Critical analysis of a large parochial structure model for black parishes in the Anglican church of Southern Africa, with reference to the diocese of Natal.

Abstract

This thesis reports on qualitative and a phenomenological study exploring contesting spaces in the understandings regarding the alienation of black outstation congregations for a policy (Canon, Acts of the Diocese) change in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and reasons for such understandings, with reference to the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Natal. A Foucauldian concept of genealogy has been used to trace the history of outstation congregations practice in the Anglican Church, in the Diocese of Natal. Another Foucauldian concept of development has been used to review the discourse of Canon and Acts of the Diocese of Natal (policy) in both local and international literature. Qualitative data were produced through in-depth interviews with six leaders of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Natal as policy-makers. Interviews were used to generate a mixture of qualitative and quantitative data, which would be making policy (Acts of the Diocese) decisions and choices at Diocesan policy level. In addition, document analysis was also used to generate qualitative data. The insights gained from this study have significance for mission, ministry and worship. The study makes two unique contributions to the field of the alienation of outstation congregations inquiry. The methodological contribution lies in the six categories of research participants to illuminate the politics of a large parish and the Anglican Diocese of Natal’s Acts of the Diocese (Diocesan policy). The exploration of the contesting spaces in the understandings regarding alienation of outstation congregations extends the conceptual definition of politics of the Anglican Church in general and pushes the boundaries of the debate in policy (Canons and Acts of the Diocese of Natal) in mission, ministry and worship. One critical finding is that different people perceive the value of a policy differently, reflecting the politics of the policy (Canon, Acts of the Diocese) at an ideological level. Another critical finding is that the perceived value of a policy (Canon, Acts of the Diocese) may inadvertently mask its theological contributions and supposedly ‘real’ value. Previous studies have not been undertaken, therefore, this study avails a body of knowledge based on the alienation of outstation congregations for a policy (Canon, Acts of the Diocese) change or re-visitation, as its original contribution.