Tag: urban ministry

All Publications & Uploads, Faith Based Action and Urban Regeneration, Special Editions, Urban Africa 2050, Urban Public Theology in South Africa

Mending the broken city of Pietermaritzburg through a transformative urban theological programme: A challenge to Union Bible Institute

Admin March 13, 2026

Rapid urbanisation, globalisation, and the advancement of information and technology come as a challenge for theological education in South Africa, generally, and, specifically, in an emerging city like Pietermaritzburg. This is a city with a multitude of urban fractures: the contesting space between informal traders and the taxi industry; rife political violence; gender- based violence;..

All Publications & Uploads, Individual Publications

Contesting inner-city space: Global trends, local exclusion/s and an alternative Christian spatial praxis

Stephan de Beer March 13, 2026

This article explores global patterns in the spatial formation of inner cities. It indicates how such patterns often perpetuate multiple local exclusions contributing to dehumanising and de-humanised inner-city spaces. It then explores an alternative Christian spatial praxis considering ways in which communities of faith can engage issues of inner-city space, land and housing to facilitate..

The Centre’s research approach is to follow a praxis-methodology, assuming deep local immersion in communities, from where analytical, reflective, visioning and strategic tools are employed to read society, to foster a critical consciousness, and to make urban change.

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Our research is engaged and trans-disciplinary, bringing together academics, activists, practitioners and community members, to share diverse experiences and knowledges, to collaborate as equals, to facilitate new partnerships, and to foster ownership for change-making and policy formation from below.

				
					
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