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Priest, Writer, Mentor, Misfit: Understanding Henri Nouwen, Michael W. Higgins

Mission & Culture Publications

Two decades ago, on September 21, 1996, while on the way to St. Petersburg to shoot a documentary based on his acclaimed spiritual meditation, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen—priest, writer, professor, and pastoral mentor—died of a heart attack in his homeland of the Netherlands. His friends and countless admirers were stunned. Prolific author of more than three dozen books, and a much-called-upon speaker and preacher, Nouwen was a large presence in Catholic circles and a growing influence in Protestant ones as well. His loss was felt not only in his immediate community but around the world.

Spiritual Direction With Children The Next Natural Step In The Christian Historical Progression Of Children's Spiritual Formation, Lacy Finn Borgo

Doctor of Ministry

Children without a listening and guiding companion miss opportunities to build upon their connection with God and others. Historically, from a western Protestant viewpoint, Christians have struggled to understand or acknowledge, much less encourage, the reciprocal nature of a child’s life with God. Supporting the reciprocal nature of a child’s life with God includes acknowledging their full humanity by embracing childhood as a fully human state and therefore their need for a whole person spiritual formation. The institution of Sunday School, Godly Play, and the Children’s Spirituality Movement have each helped us to understand, acknowledge and encourage a child’s life …

“The Agent Of Jesus Christ”: Participation Of Fr. Vitali Borovoy In The Second Vatican Council As An Observer From The Roc, Anastacia Wooden

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This is the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Russian Orthodox theologian and church diplomat Fr. Vitali Borovoy (1916-2008). He actively participated in almost all external engagements of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in the second half of the twentieth century: from inter-Orthodox relations to work in the World Council of Churches (WCC). His ecumenical career unfolded during challenging times for his church. Internally, it was determined by the tension between the Soviet state’s continual persecution of the ROC and its simultaneous demand that the ROC work for the state’s benefit in external relations. Externaly, it was affected by …

Establishing The M7 Dream Builder Pastoral Care Ministry: A Christ-Centered Spiritual Oasis For Women-By-Women With Dreams Deferred, Sylvia Medley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the long standing problems of Christ-Centered pastoral care in the local church is the need for a practical innovative pastoral care ministry for women whose dreams have been deferred that not only provides healing, hope, and encouragement, but also incorporates the discipling culture of the Great Commission. Based on Matthew 28:19-20, Proverbs 13:12, and supported by surveys, development of an M7 network will culminate in an annual women’s conference. The establishment of the women’s center will consist of a three-part program utilizing a methodology of pastoral care developed specifically for women-by-women. It will include: 1) radical Christ-Centered programs …

Restorative Justice : Transformation Project Prison Ministry's Reason For Growth And Motivation Of The Volunteers, Yong Hui V. Mcdonald

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Spiritual Mentoring Among African American Males At Eastern Kentucky University, Harvey Cozart

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Not Saul's Armor : Introversion And Effective Pastoral Leadership, David E. York

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Rule Of St. Benedict Contextualized For Southeastern University, James C. Owen

Doctor of Ministry

The goal of this project is to synthesize Benedictine spirituality into the context of Southeastern University (SEU). Chapter one explores the problem of an inadequate model of Christian formation at Southeastern University, a Christian liberal arts school affiliated with the Assemblies of God. A historical model of spiritual formation was sought to provide a contemplative counterbalance to Southeastern’s activist mode of formation. It is the thesis of this work that Southeastern University’s process of spiritual formation can be greatly enhanced by synthesizing the theological insights and spiritual practices from the Rule of St. Benedict.

Chapter two examines Mark 4, the …

Preaching As Foolishness, Steven D. Paulson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Meditation As Mission, Moe Moe Nyuant

Papers

No abstract provided.

Spiritual Formation For Seminary Spiritual Leaders, Patricia L. Cowan

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Jesus changed the world through spiritual formation and spiritual maturity. Jesus’ focus upon God enabled Him to do God’s will. Jesus separated Himself from culture and people at times to be alone with God in nature, pursuing God at the deepest level. Seminary spiritual formation training at the deepest level can be most beneficial to spiritual leaders, churches, ministries, and culture. This project included thorough research of scripture, literature, and survey method on spiritual formation and spiritual direction. Common themes from these three areas of research were combined to encourage seminary spiritual leaders to be free through intentional spiritual formation.

Into Ministry : The Pastorals, The Early Church, And The Free Methodist Church In The Early Twenty-First Century, Jason Aaron Leininger

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Faithful Flyer, 11-08-2015, University Of Dayton. Campus Ministry

Chapel Bulletins

No abstract provided.

