Digital Commons Network^™

Going Inside A Church Staff Group: A Qualitative Case Analysis Of Team Characteristics, Decision-Making, And Identity, Hillary Rose Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Many organizations, including churches, rely on leadership groups to coordinate efforts and fulfill their mission. Guided by the characteristics of highly effective teams, the functional theory of group decision-making, and symbolic convergence theory, this study examines how one church staff group engages in decision-making and enacts identity through socioemotional and task-related communication. This group is unique in that its members each lead different areas necessary for the church’s functioning. Data for this qualitative case-study consists of semi-structured interviews with each group members and five meeting observations. Findings provide insight into the group’s dynamics, decision-making process, and identity. However, of most …

The Missionary And The Pea: An Anthropological Study Of The French Mep Economy, Michel Chambon

Journal of Global Catholicism

This paper discusses how the French missionaries of the Missions Etrangères de Paris (MEP) are linking humans and material objects to support their religious agenda. Revisiting the long history of this organization in Hong Kong and Thailand, but also its distinct recruitment and assignment policies, I highlight how these Catholic missionaries rely on their French cultural background to interconnect people and goods. While theological principles and political pragmatism shape their functioning, I argue that their economy is distinctively rooted in the French notion of terroir –the taste of place— an embodied relation to land that acts as a cultural mechanism …

Tell Me The Old, Old Story: An Educational Curriculum For Junior Week At Christian Youth Encampment, Justin Lance Simmons

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum framework for the Junior Week of camp at Christian Youth Encampment (CYE) in DeRidder, LA. The initial step in this project was to develop information on the ministerial context of CYE by investigating its history and interviewing those who have experienced camp both as campers and staff. Next, an examination of theological and theoretical foundations was made, considering the history of narrative in the instruction of children both for Israel and the church. Also, the concept and practices of narrative and its usefulness as a pedagogical tool were explored. Using …

Infusing Theology In Changemaking Curricula: Engaging Justice Natives With Christian Social Thought, Jonathan Bowman Phd

Communication: Faculty Scholarship

As “justice natives,” today's undergraduate students are motivated to engage directly with the world around them in ways unseen throughout most previous generations. Interestingly, secular humanistic perspectives on changemaking are in keeping with a wide variety of biblical teachings and principles of Christian social thought. At the same time, educators and practitioners can better engage these students to lessen a disconnect that often seems to emerge between social justice causes and the modern church. This paper applies a praxis-based approach, Kingian Theology, the Beatitudes from the gospels, elements of liberation theology, Wesley's thoughts about community engagement, and principles of both …

Reviving The Christian Left: A Thematic Analysis Of Progressive Christian Identity In American Politics, Adam Blake Arledge

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While Christianity in American politics today is mostly dominated by the voice of the Religious Right, many are unaware that there also exists a significant number of progressive Christians throughout the country. This diverse group, often referred to as the Christian Left, is not as organized or outspoken as conservative Christians and tends to shy away from the restrictive influence of identity labels. However, members all share in common a passion for social justice issues. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the identity of Christian Left individuals through a thematic analysis of interviews. By interrogating participants’ identity …

Developing Practices Within The Lord’S Supper That Develop Central Identity At Queen City Church Of Christ, Ryan Russell

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project was designed to meet a need at the Queen City Church of Christ (QCC) for developing intentional practices around the Lord’s Supper for forming a central identity in a diverse community. The scope of this project focuses on the project group’s ability to develop practices based on the theology of the Lord’s Supper, biblical teaching, engaging in practices of spiritual formation as a group, and their observations of Lord’s Supper practices in other Christian traditions. Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth provides the textual context for the discussion of the role the Lord’s Supper plays within …

Creating An Action Plan To Increase Diversity And Inclusion At Northwest Church Of Christ, Kenton Reeves Brown

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project was designed to meet a need at the Northwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City to help the church transition from a church that values diversity to one that realizes its vision of being diverse and inclusive. The scope of this project was to create an action plan to increase diversity and inclusion to present to the church leaders for their consideration. The theological foundation for the project comes from Paul’s convictions, expressed in Gal 1–2, that any who are in Christ should not be excluded or treated as a lower-class member of the community based on their …

Developing Ethical Training Curriculum For University Short-Term Missions, Elizabeth P. Sutphin

Honors Scholars Collaborative Projects

This thesis addresses common problems associated with short-term mission (STM) trips and the gaps in existing training materials for these trips. The research throughout this project is designed to inspire community-specific training materials for college students participating in domestic STM trips through their universities. The final chapter of this thesis includes the framework for a sample curriculum to promote sustainable STM work — providing cross-cultural communication techniques and relationship-building tools to avoid harming the communities students seek to serve.

