Focus:
Practical Theology is the youngest sibling in the broader field of Theology. Historically, it was clerically focused and mostly concerned about equipping pastors for ministerial practice. Through the years, it widened its scope to examine how religious beliefs and theological principles are embodied in the actual practices, experiences, and daily lives of faith communities. As an action science, it investigates the dynamic relationship between theory and practice, focusing on how religious communities live out their faith through rituals, social engagement, education, pastoral care, and other concrete expressions. Practical theology seeks not only to understand these lived religious experiences but also to improve religious praxis through critical reflection. It spans the sub-disciplines of pastoral care, homiletics, liturgy, youth, child, and family ministry, as well as public practical theology.
Objectives:
To provide contemporary practical-theological perspectives aimed at the development of the church and society in the South African and African context in a Reformed approach.
Subprogramme leader:
You are also welcome to contact the sub-programme leader, Prof Alfred Brunsdon:
- E-mail: alfred.brunsdon@nwu.ac.za
- Tel: +27 18 289 2666
Members of subprogramme:
The sub-programme currently consists of 7 full-time academics across the three campuses, representing a wide variety of academic foci within the field of practical theology and opportunities for students who consider further studies. Post-graduate supervision is not campus-bound, and you can study with academics on any of the three campuses.
Please view the short biographies of our team to learn more about their respective research foci and consider reaching out to those with whom you share an academic interest to start a conversation.
Prof Alfred Brunsdon
Prof Brunsdon’s research focus includes the contextualization of Practical Theology and pastoral care in the African context. He also has a keen interest in Theological Higher Education in the African and global context in light of the decolonisation discourse and recent developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Some of his latest publications started to explore the fields of eco-practical theology and pastoral care against the background of the Anthropocene.
He currently serves as Faculty Coordinator for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Theology. Prof Brunsdon is a National Research Foundation (NRF) C2-rated researcher and has published extensively in academic journals and book format since 2003.
Prof Brunsdon invites students with an interest in any of the above fields to apply for Masters- and Doctoral supervision.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ar-Brunsdon?ev=hdr_xprf
Email: alfred.brunsdon@nwu.ac.za
Prof Amanda du Plessis
Prof du Plessis’s research focus includes the contextualization of Practical Theology and pastoral care and counselling in the African context with an emphasis on inner healing, prayer and expressive therapy. Her publications explore contextual pastoral education where the university classroom becomes a hermeneutical community for the contextualization of pastoral care in South Africa. She has published extensively in academic journals and book format since 2012.
She currently serves as Director for the School of Christian Ministry and Leadership. Although, the School previously practiced the science of Theology from a Reformational foundation, she acknowledges the diversity of theological and religious views and convictions in South Africa and the rest of the world.
Prof Amanda du Plessis invites students with an interest in contextual pastoral care and counselling to apply for Masters- and Doctoral supervision.
For a complete list of her research outputs, kindly visit
- Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amanda-Du-Plessis-2?ev=hdr_xprf
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-du-plessis-09a5bb304/
- Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VzzobmQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Email: amanda.duplessis@nwu.ac.za
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Prof Fazel Freeks
Prof Freeks’ research focus encompasses the well-being of families in society, addressing related concepts such as fatherhood, motherhood, paternal absence, gender-based violence (GBV), and family structures within the South African context. His research focus and interest involve the concept of the pastorate, particularly in relation to pastoral care. Additional important research interests include values and character education, as well as community engagement.
He is presently the Coordinator of Community Engagement in the Faculty of Theology. Prof. Freeks has made significant contributions through numerous publications in esteemed, recognised, peer-reviewed academic journals, both nationally and internationally, from 2009 to the present.
Prof. Freeks welcomes all students who have an interest and passion in any of the aforementioned fields, to apply for Master's and Doctoral supervision.