The Initiation Of Growth-Focused Relationships Involving Healthy Accountability, Stephen L. Shaffer

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

This paper summarizes a Doctor of Ministry project thesis conducted in 2011 that introduced healthy accountability within growth-focused relationships to shape an emergent spiritual growth culture at the Carbondale Church of Christ. The theological basis for the intervention (1) uses Romans 12 to establish the Christian community, not the individual, as the ultimate vision of fully realized human life and (2) asserts that spiritual growth, following Alasdair MacIntyre’s definition of a practice, must involve virtues such that the means of growth are reflective of the desired ends of growth. The positive results demonstrate the effectiveness of healthy accountability, illuminate participants' …

Deification, Friendship, And Self-Knowledge, Matthew Hale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How does human friendship contribute to the process of deification? In this thesis, I will argue that a kind of “spiritual friendship” contributes to the process of deification by placing the human agent in a better position for acquiring self-knowledge, and avoiding false beliefs or misunderstandings about the self. This acquisition of self-knowledge is an important part of the deification process, which involves not just a moral and ontological transformation, but an epistemological one as well.

Six Principles To Consider When Working With Roman Catholic Clients, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Although the majority of Americans consider themselves to be Christian and affiliated with various Protestant denominations, a quarter of the American population identify themselves as Roman Catholics who are the largest single religious denomination in the country. Yet, surprisingly, fairly little research has been published in the professional psychology literature about working with this very large and diverse group. Psychologists have an ethical responsibility to be aware of and respectful to diversity including diversity based on religious background, affiliation, and perspectives. The purpose of this brief reflection is to offer 6 important principles to keep in mind for professional psychologists …

Team Approach To Ministry : Effective Strategy Against Pastoral Burnout, Luis A. Soto

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Liminal Spaces: A Narrative Spirituality Of The Bible, Thomas J. Rundel

Doctor of Ministry

Liminal space is a place in-between what was and what will be. It is crucial for ongoing Christian formation. However, the Evangelical Church currently has no space for supporting those in liminality. Evangelical theology and practice actively discourage those in liminal space. As a result, Christian maturity is frustrated. Future leaders and contemplatives are endangered. This dissertation explores how the Evangelical Church could acknowledge, support, and educate those in liminal spaces.

The Bible repeats three liminal themes which create a paradigm of ongoing Christian formation. The themes are desert/wilderness, pit/grave, and exile/pilgrimage. The desert/wilderness is a liminal space, the grave/pit …

A Monastery For The Revolution: Ernesto Cardenal, Thomas Merton, And The Paradox Of Violence In Nicaragua, 1957-1979, Brendan Jordan

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

In 1957, a young Nicaraguan poet named Ernesto Cardenal, recently graduated from Columbia University, entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani, located outside Louisville, Kentucky. There he met a prominent Catholic thinker and pacifist, Thomas Merton, who soon mentored young Cardenal. Though Cardenal departed Gethsemani in 1959, Merton continued to counsel him in spirituality, poetry, and social activism until Merton’s death in 1968. While Cardenal during these earlier years was a committed pacifist, his experiences after returning to Nicaragua in 1965 radically altered his view of social action. Cardenal established a semi-monastic community in the Solentiname islands in southern Nicaragua, and …

Was Wesley An Anglican? Implications For Mission, John Marsh

Great Commission Research Journal

John Wesley, in his own mind, lived and died an Anglican. He was an Anglican in his theology but deviated in his missional activity and this contributed to him moving away ecclesiastically. He gave primacy to his theology of justification by faith and this was driven by a personal “awakening” into missional activity. Wesley’s frustration at the lack of preaching opportunities led to successful itinerancy. Resulting missional growth necessitated a developing ecclesiology of societies, lay preachers, the Methodist conference, and eventually irregular ordinations. Wesley’s subordination of ecclesiological organization to theological and missiological demands may have something to teach today’s church.

Reclaiming The Spiritual Leadership Role Of Christian Parents In Family Life: Coaching And Markers, Cindy Hayes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christians in the Western culture often struggle to pass on their faith to the next generation and as a result, the way God designed the family to function is being unwittingly abandoned. Countless parents today are leaving genuine faith and reliance on God behind. Though God's Word gives specific instructions on how to maintain and pass on faith, many have abdicated this injunction. In an effort to encourage authentic faith within the family, the local church can come alongside parents to help them understand and share their faith by offering training and coaching to embrace their own faith and pass …

Church Hospitality: A Biblical Model For Growth Based On The Seven Churches In Revelation, Gesner Noel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Church growth seeks both to actualize the precepts of the "Great Commission", to attract new members and sustain current congregation. One of the fundamental problems is the inability to preserve hospitality. The pertinence of hospitality to the Church originates from Scriptures that clearly exemplify Christ's deeds and teachings of hospitality. This thesis project will investigate the seven churches in Revelation and reveal factors of outstanding and inhospitable practices in relation to Church growth and hospitality. Surveys will be based on unregulated interactions among pastors. Twenty pastors across five denominations, Evangelical Lutheran, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Seven-Day Adventist, and Roman Catholic will demonstrate …

From Defending Theism To Discerning Spirits: Reconceiving The Task Of Christian Philosophy, Neal Deroo

Pro Rege

Dr. Neal DeRoo presented this paper at a joint meeting of the Society for Christian Philosophers and the Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology, held at Trinity College, June 2014. The topic of the meeting was, "What is Christian Philosophy," celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the publication of Alvin Plantinga's landmark essay "Advice to Christian Philosophers."

