Vol 1 - Support Services Ufs Ac Za - University of the Free State

TheologyMessage from the Dean: Prof Hermie van ZylDepartment, he is included in the InternationalCongress on Calvin’s research. In collaboration withthe Instituut vir Klassieke en Reformatoriese Studies,a summer university was presented on the 16thcentury doctrinal scripts and their meaning forAfrica as it is today. A theological conference on thesame theme was organised with the DutchReformed Church in Africa. On both occasionstheologists from Europe acted as guest lecturers.Under the leadership of Prof Britz and Drd’Assonville, young upcoming researchers embarkedon a study and research tour in August 2007 to theUniversities of Cambridge and Münster. Each ofthem delivered a lecture at the summer universityof the University of Münster on the reception of theHeidelberg Catechism in Africa.In the Department of Missiology there is aresearch project on poverty alleviation in theinformal housing community. The Department isalso connected with the University’s StrategicAcademic Cluster research on poverty alleviation.The focus of the research falls on violence andreconciliation, with theology as point of departure.Prof Pieter Verster delivered two research articles onthe latter. Dr Roelf Pienaar successfully completedhis research on the empowerment of the office ofbelievers in a missionary context. Dr Frans Hanckealso completed his D Th and is conducting furtherresearch on this important matter.Prof Johan Janse van Rensburg of theDepartment of Practical Theology published a bookon preaching the Old Testament. He received a fouryearscholarship from the NRF to conduct researchon a theology of poverty. At the Programme inPastoral Theology, the Department received anumber of lecturers from other universities (nationaland international), providing aspects such as thehuman soul and sexuality from a theological pointof view. Prof Jan-Albert van den Berg deliveredpapers on pastoral therapy at two internationalcongresses. Dr Jeanette Steyn is busy with researchon emotional pain in families in Bloemfontein aspart of an extended community service project.Both Prof van den Berg and Dr Steyn are involved inthe Strategic Academic Cluster on Transformationin Highly Diverse Societies.The local Department of Old Testament isworking together with the Department of OldTestament from Stellenbosch University (SU) on theproject Prophet Research with the aim to stimulateresearch on prophetic literature. A successfulconference was held at the SU on this topic. TheDepartments of Old Testament, New Testament andBiblical and Religious Studies have established aDiscussion Group on Bible Sciences, meeting once aquarter to discuss a research theme from the biblicalsciences.The local Department of New Testament inconjunction with the Department of New Testamentat the University of Pretoria established theInternational Colloquium on the New Testamentwith the aim of enhancing interaction betweenacademics focusing on the New Testament fromSouth African and abroad. Together with the localDepartment of Old Testament, the Department alsofocused on research on biblical spirituality. ProfPieter de Villiers was appointed as ResearchAssociate in Biblical Spirituality and delivered his109