Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa Theologies of Childhood and Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa Theologies of Childhood and Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa EDITED BY JAN GROBBELAAR GERT BREED Head Office AOSIS (Pty) Ltd, Postnet Suite #110 Private Bag X19 Durbanville 7551 South Africa Tel: +27 21 975 2602 Fax: +27 21 975 4635 Email: info@aosis.co.za Website: http://www.aosis.co.za © Jan Grobbelaar & Gert Breed 2016. Licensee: AOSIS (Pty) Ltd The moral rights of the authors have been asserted. First Edition published in 2016 Impression: 2 Listed in OAPEN (http://www.oapen.org), DOAB (http://www.doabooks.org/) and indexed by Google Scholar. Some rights reserved. This is an open access publication. 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Enquiries outside the terms of the Creative Commons license should be sent to the Rights Department, AOSIS, at the above address or to publishing@aosis.co.za Published in South Africa by AOSIS (Pty) Ltd, 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550. Book Title: Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa ISBN: 978-1-928396-10-9 (pdf) ISBN: 978-1-928396-11-6 (e-book) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2016.tcca02 How to cite this work Grobbelaar, J. & Breed, G. (eds.), 2016, Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa , AOSIS, Cape Town. Printed and bound by PRINT ON DEMAND, South Africa Cover artwork by Cecile de Villiers The publisher accepts no responsibility for any statement made or opinion expressed in this publication. Consequently, the publishers and copyright holder will not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of his or her action upon any statement or opinion in this work. 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Religious Studies Domain Editorial Board at AOSIS Chief Editor: Scholarly Books Andries van Aarde , Post Retirement Professor in the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa Board Members Warren Carter , Professor of New Testament, Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth, United States Christian Danz , Dekan der Evangelisch-Theologischen Fakultät der Universität Wien and Ordentlicher Universitätsprofessor für Systematische Theologie und Religionswissenschaft, University of Vienna, Austria Pieter G.R. de Villiers , Associate Editor, Extraordinary Professor in Biblical Spirituality, Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, South Africa Musa W. Dube , Department of Theology & Religious Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Botswana, Botswana David D. Grafton , Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Jens Herzer , Theologische Fakultät der Universität Leipzig, Germany Jeanne Hoeft , Dean of Students and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Care, Saint Paul School of Theology, United States Dirk J. Human , Associate Editor, Deputy Dean and Professor of Old Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa D. Andrew Kille , Former Chair of the SBL Psychology and Bible Section, and Editor of the Bible Workbench, San Jose, United States William R.G. Loader , Emeritus Professor Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia Isabel A. Phiri , Associate General Secretary for Public Witness and Diakonia, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland Marcel Sarot , Emeritus, Professor of Fundamental Theology, Tilburg School of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands Corneliu C. Simut , Professor of Historical and Dogmatic Theology, Emanuel University, Oradea, Bihor, Romania Rothney S. Tshaka , Professor and Head of Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Elaine M. Wainwright , Emeritus Professor School of Theology, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Executive Leader, Mission and Ministry, McAuley Centre, Australia Gerald West , Associate Editor, School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics in the College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Peer review declaration The publisher (AOSIS) and the editorial board of its Domain Religious Studies certify that the book was evaluated in a two-step review process: an initial selection review process by the Domain’s international editorial board, followed by in-depth double blind peer reviews by three specialists, thoroughly revised by the book editors and the individual chapter authors, and verified by the chief editor of AOSIS Scholarly Publications. The external reviewers were selected by the editorial board as content experts in the field of Child Theologies. Research Justification The purpose of this book is to combine perspectives of scholars from Africa on Child Theologies from a variety of theological sub-disciplines to provide some theological and ministerial perspectives on this topic. The book disseminates original research and new developments in this study field, especially as relevant to the African context. In the