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Full-Text Articles in Religion

The Use Of Information And Communication Technologies To Educate Laity: A Case Study, B. Mark Francis Nov 2011

The Use Of Information And Communication Technologies To Educate Laity: A Case Study, B. Mark Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Technology-based education is learning primarily based in constructivist styled pedagogies. It is neither good nor bad; its value is inherent to the user and environment where it is placed. While some churches place a high value on the benefits gleaned from its use, others abhor it in religious education.

Why churches incorporate or reject technology-based education is a phenomenon that baffles most educators because the logic invoked is neither sound nor empirical. Either way, technology continues to evolve in education circles beyond the walls of the local church. In order to preserve the historical traditions and the distinctive cultures of …


Hearing The Call: Liturgy, Justice, Church, And World (Book Review), Roger Henderson Sep 2011

Hearing The Call: Liturgy, Justice, Church, And World (Book Review), Roger Henderson

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Hearing the Call: Liturgy, Justice, Church, and World. Eds. Mark R. Gornik and Gregory Thompson. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011. 440 pages. ISBN 978-0-8028-6525-0.


A Leadership Training Manual For The 21st Century Church Leader Based On The Pattern And Principles Jesus Created To Train The Twelve Apostles, Gregory Bruce Baxter Jul 2011

A Leadership Training Manual For The 21st Century Church Leader Based On The Pattern And Principles Jesus Created To Train The Twelve Apostles, Gregory Bruce Baxter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian leadership training for pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders is mostly patterned after academic, business, military, and government models. This leads to a pragmatic, secular, and American approach to building Churches and advancing the Kingdom of God. Secular models of leadership training can inform and supplement but never usurp scriptural principles and values. The best Christian leadership training pattern is the one Jesus created to train the twelve Apostles. This model is found predominately in the gospels. The template this writer will follow is based on A. B. Bruce's 19th century seminal work, The Training of the Twelve. This training …


Relational Leadership: A Study Of Organizational Health And Clergy Within The Wesleyan Church, Brian Voyght Bradford May 2011

Relational Leadership: A Study Of Organizational Health And Clergy Within The Wesleyan Church, Brian Voyght Bradford

ATS Dissertations

In many large churches (over one thousand in weekend worship attendance) today, a vast relational disconnect exists between senior pastors and pastoral staff team members. As a result, many staff pastors feel unsatisfied in their team roles and relationships as well as feeling devalued as leader. This relational deficiency frequently results in a lack of communication, trust, and belief in and with the senior leader. The staff pastor’s productivity decreases and the church ceases to be what God designed it to be—a place of relational and social connection.

The purpose of this study was to determine characteristics of relational leadership …


Is The Modern Parachurch A Reflection Of Misguided Ecclesiology?, Joshua A. Haywood May 2011

Is The Modern Parachurch A Reflection Of Misguided Ecclesiology?, Joshua A. Haywood

Senior Honors Theses

In light of the present situation of Christianity, it has become necessary to examine the biblical basis for ministries outside the normal parameters of the Church. One of the biggest problems with addressing this issue is that of defining the parachurch. An accurate and sufficient definition for what constitutes a parachurch ministry requires an investigation into biblical ecclesiology. The relationship between parachurch ministries and the local and universal church must be established in a time when the lines between them are blurred. Some basic principles need to be established which describe what constitutes a biblical reason for the creation of …


Missional Churches In Secular Societies: Theology Consults Sociology, Thomas Hughson May 2011

Missional Churches In Secular Societies: Theology Consults Sociology, Thomas Hughson

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

The church is missionary by nature. But what about public church mission in secular societies? Furious religion mobilizing against rebarbative secularity? Withdrawal to seek exemplary perfection? To the contrary, theologically principled consultation with the sociology of J. Casanova on deprivatized religion leads to public witness in modern societies. Public theology can interpret deprivatized religion as an expression of prophetic and kingly elements in church mission. However, sociology leaves the priestly element as if private. What might ecclesiology, missiology, and public theology say about a public aspect of the priestly element in the church’s witness in modern societies?


2011 Ellen White And Current Issues Symposium: "Gift Of Prophecy And The Church/ A Biblical Perspective", Angelika Kaiser Apr 2011

2011 Ellen White And Current Issues Symposium: "Gift Of Prophecy And The Church/ A Biblical Perspective", Angelika Kaiser

Memory, Meaning & Faith

No abstract provided.


