Digital Commons Network^™

Holistic And Holy: An Inward Journey Toward Healing And Wholeness, Chad Mcswain

Doctor of Leadership

There are two ubiquitous challenges to the modern church in North America: declining church attendance and the mental health crisis. This is an opportunity for the modern church to take up the missional imperative by providing access to mental health resources to meet the mental and spiritual needs of those they serve, while creating a positive connection to those who do not currently attend church.

This doctoral project seeks to address both challenges by providing a podcast called, Holistic and Holy, Listener Guide, and website that creates conversations at the intersection of mental health and spirituality. This approach uses traditional …

An Exploration Of The Context And Ecclesiastical Investigations Of The Virgin's Reported Appearance In Knock, Ireland In 1879, Erin Meikle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On August 21, 1879, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, and the Lamb of God reportedly appeared in Knock, Ireland. Ecclesiastical authorities of the Roman Catholic Church investigated this reported apparition in 1879 and again in 1936. The first chapter of this paper explores the processes by which the Church investigates alleged apparitions and considers different models for conceptualizing the Church. The second chapter unpacks the context of two nineteenth century French apparitions. The third chapter explores the Knock apparition and the immediate historical context surrounding the apparition. The analyses in the first two chapters serve …

Spirituality In Higher Education: A Narrative Analysis Of Its Use For Decision-Making, Jeffrey Francis Judge

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This qualitative research study examines the role of spirituality as a tool for academic leaders in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU). The role of the academic leader (dean, vice president, president, etc.) encompasses a wide array of responsibilities and continually calls upon a large skill set in order to be effective in the position. Often times a leader’s decisions will be pivotal to the success of programs, departmental stability, and general divisional morale. Recognizing and embracing spirituality as a tool for working with faculty lessens stress, clarifies decisions, and invites dialogue and harmony where adversity and discourse …