Community Engagement

The Centre is an important vehicle for the community engagement of the Faculty of Theology. Our approach, however, is to go beyond engaging communities from the outside only, but rather to insert ourselves in engaged communities as a learner and partner.

• All the programmes of the Centre support and participate in communities, as it provides life-long and continued educational opportunities to people actively involved in communities already.
• The Unit for Social Cohesion and Reconciliation, the Village of Support and the Urban Studio, are practical expressions of community engagement (see Research and Consulting Services)..
• Specific themes of focus include early childhood development, street homelessness, and military veterans.
• The Centre is partnering with other organisations hosting national consultations on urban ministry, pastoral care and related topics.
• The Centre is hosting a Circle of Engagement, working in strategic partnership with local faith-based organisations, both for enhancing its training offerings, but also as possible placement opportunities for students and others who show interest.
• The Centre contributes to the community engagement modules and / or the practical training components of students of theology in the Faculty.
• The Centre’s immediate community is the university campus and in future it would like to explore a creative space for conversations on contextual spirituality.
• Staff of the Centre is involved in their personal capacities with community engagement, supporting work in the inner city, the Moot and with emerging community foundations working in cities across South Africa and the continent.
• Research and papers done by staff of the Centre will contribute directly to tangible issues effecting local communities.

Enquiries: Stephan de Beer 012-420-4952  |  [email protected]