Images Of The Missional Church : Leadership, Culture, And Practices In Context, Brian Vann Miller Jan 2011

Images Of The Missional Church : Leadership, Culture, And Practices In Context, Brian Vann Miller

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Urban Leadership : A Study In Contextual Ministry, Claude Solano Jan 2011

Urban Leadership : A Study In Contextual Ministry, Claude Solano

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Picture Of Health : A Study Of Church Health In The Central New York District Of The Wesleyan Church, Matthew Daniel Pickering Jan 2011

The Picture Of Health : A Study Of Church Health In The Central New York District Of The Wesleyan Church, Matthew Daniel Pickering

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Wesleyan Discipleship Group : Wesleyan Discipleship As A Catalyst For Equipping Servants, Steven Kayne Pulliam Jan 2011

Wesleyan Discipleship Group : Wesleyan Discipleship As A Catalyst For Equipping Servants, Steven Kayne Pulliam

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Current Knowledge, Practies, And Desired Goals Of Small Group Ministry For Training Implications In The Churches Of The Trinity Annual Conference Of The Methodist Church In Malaysia, Andrew Kok-Khoon Tan Jan 2011

Current Knowledge, Practies, And Desired Goals Of Small Group Ministry For Training Implications In The Churches Of The Trinity Annual Conference Of The Methodist Church In Malaysia, Andrew Kok-Khoon Tan

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Coaching Pastors Of Faith Evangelical Church Of The Philippines Churches For Church Growth, Brent Hunter Burdick Jan 2011

Coaching Pastors Of Faith Evangelical Church Of The Philippines Churches For Church Growth, Brent Hunter Burdick

ATS Dissertations

Research has shown that one effective means of improving leader effectiveness in business and education is coaching. Coaching involves asking questions, exploring options, providing guidance, and training in skills. Ministry is enhanced by coaching. This research explored the impact coaching six pastors in the Faith Evangelical Church of the Philippines churches had on the numerical and spiritual growth of the churches they pastor. The study focused on the key leadership factors of preaching, personal spiritual maturity, and multiplication of small groups plus two survey-determined factors. The hypothesis was that as the pastor advanced in leadership skills and effectiveness in these …


Interfaith Relations After One Hundred Years: Christian Mission Among Other Faiths, Marina Ngursangzeli Behera Jan 2011

Interfaith Relations After One Hundred Years: Christian Mission Among Other Faiths, Marina Ngursangzeli Behera

Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series

The essays in this book reflect not only this acceptance and celebration of pluralism within India but also by extension an acceptance as well as a need for unity among Indian Christians of different denominations. The essays were presented and studied at a preparatory consultation on Study Theme II: Christian Mission Among Other Faiths under the theme "Interfaith Relations Among Other Faiths" at the United Theological College, Bangalore, India


Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Outreach And Retention Methods Of Six Congregations Of The Brunswick Baptist Association, Jeffrey Gibby Jan 2011

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Outreach And Retention Methods Of Six Congregations Of The Brunswick Baptist Association, Jeffrey Gibby

Doctor of Ministry Projects

I chose two hypotheses to form a survey. The first hypothesis is that persons are reached by the style of building, existing relationships, or advertising. The second hypothesis is that persons maintain their membership based on the content of preaching, the quality of teaching programs, or fellowship.

I employed the Mann-Whitney Statistical Test to analyze the data.

The data revealed that good preaching, good worship, and good fellowship make a growing church. The data results also show the significance of the Pastor and revealed that age-graded Bible study groups are still valid in reaching and retaining members.


