Digital Commons Network^™

The Church In The Postmarriage Society, Shawn P. Mcconaughey

Doctor of Ministry

Pastors hear the same story too many times. The faces are different, and the circumstances have new twists, but the story of another marriage breaking apart is too familiar. The consequences are always the same, a ripping and tearing apart of a family. There are wounded hearts, crushed self-esteem, and plenty of blame to go around. The frustration is that those people breaking up are Christians. Often they are a part of the church, and in many cases the church or their faith didn't seem to be a part of the equation for making a decision to divorce. Many do …

Our Lady Of Prompt Succor: Marian Devotionalism In New Orleans, Michael T. Pasquier

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Synod Of Dordrecht 1618-1619. The Influence Of Calvinism On The Development Of Freedom In The Netherlands In The Period 1560-1630, Joseph A. Van Burik

Institute for the Humanities Theses

The Synod of Dordrecht was an important event in the history of the Dutch Republic. A serious, combined religious and political conflict between orthodox and liberal Calvinists had brought the Republic to the brink of civil war. The forceful intervention of the stadholder Prince Maurice in 1617 had cleared the political situation and it was the task of the Synod to solve the religious aspect of the conflict. The Synod was a victory for orthodox Calvinism; the Reformed Church, the state and local governments were purged from liberal elements, and new laws, limiting further the freedom for non-Reformed religions were …

Interpreting Discontinuity: Isaiah’S Tyre Oracle, R. Reed Lessing

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

What follows is an investigation that specifically explores how two of the dominant methods on prophetic discourse understand discontinuity in the prophetic texts of the OT. These are redaction and rhetorical criticism. While scholarship currently offers several different rhetorical reading strategies, the one investigated here is that which pays close attention to history. Because history plays a major role in redaction criticism as well, a central question is: What is the best historical way to read a prophetic text? Such a debate between redaction and rhetorical criticism has not yet taken place in the secondary literature.

The Death Of Postmillennialism In The Holiness Tradition Following World War I, Tiffany Enos

Seminary Masters Theses

Millennialism is an ancient component of religion, taking shapes and forms that vary widely from culture to culture, yet sharing enough in common that historian Frederic Baumgartner can describe an end-time scenario that sounds too familiar to be a generalization, even as it slides easily into the faiths of Buddhists, Aztec Indians, Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. 1 Over the centuries, generation after generation has found reason to believe theirs would be the last, and several millennial groups have risen with fervor and conviction, only to see the promised end time come and go, and life carry on without them. …

The Death Of Postmillennialism In The Holiness Tradition Following World War I, Tiffany Enos

Seminary Masters Theses

Millennialism is an ancient component of religion, taking shapes and forms that vary widely from culture to culture, yet sharing enough in common that historian Frederic Baumgartner can describe an end-time scenario that sounds too familiar to be a generalization, even as it slides easily into the faiths of Buddhists, Aztec Indians, Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. 1 Over the centuries, generation after generation has found reason to believe theirs would be the last, and several millennia! groups have risen with fervor and conviction, only to see the promised end time come and go, and life carry on without them. …

Near Death Experiences And The Christian Gospel: Concord Or Conflict?, Kenneth Lance Tyler

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The near-death phenomenon has initiated a new debate over Jesus' and Paul's claim in the New Testament that the gospel message therein outlines the only way to salvation. Despite twenty-five years of writing and research by near-death (NDE) advocates the dispute continues not only over the disparity between the gospel and NOE but over the origin and meaning of the near-death experience itself. Initially it was medical and pharmacological questions that focused the discussions. More advanced theories are being offered suggesting that the right temporal lobe of the brain acts as a "circuit board" or gateway for a range of …

Covenantal Ethics: A Living System For Living Systems, Matthew D. Viel

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Covenantal ethics is a living system for living systems. We humans are not simple, isolated individuals living stagnant, dead lives. Rather we are immersed in a complex system of living, glowing and developing interpersonal relationships with others. Philosophy in general and ethics in particular are often looked upon as dead or dormant entities. Covenantal ethics is neither. It is a living approach to the philosophy of ethics that recognizes the dynamic system in which we live. Our world recently welcomed a new millennium. We moved forward, leaving behind much of the old and eagerly anticipating what was to come. One …

The Celestial Element, Loai Omran

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Emergent Leadership Factors In A Total Ministry Model, David C. Meyers

Dissertations

This study generalized emergent leadership research to the unstudied population of Total Ministry parishes in the Episcopal Church. The research population was 75 small congregations who chose parish members as their liturgical and pastoral leaders. A survey was designed to distinguish more satisfied from less satisfied parishes in areas of worship, climate, and pastoral care. Each group was given a questionnaire with 29 emergent leadership factors. It was hypothesized that more satisfied parishes would match the constructs of emergent leadership to a higher degree. A T-test was used to compare scores. Results were very strong in pastoral care and climate, …

Bahri Mamluk Wooden Ceilings, Jasmin Wardani

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Principles, Practices, And Problems-The Pastoral Theology Of St. John Chrysostom, Jack Ferguson

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The importance of this limited outline of the life of St. John Chrysostom is that it highlights the pastoral periods of his work within the context of the two metropolitan communities which he served. It also locates within these periods several of his major works which yield, upon examination, a wealth of material as well as many points of comparison concerning the rudiments of his pastoral theology.