The Emotional, Mental, And Spiritual Well-Being Of Gen Z: Perceived Social Media Messages, Abigail Marie Hayes

Masters Theses

Technology has rapidly interwoven itself into the life of an individual. Social media makes up a large part of technology, an ever-changing system of mediums that portray messages depending on the current events. The messages communicated on various social media platforms fundamentally alter Generation Z’s (Gen Z’s) emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. As technology progresses, the necessity of studying the impacts of mediums on Gen Z, digital natives, increases. A study was conducted on 46 Gen Z participants specifically on how they utilize the most popular social media platform for Gen Z–Instagram, to determine their perceived emotional, mental, and spiritual …

Chimes: November 8, 2021, Calvin University

Chimes

What have we lost? by Timothy Lin

JV soccer makes the most of five-game season by Jamison Van Andel

Calvin Prison Initiative reconnects after season of remote learning by Grace Toma

Christians, climate change and the church: Calvin staff reflect on environmental stewardship by Kipp De Man

Labor and supply chain challenges cause catering limitations by Isaiah Tenhuisen

Calvin alum founds non-profit for transracial foster care adoptees, global partnership by Hadassa Ribeiro

Non-traditional STEM students bring life experience to class by Sarah Gibes

Artist Collaborative gets an update by Ezra Craker

​Burned Out But Barely Begun: A Qualitative Study On Newer Clergy And Communication Surrounding Emotional Labor And Personal Well-Being In South Mississippi, Lauren Noll

Master's Theses

This study provides an overview of the concepts surrounding clergy burnout,

organizational culture, and emotional labor theory. Furthermore, it explains the need

for  clearer understanding of clergy perceptions of their own personal

experiences with burnout and their emotional wellbeing in relation to their organizational environment and careers as clergy members. The methodology of qualitative interviews sought to understand the narratives and experiences of clergy members from their own words and worldviews rather than from a statistical basis or analysis.

This research found answers to key questions involving communication about burnout in the context of organizational culture and emotional labor, including …

A Christian Ethic For Coaches, George Lamaster

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Coaching is a calling and ministry. At least for many in the Christian tradition, that‘s true. Be they little-league coaches, birthing coaches, or executive coaches, coaches often view their work as a sacred vocation. While in seminary, I moonlighted as a speech and debate coach at a state university. I quickly discovered that my so-called secular work transformed lives as surely as youth ministry in the local parish. Whether it occurs in the context of the church or the public sphere, the practice of coaching invites sacramental moments of transformation by grace.

What follows is my attempt to think theologically …

Adolescent Spiritual Formation: Practical Theology As A Filter For Youth Ministry, Jeremy Smith

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

There seems to be a disconnect between the practice and scholars of youth ministry. Historically, the practice of youth ministry has been overly concerned with method, creating multiple approaches, each with its own inherent shortcomings. Responding to this overemphasis on method, scholars of youth ministry have argued for a more theological framework, assuming that the problem lies within a lack of theological education among youth ministry practitioners. In 2001 youth ministry scholarship made a case to place the field of youth ministry under the discipline of practical theology in hopes of grounding the practice of youth ministry in theology. Over …

Cultivating Virtue: Developing A Guiding Document For Youth Ministry At Cookeville First United Methodist Church, Adam Daniels

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to produce a guiding document of virtues that represented the type of Christ-like character qualities desired in youth at Cookeville First United Methodist Church. The six virtues chosen in the document represent a comprehensive vision for character growth over the course of students’ time in the program. To provide a theological foundation for this project, I examined the idea that virtue has a narrative shape where words find their meaning in a story. For our purposes, this story is generally stated as the story of Jesus at first but is then seen as best …

Andrews University Appoints New Chaplains, Andrews University

Andrews Agenda: Campus News

No abstract provided.

Chimes: November 15, 2019, Calvin University

Chimes

Changes to internship requirements for intl students spark frustrations, town hall by McKinley Anderson

MacArthur, Moore controversy leads to Calvin prof response by Harm Venhuizen

Q&A with new director of student activities Jack Droppers by David Swartzentruber

Geography dept. offers geographic information systems certificate by Abby Poirier

How novelist Timothy Zahn saved Star Wars by Connor Veenstra

Selling a vision: the advertising strategies of the Calvin brand by Harm Venhuizen

Elected To Serve, Gillian Panigot

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

The Religious Classroom: Analyzing The Cross-Application Of Instructional Communication Pedagogy To Youth Ministries, Lakelyn Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Instructional communication literature suggests that, to achieve optimal student learning outcomes, an instructor must completely engage in all aspects of experiential learning. It follows, then, that youth ministers should also employ experiential learning in their youth ministries to achieve their learning outcome goals among the youth they teach. This research project examined three research questions: 1.) What pedagogical strategies do youth ministers use during large group class sessions? 2.) In what ways do youth ministers employ instructional communication best practices within their pedagogical strategies? 3.) What strategies do former students remember their youth minister using the most? The analysis revealed …

