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Calvin Theological Seminary Academic Catalog 2025-2026, Calvin Theological Seminary

Seminary Academic Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Chatgpt And Biblical Studies, James F. Mcgrath

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

The use of computers in the study of theology has a long and positive history, yet the level of concern in response to the latest AI chatbots is understandable. This article explores how education and preaching need to adapt to this new technology and what its limitations are, as well as how it may make a positive contribution. The study concludes with a brief exploration of the kinds of sermon materials GPTs produced for the author when given prompts about the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4.

Religious Bias And Texas’S Bluebonnet Learning English Language Arts Lessons, Mark Chancey

Religious Studies Research

In November 2024, after months of heated public debate, Texas approved new English language arts reading lessons for public elementary schools (kindergarten through fifth grade) that devote notably more attention to the Bible than to other religious texts and to the Christian tradition than to other religions. This article describes the controversy over these lessons and provides examples of the various ways in which they privilege Christianity over other traditions.

Repurposing The Land Of An East Los Angeles Church: The Discovery Of How Small And Medium Sized Churches Through Affordable Housing Can Combat Homelessness While Revitalizing Its Nonprofit Status, Donald Cook, Donald Ray Cook Ii

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

In order to live, humans need to sleep; therefore, sleep is mandatory, but unfortunately, everyone does not have the option of sleeping inside. Subsequently, many homeless encampments have developed in many countries. The perspective that people have often determines their response to homelessness. One person might view a homeless encampment as a problem that needs to be removed while someone else can view it as an opportunity to serve the least of these. Not only did Adam and Eve experience homelessness when removed from the Garden of Eden, but Mary, Joseph, and Jesus experienced first-hand the rollercoaster of inadequate housing. …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Faculty Perceptions Of A Humanistic Classical Education, Nils Ivan Borquist

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the descriptions of experiences for faculty members at classical education curriculum academic institutions at the PreK-12 school level. The descriptions of experiences were defined as phenomenal experiences of faculty through the subjective lens. The theory guiding this study was the humanistic learning theory of education as it focuses on self-directed and self-evaluative classwork as well as the common use of canonical works to cultivate a desire for students to learn and study great texts for their entire lives. The Central Research Question asked “How do faculty at classical education institutions …

A Teacher-Development Curriculum: Encouraging Community Discipleship Through Faith And Learning Integration At Bracken Christian High School, Denice F. Knight-Slater

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The title of this project is “A Teacher-Development Curriculum: Encouraging Community Discipleship through Faith and Learning Integration at Bracken Christian High School.” The purpose of the project was to create a seven-part curriculum that would empower educators to form an interconnected teaching community centered upon the practice of faith and learning integration. The development team hoped our work would articulate good practices and equip teachers to engage in faith conversations with their students. We utilized Parker Palmer’s classic, The Courage to Teach, as the scaffolding for our curriculum. The development team modeled faith and learning integration by creating a …

Building A Better Future For Christian Higher Education, Maria Ll Lam

Journal of the North American Management Society

This paper is an exploratory study concerning the perceptions of 16 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officers at nine Protestant evangelical Christian universities and six Catholic universities. Among these 16 DEI officers, 15 are people of color. 13 possess Ph.D. degrees and hold the highest administrative positions at their institutions. They are often required to address justice issues in their diversity initiatives if they don’t want to reproduce systematic institutional injustices in historically white-dominated Christian universities. They are working across multiple boundaries (i.e., boundary spanners) for institutional-level diversity changes. They all voice motivations to make institutional changes and 11 DEI …

