Discipline of Practical Theology

Prof M Naidoo

College of Human Sciences
School of Humanities
Professor
Tel: 012 429 4547
E-mail: Naidom2@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  • Doctorate in Practical Theology, 2005, University of Zululand

NRF Rating

C2

Fields of academic interests

  • Research Professor in the area of Theological Education
  • Professional Development of Religious Leaders

Field of Specialisation

  • Practical Theology and Ministerial Formation
  • Empirical Research in Theology
  • Religious Education/ Christian Education
  • Spirituality/ Spiritual Formation// Faith Development
  • Multiculturalism and Diversity
  • Social justice in Education

Books

  • 2015. Naidoo, M. (Editor). Contested issues in training ministers in South Africa. Sun Media: Stellenbosch, 180 pages
  • 2012. Naidoo, M. (Editor). Between the Real and the Ideal: Ministerial Formation in South Africa Churches. Unisa Press; Pretoria, 184 pages

Book chapters:

  • 2020. Naidoo, M. Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Adaptive changes for sustainable distance theological education, in J. van der Berg (ed.) Engaging the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Perspectives from theology, philosophy and education. Sun Media: Bloemfontein, 165-186.
  • 2019. Naidoo, M. Curriculum Development in African Theological Education, L Equina & W Longchar (eds.) Ministerial Challenges in Contemporary World: Towards a Transformative Theological Education, PTCA: Kolkata, 64-78
  • 2019. Naidoo, M. Racism, whiteness and transformation: reforming the space of theological education in South Africa, in Auli Vähäkangas, Sivert Angel, and Kirstine Hellboe Johansen, (Eds) Reforming Practical Theology: The Politics of Body and Space. International Academy of Practical Theology: Conference Series, 1: 177-184.
  • 2018.  Naidoo, M. The impact of human rights discourses on the multi-faith space of South African higher education, in Tania ap Sion, Jeff Astley, Leslie J. Francis, David W. Lankshear (Eds) Values, Human Rights and Religious Education: Contested Grounds, Oxford: Peter Lang, 155- 171
  • 2015.  Naidoo, M. Dealing with the Other: Managing diversity in theological education. In Naidoo, M. (Ed), Contested issues in training ministers in South Africa, Sun Media: Stellenbosch, 71-83.
  • 2015. Naidoo, M. Key words “Diversity in Theological Education” and “Ministerial Formation”. In Mark A. Lamport & George Thomas Kurian (Eds), Encyclopaedia of Christian   Education, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland.
  • 2013. Naidoo M. Spiritual Formation in Theological Education. In Werner, D, Phiri, I (Eds). Handbook on African Theological Education, London: Regnum Books UK, 755-770. 16 pages
  • 2012. Naidoo, M. Ministerial formation in South Africa: The way forward. In  Naidoo, M. (Ed). Ministerial Formation in South Africa. Unisa Press; Pretoria, 157-177.
  • 2010. Naidoo, M. Spiritual Formation in Theological Education. In  Werner, D, Esterline, D & Raja, J. (Eds) Handbook on Theological Education in World Christianity, London: Regnum Books UK , 185-195.