The Practice Of Children’S Ministry: Developing A Cohesive Vision Of Practice With Church Leaders, Shannon Clarkson Rains

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to create a congregational workshop for church leaders that leads to the development of a cohesive vision for the practice of children’s ministry. In order to do this, I began by presenting the evolution of children’s ministry in the Churches of Christ along with the current tensions that exist between ministers and church leadership created by a lack of cohesive vision for the practice of children’s ministry. This foundational understanding of the origins of this tension supports my discussion of a vision for children’s ministry that includes attention to the spiritual formation of children—an …

Gold & Blue, Spring 2019, St. Mary's University- San Antonio, Texas

Gold & Blue

This is the Spring 2019 edition of Gold & Blue which is St. Mary's University's official school publication.

On Waking Up, Becky St. Clair

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Snc Opens Doors To Class Of ’22

St. Norbert Times

• News
  • SNC Opens Doors to Class of ’22
  • Get Involved with Student Orgs
  • The Art of Creation
  • New Freshmen Go Into the Streets
• Opinion
  • Remembering John McCain
  • The Value of Liberal Arts
  • Burnout: A Forgotten Affliction
  • The Morality of Hard Work
• Features
  • Campus Spotlight: What is PAW?
  • Burke: The Singles Life,
• Entertainment
  • Student Spotlight
  • Sudoku
  • Trivia
  • The Big Question: How to Make a Living in Music?
  • Oscars Adds ‘Popular Film’ Category
  • Book Review: Six Moon Summer
  • Junk Drawer: Summer Catch-Up
• Sports
  • SNC Football Preview
  • Cross Country Dominates at Tom Barry
  • New Look Knights Serve for Thirteen Straight
  • Usain Bolt: Trading …

Augustana Softball As A Means To Connect People From Different Cultures, Taylor Belo, Marissa Catalano

Celebration of Learning

In December of 2016, the Augustana Softball team traveled to Capetown, South Africa to share their love for the game of softball to the developing communities. While there, the team came in contact with Noel Soko, one of South Africa's very own youth ministry directors. Soko designates his life's work to guiding troubled children to follow their faith through the involvement of sports. Augustana Softball continues to help advance this program through donations and support from across the globe.

Spartan Daily, February 22, 2018, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2018

Volume 150, Issue 13

Chimes: February 16, 2018, Calvin College

Chimes

Draft statement envisions Calvin as university by Josh Parks

Moody faces financial investigation by Luke Enders

Former FIDC director shares behind-the-scenes perspective by Dana Drosdick

Calvin couples talk love, careers and compromise by Dana Drosdick

GR poetry competition celebrates 50 years by Morgan Anderson

Gospel choir performs adaptation of sermons by Rae Gernant

Making the world a smaller place: Off-Capus Programs by Madalyn Buursma

'The Amish project' cast performs first-ever CTC encore by Brandon Schreur

Barna study raises questions about Gen Z's role in church

Chimes: October 6, 2017, Calvin College

Chimes

Questioning gentrification in the heartside communithy by Kathryn Mae Post

Distinguished alumni honored by Hannah Butler

Professors and staff bring Christian perspective to sex ed by Joshua Polanski

Calvin Improv introduced two new members by Emily Stroble

Urban Roots creates pilot composting community by Amelia Sterenberg

'An Evening with Jon Foreman' concert review by Ryan Leck

'Calender Girls' shows the true meaning of friendship at any age by Janelle Conti

Men's soccer shuts out Olivet 8-0 by Purun Yeo

'Star Wars' anthology gives life to unsee moments by Gwyneth Findlay

Sci Sit-Down: A Q&A with Prof. David Benson by David …

The Antelope, University Of Nebraska At Kearney

The Antelope

No abstract provided.

On Solid Ground I Stand: Narratives On Disclosure, Resilience, And Faith Amidst Recognition Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Wade Rhodes Dundee

Masters Theses

Childhood sexual abuse seems to be a hidden secret in American society; one of the famous, "If we don't talk about it, it won't happen" narratives. However, we know this is not true. Both the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2012) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2005) state one in four girls and one in six boys will fall victim to sexual abuse before they celebrate their 18th birthday. There is a high probability that because of the alarming lack of disclosure of male survivors, these statistics could be incorrect and could hinder creating or allowing for conversations …

The Antelope, University Of Nebraska At Kearney

The Antelope

No abstract provided.

Chimes: October 28, 2016, Calvin College

Chimes

New center for student success by Julia McKee

Silver screen spooks to watch this Halloween by Brandon Schreur

Cameroonian pastor questions prosperity gospel by Juliana Ludema

Calvin Improv by Mark Peless

Calvin CFAC receives indie pop duo Tegan and Sara

History colloquium integrates business and religion by Matt Leistra

Fall sports wrap up as teams look to championships by Mark Peless