Legal Notice

Coram Deo is a common name in the industry and we often find reference to it by other organisations or initiatives.

Coram Deo Pastorale Sentrum ‘NPC’ [Nie-Winsgerigte Maatskappy], in short referred to as Coram Deo, is situated in Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria. It is governed by a board of directors, voluntarily audited and formally constituted under the companies act.

Any work alongside Coram Deo NPC or at the premises should not be seen as implying or constitutive of a formal and legal relationship unless it finds expression in a written agreement that would further stipulate the extent of the relationship.

Consequently organisations that bear reference to the general name ‘Coram Deo’ or reside at the offices of the building that has come to be known as Coram Deo should not be seen as Coram Deo Pastorale Sentrum NPC, the only exclusion being when they are referenced in the constitution / memorandum of understanding for some or other specific reason.

There are a number of entities and associations that enjoy our hospitality, some through a formal renting agreement for office space such as the Christian Social Services (generally known more in Afrikaans as the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad). While they bear the name Coram Deo CMR, this is in reference to the Coram Deo building (typically similar to an office park hosting several entities). Coram Deo CMR (with their own official entity number) functions under the supervision of their [own] regional entity head and management appointed by their’CMR Oos’ division. It is in this capacity that they undertake statutory work that Coram Deo NPC is not involved in. It relates to all professional and day to day decisions and accountability structures such as their Social Services Board.

Oosterlig congregation is involved in Coram Deo NPC as the congregation originally envisioned such a centre which was then established separately to the congregation in 2003. Sharing the same premises it allows for efficient communication where a suitable Oosterlig reverend acts on the board of Coram Deo NPC which offers chairperson coordination services to Coram Deo CMR. This promotes a collegiate atmosphere and optimal general (non-technical) coordination while Coram Deo CMR operates, is managed and supervised by their own structures and entities.

Other relationships include private practice professionals, and mental health interest groups or associations that share the premises. These include for instance Huntington’s South Africa, various addiction recovery organisations, individual counsellors and the like.

Coram Deo NPC offers counselling services in the pastoral narrative therapy tradition which include children, adolescence, relationships, addiction, grief, loss and more. Our work in this regard is holistic therapeutic and does not include the kind of statutory work that some in the Coram Deo building undertake. Pastoral Narrative Therapists do not engage in diagnoses in this particular role. They are not qualified to offer formal diagnoses, and within their epistemological framework is also not likely interested in diagnosing clients. They are rather culturally sensitive to the potential damaging effects that some practices around diagnoses in mental health could have in further pathologising those who seek out their services. They are also not likely to engage in statutory work unless specifically trained, officiated, and inclined to do so.

Nevertheless we find that Coram Deo (the building) allows Coram Deo NPC a diverse and stimulating inter-professional environment (with reference to associations, entities, professional individuals). We thank those involved in joining us at the offices and we wish them all the best for their task.