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Beyond Cultural Competence: Measuring And Developing Cultural Intelligence In Christian Organizations, Ronald Phillip Lugo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cultural intelligence has emerged as a critical competency for cross-cultural ministry (Livermore, 2009). However, most churches and Christian organizations lack formal training to develop this capacity (Otaigbe, 2016). Tran (2009) notes that culture can be viewed as values, norms, institutions, and/or artifacts, all of which are difficult to define and understand. Churches today are increasingly intentionally designed to be multicultural (Berquist, 2018). Christian organizations face a challenge in communicating with individuals from diverse cultures. How do churches and Christian organizations prepare to reach and disciple effectively? This study addressed this strategic need by developing a cultural intelligence training specifically for …

The Dynamics Of Hospitality: A Paradigm For Promoting And Doing Authentic Catholic Theologies, Gregory Olikenyi Cssp

Spiritan Horizons

No abstract provided.

Changing The Way You Think: Renewing The Mind, Janine Robinson Anderson

Masters Theses

Change Your Way of Thinking: Renewing the Mind is a creative nonfiction thesis exploring how patterns of thought shape faith, identity, emotional responses, relationships, and daily living. Grounded in Romans 12:2, the creative manuscript combines biblical reflection, personal experience, psychological insight, and practical reader guidance to examine renewal through four movements: recognizing destructive thoughts, examining them in light of truth, replacing false beliefs with biblical truth, and practicing renewed responses. The Artist Statement explains the project’s purpose, genre, audience, structure, and biblical and psychological framework. The Critical Paper examines authenticity as the primary craft element in Christian nonfiction, considering how …

Book Review: Oleksandr Geychenko, Roman Soloviy, And Yevgeny Ustinovich, Eds. Beatitudes And Terror: A Ukrainian Theological Response To Russian Aggression. Trans. From Ukrainian By Mykola Leliovskyi., Michael Blythe

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Oleksandr Geychenko, Roman Soloviy, and Yevgeny Ustinovich, eds. Beatitudes and Terror: A Ukrainian Theological Response to Russian Aggression. Trans. from Ukrainian by Mykola Leliovskyi. Carlisle, UK: Langham Global Library, 2025. Pp. 240. £17.99 (paperback). ISBN: 978-1-78641-191-4.

Author Biographies, Obsculta Editors

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

From Mission Field To Global Mission Force: The Transformative Journey Of The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (Eecmy), Dawit Olika Terfassa

Witness

No abstract provided.

A Hybrid Generation: Globalization, Migration, And Cultural-Theological Reconfiguration Among Second-Generation Ghanaian Pentecostal Immigrants In The United States--Toward A Diasporic Mission Theology, David Osei-Nimoh

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

This dissertation investigates how globalization, migration, and Pentecostalism shape the cultural and theological of second-generation Ghanaian Pentecostals in the United States. Using Mark Cartledge’s four-stage empirical theological cycle, it interprets participants’ lived experience as theological data in critical dialogue with Scripture, the doctrine of The Church of Pentecost (COP), and Pentecostal theological method. The study is based on 26 weeks of multisite fieldwork in three COP U.S.A. congregations—Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Tacoma—and draws on participant observation, 55 semi-structured interviews, three focus groups, and archival materials. The analysis yielded three interrelated findings. First, participants negotiate a bicultural Ghanaian American identity within …

Restoring Breath: A Culturally Grounded Response To The Leadership Gap In Keaukaha, Jacquelyn T. Gomes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In Hawaiʻi, where economic strain and rising suicide rates continue to impact young adults, the challenges facing emerging leaders extend beyond ministry models to issues of identity, belonging, and survival. This praxis project addressed the leadership gap among young adults (ages 20–40) in the Keaukaha community of Hawaiʻi Island. While Hale Pule Ke Ola Hou demonstrated strong engagement from elders and children, the absence of young adult leaders revealed deeper challenges in generational continuity, cultural connection, and ministry relevance. Grounded in biblical discipleship and Hawaiian cultural values, this project proposed a contextualized, organic model of leadership development integrating relational presence, …

Witness Beyond Technique: Gospel, Conversion, And The Moral Formation Of The Church, Christopher Flanders

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

Technique, efficiency, and measurable outcomes typically govern contemporary Western approaches to evangelism. Such approaches presume a thin account of the gospel, a punctiliar understanding of conversion, and an instrumental view of the church’s witness. This article argues that these assumptions represent not merely pragmatic missteps but theological distortions. Drawing on Scripture, historical theology, missiology, and practices of Christian initiation, I contend that evangelism is best understood as ecclesial witness oriented toward the moral formation of persons and communities under the reign of God. Conversion, on this account, is not a discrete decision secured through persuasive technique but a transformative journey …

A Study Of Zomi Pentecostalism In Its Social, Cultural, And Political Context: A Pentecostal Quest For The Lost Paradise, Thang San Mung

