiee, en 'n twee-vlak tipologie in terme
van interne organisasie word voorgestel. Die tipes word bespreek met verwysing na voorbeelde van
gemeentes in die VSA en Suid-Afrika. Homogene en gemengde gemeentes word evalueer in teologiese,
sosiale, en politiese terme, en ek dui aan waarom gemengde gemeentes verkieslik is. 'n Oorkoepelende
teorie oor die ontstaan en funksionering van gemengde gemeentes word ter tafel gebring. Assimilasie word
gesien as bydraende faktor, wat aan bande gele word tot die mate waartoe anti-status quo en multikulturele
strategiee aangewend word binne 'n gemengde kerk.
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