Journal articles

  • 2020. Naidoo, M. Integrative Ministerial Training: A case-study in the Baptist tradition of South Africa, Acta Theologica 40 (2), 244-263.
  • 2020. Naidoo, M & Quampah, D. Pursuing the ideal of integration in Pentecostal Theological Education: A case study of Pentecost Theological, Seminary, Ghana, Acta Theologica 40 (2), 284-304.
  • 2020. Naidoo, M, Banda DT; Banda L; Block M. Ministerial Formation for service: Integrative theological education at Justo Mwale University, Zambia Acta Theologica 40 (2), 150-169.
  • 2019. Naidoo, M. The nature and application of formational learning in the distance medium, HTS Theological Studies, 75 (1), 1-8.
  • 2018. Strecker, A. & Naidoo, M. 2018. The dynamics of multicultural Youth Ministry in a changing South Africa, Missionalia 46 (1), 163–182.
  • 2017. Naidoo, M. The potential of multicultural congregations in supporting social reconciliation, HTS Theological Studies, 73 (4), 1-8.
  • 2017. Naidoo, M. Challenging the status quo of an institutional culture in theological training, Stellenbosch Theological Journal 3 (2),
  • 2017. Naidoo, M. The globalising effect of commercialisation and commodification in African theological education, HTS Theological Studies 73 (3), 1-8.
  • 2016. Naidoo, M. Liberative Black Theology: A case-study of race in theological education. Acta Theologica, Supplementum 24,157-177.
  • 2016. Naidoo, M. An ethnographic study on managing diversity in two Protestant theological colleges, HTS Theological Studies, 74 (2), 1-8.
  • 2016. Naidoo, M. & De Beer, S. Diversity: Negotiating difference in Christian communities, HTS Theological Studies, 72 (3), 1-8.
  • 2016.  Naidoo, M. Overcoming alienation in Africanising theological education. HTS Theological Studies, 71(3), 1-7.
  • 2015. Naidoo, M. Ministerial Formation and Practical Theology. International Journal of Practical Theology, 19 (1), 1-25.
  • 2015.  Naidoo, M. A REDCo study: Learners’ perspectives on religious education and religious diversity in Catholic schools in South Africa. Journal for the Study of Religion, 28 (1), 165-201.
  • 2015. Naidoo, M. & Thomas, D. Moral formation: the motivations of young adults in the moral decision-making process in the Charismatic tradition. The South African Baptist Journal of Theology, 24, 179-207.
  • 2015. Naidoo, M. & Sutcliffe-Pratt, D. A Study of a Relevant Contextual Christian Education Model within a Township Baptist Convention Church. The South African Baptist Journal of Theology, 24, 175-178.
  • 2015. Naidoo, M. Transformative remedies towards managing diversity in South African theological education. HTS Theological Studies, 71 (2), 1-7.
  • 2014. Naidoo, M. Student Attitudes Towards Religious Diversity in Catholic schools in South Africa. Religious Education Journal of Australia, 30 (2), 32 -37
  • 2014. Naidoo, M. African identity and the challenge of modernity. Theologia Viatorum 38(1):1-14.
  • 2014. Naidoo, M. Racial diversity and social cohesion in South African theological education. The South African Baptist Journal of Theology, 23, 242-255.
  • 2014. Naidoo, M. The potential of spiritual leadership in workplace spirituality.  Koers: Bulletin for Christian Scholarship, 79 (2),1-8.
  • 2013. Naidoo, M. Engaging difference in values education and religious identity formation in South African schools. Alternation,10, 54-75.
  • 2013. Naidoo, M. Persistent issues impacting on the training of ministers in the South African context. Scriptura, 112:1-16.
  • 2012. Naidoo, M. Ministerial formation of theological students through distance education. HTS Theological Studies 68, 1-8.
  • 2012. Naidoo, M. Approaches to ministerial formation in theological education in South Africa. Theologia Viatorum 36(1), 50 - 75.
  • 2012. Naidoo, M. Spiritual formation at the Baptist Convention College of South Africa: A qualitative study. The South African Baptist Journal of Theology. 21,159-171.
  • 2012. Naidoo, M. Spiritual formation at the Baptist Convention College of South Africa: A quantitative study. The South African Baptist Journal of Theology. 21, 172-187.
  • 2011. Naidoo, M. For “An empirical study on spiritual formation at theological training institutions in South Africa”. Religion and Theology, 18, 118-146.
  • 2011.Naidoo, M.  Citizenship Education, Religion Education and Religious Identity in public schooling in South Africa. Theologia Viatorum, 35(1), 28-60.
  • 2010. Naidoo, M.  Ministerial Training: the need for pedagogies of formation and contextualization in theological education.  Missionalia, 38 (3), 347-368.
  • 2008. Naidoo, M. The Call for Spiritual Formation in Protestant Theological Institutions in South Africa. Acta Theologica, Supplement 11, 128- 146.
  • 2008. Naidoo, M. Iviyo as African Spiritual Direction. Practical Theology in South Africa Journal, 23 (2), 102 – 119.
  • 2006. Naidoo, M. The healing work of Spiritual Direction.  Practical Theology in South Africa Journal, 21(3), 139-154.
  • 2005. Naidoo, M. Spiritual Direction: Assumptions and Application. Practical Theology in South Africa Journal, 20(1), 59-76.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

