Digital Commons Network^™

The Imperative Of Training New Leaders In Nepal, Anjali Lama

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Weapon In One Hand And A Bible In The Other: Places Of Worship Are Under Attack, Edmond J. Bergeron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive study aims to ascertain the degree of preparedness for reducing and preventing extreme violence and the countermeasures that are in place (or lack thereof) at houses of worship. All places of worship in this study are considered soft targets and not “holy ground” as traditionally referenced. The terms “places of worship” and “church” will be used interchangeably in this study. A place of refuge for both the physical and spiritual is now considered vulnerable as the congregants are focused on worship rather than protection from an attack. Violence against places of worship will be described at this …

Empowering Kansas City Veterans Administration Chaplains: A Spiritual Leadership Toolkit For Nursing Staff Support, Leonard Gicheru

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This doctoral research project addresses the critical issue of burnout among nursing staff at the Kansas City Veterans Administration (KCVA). Burnout is often worsened by a lack of spiritual support, thereby negatively impacting both the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care. This project study aims to mitigate these challenges by implementing a spiritual leadership resource toolkit, tailored to equip KCVA chaplains with creative strategies to provide spiritual care for nurses.

Based on Spiritual Leadership Theory and guided by biblical principles, this project explores how structured spiritual direction can improve the resilience and emotional well-being of nursing staff. …

Spiritual Formation In The Pentecostal African American Church: What Factors Most Influence Perceptions, Gloria Fayetta Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study involved a sample size of 12 participants was to explore how believers perceived their own spiritual formation journey and whether length of time as a practicing Christian and regular attendance at worship services had any impact on their perceptions. The research occurred in four predominantly African American Pentecostal Churches in Oakland, California with participant interviews and sermon observations. The central research question sought a deeper understanding of how African American believers in the Pentecostal church grow spiritually through learning and practicing of the spiritual disciplines and if the variables of time and …

“To Inherit God Himself?” The Metaphysical Transformation Of Man As Theorized In Cotton Mather’S Biblia Americana, Michael Green

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

The tumult of the Enlightenment was enormous, not least in its impact on theologians of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Biblical exegesis (explanation of a scriptural text based on its own historical and cultural circumstances) of the Reformation that idealized interpretations grounded in unerring prophetic figures were suddenly and forcefully subjected to the tide of historical literalism propagated by major intellectual figures such as Hugo Grotius and Baruch Spinoza. They and their cohort believed that the Bible should be treated as a historical source and its merits scrutinized based on its literal accuracy

Spiritual Direction For Teacher Wellbeing, Identity And Resilience, Bernadette Miles, Marlene Marburg

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Amid growing teacher dissatisfaction and attrition, this 2022 research project explored the potential benefits of spiritual direction in enhancing teacher well-being, identity, and resilience. The study involved 11 trained spiritual directors providing eight sessions of spiritual direction to 38 teachers from Australian Christian schools. Findings highlight the positive impact of spiritual direction on teachers' vocational clarity, self-awareness, and ability to manage workplace challenges. Participants reported a renewed commitment to their profession, improved emotional resilience, and a deeper connection between their spiritual and professional identities. Many educators also noted that spiritual direction provided a confidential and reflective space to process professional …

Peter Maurin As The New St. Benedict: A Review Essay, William J. Collinge

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Biblical Women Reimagined A Devotional Where Women's Voices Are Heard, Natalie Karlson

Doctor of Ministry

The vocational context of this project portfolio is a small spiritual direction practice found in central Massachusetts. The directees are women who attend or have left the evangelical church for distinct reasons. One of the key issues that these women face is the dismissal or minimization of their voices. Leaders stopped these women from using their voices. The women could not ask questions, share their experiences, or make decisions about their spiritual journeys. Considering the context and stakeholder feedback, the NPO: the dismissal of women’s voices denies the evangelical church the complete revelation of God’s work among humans.

Four key …

How Jesus Christ Saves The Addict: A Phenomenological Study On The Perceptions Of A Christ-Centered Approach To Addiction Recovery, Olivia M. Matthews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Reaching epidemic proportions, drug and alcohol addiction is a prevalent problem within the United States that demands urgent attention. With numbers exceeding 20 million Americans struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) and over 111,000 individuals falling victim to illicit drug overdose fatalities in 2022, the question of effectiveness in rehabilitation outlets for this subgroup is of critical concern (Lashley, 2018; CDC, 2024). The purpose of this study is to analyze the perceptions of Christ-centered initiatives in securing sobriety among addicted individuals and/or substance use offenders. This study utilized qualitative methods with a phenomenological and narrative design to explore Christ-centered …

Creation Of A Pastor Care Team For Pacific District Mennonite Brethren Pastors, Randolf Mark Reiswig

