Abstract
<jats:p>The empirical research that is the focus of this volume aims to critically reflect on the role of congregations and their leadership in the community through a discussion that offers new perspectives, with specific reference to the South African context, to enhance the field of congregational studies. The aim is to be significant, transformational, and relevant to the context and its challenges in developing contextual ecclesiologies within congregational studies. The contributions to this volume have a specific empirical and methodological aim: to map markers for conducting empirical research within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. The research question in this volume is: In conducting practical theology and empirical research within an African context, what methodological markers can be identified for this context?</jats:p> <jats:p>The research is grounded in the field of "Congregational studies and leadership". The academic endeavours of practical theology and the department over the last decade have developed towards a more hermeneutical discipline, emphasising context and working inductively. A hermeneutical approach profoundly impacts the understanding and practice of engaged scholarship. The research is strongly inclined towards a hermeneutical and inductive approach and takes the local context seriously.</jats:p> <jats:p>This research project aims to critically describe and evaluate, from a contextual and practical theological perspective, the role of township congregations as faith communities within their communities and broader society. The focus is also on practice-orientated research as a framework for empirical research; in this instance, a multi-cultural congregation and congregation within a context of poverty are also analysed from an empirical perspective. The empirical research is conducted using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. </jats:p> <jats:p>Prof. K.J. (Joseph) Pali and Prof. W.J. (Kobus) Schoeman</jats:p>