Leveraging Practical Theology in Combating Gender-Based Violence in South Africa

Abstract

This South African research article examines how practical theology can contribute to addressing the country's severe gender-based violence crisis. The authors argue that GBV is rooted not only in individual behaviour but also in socio-cultural, theological and structural conditions. Importantly, the article explicitly addresses femicide and argues that the Church needs to engage with the crisis through justice-oriented and transformative theological practice.
The authors propose a reformed model of church engagement involving changes to liturgical practices, survivor-empowering pastoral approaches, community engagement and justice-oriented advocacy. The article is particularly relevant to the faith sector because it challenges churches to move beyond responding to individual cases towards confronting the structures and theological narratives that sustain violence. It provides a strong South African resource for discussions about faith, femicide, patriarchy and institutional transformation.