CONVOCATION 2016

CONVOCATION OF THE NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY AND GREENWICH SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN LONDON ON THE 3RD NOVEMBER 2016The bi-annual Convocation – since 2000 – took place on the 3rd November in London. It was as usual a joint event of the NWU and GST where PhD-degrees were presented to those students who have graduated through GST at the NWU and where the graduates were acknowledged and congratulated with their achievements.

During the period of 2015-2016 the number of 13 GST-students have obtained PhD-degrees who have enrolled at the NWU. It represents 31% of the total number of PhD-degrees in theology which were conferred by the NWU. It is already reported in the media that the PhD’s of some of the graduates enjoy much respect and appreciation for their contribution in the respective areas or countries where the students are residing, such as in particular in Switzerland and Norway.

The GST-students who enrolled for Masters and PhD’s at the NWU are currently 67 in total.

Members/officials from the Institutional Office, and from the Potchefstroom Campus as well as from the Faculty of Theology were present and representing the NWU. On the other hand the Board of Directors of GST were all present. The administrations of both the NWU and GST must be applauded for the professional and stylish way the whole occasion was organised and conducted. Eight of the thirteen PhD-graduates via GST were present.

Apart from the Convocation-ceremony, the usual meeting between the representatives of the NWU and the Board of Directors of GST took place. Prof Frikkie van Niekerk (adj vice-chanceller of the NWU), prof Francois Viljoen (dean of the Faculty of Theology) and prof Dries du Plooy (CEO of GST) made presentations, respectively about the current important developments going on at the two institutions. The day was concluded with a prestige dinner which the graduates, their loved ones as well as the representatives of both institutions and a number of alumni, celebrated the achievements of the graduates.

Front row from left: Prof M Verhoef,Prof Robert Balfour, Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg, Prof Heilna du Plooy Prof Dries le R du Plooy.Back row from left: Prof Ben D Rees, Canon Dr Christopher Lamb, Prof Dr Paul Wells, Prof FW de Wet

The keynote address With these time-honoured words from Prof Dries le R du Plooy: “It is my honour to introduce to you the following candidates present who have obtained the following degrees”, thedegrees were conferred on the students listed below by Professor Fika van Rensburg, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, NWU who officiated in the absence, due to indisposition, of the Rector of Potchefstroom Campus, Prof Herman van Schalkwyk. Prof Robert Balfour, Dean of Education Sciences at NWU, in his closing words thanked all those who had played their part in making the ceremony so memorable and offered words of congratulations to all the graduates .Thanks are due to those from NWU and GST whose meticulous forward planning and preparations on the day ensured the success of Convocation 2014.

From left to right:

Philosophiae DoctorsDoris Cannataci, Leonard Amechi, Alison McDonald, Darryl Wooldridge, Emmanuel Nterful, Joseph Fell, Basil Jackson and Alex Santrac for his wife, Dragoslava Santrac

A further seven degrees were conferred in absentia

HONOURS BACHELOR OF ARTSLim, Joon (in absentia) - Theology/Biblical Studies

MASTERS OF ARTNterful, Emmanuel Louis - Missiology -Church Expansion through church planting in Ghana: A case study of the Lighthouse Chapel International ModelSupervisor: Prof Dr BR Talbot Co-supervisor: Prof Dr PJ BuysSinyangwe, Levy (in absentia) - Pastoral StudiesThe role and responsibilities of the Zambian church to alleviate poverty in the communitySupervisor: Dr JK Ayeebo Co-supervisor: Prof Dr RS Letsosa

DOCTORATES - Philosophiae Doctor

AMECHI, Leonard Asonye – DogmaticsThe Pentecostal challenge to the concept of salvation in Liberation TheologyPromoter: Prof DB Evans Co-promoter: Prof JM Vorster

CALVERT, Michael Perry (in absentia) – HomileticsPreaching and the problem of evil: a case study in the published sermons of Helmut ThielickePromoter: Prof DB Rees Co-promoter: Prof FW de Wet

CANNATACI, Maria Dolores - Church and Dogma HistoryThe St Paul Cult in Malta - An evaluation of the contribution of Monsignor Giuseppe De Piro and St George PrecaPromoter: Dr V Petrenko Co-Promoter: Prof N Vorster

DAVIS, Martin Miller - Church and Dogma HistoryAn exploratory account and examination of the doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ in the scientific theology of T.F. TorancePromoter: Prof CP Warner Co-promoter: Prof PH Fick

FELL, Joseph – Church and Dogma HistoryThe North of Ireland Keswick Convention: An intensive evaluation of its impact on Protestantism in the North of Ireland since 1914Promoter: Prof DB Rees Co-promoter: Prof A le R du Plooy

HARTMAN, Keith Douglas (in absentia) – Church and Dogma HistoryJoseph Smith’s tritheism: The prophet’s theology in context, critiqued from a Nicene perspectivePromoter: Prof DT Lioy Co-promoter: Prof A le R du Plooy

JACKSON, Edgar Basil – DogmaticsThe Faith Dynamic in Creationism and Evolutionary TheologyPromoter: Prof ST Rochester Co-promoter: Prof CFC Coetzee

McCUISTION, Paul Raymond (in absentia) – New TestamentCovent, Christology and Kingdom as Context in Matthew’s use of plēróōPromoter: Prof CP Warner Co-promoter: Prof FP Viljoen

McDONALD, Kathryn Alison – Church and Dogma HistoryThe ministry of women in mid-nineteenth century England: Sister Dora and the Anglican sisterhoodsPromoter: Prof RB Grainger Co-promoter: Prof J Smit

SANTRAC, Dragoslava (in absentia) - Old TestamentSanctuary cult in relation to religious piety in the Book of PsalmsPromoter Dr KM Rochester Co-promoter: Prof HF Van Rooy

WOOLDRIDGE, Darryl – DogmaticsProleptic Spiritual Transformation: Living in the not yetPromoter: Prof DT Lioy Co-promoter: Prof N Vorster

YIU, Solomon Chow-Wah (in absentia) – EthicsToward an evangelical social justice: an analysis of the concept of the Kingdom of God and the mission of the ChurchPromoter: Prof DB Rees Co-promoter: Prof JM Vorster