Doctor of Ministry

At the Redwood Mountain Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, the strength and resilience of sequoias provide a compelling example of the significance of communal interconnectedness. Despite their towering stature, these trees possess relatively shallow root systems that intertwine with neighboring trees to fortify their stability. This mutually beneficial relationship enables these giants to withstand formidable natural forces. Similarly, this paradigm offers pastors an invaluable lesson in fostering interconnections within their community as a strategy for a deeper connection. The grove’s interconnected root systems are a metaphor for the church’s vision of connectedness. It is an informative framework for pastors …

Worship As A Means Of Formational Discovery At Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Shelby, North Carolina, Ricky Alston Jr

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The formational nature of worship obtains power from the relationship one develops with God through daily practices, as well as in the corporate gathering of God’s people. This leads to a holistic spiritual formation for those who practice it. Members from Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Shelby, NC, participated in a four-week study that defined what a practice of holistic worship looks like, established biblical principles to engage personally and communally, and explored the relationship between corporate gatherings and personal worship. The study provides evidence of growth in participants, and opportunity for further spiritual development individually and as a congregation.

Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

The Calvin Forum: Summer 2025, Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

CONTENTS - Vol. 36., SUMMER 2025

Main Features: 2 - Letter from the President

6- How John Calvin Shaped Modern Seminary Education BY KARIN MAAG

12- Why Calvin? Naming a Seminary After a Theologian of Consolation BY SAM HA

18- Reformed Roots in the Global South: Indonesia’s Calvinist Heritage BY YUDHA THIANTO

24- Why Bavinck and Kuyper?

26- Herman Bavinck and the Mission of Calvin Seminary: Theology That Glorifies God BY JESSICA JOUSTRA

30- Why Abraham Kuyper’s Vision Still Shapes Reformed Theology and Education BY JORDAN BALLOR

34- Carrying Calvin’s Legacy: How Calvin Theological Seminary Equips Culturally Engaged Ministry …

Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Peak Teaching: Exploring And Fostering Sacred Experiences In University Classrooms, Charles Burack

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Supporting the spiritual growth of college and university students with diverse backgrounds and orientations is both important and challenging. It is important not only because spirituality is a crucial dimension of human life but also because the majority of students at both private and public schools want their teachers to address spiritual issues in the classroom. A powerful way to address spirituality is to explore and foster sacred experiences in university classrooms. Sacred experiences include religious, spiritual, mystical, transcendent, numinous, and peak experiences as well as many other nonordinary experiences. The author offers guidance to educators on how to: 1) …

Author Biographies

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

The Divine Invitation To Co-Creation: The Effects Of Creative Practice On The Vocation Of Clergy In The Anglican Church Of Canada, Dawn Dickieson-Leger

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Creative practice has been confirmed as having benefits for health and well-being for people as well as an effective spiritual practice aiding in discernment. Clergy find their purpose in their sense of vocation, often formed and discerned in the context of seeking ordination. The researcher, an Anglican priest and amateur artist, presents a renewed idea of vocation as co-creation with God by engaging in creative practice. Throughout the dissertation she offers reflections from her own experiences in art, health recovery, and ministry. Fifteen Anglican clergy were interviewed about their vocation, ministry, and creative practice. Each of these clergy met the …

I Have Learned For Myself Teaching The First Vision To The Rising Generation, Jess Jones

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Latter-day Saint youth learning about Joseph Smith’s First Vision can draw inspiration and courage from his example to “ask of God,” as James directs, and seek heavenly wisdom. But Joseph’s faith did not end with that singular experience in the grove—world-changing though it was. Instead, here lied on scripture, personal sacred memories, and family relationships to build the spiritual resilience that sustained him throughout his life. Those who leave the Church may draw on narrative arcs from their abandoned religious past, finding parallels in Joseph’s feelings of confusion, discontent, discord, and uncertainty about the truth. Therefore, teachers must emphasize that …

Developing A Program Of Ongoing Adult Spiritual Formation For St. Raphael Church In San Rafael, California, Mark Andrew Kroncke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This portfolio seeks to determine a plan of action for implementing an ongoing spiritual formation program for adults.

A Space For Healing: Spiritual Direction With Justice-Minded Evangelicals And Ex-Vangelicals, Erica Romero

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Unfortunately, when people hear the term Evangelical, they think of the current caricature of the white Evangelical Christian, standing firmly on the far right of the nation’s political spectrum, representing the 80% of those who voted for Donald Trump, and still defending MAGA and Christian Nationalism. There are many justice-minded Evangelicals, however, who, whether they still utilize the term Evangelical or not, have been struggling to hold onto their faith, as well as discern and act wisely. Many are seeking spaces of soul care, particularly related to questions of faith and justice, and Spiritual Direction serves as an important contemplative …

Navigating The In-Between: Transformational Practices In The Church's Liminal Spaces, Matthew James Engel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation-in-praxis explored the concepts of transformational and adaptive leadership within the Christian Church during periods of liminality, emphasizing the continuous presence and certainty of challenges rather than focusing on specific challenges such as digital technologies, attractional methods, or COVID-19. The study draws upon Bass's transformational leadership theory (1985) and Heifetz’s (1994) adaptive leadership theory to establish a framework emphasizing the importance of thorough leadership training in times of uncertainty and transition. Integrating biblical narratives, the study highlights the need for adaptive and visionary leadership in religious contexts. Employing a mixed-methods approach involving quantitative surveys and qualitative measurement of responses …