St. Louis De Montfort: Priest Of Jesus Christ And Preacher Of True Devotion To Mary, Frederick L. Miller

Marian Studies

In this paper, I shall focus on St. Louis de Montfort, the Priest, and on the Blessed Virgin Mary’s role in his life and preaching. Montfort’s incorporation of Mary into his preaching of the Gospel, in my estimation, is important for all seminarians and priests engaged in active ministry. St. Louis de Montfort is also the special patron of the Legion of Mary, which remains among the largest apostolic movements in the Church. Not only does his teaching provide the specific spirituality for the Legion of Mary, but his zeal as a missionary has molded members of the Legion into …

Making Disciples Of Jesus Christ: Investigating, Identifying And Implementing An Effective Discipleship System, Jeffrey Lynn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to George Barna's research, the current state of making disciples of Jesus Christ who are "observing all that I have commanded you" is dismal. His research reveals that "only three out of ten born-again adults admitted that they did not have any plan or process by which they intended to fulfill their spiritual goals." This author believes what we have in place for making disciples is inadequate, unimplemented, or both. The purpose of this thesis project is to explain the current state of spiritual formation in the American Church and the reasons why it falls short of God's desire …

Marriage As A Spiritual Discipline: Principles And Benefits, Richmond Laney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christians use spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, and journaling as methods to enhance their relationship with God. However, Christian rates of divorce are not different than the United States average where more than one in three first marriages ends in divorce. This is despite a Christian belief that marriage is a special relationship. The rate of divorce among Christians should be reduced. Marriage can be practiced as a spiritual discipline that will benefit the relationship as well as yielding sought after spirituality. Marriage as a spiritual discipline would help couples increase marital satisfaction, thus driving down the divorce rate. …

Divorce In The Christian Society And A Prescriptive Model To Rekindle The Marriage Bond, Frederick Styles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to explore the history, consequences, and guidelines of divorce in the Christian world. God's plan for marriage is procreation of children and love between husband and wife. According to a Christian study by Jack Wellman, the top three reasons for Christians divorcing are adultery, communication, and abuse (physical and emotional). This thesis will assist couples who are contemplating divorce and provide guidance on the causes and effects of divorce. In addition, it will create a prescriptive model; guidelines for those couples to follow for each of the reasons above that will rekindle and strengthen …

Sustainable Faith: How The Neuroscience Of Emotion Promotes Spiritual Transformation, Christine M. Mutch

Doctor of Ministry

Current research indicates that well-intentioned practices and programs aimed at forming people into the image of Christ are not producing the intended results. One roadblock is the misunderstanding and lack of value placed on the role of emotion in the transformation process. The purpose of this dissertation is to present neuroscience research about the integral role of emotion in one's life, and suggest practical ways to capitalize on emotion to effect transformation.

Chapter one describes the goals of spiritual formation, in contrast to current attitudes and practices of those inside and outside the church. It provides a basic introduction to …

Promoting Missionary Mutual Care Through Spiritual Community, David L. Shepherd

Doctor of Ministry

Personal struggle and the stressors that catalyze them are inevitable in missionary life. When overly focusing on ministry and enculturation demands, cross-culturally based Christian workers can often neglect intra and inter-personal spiritual formation. The result of such neglect is a lack of purpose, vitality, endurance and effectiveness, and in some cases, the missionary leaves the field altogether. For missionaries to thrive and succeed requires that they place a high priority on mutual and intentional care. Therefore, I will explore the necessity and means of cultivating spiritual community among on-thefield missionaries for their mutual care and development. Chapter 1 introduces the …

Embracing Maturity: An Ignatian Christian Leadership Formation Model For Emerging Adults, Todd Dustin Clark

Doctor of Ministry

The research of this project is concentrated on the integration of the disciplines of leadership, developmental psychology, and spiritual formation to inform a nine-month Christian leadership formation process for postmodern emerging adults. As the Staff Development Facilitator for an Outdoor Science Camp ministry (OSS), my task is twofold: (1) In regards to our mission, I aspire to help staff members develop leadership skills that prepare them to be excellent experiential educators; (2) in regards to formation, I desire to facilitate relevant spiritual growth for emerging adults. I believe the overlapping and pragmatic connection between these two goals is the art …