The Eucharist in a time of change : an investigation into the Eucharist as practiced at The Church of the Ascension between 1975-2002.
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Date
2011
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Abstract
“The Eucharist i n a time o f change : an investigation into the Eucharist as
practiced at ‘The Church of the Ascension ’ between 1975 and 2002 . ”
by Andrew David Kruger
The thesis set out to discover how the Eucharist developed at ‘The Church of
the Ascension ’ between 1975 and 2002. This microcosm offers a partcularly
interesting case study. This period was a t ime of great change – the Anglican
Eucharistic liturgy underwent significant revision, South Africa moved from
Apartheid to Democracy and the three rectors brought charismatic,
evangelical and Anglo-Catholic worldviews to bear on the Church of the
Ascension, during their respective terms of office.
In order to document the development of the Eucharist , three primary sources
were collected and analysed, First , data from the Service Register was
captured and processed. Second, a synopsis of the Parish Council Minutes
was created. Third, interviews with the three rectors – the first being
charismat ic, the second evangelical and the third Anglo-Catholic – were
conducted along with four lay parishioners .
The three primary sources were analysed and several developments were
observed. These developments included the following: chi ldren were admi t ted
to Communion after Baptism, where before they were required to be
Confirmed; the ordination of women became accepted and women presided at
the Eucharist , where before they had not ; the lai ty became more involved in
the leading the services; The at t i tude toward administering the sacrament
became more liberal , as even those of other Faiths were welcomed.
Surprisingly none of the laity interviewed showed any awareness that the
Eucharist developed. The laity showed little ability to link the Eucharist to
the context they inhabited. It is imperat ive for the Anglican Church of
Southern Africa to help the laity appropriate the deep truths of the Eucharist .
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.
Keywords
Lord's Supper--Anglican Communion--KwaZulu-Natal--Hilton., Theses--Theology.