Responding Through Listening: Promoting Listening Skills Through Lightning Talks And 2x2x2 Storytelling, Elizabeth L. Angeli

Journal of Response to Writing

Current scholarship in writing pedagogy and peer review focuses on how and what to write and say. What is often left unaddressed in these discussions are how we listen and how we teach our students to listen, making listening an often overlooked and understudied piece of the peer review and writing response process. Yet, the quality of the feedback we receive and offer is directly tied to how well we listen to what is said and written. To this fill this gap, this teaching article offers two activities, Lighting Talks and 2x2x2 Storytelling, that promote students’ listening skills so that …

Our Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Creation On Mediating Grace For The Purpose Of Spiritual Formation, Pam H. Zolczer

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

During a very difficult time in my life I found emotional and spiritual healing during time spent immersed in creation. My guide on this journey, other than the human companions who were concerned for me during my loss, has been a horse. While I thought I was learning to care for and ride a horse, I learned something much more significant: I learned how to give my pain away and I rushed breathlessly into a new phase of my love for God. I also rushed into a new vocation. And all of this is because I ride Cooper.[1] This …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Self-Care And Fruit Of The Spirit In African-American Pastors: A Multi-Case Study, Rashon Wallace Dalton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The role of a pastor today involves spiritual duties, administrative tasks, counseling parishioners, and preparing and giving Sunday morning sermons. Moreover, African-American pastors who have churches in inner cities face additional roles related to race relations, social inequality, and lack of resources. Due to the incredible demands of ministry and leadership, a pastor’s maintenance of self-care strategies can become secondary to the people they lead. When self-care is put on hold, the demonstration of the Spirit’s work in the pastor— “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”—may become overrun by feelings of stress and burnout. The purpose of …

Wholistic Discipleship At National Community Church: The Most Effective Tool For Transforming The City, Kiersten Telzerow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The formation of wholistic discipleship beckons a life fully surrendered. This thesis outlines wholistic discipleship encompassing small groups (discipleship), mission, and prayer revealing a formation deeper than conceptual knowledge in the life of a Christ-follower. Living in proximity to the presence of God and amongst others is a crucial expression of core DNA to grow in the Great Commandment expressed through the Great Commission. Wholistic discipleship is the tool that transforms incarnational witnessing and prayer evangelism in partnership with the Trinity. This thesis studies a personal faith matched with kingdom-oriented impact within urban contexts. It unpacks transformational mission-based prayer, seeking …

Providing A Paradigm Of Pastoral Care For The Marginalized Through Jesus Centered Eyes At Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church, Dawn E. Pratt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project outlines a paradigm of pastoral care for the marginalized through Jesus-centered eyes. Enhancing resources and implementing pastoral care within Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church (CCF) will establish a Jesus-centered pastoral care center while developing a more profound theological paradigm to identify and implement strategies to enhance pastoral care in marginalized communities. CCF's pastoral theological approach to empathy requires that many layers of different circumstances be inquired about while keeping close to the subject or individual in need. CCF is the vehicle that has established a transformational view through the eyes of Jesus at the center. A solid literature review …

The Qualitative Study Of The African American Pastors' Perceptions Of Marriage And Family Therapists, De Angela Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigates African American pastors' perceptions regarding mental health practitioners' roles. The research aims to comprehend the perspectives and experiences of ten participants, allowing them to select the location for data collection. This study investigates the relationship between interpretive phenomenon analysis and the perceptions of African American pastors using the hermeneutic phenomenology framework established by influential thinkers such as Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre (Smith et al., 2022). As a philosophical discipline, phenomenology emphasizes the importance of an individual's lived experiences and worldview. Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre have contributed to this discipline by emphasizing the inseparable relationship …

Addiction, Spiritualité Et Religion, Bechir Aouad, Père Edgard El Haiby

Horizons et Conjonctures

L’étude examine comment le vide spirituel mène aux addictions aux substances et aux comportements compulsifs comme substitut à la transcendance authentique. Elle analyse les dépendances comportementales telles que le jeu ou la sexualité compulsive et met en évidence l’influence de la dimension religieuse. Elle conclut sur l’importance d’intégrer la spiritualité dans le traitement pour offrir la force et la résilience nécessaires au rétablissement durable.

Mots-clés

Dépendance, Spiritualité, Religion, Addiction, Substance, Santé mentale, Réhabilitation, Toxicodépendance, Prévention, Support psychosocial, Substance psychoactive

2024 Graduate Theological Studies Journal And Newsletter

Graduate Theological Studies Journal and Newsletter

Graduate Theological Studies is published by the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA.