Digital Commons Network^™

Creating A Cultural Liturgy Of Intentional Prayer: Leading Grace Lutheran Church Into Greater Understanding And Engagement With The Surrounding Community, Keith Aschenbeck

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Aschenbeck, Keith D. “Creating a Cultural Liturgy of Intentional Prayer: Leading Grace Lutheran Church into Greater Understanding and Engagement with the Surrounding Community.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2025. pp. 166

Grace Lutheran Church, like many churches, has historically approached mission and ministry with the consumer-driven approach model of attraction. The result has often had them looking at how to shape and form how the world sees them so that they would be appealing as a place to worship. This way of approaching ministry has become a cultural liturgy that forms many decisions about what ministry programs …

Can Churches Exist In The Deconstruction Space? The Deconstruction Movement And The Decline Of The White Protestant Church In North, Dawn Dickieson-Léger

Consensus

No abstract provided.

Ideas Of The "Russian World" And Ukraine: Value Epicrises On The Ukrainian Orthodox Church Under The Moscow Patriarchate, Oleksandr Brodetskyi, Iryna Horokholinska

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Against the background of the identity, jurisdictional, and institutional crossroads in which contemporary Ukrainian Orthodoxy finds itself, the authors analyze the mental, value-related, and personal (linked to the “human factor”) influences in Ukraine of the destructive and militant ideology of the “Russian World” (Russkiy Mir), as well as the degree of involvement of leading functionaries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the dissemination of these influences.

The article reveals the mechanisms of the corrosion of spirituality among the ecclesiastical elites of Russia and their satellites in Ukraine. This corrosion is manifested in the substitution of the Church’s …

Preparing Spiritually Resilient Warriors In The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, Vic Morris

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Morris, Victor E. “Preparing Spiritually Resilient Warriors in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2024. 285 pp.

The Canadian Armed Forces has outcomes and expectations for warriors to be spiritually resilient but does not have a training program that has been researched, tested, and validated to achieve this. This study investigates how chaplains can prepare spiritually resilient warriors in CANSOFCOM. A chaplain-led spiritual resilience course was created and delivered to CANSOFCOM members. The course was aligned with the holistic wellness strategy of OPF2, and designed as an inductive, experiential learning experience. An …

Transatlantic Sermonizing: The Influence Of Changing Sermon Styles In Britain On Anglican Clergy In Colonial Philadelphia, Barry Levis

Sermon Studies

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, a significant change emerged in the style and content of sermons in the Church of England. Sermons focused less on sin and the threat of eternal punishment, features of the seventeenth century, and more on how to live a rational and agreeable life. These alterations occurred both because of political changes following the Hanoverian succession accompanied by the rise of the Whigs and also from the influence of the Enlightenment. These transformations arose not only in England but in her American colonies as well, primarily in the Middle Atlantic colonies. Large numbers of …

The Ministries Of New Communities In The Ivory Coast Scrutinised Under The Lens Of The Theological And Magisterial Vision Of The Church, Joseph Loïc Mben Sj

Journal of Global Catholicism

The goal of this article is to show that the ministries of new communities are in conformity with the theological and magisterial vision of the Church and that, in many cases, they contribute to its enrichment. Following some lexical clarifications, it makes particular use of the schema of the threefold offices of Christ in which the members of new communities partake as the baptized, to show how the ministries realize each of the dimensions of Christ’s office.

Varieties Of Healing: A Catholic Perspective, Andrew Prevot

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article contributes to Catholic-Pentecostal ecumenical dialogue by offering a particular Catholic perspective on the shared Christian belief in Christ is the Healer. More specifically, it distinguishes several ways in which humans are called to participate in the healing work of Christ. It considers Catholic approaches to sacramental, charismatic, miraculous, biomedical, psychotherapeutic, social, and ecological healing. It reflects on the historical background, contemporary significance, and interconnections of these diverse areas of healing, while distinguishing such a holistic understanding of healing from the narrower concept of a cure. Acknowledging the problem of unhealed sufferers, it argues against blaming such persons for …

Initiation Sacraments And Directions For Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue: An Essay For The Exploratory Usccb/Pccna Dialogue, Kimberly H. Belcher

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article surveys Roman Catholic understandings of initiation sacraments. It traces historical developments and current practices for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Holy Communion. Throughout attention is paid to the areas where convergences and issues for further discussion between Roman Catholics and Pentecostals emerge.

