Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear: Exploring The Effectiveness Of A Person-Centered Disability Awareness Seminar In A Congregational Setting, Joshua H. Jones

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

People with disabilities and their families frequently experience barriers toward inclusion and belonging in multiple spheres of life. These barriers are also present in Christian congregations. However, many congregations express a godly desire to love people with disabilities and their families without these obstacles.

The Old and New Testaments provide examples of how God’s people sought to love people with disabilities in their midst creatively and intentionally in response to God’s gracious actions, invitation, and command. Recent research in disability studies routinely highlight the necessity of being attentive to the uniqueness of each person with disabilities and his or her …

History Of Lutheranism In Liberia: The Current State Of Lutheran Churches In Liberia As A Result Of Their History And Development, Edward Momoh Kollie

Master of Art Theology Thesis

Kollie, Edward M. “History of Lutheranism in Liberia.” Master of Arts Thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2020. 68pp.

This thesis presents a study of the society within which the church exists, how it was initiated by missionaries, including a historical analysis of the impact the mission status had on the Lutheran churches in Liberia. This thesis, in line with other scholars, points out ways mission churches established in Liberia were wholly dependent on their mission partners for support, propagation, and governing. The conclusions drawn lead to suggestions for ways the church may be able to graduate from the dependent status to viewing …

A Survey Of Christian Missions In China And The Chinese Term Controversy, Christopher Vossler

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Vossler, Christopher, P. “A Survey of Christian Missions in China.” S.T.M. thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 121 pp.

This thesis surveys the history of Christian mission work in China from the (legendary) mission of the Apostle Thomas up to the present day, including the upheavals resulting from the Communist Revolution. The lens through which this history is presented is the Chinese Term Controversy, a centuries-long conflict regarding the proper translation of the term “God” in the Chinese language. Every major missionary effort in China wrestled with this question to some extent, and many found themselves torn apart due to their different …

My Brother’S Keeper How American Lutherans Fought To Preserve The Evangelical Lutheran Church Of Russia In The Ussr, 1921–1939, Matthew Heise

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail

The years between 1939 and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 were bleak for Christians. Surrounded by the daily drumbeat of atheist propaganda, many kept their faith underground, not just figuratively but literally by hiding Bibles under the floorboards. World War II enacted a severe toll upon the nation as well as Christians, whether underground or open about their faith. Friedrich Wacker had survived the Great Terror and the closing of the churches, but when Nazi Germany invaded the USSR on June 22, 1941, he knew his family would suffer as …

Ad Gloriam Dei Humanism And Theology In David Chytraeus’ Regulae Studiorum, Timios Cook

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Cook, Timios E. “Ad Gloriam Dei: Humanism and Theology in David Chytraeus’ Regulae Studiorum.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2017. 296 pp.

Luther theologian David Chytraeus (1530–1600) devoted much of his career to education, serving especially at the University of Rostock. While today is he is often remembered for his contributions to the Formula of Concord, in his own time he was highly regarded as an educator and was sought out beyond Rostock to design and implement curriculum reforms. Chytraeus was a student of Melanchthon and built both upon and beyond his mentor’s insights throughout his pedagogical works. This dissertation explores …

Gospel Encounter With Subaltern India , Stanish Stanley

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

This work examines the role of religio-cultural resources in enabling the transformation of a broken community and people.

In the context of nineteenth and twentieth century British India, an oppressed community in India set out to explore the possibility of challenging and re-defining their own destiny. This oppressed section of Indians who lived in the margins of Indian caste defined society were considered socially and ritually polluting people and were subservient to various socio-economic and religio-cultural biases. The daily life routine of this oppressed community, called the Sambavars (Pariahs) of the Malayalam speaking princely State of Travancore in South India, …

Slaying The Syncretistic Chimera: A Study Of The Consensus Repetjtus In Light Of Confessionalization Theory, Timothy Schmeling

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Schmeling, Timothy R. “Slaying the Syncretistic Chimera: A Study of the Consensus Repetitus in Light of Confessionalization Theory.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2014. 478 pp.