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

This dissertation examines the paradisal quest of the Zomi people, an ethnic Christian minority in Myanmar, through the lens of Pentecostal spirituality. Historically, the Zomi have experienced political displacement, loss of their ancestral homeland (Zogam), and ongoing marginalization. While existing scholarship has primarily interpreted Zomi struggles in terms of ethnic identity, nationalism, and socio-political resistance, this study offers a theological reorientation by interpreting Zomi paradisal longing through the Spirit-Restored Paradise framework, a Pentecostal theological model developed here. Employing a qualitative ethnographic methodology grounded in contextual theology, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with twenty-four Zomi Pentecostal participants from Myanmar and …

Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Role Of The Cosmic Christ In God’S Universal Salvific Plan: An Assessment Of Michael Amaladoss’ Christology, Manuel V. Francisco

Landas

This paper examines Michael Amaladoss’s Christology, particularly his understanding of the Cosmic Christ within God’s universal salvific plan. Situated within Indian contextual theology and religious pluralism, it explores his use of Advaitic philosophy, symbolic hermeneutics, and dialogical theology in relating Christianity to other religions. Amaladoss maintains that God’s salvific activity extends beyond the historical Christ-event and is mediated through diverse religious traditions. His distinction, without separation, between the historical Jesus and the Cosmic Christ emphasizes Christ’s universal presence beyond and within the incarnation. The paper critically assesses these claims in light of Chalcedonian Christology, Vatican II, and Dominus Iesus, highlighting …

Book Review— Integral Ecology Ministry: Doing Ecological Theology And Advocacy In Light Of Laudato Si’, Norlan H. Julia

Landas

No abstract provided.

From Missionary Apologetics To Mission Networking, Arthur Leger, Sj

Asia Pacific Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Pastoral Ministry At The Intersections Of Life For A Synodal Church In Asia, Charles Bertille

Asia Pacific Mission Studies

This paper is condensed from the Keynote Address presented by the author at EAPI's 60th Anniversary. Pastoral ministry in Asia unfolds amid pluralism, migration, inequality, and shifting identities, requiring a vision beyond sacramental maintenance toward lived experience and communal struggle. Rooted in Vatican II, Asian theology, and the Synod on Synodality, ministry is participatory, dialogical, and mission-oriented. Synodality calls for conversion of spirit and structure: humility, discernment, and trust. Leadership must be missionary, interculturally competent, and committed to the poor and creation. Formation institutes such as EAPI and NIFSA serve as laboratories for synodal practice, fostering prophetic leadership. Ultimately, synodality …

The Experience Of Women’S Dignity In The Angolan Synodal Church: A Pastoral Critical Re-Reading Of Mulieris Dignitatem From Angolan Cosmology, José Abílio Praia

Loyola Papers

This article critically reexamines Mulieris Dignitatem within the context of Angolan cultural cosmology. The study highlights the tension between the symbolic reverence for women and their social marginalization in Angola. Employing feminist and pastoral perspectives, it explores how indigenous relational and life-giving concepts of womanhood can enrich theological reflection. By engaging African and Asian feminist insights, the paper proposes a synodal ecclesiology grounded in lived experience, co-responsibility, and structural transformation, emphasizing women’s dignity as integral to the Church’s identity and mission.

Contextualizing Ecumenism In The Philippines Through Loob And Kapwa, Roy John R. Del Rosario

Landas

The two-fold ecumenical approach – inter-ecclesial ecumenism (Global North) and trans-ecclesial ecumenism (Global South) – reaches its limitations when viewed through the Philippine context. This gap refers to the distinct ecumenical challenges that need to be addressed. Thus, this study proposes a unique ecumenical model that integrates the inclusive ethos of loob and kapwa. Appropriating Stephen Bevans’ synthetic model of contextual theology, the author argues that this proposed framework takes advantage of the existing models’ contributory insights while addressing their conceptual deficiencies. It considers the shared charismatic experiences between Protestants and Catholics as loci theologici or resources of theology that …

Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Our Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Prodigal Daughters: The Crisis Facing Generation Z Women, Kristin Brouwer

Doctor of Ministry

Why are Generation Z women (born approximately between 1997 and 2012), increasingly leaving organized Christian religion in the United States? This question became personal in my office at a Christian liberal arts college, where national statistics took on the faces and stories of students I teach and mentor. For the first time in American history, young men are now more religious than young women, and nearly four in ten Gen Z women identify as religiously unaffiliated. Yet their departure is not primarily a rejection of God; it is a rejection of distorted representations of God, faith, and church.

Drawing on …

Hunters Of Men: A Tribal Reading Of The Missiological Motif In Luke 5:1-11, Themshang Horam

The Asbury Journal

This article presents an intercultural and contextual reading of Luke 5:1–11 from the perspective of the Naga tribes of Northeast India, proposing a reinterpretation of the traditional “fishers of men” motif as “hunters of men.” Grounded in the author’s cultural context—where, owing to the absence of large water bodies, fishing serves as a secondary means of subsistence while hunting remains central to social and spiritual life— this study contends that biblical metaphors risk losing their theological depth and communicative efficacy when removed from the ecological and cultural frameworks of the receiving community. Through exegetical analysis and intercultural hermeneutics, the paper …

