Marcel Barnard

Bio: Marcel Barnard is an academic researcher from Protestant Theological University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Liturgy & Participatory action research. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 9 publications receiving 59 citations.

The Role of Religious Ritual in Social Capital Formation for Poverty Alleviation and Social Development. Theoretical and Methodological Points of Departure of a South African Exploration

Abstract: The article is a presentation of a South African research project in which researchers in the fields of ritual-liturgical studies and social development are collaborating to explore the role of religious ritual in the kinds of social capital formation that have a direct significance and implication for alleviating poverty and promoting social development at grassroots level. Focusing on Christian congregations in poor socio-economic contexts in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, the aim of the research is to understand social capital formation through the lens of religious ritual. The research project builds on the hypothesis that social capital has a role to play in the related goals of poverty alleviation and social development, something which it seeks to conceptualise and explore in greater detail. Within this framework the discussion explores and contextualises the conceptual link between social capital and the practice of religious ritual in present-day South African society by drawing on existing research and theoretical debates, both nationally and internationally. This enables the authors to present some additional notes on the key theoretical, conceptual and methodological points of departure of the undertaken project. These are followed by a number of concluding observations about the modes of investigation and action steps through which the research topic is currently being further developed.

Bricolageliturgie: Liturgical Studies Revisited

Abstract: This article examines a fifth trend, complementary to the four identified in a previous article, in contemporary liturgy visible in churches in the Netherlands as well as South Africa. Drawing on the specific case in the Netherlands of a service in which a minister was ordained, the tendency to mix liturgies is highlighted. This “cut-and-paste” liturgy can be described as “bricolage liturgy”. The term “bricolage” is not new: its use by Claude Levi-Strauss and Jacques Derrida is investigated in order to better apply the term to liturgy. Bricolage liturgy is a-centrical and a-typical. Jesus Christ, then, is the point of departure for understanding the rituals of liturgy, without restricting a service to a set pattern.

Ambivalent Images: Rethinking Biennale 52 Venice/Documenta 12 Kassel and the Task of Practical Theology

Abstract: Abstract The Biennale in Venice and the Documenta in Kassel are starting-points in this article for the discussion of five characteristics of modern art as they were displayed there, with special reference to the image. These five characteristics are: a global perspective, a critical sense of commitment to society, a lack of form, the question of tradition, and the mixture of cognitive sources and genres. In light of Bruno Latour's thought, the author then shows how modern art, faith, and science are all dependent on the image, each in its own way, but all while having a paradoxical relation with it. Latour uses the term iconoclashes for this. In the formation of their images, all three are related to each other and engaged in a parallel discourse. In a third step, the paradox of the image is applied to the five characteristics that were perceived in Venice and Kassel, with the question of how far these are relevant for the Christian practice of faith and for practical theology. In the end, the conclusion is that academic theology should carefully preserve the paradox that surrounds the image. Zusammenfassung Die Biennale in Venedig und die Documenta in Kassel sind Ausgangspunkte dieses Artikels für die Diskussion von fünf Eigenschaften der modernen Kunst, wie sie dort gezeigt wurde, unter besonderer Berücksichtung des Bildes (image). Diese fünf Eigenschaften sind: eine globale Perspektive, ein kritischer Sinn für das Engagement für die Gesellschaft, ein Mangel an Form, die Frage der Tradition sowie die Mischung von kognitiven Quellen und Genres. Im Licht des Denkens von Bruno Latour zeigt der Autor dann, wie moderne Kunst, Glaube und Wissenschaft allesamt vom Bild abhängen, jeweils auf ihre eigene Weise, wobei alle zugleich eine paradoxe Beziehung dazu haben. Latour gebraucht dafür den Begriff iconoclashes. In der Formierung ihrer Bilder sind alle drei aufeinander bezogen und mit einem parallelen Diskurs verbunden. In einem dritten Schritt wird das Paradox des Bildes auf die fünf genannten Eigenschaften angewandt, die in Venedig und Kassel wahrgenommen worden sind, mit der Frage, inwiefern diese für die christliche Praxis des Glaubens und für die Praktische Theologie relevant sind. Am Ende steht die Schlussfolgerung, dass akademische Theologie das Paradox sorgfältig bewahren sollte, welches das Bild umgibt.

Ritual and Religion in the Making of Humanity

Abstract: Ritual and Religion in the Making of Humanity. Roy A. Rappaport. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.536 pp.