The Syncretistic Controversy (ca. 1645–86) was the most important controversy of seventeenth-century Lutheranism. It was inaugurated by Helmstedt theology professor Georg Calixt (1586–1656), who sought mutual tolerance between Christendom’s confessions on the basis of the fundamental agreement all shared by virtue of their adherence to the Apostles’ Creed and theology of the first five centuries. In response the Electoral Saxon theological faculties promulgated the Consensus Repetitus fidei vere Lutheranae (1655), a confession against syncretism and …

The War To End All Germans: Wisconsin Synod Lutherans And The First World War, Stephen Scott Gurgel

Theses and Dissertations

The First World War came to the United States to the consternation of many of its citizens, especially its German Americans. On the home front, government officials required complete adherence to the war effort. This also included religious adherence. The Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, a German-speaking religious group, met tremendous difficulties during the war years. In addition to the crusade against all things German, the synod faced religious persecution because it doctrinally abstained from religiously sanctioning the war aims and programs of the United States. The repression of the synod came from both patriotic citizens and government agents who typically misunderstood …

The Purpose Of The Pastoral Office As Taught By The Church Fathers, Augsburg Confession V, And The Contemporary Age, D Lee Cullen Jr.

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

This paper will seek to identify the basic understanding of those Church Fathers who spoke most directly to this topic, namely, Ignatius of Antioch, Gregory of Nazianzus, St. John Chrysostom, and Gregory the Great. The rationale for the selection of these Fathers is twofold. Firstly, their proximity and place in what we identify as the era of the Early Church. Ignatius of Antioch stands closest to the Apostolic Age while Gregory the Great provides the other bookend, standing at the end of what is commonly accepted as the era of the Early Church. Secondly, this wall provide a reasonable expectation …

In The Footsteps Of Walther: The Doctrine Of The Ministry In The Writings Of George Stoeckhardt, Joel Loren Pless

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Pless, Joel L. "In the Footsteps of Walther: The Doctrine of the Ministry in the Writings of George Stoeckhardt." Ph.D. diss.,Concordia Seminary, 2008. 243 pp.

This dissertation is an historical study of how George Stoeckhardt, professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis from 1878-1913, understood the doctrine of the ministry and how he articulated it through his various writings. Chapter 1 of the dissertation examines Stoeckhardt's life and his formative influences. His family background, his education, his Wingolf experiences, and his experiences as a chaplain during the Franco-Prussia War are addressed. Chapter 2 examines his exegetical methodology which …

A.F.C. Vilmar: Theology Of Church And Ministry, Martin E. Conkling

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Conkling, Martin E. "A. F. C. Vilmar: Theology of Church and Ministry." Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2007. 271 pp.

This historical study explores the theology of A. F. C. Vilmar.The theology of church and ministry championed by Vilmar received critical attention in his own day, and he remains a bright star in the constellation of nineteenth century Lutheran theologians who sought to restore Lutheranism to the strength of its confessional origins and to correct the cultural tendencies of thought gone wrong in revolutionary Europe. Little secondary literature exists on this "Theologian of Fact" in English, and virtually none of his …

Who Takes Responsibility For Missions The Origin Of The Association Of Lutheran Mission Agencies (Alma) And Its Relationship To Missouri Synod Missions, Annette Frank

Master of Art Theology Thesis

The history of the Association of Lutheran Mission Agencies (ALMA) is an important chapter in the mission history of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), as well as in the history of Protestant mission efforts in the United States. ALMA is an organization of independent mission agencies affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This relationship with a specific denomination is unique among independent mission organizations.

The development of ALMA and its relation to LCMS missions reflects important changes in mission activity and attitude both within the Synod and outside. This study will show how the changes of the twentieth century influenced …

Catholicity Or Consensus? The Role Of The Consensus Patrum And The Vincentian Canon In Lutheran Orthodoxy: From Chemnitz To Quenstedt, Quentin Stewart

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Stewart, Quentin D. "Catholicity or Consensus? The Role of the Consensus Patrum and the Vincentian Canon in Lutheran Orthodoxy: From Chemnitz to Quenstedt." Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2006. 340 pp.

This dissertation traces the role played by the Vincentian Canon and its theological corollary, the consensus patrum, within the parameters of Lutheran Orthodoxy. Though Luther had no use for the consensus patrum, his chief colleague Philip Melanchthon had a high view of the consensus of the ancient church, especially whenever it could be applied to evangelical Lutheran theology. As a humanist, Melanchthon maintained a critical reverence for the ancient church …

His Spear Through My Side Into Luther Calvin's Relationship To Luther's Doctrine Of The Will, Matthew Heckel

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Heckel, Matthew C. "'His Spear Through My Side into Luther:' Calvin's Relationship to Luther’s Doctrine of the Will." Ph.D. Diss., St. Louis, MO: Concordia Seminary, 2005. 307 pp.

