An analysis of the spirituality of ministers in the congregations of the DRCA FS (NGKA VS)

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the study of spirituality in leadership. The reason for the upsurge of interest in spirituality is due to an overwhelming increase in immorality and corruption in various sectors of society, and to environmental crises. Humanity is to be blamed for this because of a loss of spiritual values like love, respect and righteousness. Some of the potential benefits of spirituality for leadership are related to personal and societal transformation. However, when leadership undermines the power of influence of spirituality in congregations, it will experience serious challenges. Since 1994, the DRCA FS is experiencing a decline in mission and diaconal ministry and a gradual increase in conflicts. It is faced with potential schism due to seriousness of these conflicts amongst those in leadership especially ministers. For more than two decades, these conflicts have culminated in the loss of integrity, moral values and a decline in internal and external ministry. The individual behaviour of some ministers characterised by sexual immorality, financial mismanagement and violence call into question the internal, external and corporate spiritual disciplines of the ministers in the congregations of the DRCA FS. This article aims to analyse the spirituality of ministers in the congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA), Free State (FS). The research question is: What are the dynamics of spirituality that dominate among the ministers of the DRCA FS? This empirical study will use secondary empirical data from a joint PhD of Pali (2016).