process it addresses also the global need to hear voices from Africa in this academic field. It wants to convey the importance of considering Africa’s children in theologising. The different chapters represent diverse methodologies but the central and common focus is to approach the subject from the viewpoint of Africa’s children. The individual authors’ varied theological sub-disciplinary dispositions contribute to the unique and distinct character of the book. Almost all chapters are theoretical orientated with less empirical research, although some of the chapters refer to empirical research which the authors have done in the past. Most of the academic literature in the field of Theologies of Childhood is from American or British- European origin. The African context is fairly absent in this discourse, although it is the youngest continent and presents unique and relevant challenges. This book was written by theological scholars from Africa, focussing on Africa’s children. It addresses not only theoretical challenges in this field but also provides theological perspectives for ministry with children and for important social change. Written from a variety of theological sub-disciplines, the book is aimed at scholars across theological sub- disciplines, especially those theological scholars interested in the intersections between theology, childhood studies and African cultural or social themes. It addresses themes and provide insights that is also relevant for specialist leaders and professionals in this field. No part of the book was plagiarised from another publication or published elsewhere before. Prof. Dr Andries G. van Aarde AOSIS Chief Editor: Scholarly Books ix Contents List of abbreviations appearing in the Text and Notes xv List of Figures xvi Preface xvii Notes on Contributors xx Chapter 1 Resources on Theology and Children 1 Introduction 1 Research problem 2 Childhood studies globally 3 The Norwegian centre for child research 4 University of Oslo 5 Rutgers University Camden 7 Academic initiatives from within theology and religious studies 11 Some developments in the 21st century 13 Conclusion 49 Chapter 2 The grammar of combining the vocabulary of theology, children and Africa 51 Introduction 51 Grammar and theology 52 Developing a grammar for relating children and theology 58 Children and theology 63 Meeting one another 63 The grammar of child and theology in the light of Matthew 18:1–14 65 x Different combinations of children and theology 70 And what about Africa? 75 Some questions and challenges 78 Are children really important? 78 Who is ‘the child’? 80 Conclusion 90 Chapter 3 Task, sources and significance of theologies of childhood 92 Introduction 92 The task of theologies of childhood 97 Resources for theologies of childhood 99 The Bible 102 ‘Tradition’ 103 Other disciplines 105 ‘Experience’ 109 Sources for theologies of childhood in South Africa 110 Conclusion 111 Chapter 4 Childhood in the book Proverbs and in Shona proverbs 113 Introduction 113 Preliminary remarks on proverbiality 116 Conceptions of childhood in selected Shona proverbs 122 Important reflections 128 Conclusion 130 Chapter 5 Jesus and the children in the Gospel of Matthew 132 Introduction 132 Contents xi Children in the Bible 134 Children in the Mediterranean world of the first century 136 Jesus’ attitude and actions towards children 141 Jesus heals children 146 Jesus used children in his ministry 147 The kingdom of God is for children 148 Comparison with the passages in the other two Synoptic Gospels 154 Exegesis of Matthew 18:1–14 156 The structure of Matthew 18 156 Interpretation of Matthew 18:1–5 158 Entrance into and real greatness in the kingdom of heaven 159 Service by the kingdom ‘child’ 165 Matthew 18:6–9 170 Matthew 18:10–14 172 Mothers bring their children to Jesus: Matthew 19:13–15 174 Introduction 174 Matthew 19:13–15 and the structure of Matthew 174 Interpretation of Matthew 19:13–15 174 Some theological perspectives 179 Some ministerial perspectives 182 A new social order 185 Chapter 6 Calvin’s theology of childhood 187 Introduction 187 The social context of the 16th century 188 Social conditions in Reformation Europe 189 Contents xii The moral agenda of the Renaissance and Reformation 193 Calvin on the ontological nature of children 196 The visio Dei as the telos of human life 196 Created in the image of God 197 Children as gifts of God 198 Original sin 199 Grace and the regeneration of children 201 The three stages of childhood 202 Child-rearing in family, church and state 206 The contemporary significance of Calvin’s theology of childhood 212 The child as gift and procreation 212 The visio Dei as telos of childrearing 213 The child and the reality of sin 214 The significance of the covenantal perspective 215 Society as a neighbourhood in a plural and diverse world 217 Vocation 218 Conclusion 219 Chapter 7 The history of theologies of childhood in African churches 220 Introduction 220 A South African, Dutch-Reformed historical perspective 