Click here for more information and contact details.

Thursday 12 April: 13:00 – 13:45, Attie van Wijk Auditorium

Courageous Conversations: The Bible and Being Gay

Profs Louis Jonker and Jeremy Punt

Sunday 15 April, 10:00 – 11:30

Church Service: Volkskerk, 60 Kahler Street, Ida’s Valley

Sermon: Prof Nico Koopman (Dean)

Monday 16 April: 13:00 – 13:45, Chapel

Lecture: New Wine from Old Wineskins: Old Testament interpretation and a Theology for and by the Underdog.

Dr Funlola Olojede, postdoctoral fellow

Tuesday 17 April: 13:00 – 13:45, Chapel

Lecture: Human Dignity, Missiology, and the Encounter with the ‘Other’ in Southern Africa.

Dr Retief Muller, postdoctoral fellow

Wednesday 18 April, 19:00 – 21:30, Hofmeyr lecture hall, Faculty of Theology

Film show: Babel

“Human dignity is an idea which is hard to pin down. If you try to define it, it melts away. It’s best conveyed through stories.”

Babel caused a stir in 2006 as international drama film with Alejandro González Iñárrituas director and Guillermo Arriaga as writer. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett lead a cast telling a variety of stories played out in Morocco, Japan, Mexico and the USA. The film received a Golden Globe award for Best Film and was nominated for 7 Academy Awards. Duration: 143 minutes; entrance free.

After the show Prof Robert Vosloo will lead a discussion about the theme of Human Dignity as portrayed in the film.

Enquiries: hvdwest@sun.ac.za

DATE: FRIDAY 4 MAY 2012

VENUE: Hofmeyr lecture room, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University

PROGRAMME

08:00 – 08:15         Registration

08:15 – 08:30         Welcome and Arrangements - Julie Claassens

08:30 – 10:30         Session 1 (Chair Julie Claassens)

Gender and Education: Feminism Matters in the 21st Century - Miranda N. Pillay

Making the Silence Visible - Charlene van der Walt

Addressing Domestic Violence in Post-apartheid South Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Religious Leaders and Faith Communities to become part of the Solution - Elizabeth Petersen

10:30 – 11:00         Tea

11:00 – 13:00         Session 2 (Chair Miranda Pillay)

Towards a Logic of Dignity: Educating Against Gender-Based Violence - Juliana Claassens

Talking About Violence Against Women in the Church - Ilse Ahrends

Gender, Ubuntu and Violence - Gerrit Brand

13:00 – 14:00         Lunch

14:00 – 16:00         Session 3 (Chair Elna Mouton)

Gender Mainstreaming as Strategy Towards Gender Equality - Trunette Joseph

“Wicked” Problems and “Messes” - Francine Becker

From Therapy to Community Involvement: Raising Awareness of Child Sexual Abuse in a Xhosa school and Township Community - Elize Morkel & Nobuntu Matholeni

16:00 – 16:30         The Way Forward

For more information, contact Helette van der Westhuizen at hvdwest@sun.ac.za

Christians claim that their religion is a religion of love because they confess that their God is a God of love. Christian love does not have to do so much with feelings than with acts. Can people trust you? Even your enemies? This rule should be decisive for social structures within the church and it is a gift if this should be the case in society at large as well. Good government is neither the fulfillment of the will of one person, a selected group, nor even that of a democratic majority; it is the fulfillment of the command to love.

It seems obvious to speak in this way in any Christian discourse – but how do we accomplish it in practice?

All welcome!

RSVP by 26 March: Helette van der Westhuizen, hvdwest@sun.ac.za or 021 808 3250.

U word hartlik uitgenooi na ’n lesing deur Prof Bram van de Beek oor die tema: Kerk en Agapokrasie: Die Bewind van die Liefde. Die lesing vind plaas op Dinsdag, 27 Maart 2012 om 17h30 – 19h00 in die Hofmeyr lesingsaal.

Christene beweer dat hulle godsdiens ’n godsdiens van liefde is omdat hulle bely dat hulle God ’n God van liefde is. Christelike liefde het nie soseer te make met gevoelens nie, maar met dade. Kan mense jou vertrou? Kan selfs jou vyande jou vertrou? Hierdie reël behoort bepalend te wees vir sosiale strukture binne die kerk en dit sal ʼn gawe wees indien dit ook in die breër samelewing waar sal wees. Goeie regering is nie die vervulling van die wense van een mens, ʼn uitverkore groep, of selfs ʼn demokratiese meerderheid nie, maar die vervulling van die wet van die liefde.