Mission Unfinished : Evaluating The Impact Of The Global Outreach Seminar In The Local Church, Michael Karl Hoppe Jan 2011

Mission Unfinished : Evaluating The Impact Of The Global Outreach Seminar In The Local Church, Michael Karl Hoppe

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Missional Spirituality : Invitation To Listen, David Mullens Jan 2011

Missional Spirituality : Invitation To Listen, David Mullens

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


An Online Peer-Based Spiritual Mentoring Program For Field Missionaries, Thomas David Nichols Jan 2011

An Online Peer-Based Spiritual Mentoring Program For Field Missionaries, Thomas David Nichols

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Church Going Glocal: Mission And Globalisation, Tormod Engelsviken, Erling Lundeby, Dagfinn Solheim Jan 2011

The Church Going Glocal: Mission And Globalisation, Tormod Engelsviken, Erling Lundeby, Dagfinn Solheim

Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series

'This book provides thought-provoking and inspiring reading for all concerned with mission in the 21st century. I have been challenged by its contributors to re-think our Gospel ministries in our new local contexts marked by globalization and migration. With its biblical foundation, its missiological reflection and interaction with contemporary society I warmly recommend this volume for study and pray that it will renew our passion for the Gospel and compassion for people'.

- Rt Rev Ole Chr M Kvarme, Bishop of Oslo


Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Assimilation Strategies Of The Churches Of Christ In Christian Union : Closing The Back Door Of The Church, Earl Ralph Hux Jan 2011

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Assimilation Strategies Of The Churches Of Christ In Christian Union : Closing The Back Door Of The Church, Earl Ralph Hux

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


From Nominal To Radical Discipleship: One Church’S Approach To Disciple Making, Wayne Berk Walters Jan 2011

From Nominal To Radical Discipleship: One Church’S Approach To Disciple Making, Wayne Berk Walters

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The majority of mainline denomination churches in America have experienced decline in membership, worship attendance, and vitality for over fifty years. As well, church members’ lifestyles, commitments, and habits tend to be not all that unlike Americans who do not attend church. Many church members live relatively nominal Christian lives when compared to the nature of the Christian life and discipleship described by Jesus in the gospels of the New Testament. This nominal understanding and adoption of the Christian life makes church membership and involvement unnecessary or secondary to the many other demands in modern life. Denominational officials, church pastors, …


The "Other Hand Of God," The Church And Other Religious Traditions, Ruben C. Mendoza Jan 2011

The "Other Hand Of God," The Church And Other Religious Traditions, Ruben C. Mendoza

Theology Department Faculty Publications

For the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), the Holy Spirit appears to serve as a key in understanding and interpreting other religious traditions and how the Church is to relate with their followers. The Asian bishops consistently affirm that the Holy Spirit is actively present in other religions and that these religions contain expressions and practices that are inspired and prompted by the Spirit. This is why these manifestations of the Spirit’s presence demands critical discernment and that these must be in dialogue with the Spirit’s activity in the Church. In and through this the Spirit’s manifold works within …


Effective Personal Evangelism For Today's Church, Thomas M. Roatch Jan 2011

Effective Personal Evangelism For Today's Church, Thomas M. Roatch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is designed to demonstrate that any church or group of Christians can be effective in personal evangelism. Christians gathered together in any location and number, and in any life situation form the taskforce to share the good news of salvation.
The rationale for the selection of this thesis topic rests on the recent heart felt need of many churches to share the Gospel and become active in personal evangelism. Secondly, another important part of the rationale for thesis is to encourage, and challenge small churches, missions, Bible studies and other smaller Christian ministries to be bold in new …


The Mexican Hydra: How Calderón's Pursuit Of Peace Led To The Bloodiest War In Mexican History? Will The Mexican People Inherit A Failed State In 2012?, Marco A. Pinon-Farah Jan 2011

The Mexican Hydra: How Calderón's Pursuit Of Peace Led To The Bloodiest War In Mexican History? Will The Mexican People Inherit A Failed State In 2012?, Marco A. Pinon-Farah

CMC Senior Theses

THE MEXICAN HYDRA: HOW CALDERÓN’S PURSUIT OF PEACE LED TO THE BLOODIEST WAR IN MEXICAN HISTORY. WILL THE MEXICAN PEOPLE INHERIT A FAILED STATE IN 2012?

Abstract

Marco Antonio Pinon-Farah

The drug-war in Mexico (2006-present) has accelerated at a chilling rate, claiming the lives of 35,000 Mexican people. Since President Felipe Calderón assumed office, Mexico has been battling an internal beast unlike any it has known, the Mexican Hydra. Like the mythical creature, the Mexican cartels have proven capable of not only combating the government forces, but also of regenerating and strengthening themselves in the face of increasing government scrutiny …