A short history of empirical homiletics in South Africa

Abstract

In this article I am telling the story of the history of empirical homiletics, in particular the use of the Grounded Theory methodology of doing content analysis of sermons and other documents, such as interviews, to ascertain in a scientific way the contents of documents. This is an exercise in reflexive-biographical exploration of empirical homiletical methodology. I first discussed the analysis of sermons using quantitative methods in my book Communicative preaching and the thesis of Julian Müller. There was a growing urge amongst homileticians to study the contents of sermons. The Heidelberg analytical method is a form of qualitative sermon analysis. Qualitative methodology suits theologians better than quantitative methods. I have discussed this method and referred to the work of Johan Cilliers in this regard. The next development of sermon content analysis is the Grounded Theory methodology. We made use of the first stage of the development of qualitative Grounded Theory methodology in the analysis of Desmond Tutu’s sermons and statements. After the international publication of this book, Prof. F. Gerrit Immink started using the upgraded form of Grounded Theory by Kathy Charmaz for the empirical homiletical research of his doctoral students at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. I also discussed my book Preaching in a context of poverty as the theoretical part of my later research with Grounded Theory analysis of sermons on poverty. Then I discussed my six yearlong content analysis of sermons preached with Matthew 25:31–46 as sermon text by means of Grounded Theory methodology. Important is the chapter by Müller & Wepener in an international publication, and the article on angry preaching by Wepener and Pieterse which was published in an international journal. Lastly, I have mentioned the post-graduate research with the Grounded Theory method by students. The value that is being added in this article by doing this historical survey is to show the development and to signal what might be waiting in the near future for our discipline.

Cura vocalis.

“…These theological variables continuously receive attention in homiletical reflections, also currently in Southern Africa (cf. Cilliers 2021;Fenga & Wepener 2018;Laubscher 2017;Pieterse 2020;Tisdale & De Wet 2014;Wepener 2020;Wepener & Nell 2022;Wepener & Steyn 2022;Wessels 2021). However, there are also physiological variables involved that are often neglected in practical theological and homiletical literature.…”