Arthur Carl Piepkorn And The Evangelical Catholic Approach To Ecuminism, Paul Sauer

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

As the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is confronted once again with 'church questions' it is perhaps time to rediscover the writings of one from our own past. Piepkorn would remind us that one of the joys of being a part of the church catholic is the recognition that the events of our present day are in no way unique within the history of the church; as such our theological enterprise not only need not start from scratch, but should not. How then might Piepkorn's writings shape our understanding of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod and her relationship to the 'one, holy, …

"Real Presence" A Confession Of The Lord's Supper - The Origin And Development Of The Term In The 16th Century, Albert B. Collver Iii

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

This work is divided into two parts: Part 1 outlines the historical development of the term real presence, Part 2 provides a systematic analysis of the term.

Borges The Sufi, Dalia Mohamed Eltayeb

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Pastoral Care Groups, Donald Stein

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This project examines the use of pastoral care groups to help members of a congregation to overcome obstacles caused by painful experiences in their lives. In the course of this project the pastor worked with small groups of individuals who share similar painful experiences. The pastor solicited feedback from those individuals and evaluated his ministry to them in these small groups. The pastor supported the work with scripture and used biblical principles to develop the application of pastoral care groups.

God's Power For The Believer, Andre Snavely

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

So the questions that will be examined in this paper include the following. Does God manifest His power in any way other than salvation, either through miracles to bring people to salvation or to bless those who are already saved? What is the purpose of God showing His power? What is the connection between God's power and faith and between His power and His righteousness? And finally, how does a biblical theology of God's power give an answer to those who demythologize His power into a social program? These and other questions are very much on the minds of Christians …

Expectations Of Iconographic Symbols In Third Century Christianity, David Corbet

Doctor of Ministry

Art is the avenue down which one moves to encounter the divine. It is the expression of a person's or groups spiritual experience. Through art the divine and the human meet. Within the framework of art, there are different means of expression. A symbol serves as a pointer, directing the audience towards the divine. Figurative expression depicts scenes from religious history, which carries meaning to the audience about their tradition and their history. Narrative expressions tell a story with significance to the religious community. Every religion has some type of artistic expression. This is how a religion demonstrates its own …

The Sacred And The Mundane: Images Of Deity In Ordinary Objects In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Monica Delgado Van Wagenen

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis focuses on "iconotheophanies" or images of deity in ordinary objects. It further looks at the people who recognize and believe in iconotheophanies, specifically those of Mexican descent. This study hypothesizes that the Virgin of Guadalupe narrative, which emphasizes the appearance of images on objects, sets a pattern for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans to recognize the sacred in their own lives. Juan Diego, as the main character in the story, demonstrates a theoretical profile of five characteristics of individuals most likely to recognize iconotheophanies. These characteristics are: low level of acculturation, low socioeconomic status, male gender, older age, and increased …

Co-Workers In The Lord: Developing Partnership Between Male And Female Majors In The Department Of Bible, Missions, And Ministry At Abilene Christian University, Jeanene Reese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this project is the creation of a model that provides training and experience for female and male majors in developing meaningful partnership with one another through their required majors' courses in the Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry at Abilene Christian University. Three central theological perspectives form the framework of the project: (1) a theology of partnership from the creation account in Genesis, (2) partnership as found in the Old Testament narrative, and (3) the establishment of a new order in the New Testament. The research model utilizes ten learning teams of men and women formed in …

Enriching Families In The Parish Through The Use Of Musical Drama, Wallace Becker

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Healthy families are important for the health of the congregation. Many churches see the need to focus energy on strengthening families.

Musical drama based on the life of Jesus has its roots in the liturgy. The musical dramas presented at Zion Lutheran, Litchfield, Illinois, involved families and provided opportunities for their enrichment.

By developing and implementing a plan for musical drama to enrich families at Redeemer Lutheran, Springfield, Missouri, the author sought to strengthen these families, providing opportunities to build positive assets or building blocks into their lives. Participants who filled out surveys confirmed growth in positive assets.

