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01 March 2018 Photo Eugene Seegers
Theological faculty highlights reconciliation as Biblical imperative
Prof Bram van de Beek (Liturgist; Emeritus Professor, VU Amsterdam); Prof Fanie Snyman (Dean: Faculty of Theology and Religion, UFS); Prof Nelus Niemandt (Guest speaker; Department: Science of Religion and Missiology, University of Pretoria); and Prof Mary-Anne Plaatjies-Van Huffel (Guest speaker; Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, University of Stellenbosch) at the UFS theological faculty’s official opening in Bloemfontein.

Does the current South African context and reality still allow for discussions around the topic of forgiveness and reconciliation? This was one of the themes discussed at the annual opening and Theological Day of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of the Free State (UFS), which experienced a record attendance figure this year.

After welcoming staff members from the broader university community and from within the faculty, as well as guest speakers and international visitors such as Prof Bram van de Beek from the Free University Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and Dr Stefan Fischer from the University of Vienna (Austria), Prof Fanie Snyman, Dean of the faculty, stated, “We want to welcome pastors, dominees, reverends, fathers, spiritual leaders from a variety of church denominations.” He added, “I would also like to extend a special word of welcome to alumni of this faculty, who have kept their interest in our faculty alive by being present here.”

Reconciliation: Biblical imperative
In his sermon, Prof Bram van de Beek (VU Amsterdam) pointed out that “reconciliation is the Christian way, the way of love; therefore, to serve others should be more important to us than serving ourselves.” He explained further that, as humans, we run the risk of merely thinking about what is best for us, but to be true followers of Christ, we need to let others take priority.

Prof Mary-Anne Plaatjies-Van Huffel from the Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology at the University of Stellenbosch’s Faculty of Theology spoke on Moving from forgiveness to reconciliation—Reconciliation as a fundamental Biblical category. She expanded on the Old Testament understanding of reconciliation as a means of repentance, atonement, and — ultimately — forgiveness.

The Jewish festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as the Biblical events recorded between Jacob and Esau in Genesis Chapter 33 were cited as examples of this understanding. Prof Plaatjies-Van Huffel said, “Having to face a painful past is a prerequisite for reconciliation,” adding that “broken relationships are only restored by the grace of God, who is the Author of reconciliation.” However, the responsibility for carrying out this message to the world belongs to each Christian, who must individually actuate divine reconciliation by the example they set, she concluded.

The reality of the post-Zuma South African landscape
Prof Nelus Niemandt, from the Department of Science of Religion and Missiology at the University of Pretoria, presented a paper entitled Competing narraphors in the post-Zuma landscape. His presentation painted a vivid narrative of the enormously complex time of rapid, radical change with which we as humans are ill-equipped to cope or to which we cannot adapt quickly enough. He highlighted several examples of the paradoxes evident in the world today, such as our mobile worldwide society versus the mass displacement of humans which creates migrants and strangers across the globe, or a growing super-diversity that feeds increased nationalism, racism, or fundamentalism, all of which challenge any preconceptions we may have of reconciliation.

He concluded with this expression: “My hope is that the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the UFS will be such eloquent storytellers that they will shape the imagination with narraphors of Christ’s future Kingdom.”

News Archive

Juan Odendaal on his way to World Champs
2015-03-23

Juan Odendaal
Photo: BOOGS Photography, Andrew McFadden

UFS’s athletes with disabilities are currently excelling in cycling and athletics.

The UFS Para-cyclist, Juan Odendaal, will soon make his debut for South Africa at the 2015 Union Cyclist International (UCI) Para-cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, from 26-29 March 2015.

The Championship event will provide an excellent foundation for re-building the international competitiveness of South Africa’s Para-cycling track team in the build-up to Rio 2016. In a situation where the UCI has hosted relatively few international track competitions over the past three years, the 2015 World Championships will serve as a stepping-stone to the 2016 grand season, when it is expected that the country’s top riders will reach their peak competitive condition.

As the youngest member of the South African team, Odendaal will use the opportunity of competing in the individual time trial and team sprint events to build a platform for an international career will certainly span many years to come.

Another UFS student, Musa Simelane, are excelling and was chosen for the SA Wheelchair Rugby tean, known as the "Wheelboks". They will compete in the 2015 World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge in London in October and after that head to Japan to compete in the 2015 Asia Oceania Championships.

On a local level, earlier in March this year, other UFS athletes with disabilities also performed well on the athletics track.

Blind athlete and member of the Bloemfontein Campus Student Representative Council (SRC), Louzanne Coetzee, also had a good 1500m race in the beginning of March when she qualified easily for the World Championships, which will take place in Toronto, Canada, later this year. Coetzee and her guide, Rouxné Jacobs, set up a time of 5:45.86, which is well under the required standard of 6 minutes.

The other blind UFS athlete, Danie Breitenbach, alongside his guide Marius Wessels, broke his own national record for the 800m again on Friday 6 March 2015. In November 2014, Breitenbach’s record stood at 2:15.17. This record now stands at 2:13.57. Chances now are that Breitenbach will reach his goal of running the 800m under 2:10 at the Nedbank National Championship for the Physically Disabled at the end of March 2015.

The other Kovsie stars who will be participating at the Nedbank National Championship for the Physically Disabled are as follows:

Athletes:
• Dineo Mokhosoa
• Louzanne Coetzee
• Danie Breitenbach
• Juanré Jenkinson
• Diederich Kleynhans
• Jacques de Bruyn

Swimmer:
• Johann van Heerden

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