The purpose of this thesis-project is to create a design for contextual theological education in the North West Province, South Africa. This project focuses on the development of Pentecostal pastoral leadership within the New South African context. The primary argument of this thesis-project is on how the contextual elements in the South African context can contribute to a design of contextual theological pastoral education which will lead to the development of Pentecostal pastoral leadership. To this effect, the thesis-project argues that theological education for pastoral leadership is an ongoing and interactive process in which participants reflect upon their faith, the social cultural experiences, the socio-political, socio economic challenges, and social illnesses.
The proposed design for contextual theological education for the development of Pentecostal pastoral leadership in South Africa is therefore derived from two sides, namely: (1) A critical discussion of the Western Classical Pentecostal theological approach that has been prevailing in the training of Pentecostal pastors in South Africa and (2) an approach that is sensitive to the issues of context. A discussion of these two sides provides a foundation for recommendations and a proposal for a Pentecostal theological education for pastoral leadership that should consider the context as a starting point.