Material Cooperation And Catholic Institutions: An Inquiry Into Traditional Moral Principle And Its Meaning For Catholic Institutions Today, With Reference To Catholic Hospitals In Australia, Joseph C. Parkinson

Theses

This dissertation views the Principle of Legitimate Cooperation as a guiding norm for the activity of Catholic institutions in the world. It samples various expressions of the principle from the seventeenth century to the present day, noting the significance of the central terms ‘intrinsically evil acts’ and ‘sufficiently serious reason’, and suggests that while the principle traditionally applied to individual moral agents, it can also apply to institutions. Taking as starting-points the Second Vatican Council’s call for a renewal of moral theology and the Church’s post-conciliar view of itself as ‘Sacrament of Christ’, the dissertation sketches an essentially Christological and …

The Doctrine Of Divine Immutability As God's Constancy, Tersur Akuma Aben

CTS PhD Doctoral Dissertations

A central claim of orthodox Christian theology is that God is immutable. That is, God exists and he is unchangeable. But there are two major problems with this claim: Can a coherent account be given of what it means to say that God is immutable, which affirms God's intimate relatedness to us in our space-time world of change? And, if it can, are there good reasons or arguments to show that God is not immutable? In response to the second problem, I deny that there are good reasons or arguments to show that God is not immutable. I maintain that …

An Analysis And Critique Of Leonardo Boff's Theology And Social Ethics, Luiz Roberto França De Mattos

CTS PhD Doctoral Dissertations

Leonardo Boff wrestles seriously with two challenging questions, namely, the reality of poverty in today's world and the contemporary ecological crisis. His overall project is to offer a Christian response to them. This project has three cornerstones: first, some Marxist axioms underlying his social analysis; second, an ontology appropriated from Teilhard de Chardin and strongly emphasizing the evolution of the universe; third, an epistemological suspicion of the human ability to know reality in itself. While the importance of Boff's work cannot be denied, the theological price Hoff pays for putting his priority on social ethics is considerable. His dismissal of …

Does The Black Church In West Virginia Speak With A Prophetic Voice?: A Sociological Analysis Of The Black Church As An Agent For Social Change, James Lewis Patterson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research examines the function of the black church in African American Society in general, and its function in the African American community in West Virginia in particular. Determining what the black church sees as its overall mission is my primary concern. Specifically, the research examines the relationship between themes that emerge from black pastor’s personal ministry philosophies, and themes that appear in priestly ministry and prophetic ministry. Determining whether the black church views its primary mission as (priestly) caring for the spiritual needs of its congregation, or (prophetic) calling for changes in societal structures that foster oppression and racism …

Development And Implementation Of A Stewardship Program At The Calhoun, Georgia, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Paul S. Hoover

Professional Dissertations DMin

Task

The task of this project was to increase the participation among the membership of the Calhoun Seventh-day Adventist Church with the financial stewardship need of the congregation. The study was to determine the number of families involved and to implement factors to increase church family involvement.

Method

A family giving unit was defined as a family within the Calhoun Seventh-day Adventist Church. A family unit is made up of a household whether the member is single, married, or married with dependents. Family involvement was measured in three giving areas of tithe, church budget, and debt reduction to the Calhoun …

Retention Of New Members Into The Caffin Avenue Seventh-Day Adventist Church, David W. Hinds

Professional Dissertations DMin

This study attempted to identify the reasons why new members stop attending church one to six months after they are accepted into membership of the Caffin Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church and to find ways to reduce the number of individuals who drop out. The introduction analyzes the biblical and theological basis for a higher retention of new converts. It considers principles found in the book of Acts and concerns for lost membership. A review of relevant literature on the assimilation of new members was done to provide an overview of the problem and to gain insights into reducing the number …

A History Of The Independent Bible Church, Karen Lynn Dearing

Honors Theses

Increasingly more influential in America today is the Independent Bible Church. Bible churches, in general, are denominationally unrelated, believing that the local church can best function independent of a denominational hierarchy. The Independent Bible Church is one of many nondenominational or independent churches that are attended by 5% of the adult population in America. In order to understand this church, it is necessary to trace its roots back to the beginning of certain ideas that eventually led to the foundation and became the theology of the Independent Bible Church.

Revolutionary events have taken place over the last five centuries that …

Contemporary Western Representations Of Jesus In Islam, Harold Chad Hillier

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Unknown to many in “Christian” North American society, the person of Jesus is highly revered among the millions of Muslims in the world. This shared reverence for Jesus between Muslims and Christians allows for possible dialogue and greater understanding between adherents of the two religions. Moreover, the renewed interest in scholarship on Jesus, whether historical or theological, allows the Jesus traditions of Islam to become additional sources in this field of scholarship. Given these two reasons, the academic scholar of religion, then, has a motivation to dive into the growing wealth of discussions on the Islamic Jesus in the West. …

How Does A Female Clergy's Personal Experience Of Divorce Affect Her Religious Faith?, Darlene Verna Gidge

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

How does a female clergy's personal experience of divorce affect her religious faith? The female identity is based in relationship both divine and human. Though there is nothing written about female clergy and divorce, the literature on clergy and divorce is fairly extensive. Professional implications of clergy divorce, the uniqueness of clergy marriage and divorce, differing Protestant theological viewpoints, the need for support systems and personal divorce as resource for ministry. are all examined. To ascertain female clergy’s experience of divorce, an analysis of women and crisis, the differences between women and men including how each experiences the Divine, and …