222 Understandings of childhood 225 Theological views of childhood 225 African world views and childhood 230 Developing a theology of childhood in Africa 234 Theology described 234 Contents xiii African theologies of childhood 238 Implications of a theology for childhood in Africa 239 Conclusion 244 Chapter 8 Hurting children and the dangerous rite of ritual male circumcision 246 Introduction 246 Identifying the research problem 250 The ethical dimension of pastoral care 253 Christian ethics 255 Practical moral theology or thinking according to Don Browning 257 The phenomenon of ritual male circumcision 260 A rite of passage 262 The communal and familial aspects of ritual male circumcision 262 The educative function of the initiation process 264 Initiation as expression of the African world view and culture 264 Ritual male circumcision as cultural stronghold 267 Preliminary synthesis 269 Practical moral thinking and ritual male circumcision: A suggested answer 270 Conclusion 272 Chapter 9 Welcoming children to the diakonia of the congregation 274 Introduction 274 What is a child? 276 The structure of 1 Corinthians 277 1 Corinthians 12 278 Contents xiv 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 within the structure of 1 Corinthians 12 280 Should a child be part of the diakonia of the congregation? 281 The place of a child in the diakonia 283 How can a child be welcomed to the diakonia of the congregation? 287 Conclusion 299 References 301 Index 326 Contents xv List of abbreviations appearing in the Text and Notes AAR American Academy of Religion CTM Child Theology Movement ESV English Standard Version HCD Holistic Child Development HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus INFEMIT International Fellowship of Evangelical Mission Theologians MGM Male Genital Mutilation NoNACYR Nordic Network of African Childhood and Youth Research NOSEB Norwegian Centre for Child Research STDs Sexually Transmitted Diseases UNCRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child xvi List of Figures Figure 1: Structure of 1 Corinthians. 267 Figure 2: Structure of 1 Corinthians 12–14. 268 Figure 3: Structure of 1 Corinthians 12. 270 xvii Preface Africa has so many children that it is the youngest continent in the world. Many of Africa’s children suffer from various forms of trauma. This situation creates a huge missional challenge to the church and theology in Africa. In particular, it challenges African theologians to become involved in die global discourse on children and childhood from an African perspective. Against this background, it is alarming that the African context and African theologians are fairly absent in this global discourse. Much of the literature in the field of Theologies of Childhood is American or British-European in origin. At a conference which was held in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2014, a few theologians decided that it was time to address this gap in African theological literature. The Faculty of Theology at North-West University and Petra Institute for Children’s Ministry took the lead in addressing this need. From this initiative, two academic publications were born concerning theology and children as an expression of an African voice in this emerging academic field. This book, Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa , is the first of these. This book is relevant to scholars across theological disciplines. It was written from a diversity of academic perspectives: practical theology, systematic theology, New-Testament studies, childhood studies in theology, historical studies and ethics. The coherence lies in the general argument that it is necessary to consider children in theologising. All the authors come from a Reformed background, and the Reformed orientation, ideas and language are obvious in their contributions. This was a deliberate choice, motivated by two reasons. Firstly, we want to stimulate the academic discourse within the Reformed tradition and motivate more African Reformed theologians to become involved in the global discourse on children and childhood. Secondly, we want to formulate some Reformed perspectives on this discourse to enhance the discourse between different theological traditions in Africa and globally. It is, therefore, an open invitation to other theological traditions to take up the discourse with us to enrich each other’s theological perspectives. How to cite: Grobbelaar, J., 2016, ‘Preface’, in J. Grobbelaar & G. Breed (eds.), Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa , pp. xvii-xix, AOSIS, Cape Town. