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God Likes Sex: Conversations Integrating Spirituality And Sexuality, Jennie Armstrong

Doctor of Ministry

Throughout Christian history, the Church has provided inconsistent messages about the spiritual foundation for healthy sexuality. With avoidant messages of silence and shame around sexual topics from the Church, many emergent women separate their spirituality from their sexual lives, never considering scripture as a guideline for healthy sexuality. Emergent adult women, specifically those without strong spiritual foundations, are more likely to engage in unhealthy sexual behaviors which often leave them feeling alone and separate from God and spiritual community. Because popular culture does not support marriage as a moral requirement for a sexual relationship, present cultural messages advocate that these …

Transparency And Ontology Of Love (Chapter 14 Of To Know As I Am Known: The Communion Of The Saints And The Ontology Of Love), Mark S. Mcleod-Harrison

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Excerpt: "In his book The Path of Perfect Love, Diogenes Allen suggests that it is because of our inability to perceive the reality of other people and things that we don’t grasp what brings out the fundamental feature of love, viz. the recognition or perception of things beside one’s self. The reader may recall that both Badhwar and Royce made reference, the latter extensively, to the importance of recognizing the reality of the other person if one is to love. Allen focuses deeply on this theme. I will briefly present Allen’s position in section I and turn to a sermon …

Blended With The Savior: Gregory Of Nyssa's Eucharistic Pharmacology In The Catechetical Oration, John David Penniman

Faculty Journal Articles

Humankind, for Gregory of Nyssa, was poisoned through a primordial act of eating the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden. As a result, the toxin of sin and death has been blended into the body and soul of each person, dispersing itself throughout the component parts of their nature. If eating and drinking initiated the spiritual and physical degradation of humanity, Gregory argues, then it must also be through eating and drinking—namely, through the Eucharist—that humanity will be healed. This article proposes that Gregory's instruction on the Eucharist in his Catechetical Oration should be understood as more than merely …

Leadership Matters: The Process Of Leading A Declining Church To Revitalization Utilizing Early Church Principles, Jarvis Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature that exist details the perpetual decline that is occurring in the local church. Nevertheless, the leadership a pastor provides must not be ignored, when there is an attempt to lead a church from decline to revitalization. The purpose of this project is to assist pastors who lead declining churches to revitalization by examining the principles of the early church, which was a church that was vibrant in the area of growth and spiritual life. Based on questionnaires sent to pastors and other ministry leaders, the project will reveal the need for a practical Biblical plan …

Pastoral Burnout Of African American Pastors: Creating Healthy Support Systems And Balance, William E. Johnson Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastoral self-care is critical in minimizing the symptoms of burnout in ministry. Caught up in the daily demands of ministry, pastors are under tremendous stress as they try to serve God’s people in multiple roles in ministry. Often, pastors are called upon to be counselors, preachers, project managers, students, social activists, and a moral compass for those they lead. Too often, pastors are expected to perform duties with superhuman perfection, life and ministry can get so crowded with obligations and emergencies that pastor’s maintenance of a healthy lifestyle can become unbalanced or cease to exist. This research study will complement …

The “Boatloads” Bible Study: A Report On The Spiritual Growth Resulting From Participation In A Small Group Bible Study, Abigail Brewer

The Kabod

Developed in January 2018, the “Boatloads” Bible study series sought to encourage members of a college life group in Lynchburg, Virginia, to grow spiritually by studying the power of God in ten passages of Scripture involving boats. At the end of the semester, members of the life group were asked to complete an anonymous survey about their experience in the Bible study. To analyze how the “Boatloads” Bible study affected spiritual growth in the lives of its attendees, Abigail Brewer, one of the leaders of the life group, created a two-part survey with ten statements and five questions. Using a …

Architectural Evangelism: Examination Of Place Constructs Held By Churched And Unchurched Individuals, Matthew Niermann

Great Commission Research Journal

In recent decades, the exterior design of Protestant churches has undergone radical reformulation under the influence of the church growth architectural design theory known as architectural evangelism. Presupposing that churched and unchurched individuals hold differing place constructs, architectural evangelism seeks to attract unchurched individuals to the church by changing the exterior design from church typologies to secular typologies. In doing so, as the theory proposes, when an unchurched individual is exposed to a typology they are more familiar with, a different place construct formulation occurs—a place construct rooted in conceptions of comfort and the perception of community-based activities. Noting the …

Paragraphs Of The Bible: Exodus 21-32, Harold Willmington

A One-Line Introduction to the Paragraphs of the Bible

No abstract provided.

Elders Intentionally Developing Future Leaders Through A Mentoring Program At The Central Church Of Christ In Topeka, Ks, Terry Kitson

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to implement an Elder Mentoring Program for the Central Church of Christ in Topeka, KS. In the first chapter, the context for this project, the Central Church of Christ, is described. The theological constructs for the project were drawn from The Book of Pastoral Rule written by Gregory the Great 590 C.E. and built upon by the application of contemporary Christian authors, and Biblical examples. The three key concepts taken from The Book of Pastoral Rule are contemplation, pastoral care, and mentoring. The third chapter reviews project methodology and mentoring curriculum. The findings and …

Nothing New In Spiritual Direction?, Albrecht Nyce O.S.B.