사회사업에서의 Participatory Action Research(PAR)와 Action Research(AR) 모델 적용 필요성에 관한 연구

Abstract: 사회사업 조사연구는 복잡하고 다양한 인간의 욕구와 문제들을 해결하고 예측하기 위하여 과학적 방법론을 적극 활용하여 왔다. 과학적 방법론은 인간행동의 기준을 설정하고 결과를 제시하는데 객관성을 제공한다는 이유로 선호되고 있다. 그러나 이러한 과학적 방법론을 사회사업실천영역에서 사용하는데 있어서 간과해서 안 될 점은 클라이언트를 중심에 놓고 조사연구를 실행할 수 있어야 한다는 것이다. 즉, 개입을 계량화하는데 초점을 두지 않고 클라이언트를 중심에 두고 역량 강화할 수 있는 방법이 필요한 것이다. 이러한 맥락에서 본 연구는 사회사업 본연의 가치인 클라이언트 중심의 조사연구 접근과 이론과 실천의 간극을 메우는 하나의 교량으로서 실행연구(AR: action research)와 참여적 실행연구(PAR: participatory action research)의 개념과 과정을 소개하고 한국 사회사업실천에의 적용가능성을 모색하였다. AR과 PAR의 개념과 역사, 실행과정을 분석하고 사회사업실천에의 필요성과 적용점을 분석해본 결과, 필요성에 있어서는 실천현장에서의 적용용이성, 지역사회기반의 일반주의 실천접근과의 적합성, 조사연구와 실천의 통합, AR기술의 실천기술로서의 활용성 등으로 나타났다. 적용상의 이점으로는 클라이언트 문제와 욕구에 대한 보다 깊은 이해, 다각적인 맥락에 의거한 해결방법 모색, 조사자 곧 실천가 자신의 반성과 성장, 임파워먼트 실행의 촉매제로서의 기능, 조사연구의 확대가능성, 지역사회기반의 조사연구 확대, 효과적인 사회복지 조직관리에 있어서의 적용 등인 것으로 나타났다. 마지막으로 한국 현장에 AR을 도입하기 위해서 유의할 점으로 조사연구자로서의 실천가의 역량강화, 공동협력연구의 필요, 현장과 실천중심 연구를 강조하는 인센티브 제공, 구체적인 액션리서치의 한국형 모델 구축 등 4개의 과제를 제언하였다.

Spiritual leadership capital : a theology of poverty in congregational development

Abstract: The title of the study is ‘Spiritual Leadership Capital: A Theology of Poverty in Congregational Development’. It is a study which tried to understand how Ghanaian Pentecostal spirituality informs their leadership paradigms towards addressing poverty in their contexts. The basic assumption of this study is, Pentecostal congregations can be a force to help Ghana address poverty if they are missionally built-up and have cultivated spiritual leadership capital (SLC). The research problem is, do leadership in Ghanaian Pentecostal congregations have spiritual leadership capital (SLC)? (Chapter three outlines SLC). What has been the Pentecostal understanding of poverty, have they a sustainable missional (practical) theology of poverty? (Chapter 4 outlined this). To what extent could their having or the lack of SLC, help or prevent them from developing missional congregations which are able to theologically address the problem of poverty? (Chapter two addressed missional theology). In what ways might the adoption of SLC in congregational development by Pentecostals contribute to the addressing of poverty in Ghana? The study is in the broad disciplinary area of practical theology, and specifically under the subdiscipline of congregational development (ecclesiology). The Researcher advances ‘spiritual leadership capital’ (SLC) theory, which he argues provides inner virtues which spirituality affords people, shaping them with resilient leadership paradigms that contribute to the formation of social capital for the sustainable addressing of social problems such as poverty. It comes to enrich earlier theories on social capital. With the main concern of this project being missional theology as regards leadership in congregational development within the context of Ghanaian Pentecostalism, researcher contests that, SLC can be used to address questions posed to the church and the world by the problem of poverty. The word ‘missional’ has been understood within the missional conversation to have a bigger scope than missionary activity. Leadership’s understanding of mission must determine the structures and systems of a missional congregation. Using Osmer’s (2008) four task practical theology approach to research, SLC comes as a practical theology of poverty in congregational development. Using SLC in view of the backdrop of Nel’s (2015:273-278) congregational analysis, contextual analysis and diagnosis; the empirically the study looked at the Church of Pentecost, Assemblies of God Church, Ghana, and Global Evangelical Church. Its aim was to understand their concept of being missional and how they see poverty within the scope of their ecclesiology and how SLC can improve their praxis in this direction. The researcher draws on historical lessons from the spiritualities of historic pneumatic Christian movements, such as Quakers, Moravians, Huguenots, and Puritans in overcoming poverty. And as part of SLC, argues transformational diaconia, as a missional response to poverty beyond existing social…

Studying congregations in Africa, H.J. Hendriks : book review

Abstract: Die boek is 'n produk van die "Network for African Congregational Theology" (NetACT) - 'n netwerk van teologiese instellings met 'n Prebiteriaans-gereformeerde tradisie. Op bladsy 11 word die doelstellings van NetACT uiteengesit: dit wil onder andere 'n bydrae lewer tot die opgradering van akademiese standaarde en navorsing. So 'n inisiatief verdien ondersteuning.