An Evaluative Assessment Of Leadership Retreat As A Spiritually Formative Experience For Leaders Of Campus Churches Affiliated With The Churches Of Christ In Ghana, Frank Obeng Essien

DMin Project Theses

This June 2024 Doctor of Ministry project thesis at Lipscomb University examines the Churches of Christ in Ghana are a mission plant. They were planted by two American missionaries, Wendell Broom and Sewell Hall, around 1958. The Churches of Christ in Ghana pursue a theology of ministry which resolves around evangelism, edification, and benevolence. These are often referred to as the “mission of the church.” They represent the holy trinity of activities which was once and for all time delivered to the church in Ghana. Against these, there must be no rival theological focus. Any innovation beyond this risks the …

Discerning The Expectation Of Lay And Priestly Ministry In The Rural Parishes Of The Dorking Deanery, Peter S. Nevins

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Exploring How Pentecostals Preach About Depression, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

A qualitative analysis was completed on twelve sermons into how Pentecostal preachers talk about depression from the pulpit using the Assemblies of God (AG) as a purposive sample. Findings illustrate that preachers talked about faulty thinking as the source of depression and interpreted depression as a transformative journey occurring within the context of a God encounter where the believer fixed their faulty thinking. While the way the preachers interpreted depression is not without critique, the article suggests that preaching about depression as a journey of encounter may help listeners frame their depression experiences within a narrative framework that helps them …

Pentecostalism And Current Development In West Africa: Reimagining The Pentecostal Landscape, Politics, And Vision, Fred Cudjoe Adadey, Yisa Barnabas

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A growing body of literature on African Pentecostals in sub-Saharan Africa is highlighted in this article, highlighting a more defined contribution of African Pentecostals to the development landscape. Until recently, the African Pentecostal development landscape recorded little visibility at the national level, on the assumption that their experience only highlights cultural and theological relevance. However, this emerging visibility has identified, as a conceptual category, an imaginary social space with practical ramification. Based on a critical analytical review of literature, this article examines the shift from traditional Pentecostal theology to a more focused attention on the social transformation created by a …

Pastoral Care During Widespread Disruptions : Pastoral Care Practices In Small Rural Churches During Widespread Disruptions, Jerry L. Dicks

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Introduction:Towards An Economic Anthropology Of Catholicism, In The Age Of Pope Francis, Samuel Weeks, George Bayuga

Journal of Global Catholicism

Introduction to Towards an Economic Anthropology of Catholicism, in the Age of Pope Francis.

Theological Diversity As Growth And Foundation, Rhiannon Grant

Quaker Religious Thought

The liberal branch of the Religious Society of Friends today is undoubtedly theologically diverse—for example, in Britain Yearly Meeting, the committee who are revising the book of discipline are explicitly inviting contributions from nontheist as well as universalist and Christian perspectives.¹ Some members of the community find this a source of considerable anxiety. In this paper I want to position it, rather, as a source of richness and a form of growth, and also as a potential foundation for other forms of much needed diversity. Britain Yearly Meeting is working on addressing our institutional and sometimes personal racism and …

Gendered Labor Division In The Evangelical Lutheran Church Of Latvia Through The Lens Of Gifts And Reciprocity, Māra Neikena, Gareth E. Hamilton

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores the concepts of 'gift's and 'reciprocity' within anthropological literature and applies them to ethnographic fieldwork conducted within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. In interviews, pastors and members of parishes used the word 'gift' to rationalize gender differences in performed tasks and assumed inherent abilities of men and women. The article aims to investigate the variety of reciprocity that takes place when informants refer to the idea of the 'gift' in various social contexts. Through qualitative interviews, analysis highlights that the gendered labor division in managing the 'household' of a parish is tied to a sense of …

Oral Roberts University Doctor Of Ministry Program: Historical Beginnings And The Emergent Future, Celine Butler

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program approaches forty-two years as a leader in the Spirit-empowered community. The approach of the DMin program from its inception in 1981 was to develop a Spirit-centered approach to impact the world as the only Spirit-empowered university. Since it began in 1982 with eleven students, the program has seen more than 430 graduates from 150 nations and all fifty of the United States have crossed the commencement platform. In addition, the Korean Language Doctor of Ministry Program, operating from 1992–2012, resulted in 136 graduates. More recently, the establishment of the Oral Roberts University (ORU) PhD …

The Rise Of The Phoenix: The Re-Emergence Of The Oral Roberts University Graduate School Of Theology In 1975, James Shelton, James A Hewett

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

The re-emergence of the Graduate School of Theology after its closure in 1969 provides testimony to the bold vision of Oral Roberts of ecumenical higher education in the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit. Undeterred by the closure of the first Graduate School of Theology, Roberts’ launch of the second seminary in 1976 under James Buskirk showed a continued emphasis on educating and empowering the whole body of Christ.

The History Of Graduate Theological Education At Oral Roberts University, Larry Hart, Bill Buker

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article traces the history of graduate theological education at Oral Roberts University from its initial inception in 1963 up until 2018 when a significant transition occurred. Special attention is given to the rebirth of the seminary in 1976 under the leadership of Jimmy Buskirk and the following seasons of its evolution under subsequent deans. From a seminary approved by the United Methodist Church to train candidates for ministry in that denomination to one reflecting a primarily Pentecostal ethos to its current role of serving the Spirit-empowered Movement, the Graduate School of Theology and Ministry (GSTM) has maintained ecumenical diversity …

Canadian Lutheran History: Remembering Today, For The Sake Of Tomorrow, Karen Kuhnert

Consensus

No abstract provided.