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

The Question Of Power In African Pentecostalism, Alex R. Mayfield

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Should the charismatic theology of anointing be considered a democratizing influence in Africa or a reiteration of mediatorial forms of power? Th is article seeks to answer this question by analyzing African traditional religious power structures in comparison to modern African theologies and practices of Pentecostal anointing. Th is comparison, however, highlights the problem of drawing direct lines from Africa’s past to its present; Pentecostal rupture from a traditional past is paradoxically both a break from and connection to pre-colonial conceptions of the self and community. Ultimately, this article argues that while both traditional religions and modern Pentecostal anointing favor …

The Graduate Study Of Theology At Lmu, Brett Hoover

Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies

No abstract provided.

Growing In Intimacy With God, Tom Schwanda

Symposium on Worship Archive

Healthy worship is transformative. This workshop first will explore how worship leaders, musicians, and pastors can personally grow in Christ, and then it will suggest ways that public worship can encourage similar maturity for all people.

The Contemplative Worship Leader, Paul Ryan

Symposium on Worship Archive

Parker Palmer writes, “At root, contemplation and action are the same.” For worship leaders, a deep well of spiritual practice is vital amid the activity and demands of worship leadership. But as the anxious and hurried, our spirituality is often found wanting. New and ancient patterns in Christ’s Spirit, however, are available to worship leaders, and in this workshop we will together explore how to find life and vitality in our diverse contexts and through our varied personalities.

Spiritual Formation In The Graduate School Of Clinical Psychology At George Fox University, Rodger K. Bufford, Nancy S. Thurston, Kathleen Gathercoal, Marie-Christine Goodworth, Lynn H. Holt

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

At its inception, the training model in the Graduate School of Clinical Psychology (GSCP) at George Fox University was informed by the approach inaugurated at Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology in the 1960s. In the original model, training in Christian religion/spirituality and theology accompanied training in professional psychology. In the interim, our culture, psychological knowledge, perceived psychological needs, and training programs have changed greatly. Here we report changes in religion/spirituality (RIS) training and integration over the last two decades. We describe our current spiritual formation structure and process, and program evaluation efforts. Over the past several years the GSCP …

A Portrait Of A Successful Pastor: Reanimating The Pastor As Shepherd In A Success Oriented Culture, Steve Bontrager

Doctor of Ministry

The purpose of this study is to define a set of metrics by which pastors can measure their “success” as pastors. It is important to note that this is not an effort to define a successful church, which would be a different study altogether. Studies show that a great majority of pastors are struggling in life and ministry and it seems reasonable to ask if this could be a result of ambiguity about the role pastors are supposed to fill and what constitutes successfully doing so. It is my contention that many pastors function without a clear sense of metrics …

Working Priests: Improving The Care For Vineyard Bivocational Pastors, Aaron Peterson

Doctor of Ministry

The number of Vineyard bivocational pastors in the US Vineyard church is unknown, and although pastoring bivocationally is common, there is a current lack of resources available to meet their unique challenges. The Association of Vineyard Churches, USA has improved from where it used to be, but they are currently not where they want to be in terms of caring for Vineyard bivocational pastors. This dissertation explores the current bivocational situation in the Association of Vineyard Churches, USA and argues that the Vineyard needs to take better care of Vineyard pastors who work jobs outside their churches. This project shows …

Where The Desert Fathers And Mothers Meet Permaculture, Brenda Nagunst

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation claims that a retreat center with an eco-spiritual focus is one way to introduce Christians to the connection between stewardship of God’s creation and relationship with God. For the purposes of this paper the word “creation” is used to identify the natural world: earth, soil, plants, animals, birds, fish, and humans. Many Christians do not steward the earth as God commanded in Genesis, thus missing a spiritual connection with God that can uniquely happen through creation. This dissertation addresses the question, “In what way is care of creation a critical part of a modern Christian’s relationship with God?” …

Pastoral Well-Being & Beyond: Three Streams Of Pastoral Health And Personal Development, Brandon J. Morrow

Doctor of Ministry

Every year, the North American church experiences an overwhelming percentage of pastors who leave the ministry, citing internal and external pressures for their decisions to abandon what they once perceived as their divine calling. Many pastors are forced into a personal development strategy that is neither helpful, nor holistic, pursuing scads of resources outside of Christian and theological disciplines, many of which are misapplied. These drastically affect the long-term health of pastors and their overall health and effectiveness in ministry. How can pastors develop a personal development strategy that adequately accounts for the major areas of health in the life …

Records Of The Ed Robb Evangelistic Association Arc1994-005 - Finding Aid, Ats Special Collections And Archives

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Kerux - Vol. 52, No. 1, Calvin Theological Seminary