Dit lyk voor die hand liggend om op hierdie manier in enige Christelike diskoers te praat – maar hoe kan ons dit prakties uitvoer?

Almal welkom!

RSVP teen 26 Maart: Helette van der Westhuizen, hvdwest@sun.ac.za of 021 808 3250

Date:            Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Alle belangstellendes is welkom om te kom luister en veral ook saam te gesels en gedagtes te wissel. Die bespreking vind plaas in die Hofmeyr lesingsaal by die fakulteit.

RSVP teen Woensdag 29 Februarie: Helette, hvdwest@sun.ac.za, 021 808 3250.

RSVP by Wednesday 29 February: Helette, hvdwest@sun.ac.za, 021 808 3250.

18:00-18:30

Mnr. Florian Höhne (Universiteit van Bamberg, Duitsland)

“Public Theology and the Media: Preliminary Remarks for a Necessary Analysis”

18:30-19:00

Dr. Gawie Botma (departement joernalistiek, Stellenbosch)

“Agianst the Grain: An Argument for Complexity in Media Analysis”

19:00-19:20

Oop gesprek / Open discussion

19:20-19:40

Pouse met verversings / Break with refreshments

19:40-20:10

Blitsbydraes deur

prof. Dirkie Smit, dr. Gerrit Brand, me. Elna Boesak en me. Marthie Momberg

Brief contributions by

prof. Dirkie Smith, dr. Gerrit Brand, ms. Elna Boesak and ms. Marthie Momberg

20:10-20:30

Oop gesprek en afsluiting / Open discussion and conclusion

Speaker: Dr Wesley Granberg-Michaelson (Advisor for ecumenical relationships and General Secretary emeritus of the Reformed Church in America)
Topic: “Belhar’s Global Witness to a Divided Church”
Venue: Library Auditorium, UWC
Date/Time: Wednesday, 29 February 2012, 19:00
RSVP: Ms Heather Griffiths, Tel 0219592206 or hgriffiths@uwc.ac.za
before Friday 24 February (at the latest: Monday 27 February).

All welcome!! Refreshments will be enjoyed in the foyer after the lecture.
Rev DDJ Kuys (URCSA) and Prof C Lombard (Religion & Theology, UWC)

THE HISTORIES AND LIFE TRAJECTORIES OF COLOURED / ‘COLOURED’/  INTELLECTUALS

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE

DATE:                                    30 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER 2012
VENUE:                                  BEYERS NAUDé CENTRE FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH, STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA

CALL FOR PAPERS

DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS: 30 MAY 2012

Introduction

South African political intellectual traditions are frequently discussed in broad, overarching terms related most often to various expressions of liberalism, nationalism or socialism. Such discursive treatment tends to overemphasize the dominance of one particular expression, be it liberalism in the nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries, Afrikaner nationalism in the mid-twentieth century or African nationalism in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The ideas that influence South African social life are however more varied and more dynamic. In the first of a series of conferences on South African intellectual histories the organisers hope to bring together scholars and researchers from a variety of disciplines to establish a comprehensive view of the ways in which intellectuals, thinkers, writers, academics and those in (business, cultural, educational, media, legal, religious, scientific, social, sporting) leadership positions responded, contested or acquiesced to their changing political and social environments.

“Intellectual history” refers to an interdisciplinary approach to understand the development and formation of ideas within context, be it in formal institutional or cultural environments, social struggle or individual experiences. For a web-accessible introduction to the field see Peter E. Gordon’s article, “What is intellectual history? A frankly partisan introduction to a frequently misunderstood field” (http://history.fas.harvard.edu/people/faculty/documents/pgordon-whatisintellhist.pdf).

However, this conference is aimed at a broad audience rather than strictly trained historians. We are interested in mapping South African intellectual histories in a variety of professional fields, and we wish to learn about intellectuals’ distinctive concerns and the historical forces that shaped their ideas and their responses to their professional environments. We are interested in the fullest possible spectrum of ideas that would allow us to critically engage all notions of identity, place and belonging.