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2016.tcca02.00 xviii Preface The approach is not only theoretical, but it provides suggestions for concrete practices, for ministry and for social change. It presents particular and utterly relevant challenges for the African continent. The chapters on the Old Testament book of Proverbs and Shona culture and the chapter on male circumcision address concrete and relevant issues and offer useful ethical and pastoral exploration. Our intention is that the book will be useful for those academics interested in the intersections between theology, childhood studies and African cultural and social topics, for practitioners and leaders in congregational and non-profit ministries who are involved with children, for child-care workers and specialists in social work. We hope that the insights in the book can assist many people in broadening or renewing their theological perspectives on children and childhood as well as their practices with children. The first chapter, written by Jan Grobbelaar, gives an overview on important research developments and key resources developed in this research field during the 21st century. The focus of this overview is not only theologies of childhood but rather the broader field of theology and children. It gives the reader a broad orientation to and understanding of this field. The chapter makes it possible to identify immediately the most important work done in this field of study. In Chapter 2, Jan Grobbelaar addresses various problems in connection with the language used in this field of study. The creation of an understandable grammatical structure for using the vocabulary of theology, children and Africa is the focus. It gives a broad orientation to an understandable use of these concepts from an African perspective. This is followed by a chapter written by Marcia Bunge, an internationally esteemed scholar in the field. She discusses the concept ‘theologies of childhood’ in more detail. She pays special attention to the task, sources and significance of this field of study. The next two chapters approach the topic from a biblical perspective. In Chapter 4, attention is given to the Old Testament book of Proverbs. In this chapter, Sam Ndoga discusses the theme of childhood in Shona proverbs in light of the perspectives on childhood in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. Chapter 5 moves to the New Testament. It attends to Jesus’ interaction with children in the Gospel according to Matthew. In this discussion, Jan Grobbelaar pays attention to the role that the concept of childhood played in Jesus’ conversation with his disciples in Matthew 18:1–14 and Jesus’ blessing of the children in Matthew 19:13–15. In Chapter 6, systematic theology is drawn into the conversation. In this chapter, Nico Vorster attends to the reformer John Calvin’s theology of childhood. A historical perspective on the topic is opened in Chapter 7 by Hannes Knoetze. In his contribution, he focuses on the history of theologies of childhood xix Preface in African churches. The following two chapters were written from a practical-theology perspective. In Chapter 8, Alfred Brunsdon addresses the dangerous rite of ritual male circumcision, which is partly influenced by a specific perspective on childhood that is deeply embedded in many African cultures. Although the author gives his view as an outsider who did not experience this ritual first hand, his view is based on good empirical research done in Kenya and South Africa. In the last chapter, the African concept of childhood is challenged to include the agency of African children, especially in the church. The author, Gert Breed, in this chapter, emphasises the importance of welcoming children to the diakonia [service work] of the congregation. Making this book a reality was a team effort. I want to extend a word of thanks to everybody who were involved in the planning of the book, especially Marcia Bunge, who was always available to advise us on this journey. Without authors who committed themselves to this project, it would not have been possible to conclude this publication. Thank you, everybody, that children are so important to you, that you made the time to reflect theologically on children and childhood from an African perspective. A special word of thanks to my co-editor, Gert Breed, who contributed so much in finalising this publication. I also want to thank Nadine Havenga for her dedicated administrative support for this project. In any publication, much of the hard work is done by the publishing team. In this case, the services of all the staff members of AOSIS were excellent and deserve a word of the utmost gratitude. I had the great privilege to work closely with Andries van Aarde, the Chief Editor: Scholarly Books at AOSIS. Thank you for all your support and good advice, and thanks for believing in this project from the first moment we made contact. At different stages in the writing-process, different reviewers were involved. We appreciate the time you spend on evaluating the proposal and the manuscript. Thank you for all the good suggestions to improve this work. This book is dedicated to all the children of Africa from whom we can learn so much of living life amidst all the challenges of the African context. Jan Grobbelaar Unit for Reformed Theology and Development of the South African Society North-West University South Africa