In thesis thirteen of his Disputation Against Scholastic Theology (1518), Luther stated that free choice before grace was a reality in name only and when it does what it can it sins mortally. This statement had a significant impact as it was one of the sparks that ignited Luther's conflict with Rome, as Luther's thesis was singled out for condemnation as the thirty-sixth article of the papal bull Exsurge Domine (1520). Luther …

Changes Within The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference Of North America That Led To The Exit Of The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Mark Braun

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

The following study presents the stages of the intersynodical debate that led the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod to exit the Ev. Lutheran Synodical Conference during the thirty years, 1931-61.Official source material is abundant. The synod's theological journal has presented a consistent viewpoint regarding the Scouting movement, the military chaplaincy, applications of the synod's teachings regarding church fellowship, and the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, all of which played key roles in Wisconsin's exit.

The Mission And Ministry To German-Speaking Lutherans In Western Canada 1879 - 1914, Richard Kraemer

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The following dissertation will provide a detailed account of the history of Lutheran ministry among German-speaking people in western Canada from1879 to 1914. Particular attention will be drawn to the relationship between the development of congregations in the region and the views on mission and ministry that were being held by those who were most involved in the work—the pastors themselves and the leaders of the mission boards who supported them. Their work in western Canada did not, however, begin in a vacuum; it was begun within an historical context. Relevant, therefore, to this study will be a brief review …

The Life And Work Of Paul Otto Manz As Church Musician Within The Context Of American Lutheranism In The Twentieth Century, Michael Henrichs

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The goal of this thesis is to examine historically the life and work of Paul Manz within the context of American Lutheranism in the twentieth century. Special attention will be given to Manz's emergence from a childhood within the structures and piety of the German Lutheran community in industrial America. The impact made on his professional development by the broadening influences of education, music and European study will be assessed. This study will especially seek to understand apparent changes in Manz's ecclesiastical vision, the effects of denominational conflict, and the growing spirit of ecumenism which Manz has demonstrated over the …

Theology Of The Pain Of God: An Analysis And Evaluation Of Kazoh Kitamori's (1916- ) Work In Japanese Protestantism, Akio Hashimoto

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The overall negative appraisal of Kitamori must be considered as a critical reaction to various aspects of his own theology. Perhaps not one or two aspects of his theology alone are responsible for this. The reason for the negative responses is surely of a composite nature. However, it is not the main concern of this study to find answers individually to the questions raised above. The intention of this study is to analyze and assess Kitamori's theology as a whole. But to try to find the answers to the questions is useful for the purpose here: they provide methodological clues.

The Home Mission Work Of The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference: A Description And Evaluation, George Gude

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The scope of this dissertation is to describe, analyze, and evaluate the home mission work5of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference, which was a mission toAfro-Americans.6 The purpose is to expose the various factors which impacted this mission work and either helped or hampered its success. As a result of the study, it is the hope of the author that the church will learn from its past and manage to put fewer obstacles in the path of the Gospel it proclaims.

In making this study of the black mission work of the Synodical Conference, it became apparent to the author that …

The Eucharistic Theologies Of Nineteenth Century Anglican And Lutheran Repristination Movements Compared, Jonathan Charles Naumann

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

The measure of congruity achieved by the independent efforts of these Lutherans and Anglicans of the nineteenth century, as they tried to repristinate purity of doctrine and orthodoxy, may constitute a superior model for modern-day ecumenical endeavours. This is especially the case if the route to Christian unity via a tolerance of contradictory doctrines around the eucharistic table threatens to collapse under the weight of its own implausibility.