For a complete list of his research outputs, please visit the following platforms:
- Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fazel-Freeks?ev=hdr_xprf
- Academia: https://independent.academia.edu/FFreeks
- Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=AgQ-D-4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Email: fazel.freeks@nwu.ac.za
Prof Ferdi Kruger
Prof Kruger is a full-time academic and professor of Practical Theology (specialising in Homiletics and Liturgies) at the Faculty of Theology of the North-West University. He served as pastor in the Reformed Churches of Witbank South-East, Meyerton, Thabazimbi, Alberton-West and Meyerspark. He was ordained as theological professor in 2014. He is also the author of several scholarly articles in accredited Journals, nationally and internationally, since 2014. He is currently the research director for the Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society at the Faculty of Theology. His research focuses on the functioning and altering of attitudes in a close interplay with cognition and remembrance within the research fields of Homiletics and Liturgics. The importance of cognition as a means of making sense of what is happening is his specific field of interest. The author was also involved in editing and co-authoring several other publications.
For a complete list of her research outputs, kindly visit
Email: ferdi.kruger@nwu.ac.za
Prof Hannelie Yates
Dr Yates’ research focus is on the broad field of child, youth and family ministry. In recent years, she has been involved in research projects that focus on the position and voice of children and youth within faith communities and civil society. Her most recent research interest relates to nurturing spirituality as a critical element in the holistic well-being of children and their households.
Dr Yates is the chairperson of Child Theology Africa and a Godly Play - South Africa (International | South Africa) board member and storyteller.
Students with an interest in the above fields are invited to apply for Master's and Doctoral supervision.
For a complete list of Dr Yates’ research outputs, kindly visit https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=g2fxP7oAAAAJ&hl=en
Email: hannelie.yates@nwu.ac.za
Prof Rudy Denton
Prof. Denton’s research focus includes pastoral care and missiology, with a particular emphasis on forgiveness and social justice. His research responsibilities include supervising Masters- and Doctoral students. He has published several articles in accredited journals, presented academic papers at local and international conferences and contributed to chapters in collective works.
Prof Denton invites students with an interest in any of the above research fields to apply for Masters- and Doctoral supervision.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=eBYc7tUAAAAJ&hl=en
Email: rudy.denton@nwu.ac.za
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Prof Vhumani Magezi
Prof. Vhumani Magezi holds two PhDs: one in practical theology and another in Social Science with a focus on the sociology of health. He currently serves as Faculty Coordinator for Community Engagement and Stakeholder Relations, and also as Sub-Programme Leader of Public Practical Theology and Civil Society. He also holds positions as a non-stipendiary Research Fellow at the Oxford University Institute of Population and Ageing and as a research member of Optentia, with his work focusing on generational dynamics. Prof. Magezi is a National Research Foundation (NRF) C2-rated researcher and has published extensively since 2006, including books, book chapters, academic journals, and research reports in grey literature.
His theological research centers on public practical theology, public pastoral care, and African pastoral care, with an emphasis on the post-colonial African context. His research in the sociology of health examines the intersectionality of gender, health, and religion; religion and sexual reproductive health; spirituality and health; and community and faith-based responses to societal ills. A key focus of his research is on examining and developing approaches that make Christian faith relevant to society by performing public good functions.
For a complete list of his research outputs, please visit the following platforms:
Email: vhumani.magezi@nwu.ac.za
Book Projects:
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Guidelines for postgraduate studies for admission:
Before applying for post-graduate studies, consider these helpful guidelines:
- Identify a specific focus in the field of practical theology that aligns with one of our academic foci, for example, pastoral care, homiletics, liturgy, or youth and family ministry.
- Prepare a research motivation using the guidelines provided to demonstrate that you have an active interest in a particular field based on identifying a topic by engaging literature. Click here for a template.
- Make a proper assessment of your available time and genuine interest in post-graduate studies, as it is a tedious task and is bound by timelines that must be adhered to complete studies in the allowed time.
- Peruse the faculty’s websites to learn more about financial and supervisory support and take note of the obligations of students who fail to adhere to timelines (e.g., reimbursement of bursaries to the faculty).
- Read as many completed studies as possible in your field of interest to get a good idea of what the outcomes of post-graduate studies entail.