Editorial Boards

  • Editorial Board member of the Journal of Practical Theology in South Africa from 2010 to current
  • Editorial Board member of the International Journal of Adult Theological Education (JATE), from 2011 to current
  • Editorial Board member of Religious Education Journal of Australia (REJA), from 2014 to current
  • Advisory Board member of Stellenbosch Theological Journal
  • Advisory Board member of Acta Theologia Journal

Local Academic Memberships:

  • Member for the Society of Practical Theology South Africa (PTSA), from 2003 to current
  • Executive Committee member for the Society of Practical Theology South Africa (PTSA), from 2010-2014
  • Member of the South African Missiological Society (SAMS), from 2008 to 2012
  • Member of the Society of Spirituality of South Africa (SPIRISA), from 2009 to current
  • Member of Association of the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASARA), current

International Academic Memberships:

  • Member of International Academy of Practical Theology (IAPT), from 2011 to current
  • Member of International Seminar on Religious Education and Values (ISREV), from 2012 to current
  • Member of International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (INCHE), from 2015 to current
  • Member of Advisory Committee of Global Forum of Theological Educators, from 2015 to current

Professional Bodies:

  • Board Member of Professional Body (SAQA/QCTO) Association of Christian Religious Professionals (ACRP), from 2014 to current
  • Evaluator for Accrediting Body CHE - Evaluator of Theological Programmes at the Council of Higher Education (HEQC/CHE), from 2009 to current
  • Evaluator for Accrediting Body - Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA)
  • Academic Advisory Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of the Free State University

Projects

  • Project 1 – African Theological Advance – Integrated Ministerial Education in African theological institutions: 2018-2020
    The project conducted a descriptive and theoretical study on integrative ministerial formation within Protestant theological institutions incorporating African values, to evidence a holistic approach, combining both curricular and extracurricular activities in an educational plan, which embraces concern for the students' spiritual and vocational as well as academic development. This project was hosted at the Baptist Theological College, South Africa with three research sites: South Africa, Ghana and Zambia. Project funded by the Templeton Foundation. 
      
  • Project 2 – National Research Foundation – Multicultural Congregations and Social Cohesion: 2017-2019
    Multicultural congregations are well equipped to articulate powerful, discursive justifications for social reconciliation. This study presented a theory of congregational identity to account for why some congregations succeed at accommodating multiple racial groups in a society where religious life remains overwhelmingly segregated.

  • Project 3 - National Research Foundation - Culture and Formation in Theological Education: 2013-2015
    This ethnographic study aim was to understand the critical role of institutional culture in relationship to student formation. Special focus was given to understand how theological institutions deal with diversity within this institutional culture and how these interactions of dealing with diversity form and prepare future religious leaders.

  • Project 4 - REDCO II – Religious Diversity in Catholic schools: 2012-2013
    Collaborative follow-up project: Religion in Education. Contribution to Dialogue or Conflict in transforming societies of European Countries (REDCo). The aim was to establish and compare the potentials and limitations of religion in the educational fields of selected European countries and South Africa. The main theoretical stimulus was the interpretive approach to the study of religious diversity.

  • Project 5 - National Research Foundation - Spiritual Formation in Theological Education: 2008-2010
    Descriptive study on the practice of spiritual formation within Protestant theological institutions with the aim to develop a Scale as an assessment tool to test the spiritual formation emphasis. This study highlighted spiritual and moral values in the theological education process that affect the quality of religious leaders trained.