Equipping Church Leadership Through Team Ministry: A Dissertation-In-Praxis Model, Judith Aarian Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Using teams in the workplace has become an efficient means to employ workers' creativity, productivity, and effectiveness (Ross et al., 2008). Likewise, ministry through teams offers the Church these same outcomes to meet its charge of the Great Commission (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Matthew 28:16-20). This research was implemented with BOLD Deliverance Ministries Incorporated (BOLD), a non-denomination church in Temple Hills, Maryland. The church’s theme of “Where together we equip the saints to serve all people” indicates an existing ideology of collaboration. This project aimed to build on this collaborative mindset by applying team leadership theory within a team ministry …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of A Blended Learning Community Designed To Encourage Biblical Literacy, Discipleship, And Formation Of A Biblical Worldview In Members Of A Local Church, Denise O. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand biblical worldview development of church members at Community Church. The theory guiding this study was Garrison et al’s (2010) Community of Inquiry (CoI). The central research question for this study was: Using a blended online learning approach based on instructional design and technology principles founded in Community of Inquiry CoI theory, how was the development of a biblical worldview influenced by discipleship in a local assembly to increase biblical literacy and community engagement? The study focused on perceptions from 12–-15 members of a small local church in the southern United …

Capes, D.B. Matthew Through Old Testament Eyes: A Background And Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mi: Kregel Academic, 2024, Edward Walton

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Revisiting Paradise Lost Through K-Pop: A Global Approach To Teaching Writing, Nayoung Bishoff

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

The short film series Wings (2016) by the Korean musical group BTS (Beyond the Scene) revisits John Milton’s Paradise Lost. BTS reinterprets Adam and Eve’s leaving of Eden as youths’ self-discovery process, overcoming a binary mindset. BTS emphasizes how experiences—trials, pains, and the struggle of youths to walk out of black-and-white perspectives—turn out to be “all so beautiful” as resources to grow. Wings demonstrates how the themes and elements in Paradise Lost can be used as a tool not only to explore Biblical concepts, but also to understand what pedagogical environments youths need to fully express themselves as writers. …

“This Cabal Guy Could Be Right”: Numeric Correlations In Maury Yeston’S In The Beginning, Leonard Vandegrift

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

The study of gematria and isopsephy, the numeric conversion of Hebrew and Greek words, yields an abundant harvest of biblical insight. Though applying this method to more secular literature is rare, we have a unique set of circumstances in Maury Yeston’s musical In the Beginning that renders its use appropriate. Derived from Hebrew and Greek, the names of the show’s principal characters can be converted to numeric values, all of which share at least one of three common factors. Moreover, the names are often connected thematically, and their factors reflect key elements in the first five books of the Bible. …

Exploring The Relationship Between Teachers' Religious Identity And Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Candace M. Kyles

Dissertations

The Separation of Church and State Clause prohibits religious practices in public schools; however, this does not inherently allow for the exploration of how religion/faith influences K-12 education and school dynamics. Administrators’ and teachers’ religious affiliation contributes to their positionality and shapes their moral ethics. To assume that K-12 teachers are not engaging with their faith and allowing it to influence how they view their students, and their teaching practice is naïve and negligent. Additionally, explicitly discussing faith is prohibited and to this end, this restriction can breed ‘unchecked’ unconscious bias. This leads to a lack of training and reflexivity …

An Examination Of How Training Impacts The Leadership And Management Competency Of Pastors Of The New Beginning Family Of Churches, Christine R. Rudolph

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has concluded that clergy need management and leadership skills to effectively lead the 21st-century church and meet its diverse challenges (Porter, 2014). These leadership skills can be taught and developed through training, mentoring, and modeling. New Beginning Worship Center Family of Churches comprised eight non-denominational churches that experienced various challenges, including membership decline and economic problems. The strategic problem was that these clergy members lacked the skills to address the challenges faced by their churches effectively. There was a need to improve the leadership and management skills of the New Beginning Worship Center pastors to allow them to address …

Faith Development In Informal Environmental Education Through Rock Climbing, Kylie Knutsen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The outdoor world invites a sense of wonder, of learning, of believing in something bigger than yourself. In order to foster this connection for years to come, it is necessary to find ways to connect individuals to the land around them. This capstone project answers the question: How can rock climbing contribute to the faith development of students and educators in the informal environmental education setting? Through research into this topic, it is concluded that place-based and outdoor experiences have the opportunity to increase both environmental literacy and Christian faith for individuals and communities. This research was used to develop …