The context: the histories of Coloured/ coloured / ‘Coloured’  intellectuals

One of the features of South African social life that it shares with countries with similar colonial histories is the categorisation of its people. Terms that were used as descriptors of cultural and demographic difference or regional and ancestral origin took on, under colonial and apartheid rule, intricate meanings associated with intellectual inferiority, moral deficiency and “racial” hierarchy. One such term is “Coloured”. This categorisation started out as an unnuanced colonial category to distinguish the indigenous people from the colonists, and throughout the nineteenth, and for most of the twentieth century, took on ever-increasing narrow, even if still unnuanced, meanings.

People named Coloured accepted, actively promoted or rejected the term, while many others viewed it with indifference: Coloured /coloured / ‘Coloured’/ Coloured. At various times they struggled with the constraints of “ethnic” particularity and replaced it with terminologies that suited their specific circumstances or political and social orientations. For instance, some emphasised religious or cultural identities such as “Cape Muslim” or “Griqua”, or political identities such as “African,” “African Marxist,” “African nationalist,” “Marxist,” “Black” or “Coloured Resister.” Others claim broader regional or comprehensive national identities such as “Natalian,” “Joster,” “Baainaar,” “Namakwalander” or “South African” refusing to lend credence to any ethnic appellation. Still others, live with a creolised identity or an active triple consciousness as someone self-identifying as Coloured, Black and South African. Notwithstanding their eventual self-identity choices, every person classified with the term “Coloured” had to confront and deal with it in ways appropriate to their private and public lives. While these histories of becoming are often repressed, and shielded from public discourse they circulate in private and personal spheres.

The fact is that the term Coloured remains broad and unnuanced, and mostly fails to fully define people within their broader class, cultural, historical or geographical settings. More significant are the underlying histories and life trajectories that the term’s nebulosity may obscure. These are personal histories overwrought with notions of indigeneity or re-appropriated indigeneity, slavery, hybridity, social denial and self-hatred but also appropriation, social privilege and self-pride. These histories reveal interconnections with political and social resistance, while they at the same time bear the burden of strategic choices of complicity and acceptance. In short: These varied histories speak of marginality, alienation, privilege, denial, complicity, contest and resistance. However, these experiences are yet to be examined comprehensively.

Over the past century people classified Coloured responded in many ways to life in South Africa, and invariably they had to counteract social stereotypes or the perceived political limitations associated with them. For instance, regarding political participation in the country leaders classified Coloured had to make deliberate choices about associating with the dominant political forces or joining their opposition. Quite often they took the lead in the formation of such bodies. Opinion-makers were characterised variously as pragmatists, assimilationists or revolutionaries in reference to prevailing intellectual traditions, i.e. local intellectual traditions in concert with among others colonial, liberal, Africanist, African nationalist or internationalist schools of thought. The same holds true for people in all pursuits of social life. Intellectuals, thinkers, academics, writers, opinion-makers, musicians, and business, cultural, educational or political leaders classified Coloured had to confront and deal with their personal histories and/or their social identity construction in whatever professional pursuit they were engaged in, be it locally in South Africa or elsewhere internationally.

More than the correctness of particular orientations we are concerned with the invisibility of these histories in current South African life. By not examining and documenting their life stories and life trajectories these intellectuals, thinkers and writers might be contributing to the continued absence of these histories in South African traditions of thought.

This interdisciplinary conference is interested in documenting these experiences to map a more comprehensive view of such individuals’ contributions to economic, political, social and cultural thought in South Africa, and their responses to its social dynamics. While the supposed “ethnic” commonality of these individuals is taken as a point of departure it is understood that their experiences should be explored in response to the ideological and intellectual dynamics of the broader South African political, economic and cultural context.

Equally relevant are the ideas that shaped community and political organisations and institutions within this constructed community. The conference participants are encouraged to examine the changing conditions of cultural, religious, social and political practices in and across succeeding historical periods, just they are encouraged to analyze the role of individual intellectuals, thinkers, cultural workers, social movements, popular culture, community, educational, religious and political organisations and institutions. We expect participants to reflect critically on assumptions about coloured identities, and ultimately contributing to a sustained body of knowledge on South African thought.

Invitation

We invite submissions of abstracts from scholars of all ranks and researchers from any relevant discipline. We also invite the participation of any individual or groups of individuals who could make a meaningful contribution to the conference. Intended participants may also propose panels of no more than three panelists where a specific theme demands it. We also invite participants to share their analytical, reflexive, autobiographical or biographical considerations on their intellectual pursuits.

