�Public theology� from within the church? A reflection on aspects of the theology of W.D. Jonker (1929�2006)

Piet J Naud�

doi:10.4102/ve.v35i1.1136

Abstract

In this essay, aspects of the work of theologian W.D. (Willie) Jonker are reframed to complement current debates about �public theology� in South Africa. The introduction points out that Jonker worked during a crucial period in South Africa�s history and that his theology is intrinsically linked to the church struggle between 1955 and 1994. The second part reframes Jonker�s theology as a public theology from within the church by referring to his understanding of preaching, confessions and public witness. The last part attempts to move beyond Jonker in appropriating some of his ideas for a public theology in South Africa today.

Highlights

Willem Daniel (Willie) Jonker was born on 01 March 1929 in the Lichtenburg district of the Western Transvaal, South Africa
He studied theology and languages at the University of Pretoria until 1951, completing a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) on how conceptions of God impact on the doctrine of forgiveness in the work of Schleiermacher, Ritschl and Brunner (Jonker 1951) and an Master’s degree (MA) on the Markan translation of Ulfilas (Jonker 1952)
The life-work of Willie Jonker was situated in the context of the church’s struggle against apartheid. He himself never depicted his theology as ‘public’ theology, it is argued that Jonker’s contribution can be re-framed to inform current debates about the public nature of theology. His choice to pursue the specific tradition of Reformed theology – drawing on John Calvin and Karl Barth – already put him on the path to view all of reality under the rule of God

Summary

Introduction

Willem Daniel (Willie) Jonker was born on 01 March 1929 in the Lichtenburg district of the Western Transvaal, South Africa. This overt choice for the Reformed view in the tradition of Calvin is echoed in an important article on theology and social ethics (Jonker 1973b).7 This was written at a time when the social dimensions of ethics were underrepresented and when pious people with a strong individual spirituality ‘overlooked’ the structural dimensions of the gospel in relation to apartheid society.

Results

Conclusion