Confessional Lutheran Identities In The Canadian Context: An Overview Of Free Conferences, Gordon A. Jensen, Stephen Larson

Consensus

This Article includes the Introduction by Rev. Dr. Stephen Larson and the feature Paper presentation by Rev. Dr. Gordon Jensen as delivered in Webinar 1 (October 25, 2022) of the Webinar Series “For the Sake of the Gospel” hosted by the Remembering Today for the Church of Tomorrow Project in partnership with Martin Luther University College and Lutheran Theological Seminary. Themes from this presentation appear in many of the articles in this issue.

Belonging Among Seventh-Day Adventists With Disabilities, Shannon M. Trecartin

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

Globally, 15% of Seventh-day Adventists have some form of disability, the same percentage found in the world population. Yet barriers to belonging beyond access to a physical building persist. This study explores dimensions of belonging, compares findings across world divisions of the church, and makes recommendations for research and practice.

Recovering A Missional Ecclesiology: A Framework For Reviving Congregational Mission Within The Baptist Union Of Victoria, Gayle Hill

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT This project is an intervention to develop a theological and theoretical framework

that will become the foundation for a future curriculum for recovering a missional ecclesiology for the pastors of the Baptist Union of Victoria (BUV). Despite mission being central to the overall vision of the BUV, declining numbers, the post-COVID context in Victoria, and an overarching post-Christian and pluralistic context have significantly challenged the centrality and functioning of mission across our denomination. The impetus of this project was the observation that our churches were floundering rather than flourishing in the missional space. Many chronic and acute provocations were …

"Understanding Transgender Identities: Four Views" [Review] / Beilby, James K. And Paul Rhodes Eddy, Eds. ., Ronald Rojas

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

This is a book review

Vocation As Story, Story As Vocation, Ben Brazil

Quaker Religious Thought

On a frigid December morning in Indiana, a man named Dave Jetmore discovered that his daughter’s pet goat had died. Not wanting to upset his little girl—much less broach the topic of death—Jetmore planned to tell his daughter that “Billy” had simply gone to live somewhere pleasant. Inventing that story was the easy part; the harder part was hiding the body. First, Jetmore tried to bury the goat, but the ground had frozen hard as rock. Next, he had his son fling the body from the pickup to a snowbank, which failed to conceal anything. Time was growing short. And …

Breaking The Unwritten Rule That We Do Not Talk About Power: Claiming Religious Creativity, Vibrancy, And Right Relationship In Quaker Community By Living In That Life And Power, Windy Cooler

Quaker Religious Thought

Why do Quakers avoid addressing and healing shame? The underlying fear is that if we are not seen as “good,” we will lose our sense of belonging in a community that places immense pressure on its members to uphold certain standards—or so it is widely believed. The perception that one is powerless to fully embrace one’s identity due to the fear of rejection is rarely articulated directly; instead, it manifests as dysfunctional behavior within the system, a topic I’ll delve into further later on. I would also like to posit that goodness is often conflated with innocence, the idea that …

Planting Anglican Churches In The Brazilian Context Through The House Of Peace, Marcio Medeiros Meira

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Integration Of Evangelism And Discipleship By Seventh-Day Adventists In Malawi, Richard Gorden Doss

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Training Faithful Disciples To Meet The Challenges Of The Church In The World: Applying Bonhoeffer’S Seminary Vision To Hybrid Education, Myra L. Watkins

The Asbury Journal

This article will first examine Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s philosophy and practice of theological education to train faithful ministers of the gospel for the service of the Church. Particular attention will be given to Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together which he wrote while directing one of the underground seminaries for the Confessing Church in Nazi Germany. Second, this article will explore Paul House’s argument for a personal, incarnational, rather than a distance learning, approach. Using a small seminary for a global family of churches, Every Nation, as a case study, this article will present relational discipleship as a central, …

Mediating Role Of Transformational Leadership On The Relationship Between Pastors’ Training And Healthy Congregations, Paul Ekal Lokol

The Asbury Journal

The church remains a solid center for transformational leadership, bringing the required light to today’s increasingly troubled world. Therefore, this study’s objective was to establish the mediating effect of transformational leadership traits on the relationship between pastors’ training and church congregational health in urban churches of the African Gospel Church, Kenya (AGC-K). The study adopted a descriptive survey design and correlation methods targeting 44 pastors, 44 LCC members, and 383 members in urban churches of AGC-K. Data was collected using pretested questionnaires and was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The findings revealed that while not all pastors manifested …