Papers may be presented in any of the official South African languages. Where a presentation is offered in a language other than English it should be accompanied by an encompassing English-language handout. Abstracts will be reviewed and proposers should receive notes of acceptance (or rejection) by 30 July 2012.

The conference will take place on Friday 30 November and Saturday 1 December 2012 at the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, University of Stellenbosch. The conference is open to the public but preregistration is essential and a registration fee of R300 is payable.

Abstracts should be submitted to Helette van der Westhuizen ; she will also assist with information on registration and accommodation.

Keywords: autobiography, biography, critical theory, identity construction, workplace/local religious/sporting/cultural histories, history of ideas, traditions of thought, South African intellectual history.

Organising Committee

Michael Cloete, Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Systematic and Practical Theology, University of South Africa

Nico Botha, Professor of Missiology, Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South Africa

Nico Koopman, Dean, Faculty of Theology, University of Stellenbosch

Hein Willemse, Professor of Literature, Department of Afrikaans, University of Pretoria

Administrative Office

Helette van der Westhuizen
E-mail: hvdwest@sun.ac.za

Tel: +27 21 808 3250
Fax: +27 21 808 3251

Archiving

The following collections (documents) have been donated to the Beyers Naudé Centre for archiving and are listed hereunder.

The Ilse Naudé Collection – this collection comprises most of the hand written sermons and speeches delivered by Beyers Naudé from 1930 to 1994. This collection has been indexed according to dates, topics, biblical references as well as place and occasion.  At present duplication is in progress and should be ready for binding by the end of November 2011.

The Pro Veritate Collection – this collection will consist of all the publications under the title Pro Veritate, which were circulated by the Christian Institute with Beyers Naudé as editor.  The main focus of these publications was to inform the DRC community as well the church community at large about the theory and practice of the theology of apartheid.  Most of  the copies have been donated and those that are still outstanding will be duplicated, and should be available by the end of November 2011 at the Beyers Naudé Centre.

The Len Hansen Collection – this is a collection of press clippings which high light the work and times of Beyers Naudé as well as the Christian Institute and is available for research purposes.

The Anonymous Christian Institute Collection – a comprehensive collection of documents, starting with the planning and establishment of the Christian Institute (CI);  monthly newsletters;  director’s reports;  bible studies;  agendas, minutes, reports and finances as tabled at various meetings of the central body as well as regional offices; correspondence by and with Beyers Naudé and other individuals at CI; documents pertaining to the Schlebusch Commission and various attempts by the National Government and DRC to discredit and ban Beyers Naudé and other individuals at the CI.

This collection also includes documents and booklets on various other organisations and publications which have bearing on the CI (Sharpeville, South African Council of Churches, Cottesloe Consultation etc.). This collection is being attended to and should be available for research purposes by July 2012.

Other Collections – various other collections will be archived once they have been received as promises by donors.

Interpreting

Phase 1 – various publications under the editorship of Len Hansen and Robert Vosloo in the series Beyers Naudé Centre Series on Public Theology have been published.  The aim of which is to interpret the legacy of Beyers Naudé.  These publications are available at the Beyers Naudé Centre.

Phase 2 – the planning of a publication based on the Ilse Naudé Collection (sermons and speeches) is in progress and should be available during 2012.

- Murray Coetzee

On Wednesday 25 May Jonathan Huggins from Berry College in the United States will give a lecture on N.T. Wright on Justification: Faithfully Embodying the Reformed Tradition of Semper Reformanda?

We meet in the Hofmeyr Hall at the faculty from 14h00-15h15. After the lecture there will be time for discussion.

RSVP to Robert Vosloo if you plan to attend.

Light refreshments will be served.

———————–

Uitnodiging na lesing met as tema NT Wright and the Reformed Tradition

Op Woensdag 25 Mei gee Jonathan Huggins van Berry College in die VSA ‘n lesing oor die tema N.T. Wright on Justification: Faithfully Embodying the Reformed Tradition of Semper Reformanda?

Ons ontmoet in die Hofmeyrsaal by die fakulteit vanaf 14h00-15h15. Na die lesing sal daar tyd vir bespreking wees.

RSVP vir Robert Vosloo indien u die lesing wil bywoon. Ligte verversings sal bedien word.