The focus of this article was to pursue factors regarding the declining numbers in the traditional Afrikaans speaking reformed churches in South Africa. This intertwined phenomenon was studied according to theonome reciprocity as portrayed in the covenant and embedded in the Great Commission. The unstoppable drive of the Spirit is recognised in a levelling wave approximately every 500 years. It is also recognised in the wave where mainstream Christianity moves from the northern to the southern hemisphere, as well as cyclic movements typical to the Christian religion. Man’s involvement is categorised as factors that are difficult to measure, as well as factors that can be measured. Paradigms, as factors difficult to measure and contributing to the decline of churches, form the background to the manifestation of the measureable factors

The church is not like any other institution or organisation in society. Although the church is primarily invisible and spiritual, it is a visible organisation in the world, and it spans across borders of nations, languages and countries. John Calvin strongly rejected the notion that the church is only a spiritual organisation of which the visible administrative side is downplayed. The fellowship of the church must not only be seen as a mystical relation with Jesus Christ. During 2010, an empirical study was done on the extent to which congregations of the Reformed Churches of South Africa (RCSA) adhere to the request to have a well-designed congregational strategy. The knowledge gained from a literature study on the science of Strategic Management and the results of the empirical study was combined into a framework for crafting and executing a congregational strategy. This framework can be used by congregational leaders to guide them through their own process of crafting and executing their unique congregational strategy.  The research was concluded with a recommendation that the Theological School of the RCSA should consider including a course on Strategic Management in the training syllabus of aspiring ministers. Considering that Strategic Management is a specialised management science, and external Strategic Management consultants tend to be expensive, the research also recommended that the Administrative Bureau of the RCSA consider employing their own Strategic Management consultant for the RCSA with the specific assignment of assisting and guiding all congregations with their congregational strategy.’n Raamwerk vir die ontwerp en implementering van ’n gemeentestrategie in die plaaslike gemeentes van die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika. ’n Kerk is ’n unieke organisasie. Die kerk is primêr onsigbaar en geestelik van  aard. Tog  funksioneer dit as ’n instituut in die wêreld en moet dit doelmatig en doeltreffend bestuur word, ten einde alles ordelik te laat verloop en doelgerig te laat funksioneer. Johannes Calvyn het die idee dat ’n gemeente slegs ’n geestelike instelling is, waarvan die sigbare administratiewe deel as onbelangrik afgemaak word, verwerp. ’n Empiriese studie is gedurende 2010 onderneem om vas te stel tot watter mate gemeentestrategieë wel in die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) opgestel en uitgevoer word. Die kennis wat ingewin is met die empiriese studie is gekombineer met ’n literatuurstudie oor die vakgebied van Strategiese Bestuur, en ’n raamwerk vir die ontwerp en implementering van ’n gemeentestrategie is daargestel. Hierdie raamwerk kan deur gemeenteleiers gebruik word in die ontwerp en implementering van hulle gemeente se strategie. Die navorsing sluit af met die aanbeveling dat daar oorweging geskenk moet word om ‘n kursus in strategiese bestuur in die opleidingsillabus van teologiese studente in te sluit. ’n Verdere aanbeveling is gemaak dat, weens die gespesialiseerde aard en koste aan eksterne Strategiese Bestuurskonsultante verbonde, die Administratiewe Buro van die GKSA oorweging behoort te skenk om hulle eie konsultant in diens te neem. Die opdrag moet wees om gemeentes van die GKSA by te staan in die ontwerp en implementering van die gemeentestrategie.

This article examines the relationship between theological training and practical ministry with the purpose of addressing the fundamental problems that hinder theological training from becoming relevant. There exists a general concern about the way theological schools are preparing men and women for church ministry, with the church leadership feeling like graduates are not up to the task of ministering despite the theological training. The research has established that there is a relationship between theological training and practice of ministry and that practical ministry can only be improved through enhancing theological training. Ultimately the article establishes the need for a competent training programme modelled after the New Testament Discipleship Model approach. This model integrates knowledge, being and practical training. The article tries to outline a model of training (i.e. the Integrated Competency-Based Training Model) that will seek to address many of the inadequacies in the training of church ministers with the aim of making theological training translate into the practice of ministry.<p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> Mwangi, J.K. &amp; De Klerk, B.J., 2011, ‘An Integrated Competency-Based Training Model for theological training’, <em>HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies</em> 67(2), Art. #1036, 10 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v67i2.1036</p>

The Holy Spirit and Scripture-reading in the gathering of the congregation

The realisation of the presence of God in the gathering of the congregation is often hampered by the lack of emphasis on the communicative action, the Scripture-reading by which God directly talks to his congregation. In this article the basic theoretical exploration indicates that Scripture-reading is the way in which God addresses us as: “Here I am!” God discloses his power to bestow grace upon and judge the congregation. Scripture-reading as signifying communicative action in the service can be regarded as a continuation of the idea of God’s presence implied by the tabernacle, temple, and synagogue – an idea also emphasised in New-Testament times and in the twentieth century. Scripture-reading is thus the binding and decisive factor in the meeting of God with his people. Some possibilities for the practical application of the independent Scripture-reading are indicated in this article