Strategic initiatives in the faculty had an impact on three levels, namely faculty research, departmental research and individual research. Research projects were planned and organised within the framework of particular focus areas. Several projects crossed traditional disciplinary boundaries within the Faculty as well as the boundaries of other disciplines, which have been the preserve of the social sciences and the economic and management sciences. A number of projects reflected inter-university collaboration on a national and international level. Emphasis was given to nationally relevant projects, and the results of some projects were incorporated in academic programmes. Particular attention was given to the communication and dissemination of research results to the public through the Centre for Church and Community. The Centre for Continued Theological Training (CCTT) and the Reformed Theological College (RTC) are responsible for continued theological training to alumni from the ranks of traditional clerical partners. Under the auspices of the Desmond Tutu Chair, and in collaboration with the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences as well as other national and international institutions, research is conducted in the field of leadership development and future studies. The Faculty of Theology conducts research on HIV/AIDS in a cultural context and is also involved in gender studies.

Faculty staff members are senior researchers and experts in the different focus areas with many publications to their names. During the reporting year a total of 104 research articles were published in accredited journals.

Research on the Old Testament, the New Testament and related literature focuses on the texts concerned, the contexts in which they developed, as well as on their reception. It includes the dating, original context, and interest groups responsible for the production/ reproduction, revision and canonisation of the texts, ideologies and theologies as reflected in the texts, and the appropriate hermeneutics with a view to the current receiver context.

Research on systematic theology and Christian ethics concentrates on the history, identity and current relevance of the Christian doctrine and moral tradition, as well as business ethics. In the field of church history and church law attention is given to general and South African church history and the development of ecclesiastical models to meet the needs of local churches. Regarding practical theology, the spotlight falls on the communication of the gospel in a post-modern society, preaching, hymnology and liturgy, spirituality among members of the church, narrative-based pastoral care and counselling, narrative-based pastoral family therapy, Christian leadership in church and society, those living with HIV/AIDS and home care for the families concerned, urban community development, and gender studies in South African churches and society. In science of religion and missiology the focus areas include challenges to the church and mission in Southern Africa, the history of mission in Southern Africa, theological developments, trends and ideologies that influence missionary work in Southern Africa, ecumenism in Southern Africa, missionary deaconship, social involvement in the church, mission and ecumenism, contextualisation, syncretism, reconciliation, poverty and development, and religions in Southern Africa.

The research in the mentioned focus areas takes place in collaboration with various overseas institutions, namely the Context Group (USA), the International Reformed Theological Institute, the Jesus Seminar (USA), the Free University of Amsterdam, the Methodist University of Sao Paolo, the University of Adelaide (Australia), the Von Humbolt University of Berlin, the University of Bonn, the University of Essen, the University of Leuven, the University of Munich, the University of St Petersburg and the University of Vienna. Altogether 273 postgraduate students and several South African and international research associates were involved in the research programmes.