Kerux

Inside This Issue

• Welcome Page 1
• The opening word Page 2
• How are you? Page 4
• A dark and stormy night Page 7
• Leading in times of trouble Page 8
• There are seeds and they are trying Page 12
• A prayer for Fiji Page 16
• A grand and rapid change Page 19
• Big on Newbigin Page 22
• A bobo in Sierra Leone Page 26
• Mix well before use Page 31
• The disciple challenge Page 32
• Be frank with me Page 36
• God’s Chinese kingdom Page 40
• The gift of presence Page 46
• The mind of a child Page 50
• Kenya …

Why Are You Angry?: Exploring The Deadly Sin Of Wrath, Rebecca Konyndyk Deyoung

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

From Frustration To Contentment, Ashley Huizinga

Student Work

"Strive to bring—to be—contentment personified, as you surrender your circumstances to the Lord’s judgment."

Posting about trusting in God's purposes from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

http://inallthings.org/from-frustration-to-contentment/

Spiritual Friendships : Rediscovering A Means Of Christian Discipleship In The Local Church, Carolyn Diane Nettles

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Developing An Effective Biblical Method For The Rediscovery Of Accountability In Christian Discipleship, Jamie Archer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The emphasis on individualism in Western society has undermined the importance of accountability in human relationships. Many individuals see themselves as their own moral authority and are accountable to no one else. This idea has infiltrated the Western evangelical church. Western church members demonstrate a low level of accountability to their local church by failing to remain committed and involved, and by living lifestyles incompatible with church teachings. In response, few churches practice any form of church discipline, or even communicate expectations to church members. The result is a culture of self-centered and uncommitted church members. This project will argue …

Aging Gracefully: The Art Of Elegant Kenosis, Mary A. Pandiani

Doctor of Ministry

Within American culture, the fear of aging creates an obsessive focus on staying young. The Christian church acquiesces to this fear by avoiding the imperative conversation about aging, putting at risk those in the second half of life. The beauty and shadow side of aging offer a unique opportunity to counter the cultural norm, through contemplation in spiritual- and self-awareness. A contemplative life cultivates a place to face the realities of aging. By deepening a relationship with God and others, the aging follower of Jesus Christ navigates a way through the highs and lows of getting older. Research in spirituality …

Overcoming The Unique Spiritual Formation Challenges Experienced By Large-Church Staff, Scott Whaley

Doctor of Ministry

Church staff encounter unique spiritual formation challenges that are not experienced in other vocations. In addition to managing stressors that are typical in every workplace setting, the church staff must also address the implications that arise because their pastor is also their employer, and their place of worship is also their workplace. These challenges are magnified in the large-church environment due an increased focus on employee performance and an emphasis on a corporate organizational structure. Over the last few decades, large churches have adopted best-practices from the corporate world, practices which focus scrutiny on increasing staff performance, further adding to …

Praying About Forgiveness In Japanese, English, And Beyond Words: Bilingualism As An Underexplored Resource For Christian Spiritual Formation, Andrea Lundquist Johnson

Doctor of Ministry

Prayer understood as a form of communication and communion with the Deity is a nearly universal human activity and a core Christian practice. Christian prayer may take many shapes including colloquial, petitionary, ritual, and meditative, and may be practiced alone or with others. Prayer regarding forgiveness is both the example and command of Jesus, yet forgiveness is multidimensional, complex, and culturally conditioned in addition to being difficult because it involves change in self identity.

The question of whether the language of prayer matters for bilinguals, specifically Japanese/English speaking bilinguals, has not been researched. Neither has the area of bilingual prayer …

The Ecological Gift Of Spiritual Formation: A Renewal For Healthy Clergy, Jody Becker

Doctor of Ministry

Every year Lutheran clergy resign pastoral calls citing one, primary reason: burnout. Certainly, the demands of pastoral call within a congregation are easy to observe: long on-call periods of time, intense levels of pastoral care needs, and navigating multifaceted, interpersonal relationships, to name a few. While these demands become symptomatic to the problem of burnout, the determining cause is still unknown, especially given the various contextual factors for these pastors. Yet, the number of pastors leaving ministry or experiencing shortened tenures is alarming. In the Lutheran church, spiritual formation language is often associated with determined deficiencies. Other times, spiritual formation …

Practicing Sabbath To Reduce Stress Among Ministers In The Tyger River Baptist Association, Spartanburg, South Carolina, James Hailstock

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Sabbath is the zenith of God’s creation and the climax of living. The key to reducing stress among ministers is the Sabbath lifestyle which includes practicing the disciplines of prayer, silence, feasting and fellowshipping in addition to identifying the signs and symptoms of stress. The Sabbath lifestyle empowers ministers with coping skills that can be personalized and implemented consistently as they progress and deal with the daunting demands and responsibilities of ministry. This project tested and compared the stress levels of the research and control groups before and after teaching four courses (disciplines) in the context of a Sabbath …