The Role And Place Of Women In The Evangelical Lutheran Church In Tanzania--Mbulu Synod In The Light Of The New Testament, Daniel Daudi

Master of Art Theology Thesis

As noted at the outset, the main purpose of this research is to relieve the confusion in the ELCT—Mbulu Synod about the role and place of women. However, in order to give a broad overview of the place of, it is important that materials on women be presented both in their positive and negative details, because the ELCT Mbulu Synod has emphasized negative examples and passages from the Bible concerning women rather than positive examples which do exist. It is accepted that the Bible is the written Word of God worthy of the closest attention and which demands our obedience. …

A Description And Evaluation Of The Pressures And Difficulties Within The Synodical Conference Which Led To Its Destruction, George Gude

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this thesis is to describe and evaluate the pressures and difficulties between the constituent synods of the Synodical Conference in order to determine what caused the Synodical Conference to be destroyed from within.

Samuel Simon Schmucker's Fraternal Appeal And The Reaction By The General Synod To 1850, Chris Wicher

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to investigate the General Synod's reaction to the "Fraternal Appeal." The General Synod itself was a structurally complex and a highly intergrated church body. Because it is in constant flux it is difficult, if not impossible, to analyze the General Synod's theological position with precise accuracy. At best it can be assumed that from 1820 to 1850 the General Synod was commiting itself anew to the Lutheran Confessions and reevaluating its ecumenical position.

The Missouri Synod's Unity Attempts During The Pfotenhauer Presidency, 1911-1935, John Wohlrabe

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this paper is to examine the unity attempts of the 4 German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States (hereafter referred to as the Missouri Synod) during the presidency of Frederick Pfotenhauer (1911-1935). This period of the Missouri Synod's history has been chosen because it was during these years that American Lutheranism, as a whole, began to consolidate through mergers, amalgamations, and various federations. The synodical alignments and boundaries that exist today in American Lutheranism found much of their early formation during this period of time. In analyzing the Missouri Synod's attitude and involvement in …

The Reformation In Norway: A Historical-Bibliographical Survey, Jack Preus

Master of Divinity Thesis

The purpose of this study is to explore a few of the many questions that could be raised concerning the advent of the Reformation to Norway. When did the Lutheran Church of Norway begin? How did it come into being? Where did it begin? Where did it flourish first? How did Norway become a truly “Lutheran" country? Who were the heros or the antiheros of the Reformation in Norway? Where can one go to find out more about the Church of Norway? This study attempts to answer some of these questions.

A Historical Study And Translation Of Jacob Andreae's "A Short And Simple Statement Concerning The Lord's Supper And How An Ordinary Christian Should Conduct Himself In The Long And Drawn-Out Controversy Which Has Arisen Over It", Donald Pohlers

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

A Historical Study and Translation of Jacob Andreae's "A Short and Simple Statement Concerning the Lord's Supper and How an Ordinary Christian Should Conduct Himself in the Long and Drawn-Out Controversy Which Has Arisen Over It"

Significant Interpretations Of Developing Structures Of The Ministry-1880-1970, Roland A. Frantz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

A historical study of the Church's ministry soon discloses a great deal of variety in the ministerial office. As Niebuhr and Williams remind us in their historical survey of the Protestant ministry, while there are a number of aspects of ministry that are agreed upon and shared in the various historic churches, there are also divergent interpretations regarding the nature and essence of the ministerial office.

The Understanding Of The Polity Regarding Ordination In The Lutheran Church In America, The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, And The American Lutheran Church, George C. Weinman

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The scope of this study is to identify the positions or the three major Lutheran synods in America regarding their understanding of ordination. They are the Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, and The American Lutheran Church. An important part of the study is an assessment of the positions held by the antecedent synods that merged to form the present. synodical alignments.

The Loehe Colonies In Michigan, Ronald Goodsman

Bachelor of Divinity

The purpose of this paper is to describe the beginnings of the colonies which Loehe and Craemer founded in the Saginaw Valley in Michigan. The paper does not propose to give an exhaustive account of the history involved, as that is beyond its scope and beyond the limitations of the author. Rather, the purpose of the paper is to give a general overview of some of the reasons behind the founding of the Saginaw Valley colonies and a very brief sketch of their earliest beginnings.

Close Communion, Stephen Bartelt

Master of Divinity Thesis

The scope of-this study, rather, is to see where the Lutheran church has stood on the practice, as well as its reasons for standing where it has. Within these limits, furthermore, no claim is laid to the comprehensiveness of the treatment. The material presented is selective. The excursion into the practice of the early church was included for two reasons. First, the study Eucharist and Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries by Werner Elert indicates that the practice of closed communion was maintained in the early church for some of the same reasons it was practiced among Lutherans. Secondly, …