A Brief History Of Women At Asbury Theological Seminary, Robert A. Danielson

The Asbury Journal

Understanding the past roles of women within the 100-year lifespan of Asbury Theological Seminary is an important exercise in institutional history. Educational institutions frequently experience turnover in students, faculty, and administration at high rates. Institutional memory frequently is held by a few older members of the faculty and staff and more importantly by the archives of the institution. Institutional memory provides the foundation for changing policy decisions, understanding the institutional mission, and following how previous administrations dealt with a constantly changing cultural and social context. In the case of Asbury Theological Seminary, this paper explores an institution rooted in the …

Unchanging Gospel Message, Changing Context: Contextualization Strategies In The Lukan Paul, Irenaeus, And Athanasius, Joy Axelsson

MA in Religion Theses

This thesis examines how early Christian leaders strategically contextualized the gospel within the diverse sociohistorical contexts of the Roman Empire while maintaining theological consistency. Using a comparative synchronic methodology adapted from Michael Gorman, it analyzes five primary texts spanning the first through fourth centuries: the Lukan Paul’s missionary speeches in Acts (Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, and Athens), Irenaeus’s On the Apostolic Preaching, and Athanasius’s On the Incarnation. Each text is analyzed within its literary, historical, and cultural context to identify patterns of strategic constants and variables in gospel presentation. The analysis shows that central gospel elements, such as Christology, monotheism, …

Sancocho Leadership: Nurturing Leadership And Vocation Of Latinas, Miriam Méndez

Doctor of Leadership

Latinas are vital to the future of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey (ABCNJ), but the church has failed to properly nurture and develop their pastoral leadership gifts. They contribute significantly to congregational life, pastoral care, community outreach, and theological imagination. However, their presence in formal pastoral leadership roles remains limited. This dissertation examines the structural, cultural, and theological factors that influence Latina pastoral development. The solution for developing Latina women into pastoral leadership positions in the ABCNJ is the introduction of a contextual, culturally rooted model called Sancocho Leadership. Drawing on practical theology, Latina feminist theology, and leadership …

Patterns, Pressures, And Pathways : An Ethnographic Study Of Discipleship In Nepali-Speaking Immigrant Churches In The United States, Ram Kumar Budhathoki

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Review Of A Visible Unity: Cecil Robeck And The Work Of Ecumenism. By Josiah Baker., Michael A. Donaldson

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A Visible Unity: Cecil Robeck and the Work of Ecumenism. By Josiah Baker. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2024. xii + 265 pp.

Review Of Becoming A Missionary Church: Lesslie Newbigin And Contemporary Church Movements. By Michael W. Goheen And Timothy M. Sheridan., S. Slade Hogan

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Review of Becoming a Missionary Church: Lesslie Newbigin and Contemporary Church Movements. By Michael W. Goheen and Timothy M. Sheridan.

Hope, Liberation, And The Search For Shalom: Embracing A Spirit-Led Mission As The Cornerstone Of Hispanic Pentecostal Missiology, Misael Cornelio-Arias

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This study examines the critical missiological contributions of three influential Hispanic Pentecostal theologians: Eldin Villafañe, Samuel Solivan, and Sammy Alfaro. It also explores the work of two additional notable figures, Darío López and Bernardo Campos, whose impact extends beyond traditional missiology into practical faith application. Each of these individuals has uniquely fused his distinct cultural contexts and biblical understanding with the broader mission of the Hispanic Pentecostal faith, guided by the Holy Spirit. Their work has significantly shaped and expanded the landscape of Hispanic Pentecostal missiology, demonstrating a truly contextual approach to understanding and engaging in the kingdom’s mission. Through …

A Critical Comparative Analysis Of The Ecclesiologies Of Carl F. H. Henry And James H. Cone Through The Lens Of Social Consciousness: Towards A Liberative Ecclesiology, Phyllis D. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The doctrine of the Church has remained a controversial and enigmatic topic for centuries. Since its inception, scholars have debated the doctrine of the Church, challenged its boundaries, and questioned its role in society. As contemporary society evolves, the Church encounters multifaceted challenges, compelling it to adapt while maintaining its spiritual mission. To address this concern, this study analyzes the ecclesiologies of Carl F. H. Henry and James H. Cone through the lens of social consciousness. A critical comparative analysis provides the most dynamic framework for examining these perspectives. By exploring probable theological points of convergence and divergence, this study …

La Pasarela De Santiago 2.1-26: Buitres, Muertas Y Otros «Varones De Fe», Roque Javier Cabrera Feliciano

Conexión Queer: Revista Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Teologías Queer

The article proposes a theological-academic and creative-critical reading of James 2.1-26 through the metaphor of a fashion runway, integrating biblical exegesis, socio-historical analysis, and contextual theology. The study addresses the denunciation of favoritism toward the rich and the relationship between faith and works, engaging Paul in critical dialogue without positing doctrinal contradiction. Through a camp aesthetic register, the figures of Abraham and Rahab underscore an embodied faith expressed in concrete practices of justice, hospitality, and mercy. The study advances an explicit critique of capitalism, cis-heteropatriarchy, and the spiritualization of poverty, and proposes a coherent, contextually grounded Christian ethic.