Prof Albert Coetsee
Albert J. Coetsee is an associate professor in the Old Testament at North-West University and at the Theological School Potchefstroom, both in South Africa. He completed his PhD in 2013 at North-West University on the theme of God’s speech in the Book of Hebrews, and he serves as Sub-Programme Leader of the group Bibliological Perspectives of the Faculty of Theology of the same institution. He is the author and co-author of 24 articles and book chapters and the co-editor of five scholarly books. His research interests include the Book of Deuteronomy, the Book of Hebrews, the use of the Book of Deuteronomy in Hebrews, and hermeneutics.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Albert.Coetsee@nwu.ac.za
Dr Lekgetho Moretsi
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For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Lekgetho.Moretsi@nwu.ac.za
Dr Zukile Nqgeza
Zukile Ngqeza (PhD) is a Lecturer in the School of Christian Ministry and Leadership of the Faculty of Theology at North-West University, South Africa. He is also a member of the Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society. His research focus is on the application of Gender Studies, Childism, and Trauma Theory as lenses for reading and interpreting the Christian Bible.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Zukile.Ngqeza@nwu.ac.za
Dr Chris van der Walt
After being a minister for 21 years, Chris (P.C.) van der Walt was appointed by the NWU in 2011 to teach Old Testament and specifically the prophets. His PhD dealt with the identity of God’s people in the book of Isaiah, and since then, some articles and book chapters have been written about Isaiah. He loves nature and is also involved in eco-theology.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Chris.VanDerWalt@nwu.ac.za
Dr Sheurl Davis
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For a complete list of her research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Sheurl.Davis@nwu.ac.za
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Prof Elma Cornelius
Elma Cornelius is associate professor in New Testament Studies in the Faculty of Theology at the Vanderbijlpark campus of the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa. She holds a DPhil degree in Religious Studies from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Before Stellenbosch, she obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) in Greek. From 1993 to 2003 she taught Greek at the PU for CHE, and from 1998 she held the position as Head of the subject group for Greek. In 2002 she was appointed as associate professor in the Faculty of Theology at the PU for CHE. From 2004 to 2018 she taught New Testament part-time in the Faculty of Humanities at the Vanderbijlpark campus of the NWU. Since 2019 she has been offering New Testament full-time in the Faculty of Theology at the NWU. Up to date she has supervised four master’s degree students and co-supervised one master’s degree and one doctoral student. She has published many articles in national journals and authored various chapters in books. Elma’s focus in her current research is the interpretation of the Pauline letters for the healing of society.
For a complete list of her research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Elma.Cornelius@nwu.ac.za
Prof Philip du Toit
Prof Du Toit’s research focus mainly revolves around identity studies in the New Testament, especially the Pauline corpus, which includes critical engagement with theories of identity and postcoloniality from an African perspective. He also has a keen interest in first century Judaism, Messianic Judaism, Christian Zionism and the epistemology of New Testament studies. He currently serves as subject chair of New Testament and is a C-rated NRF researcher. He has published numerous articles, chapters in books as well as a monograph titled God’s Saved Israel: Reading Romans 11:26 and Galatians 6:16 in terms of the new identity in Christ and the Spirit (Eugene: Pickwick, 2019).
For a complete list of his/her research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Philip.DuToit@nwu.ac.za
Prof Risimati Hobyane
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For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Risimati.Hobyane@nwu.ac.za
Prof Francois Viljoen
Francois P. Viljoen is a professor in New Testament at the North-West University and at the Theological School Potchefstroom. He holds a ThD from the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, and a PhD from the Radboud University Nijmegen. His research focusses on the Synoptic Gospels, Hermeneutics and Narrative Criticism, with the majority of his publication dealing in Matthean studies. He is the author of 76 scholarly articles and his books include ‘The Torah in Matthew’, Matthew’s portraits of Jesus’ and ‘Studies in Matthew’. He is recognised as an established researcher by the NRF of South Africa.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Viljoen.Francois@nwu.ac.za
Dr Walter Maqoma
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For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Walter.Maqoma@nwu.ac.za