This publication carefully describes the HIV/AIDS pandemic and how it is understood in some African contexts, which hampers prevention initiatives. It also delineates the complex nature of the poverty and HIV/AIDS interplay. To address the situation, a family systems practical ecclesiological theology and approach to HIV/AIDS ministry, and a pastoral counselling approach that derives from and is sensitive to the African context, are proposed.

School counseling in the 21st century requires a new set of skills and practices than seen in past decades. With a sharper focus on social justice, the experiences and challenges for marginalized groups, and more open discussions as to issues students face, school counselors must be best equipped to handle all types of diverse students and situations. School counselors and guidance programs must address multicultural needs, underserved populations, and students with issues ranging from mental illness to family issues to chronic-illnesses and LGBTQ+ identities. Moreover, they must be prepared to guide students to learning success and adequately prepare them for future careers. The challenges students face in the 21st century lead to new ways to prepare, support, and educate school counselors in modern educational atmospheres with student bodies that are handling vastly different challenges, identities, and lifestyles. School counselors must navigate the profession with information on best practices, techniques, and 21st century skillsets that can adequately support and help all students. The Research Anthology on Navigating School Counseling in the 21st Century provides emerging research on the best practices in school counseling, along with methods, techniques, and professional development initiatives to better understand diverse student populations, needs, and challenges. This book will not only focus on how school counselors must adapt and learn in their own professional careers, but also how school counseling is functioning in the 21st century with the new concerns and obstacles students must face and overcome. The chapters provide a holistic view of how counselors are navigating their positions to best serve their students through effective practices, programs, and new tools and technologies. This book is ideal for school counselors, therapists, school psychologists, counseling educators, administrators, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in school counseling in the 21st century.

Africa needs leaders and Christians from every walk of life to rediscover their identity and purpose in all spheres of society. African Public Theology sounds a clarion call to accomplish this vital task. God created all humans equally, intending for us to live in community and take responsibility for the world around us – a mandate we need to act on. Through faithful application of Scripture to contexts common in the continent today, contributors from across Africa join as one to present a vision for the Africa that God intended. No simplistic solutions are offered – instead African Public Theology challenges every reader to think through the application of biblical principles in their own community, place of work and sphere of influence. If we heed the principles and lessons that God’s word has for society, culture and public life, then countries across Africa can have hope of a future that is free from corruption and self-promotion and is instead characterized by collective stewardship and servant-hearted leadership.

The battle of the heart can be seen as the core problem of the Christian religion in modern culture. According to Augustine, the complex mixture of longings are the driving forces of human lives. These longing are not an intellectual puzzle, but rather a craving for sustenance. The contributions locate the battle for the heart and transformation of society and church in the context of an ethnic, multi-religious, socio-economical divided Africa. Where are the authentic voices of leaders who can change the heart? How to mend a 'broken' heart? How to transform congregations towards inclusion of difference? Can we embrace the dignity of difference as attitudes that enable transformation of church and society?

Social capital has become a focus of interest in health research, and serves as a useful framework to understand aspects of care and support for those living with HIV/AIDS. Response-ability in the era of AIDS: Building social capital in community care and support explores the social norms, mechanisms and practices related to HIV/AIDS care and support in a semi-rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and makes specific recommendations for improvement of the current care and support situation. Wenche Dageid (PhD), Yvonne Sliep (PhD), Olagoke Akintola (PhD), and Fanny Duckert (Dr.Philos) are the research team behind the research project reported in this book. They all have extensive experience with research, teaching and supervision in international settings.

his book is unique and of great importance for theologians from diverse traditions but who all share the relevance of the academic Reformed discourse. The book focuses on, and forms part of celebrating 500 years since the start of the Reformation during the 16th century. Its purpose is to commemorate the quincentenary anniversary of the Reformation in Europe and to indicate the way in which the rich legacy of this important period in the history of the church and society still influences globally the theological landscape in the fields of Practical Theology, Missiology and Ethics. Specific attention is given to the manner in which the core principles of the Reformation can be utilised for these disciplines and applied in a contemporary context. The Reformation changed the ecclesiastical landscape of the day and still provides the benchmark for theological principles and praxis in many Protestant denominations. This book illustrates and underscores the practical-theological legacy and importance of the Reformation for church and society. The collected works by various theologians reflect on the impact of Reformed Theology on their respective fields of expertise. The original research is based on literature studies and has not been published previously in any form. Its aim is to stimulate discourse in Theology and related disciplines. Although the chapters represent different perspectives, the collective aim is to propose the vast impact of the Reformational views as they relate to the current context. The target audience is Reformed theologians. This book focuses on ways in which the legacy of the Reformation addresses practical and relevant issues for 21st-century believers, scholars and churches. It explores inter alia important homiletical and liturgical aspects of the Reformation and contemplates the importance of continual reformation in this regard. Furthermore, it discusses a Reformed approach to apologetics, evaluates the driving forces behind the Reformation of the 16th century and its relevance to missions today as well as examines the sola Scriptura principle of the Reformation and provides a critical perspective on Prosperity Theology. Several pastoral themes take centre stage before various aspects of xenophobia and civil prejudice are being investigated – both being very relevant topics throughout the world today. The book also focuses on hermeneutics and ethics in a quest for a biblical ethical approach as well as congregational hymns in the Reformed churches of South Africa today. The research outcomes are relevant not only for the South African context, but also globally.

The myths of peace and democracy in Africa are at the heart of this volume. Democracy and peace have become buzz words across postcolonial Africa. The gospel of democracy and peace is preached by national governments and by civil society and international organisations alike. But to what extent are the ongoing sideshows and charades of quasi-oligarchies in Africa really democracy? What do ordinary Africans mean when they hunger and thirst for democracy and peace? Positive and noble as the loud sounding rhetoric about democracy and peace in Africa might seem, the reality of propaganda and dissemblance and of multi-dimensional violence are simply too overwhelming not to be disillusioning. This book interrogates the rampant violence, enduring conflicts, autocratic governance, and facades of democracy amidst claims and calls for enduring peace on the continent. This is a monumental resource book for human rights activists, conflict management practitioners, civil society activists, political scientists, statesmen and development practitioners. It poses a challenge to those African governments who claim to embrace principles of democracy and respect for human rights to rethink and reconsider their role as ambassadors of peace, hope, transformation, and good governance.