By Phenyo Mokgothu and Nolwazi Xulu

North-West University (NWU) academic in the Faculty of Theology, Prof Alfred Brundson, presented his inaugural lecture on 13 October 2022 at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus.
The title of the lecture was “Are we there yet? Probing the notion of contextualising practical theology and pastoral care in a post-Covid glocal African context.”

North-West University (NWU) professor in practical theology, Prof Vhumani Magezi, was recently conferred a full professor status at an event held at the university’s Vanderbijlpark Campus.

During the event he also delivered his inaugural professorial lecture entitled “African publics and the role of Christianity in fostering ‘human-hood’: a public pastoral care proposition within African pluralistic contexts”.  

As part of its community engagement and stakeholder relations, the School of Christian Ministry and Leadership at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently partnered with church leaders in the Vaal area to create a forum to recover and strengthen ethical and moral leadership within the church and community.

Prof Jaco Gericke does not take an orthodox approach to research in his field, ancient culture, and in a sense that has sometimes counted against him. However, the tide has turned, and the fact that his work is not in the mainstream of scholarship may have proved to be an advantage. It led to the National Research Foundation (NRF) awarding a coveted B rating to Prof Gericke, an associate professor at the Faculty of Theology on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Moira Lekalakala, a third-year theology student on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, was recently announced the winner of the Faculty of Theology’s Language competition.

During a virtual ceremony on 25 November the North-West University (NWU) acknowledged staff for their exceptional contributions to teaching and learning, research and community engagement.

Diversity is the bedrock of the North-West University (NWU) and faith is a pillar of strength for many within the NWU and to billions of people around the globe. The Faculty of Theology has again shown that diversity and faith go well together by producing exceptional PhDs at the first PhD graduation ceremony of 2021.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Faculty of Theology will be hosting a virtual colloquium on 8 September 2021 on decolonising Christianity and its implications for preparing future ministers.

According to Prof Emmanuel Mgqwashu, CTL’s director for faculty teaching and learning support, one cannot ignore how both the oppressed and the oppressor have used Christianity in the past to justify opposing beliefs and actions in a post-colonial, post-apartheid and post-conflict context.

The way in which Scripture is read and interpreted has a major effect on what people read in the Bible. This also determines their approach to concerning and topical issues with which the faithful struggle.

This is the focus of the research by Prof Marius Nel, research chair in Ecumenism: Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism, on the Pentecostalist movement. Prof Nel, a regular recipient of the award as the North-West University’s (NWU’s) most productive researcher, says he is fascinated by themes that function in the field of the Pentecostalist movement.

For North-West University (NWU) lecturer, Prof Fazel Ebrihiam Freeks, giving back to his former school and the community he grew up in is an opportunity to come full circle with his own young self and those who gave to him. 
Growing up, life was not a walk in the park for Prof Freeks.

His mother passed away when he was only three years old, leaving him with a deadbeat dad and depending on the mercy of others.
That experience framed his understanding of how difficult it can be to have no mentor to guide you.