Theology students join hands

The thirty six students studying at UKZN for a Masters in Theology with a special focus on HIV/AIDS met for a week long Colloquium in Stellenbosch, where they participated in a peer review of their research on a variety of topics.

Students from the University of Stellenbosch, Makumira University College in Tanzania, and the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology also attanded. Also present were members of the University of Uppsala.

The impact of this research will be wide spread as each student is to write a paper for journal publication along with their Masters dissertation. Students come from a variety of church backgrounds and have covered areas in ecclesiology, mission, pastoral care and counselling, gender studies, stigma and shame and community development. All the papers were read with a view to sharpening the theological connections with the HIV pandemic.

This project is guided by the Church of Sweden who received R3 million from SIDA to offer bursaries to these students in Africa. Each university is lead by a Tutor and the whole project in Africa is under the leadership of Dr Edwina Ward from UKZN?’s School of Religion and Theology.