Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Renouncing The Dominant Script: Weaving Together Mysticism, Monasticism, And Sacramental Theology To Create A Pentecostal Model Of Spiritual Formation, Hilton Burkholder

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

From political division and culture wars to moral failures, it has become increasingly evident over the last few decades that the Church in North America has a formation problem. This project aims to tackle the issue of discipleship and formation by exploring the development and application of a practical, spirit-led model of spiritual formation for the 21st-century North American Church. By drawing on the rich traditions of monastic, mystical, and sacramental spirituality, this project seeks to create a Pentecostal model of spiritual formation that is communal, charismatic, and embodied, revealing that discipleship is not an end in itself but a …

A Theology And Practice Of Foster Care Ministry: An Investigation Into The Effectiveness Of A Church-Based Wraparound Program For Foster Parents, Robert Wesley Griffith

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new foster parent wraparound program at Journey Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The need for this program was found to be in alignment with the mission of God as seen in Isaiah 1:17, Acts 6, Romans 8, and James 1:27. The New Testament Church has a history of leading the way with innovative solutions to rescue orphans, and today, the church once again has the opportunity to lead the way in foster care solutions.

When Kenosha County leaders in the judicial, legal, and social services sector were recently asked …

The Two Shall Become One: A Comparative Exegetical Study On Marital Unity From The Genesis Garden Narrative To Ephesians 5, Abigail M. Diaz

Selected Honors Theses

In light of a cultural world in which both real-world marriages and the scholarly interpretation on marital purpose and process are scarred with dysfunction and division, this thesis attempts to contribute to the discussion on the Scriptural purpose and process of marriage as God intends it. In order to discern a glimpse of divine intention of marriage, an exegetical analysis of its divine beginnings in Genesis 1:27-3:24 is performed. This section addresses the original nature of marriage as well as how it was affected as a result of sin and the fall. The following chapter complements this analysis with exegesis …

Uniquely Gifted: A Theology Of Mental Illness For Inclusive Ecclesiology, Asia M. Lerner

Selected Honors Theses

This thesis surveys the possibility of a theology of mental illness in order to create an inclusive ecclesiology for modern churches. Mental illness is greatly stigmatized in the Church as demonic or spiritual and moral failing. In combat of such stigma and prejudice to create an inclusive atmosphere in the Church, a positive theology of mental illness understood as a unique gifting is argued for. With the elusive nature of mental illness in both definition and experience taken into account, all aspects of mental illness are considered, such as biology, psychology, and philosophy of mental disorder. The thesis understands mental …

Musical Worship As A Pentecostal Sacrament: Toward A Soteriological Liturgy, Richard I. Griggs

Selected Honors Theses

This paper seeks to articulate a Pentecostal theology of worship within the framework of sacramental spirituality, asserting that music as a form of worship is a Pentecostal sacrament. After offering a literature review on the topic, the paper articulates Pentecostal sacraments as essentially participatory, transformative, and communally unifying physical actions which facilitate meaningful participation in the story of God through kinesthetic catechesis, dialectic temporality, and mutual epiclesis. It then explores the ways in which music aligns with this sacramental nature and function, recognizing music as a Pentecostal sacrament of the felt presence of the divine. Next, support for this assertion …

The Metaphorical Use Of Marriage In Scripture: A Pentecostal Exploration, Stetson Glass

Masters of Theological Studies

The biblical writers utilize the metaphor of marriage to describe the relationship between God and humanity. Within this imagery, the people of God are often depicted as a bride. This thesis contributes to an understanding of the metaphor of marriage in Scripture by analyzing the socio-historical wedding practices of ancient Judaism. The use of the metaphor in both Old and New Testaments is examined, followed by an analysis of bridal language in early Pentecostal periodical literature. It concludes with a constructive Pentecostal ecclesiology structured on the characters and the stages found within the typical Jewish wedding.

The Holistic Ministry Of The Anointed One: An Interpretive Analysis Of Isaiah 61:1-7, Daniel P. Lamastra

Master of Arts in Ministerial Leadership (MAML)

Isaiah 61:1-7 is a passage that is important to both the Jewish and Christian faiths due to the clear Messianic implications that it contains. The first two verses are especially familiar to the Christian community due to its quotation by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 as one of only three direct quotes of the Old Testament made by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. Isaiah 61:1-7 prophecies on Judah’s upcoming destruction, exile, and ultimate Messianic deliverance, containing references to both the near and distant future; all of these conditions must be considered when approaching this passage in order to arrive at an accurate …

New Leaves On Old Trees: A Synthesis Of Early American Music Through Contemporary Composition, Leslie A. Robinson

Selected Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the hymnody and choral music of 17th, 18th, and early 19th century Protestant communities in America with the goal of creating a historically informed composition that articulates musical and theological ideas of the past with a fresh voice. It will emphasize unique characteristics of the musical communities and connections between the communities. It will also focus on two relationships within individual communities: the association between the community’s music and its texts, and the connection between its theology and musical identity. The thesis and composition should reveal an understanding of early American musical …