Academic literature on the topic 'Presbyterian Church (Gilbertsville, N.Y.)'

Abstract This study examined perceptions regarding application of smart robot companions to facilitate homebound religious ministry programming to older adults. A total of N= 7 participants consisting of ministers, pastoral volunteers, and older adult members from Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic traditions engaged in a 60-minute focus group. One key goal was to address the question: If you could design a robot for ministry to homebound older adults what would you want it to do? All responses were recorded, transcribed and coded for thematic content. Three core themes emerged relative to spiritual privacy, prospective intervention, and inclusive monitoring. Relative to spiritual privacy, participants expressed concern regarding robotic ability to maintain the spiritual privacy of the older homebound adult, especially when engaged in faith-based behaviors such as private prayer, confession, and pastoral counseling. Second, participants suggested that a robot companion serve as a memory aide for older homebound members. In particular, participants acknowledged a need for robot intervention relative to sending alerts concerning prayer requests, reminders of upcoming church-related events, and notices concerning future homebound ministry visitations. Finally, participants indicated an interest for the robot to actively monitor community inclusion, noting that many older homebound adults are left out of weekly church-related services or events and experience seclusion, yet most “retain a desire be included and remain an integral part of their faith community.” Results will be used to present a conceptual model for a smart robotic faith assistant designed for delivery of homebound ministries to older adults.

In 2017 the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) celebrates its centenary of theological education at the University of Pretoria (UP). In this article the focus is on the build-up to setting up the first 50 years 1917– 1967 at UP. From as early as 1909 there was a yearning for our own theological seminary; however, some of the church leaders expressed their desire for theological education at a university. At the dawn of 1916 everything was in place for the NHKA and the Presbyterian Church of South Africa, as the first two partners, to start a faculty of theology at the Transvaal University College (TUC). On 01 April 1917 the Faculty of Theology commenced its work with prof. J.H.J.A. Greyvenstein of the NHKA and prof. E. MacMillan from the Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian link with the faculty was broken in 1933. From 1938 the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) joined the NHKA and two independent sections were established: Section A for the NHKA and Section B for the NGK. There was a steady growth in the number of students and professors and on 13 June 1967 the NHKA filled its sixth professorship in the person of prof. I.J. de Wet. This era was also characterised by a lot of political tension in the heyday of the policy of apartheid. The NHKA was known for Article III in its constitution that propagates that church membership was for whites only. The NHKA support of the policy of apartheid was the cause of a dispute between the Church and prof. A.S. Geyser. In the end the matter was settled in favour of Geyser. There was also a dispute between professors A.G. Geyser and A.D. Pont that ended up in court in 1967. Pont was accused of defamation against Geyser. The court ruled against Pont and Geyser was granted the largest amount of compensation up till then.

Parish meeting as a distinctive manifestation within the NHKA: A church historical and a church polity investigationThe parish meeting as a distinctive manifestation within the Neder-duitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika also had a distinctive form of development, a development that spanned the period from the national gathering on 8 February 1837 until the acceptance of a new church ordinance in 1997. It first served as an emergency measure during which the future existence of the NHKA was discussed and ensured by the gathering of the faithful. Systematically, from the perspective of church polity, the parish meeting achieved a basis that was also accountable in terms of the church ordinance. The parish meeting forms part of the Hervormde Kerk’s religious practice, that is a normal manifestation of the Presbyterian-synodical Church concept that is respected in the NHKA.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this dissertation the Youth ministry of the Nkhoma Synod Church of Central Africa Presbyterian from 1889-2010 is discussed. The manuscript strives to determine the theological foundation of the Youth ministry by answering the question; “What has been the theological foundation of the Nkhoma synod Youth ministry from 1889 to 2010?” To answer this question the researcher has indicated what programs have been arranged for the Youth and with the Youth and has indicated as far as possible how this was done. The researcher continued his research by determining why the programs were implemented in that specific manner to determine the motivation for the implementation of the program. The researcher presents a historical overview of the development of the Youth ministry in this manuscript from which the theological foundation of the Nkhoma synod Youth ministry will be determined. Chapter One gives a brief summary of the development of the Youth ministry in the Nkhoma synod as a background against which the researcher motivates the research and describes the research question. Chapter Two describes the research methodology, methods of data collection and data analysis, the ethical aspects of the research and the manner of pretesting that was used during the research. Chapter Three presents an overview of the geographical, socio-cultural and historic-political environment to describe the context within which the Youth ministry of the Nkhoma synod developed. The description of the above developments enables the reader to understand the framework within which the Youth ministry of the Nkhoma synod developed. Chapter Four presents an overview of the establishment and development of the Nkhoma synod with regard to the school system. It continues to describe the government’s increased influence and takeover of the school system and the accompanying developments that took place due to the above-mentioned removal of the school system from the Nkhoma synod. Chapter Five describes the development of the youth ministry with regard to the activities and programs run within the Church structures of the Nkhoma synod. It includes the development of a Family ministry, Christian Education and Church Youth movements. Chapter Six briefly states the theological foundation of the Nkhoma synod and and proceeds to explain how the theological foundation of the Youth ministry of the Nkhoma synod was determined. It describes five theological terms, eight modes of ministry and four approaches to ministry, that are used to determine the theological foundation of the Youth ministry as described in chapters Four and Five In Chapter Seven the semi-structured interviews are analysed to identify recurring themes and possible discrepancies that might surface. The literature study, as found in chapters Four and Five, is analysed using a thematic content analyses, with reference to the modes and approaches to ministry as discussed in chapter Six. It is affirmed that the theological foundation of the Youth ministry is based upon the Word of God and the Catechism of Heidelberg and that the approach to ministry is preparatory and evangelical. In Chapter Eight the whole dissertation is summarized, conclusions are drawn and possible recommendations are made with the aim of improving the present Youth ministry. The researcher also identifies possible areas for future studies.