Inciting Peace From The Inside Out, Stephen G. Adubato, Ebere Bosco Amakwe, Katherine Hinic, Sarita Maldjian, Forrest Pritchett, Jon Radwan, Nicholas Sooy, Chad Thralls

Conferences

Violence and war can be incited, and so can peace. This volume shares select addresses and responses from Seton Hall University’s 2/7/23 conference “Inciting Peace From The Inside Out.” A multi-disciplinary range of scholars each addresses how reconciliation processes grow from spiritual dynamics. Multiple religious traditions teach contemplative praxes that prioritize and nurture personal reflection oriented toward peace. Social conflicts divide, so engaging them with a partisan orientation only serves to escalate harmful rifts. In contrast, bringing personal awareness and sensitivity, spiritual balance, and holistic integral perspective to conflict can transcend divisions and work toward unity. This volume is supported …

Mentoring As A Catalyst For Change: Creating A Mentor Training Curriculum Using The Servant Leadership Model, Alana S. Freeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation-in-praxis was a response to the problem of a lack of youth involvement at Warren Chapel United American Free Will Baptist (UAFWB) church in Winterville, NC. The Collaborating Coach, Pastor Betty Haddock, and the Collaborating Team were concerned about the church's future amid its aging congregation. The importance of investing in the spiritual formation of the younger generation in preparation for them being mature successors of current leaders is a principle reflected throughout Scripture. The Bible encourages the older generation to teach the younger generation about Godly principles so they will retain what they have learned when they are …

A Phenomenological Study: Experiences Of The Church Of God In Christ Women And The Power Of Resilience, Debra Wylene Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the perceived experiences of Black women in the Church of God In Christ (COGIC), who hold senior leadership missionary roles, and the power of resilience they appear to possess. Previous studies (Starr-Parker, 2012) regarding women in the COGIC discuss barriers for women in leadership; however, there is a gap in the literature that explores the perceived tenacity of women who hold senior leadership missionary roles. The researcher did not aim to criticize the Church of God In Christ doctrine but to examine the perceived experiences of Black women in that church who hold senior leadership missionary …

The Effects Of Testimony In Seminars Through Cinemeducation, Biblical Narratives, Live Personal Testimony, And Journaling At Christ Lincoln Among Young Adults Learning To Share Testimony, Aaron Hutton

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This project explores the impact of various testimonial methods on young adults at Christ Lincoln, focusing on their ability to share personal testimonies. The study employs a multi-faceted approach, incorporating cinemeducation, biblical narratives, live personal testimonies, and journaling. Through a series of seminars and interviews, it was found that all these methods are impactful in building connections, strengthening faith, and deepening vulnerability, which in turn fosters relationships. The intertwining of God's grand narrative with personal stories brought hope and encouragement to participants. The findings suggest that this integrative approach significantly improves participants' confidence and effectiveness in sharing their testimonies, fostering …

The Congregation In All Her Glory: How The History Of The Association Of Free Lutheran Congregations (Aflc) Can Be Used To Teach Free And Living Church Polity, Stephen Mark Mundfrom

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Among Lutheran denominations in America, the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations privileges the free activity of the congregation with a unique church polity. Because of its rarity, the AFLC is especially concerned that a correct understanding of its polity be taught at its schools and passed on effectively to future generations. One way to ensure that this occurs successfully is through a combination of theological and historical instruction. Historical education has been in decline for several hundred years due to developments in Western thought. Nevertheless, significant arguments can be made for the necessity of an historical and narrative understanding of …

The Affable Raphael: Milton's Surrogate Instructor In Paradise Lost., Beau Kilpatrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667) is a beautifully written epic that continues to be a stalwart text in the English literary canon, with unlimited potential for interpretation. In this dissertation I propose that Paradise Lost can be read as a pedagogical lesson for Milton’s “fit audience,” where the author implements his views on education in the context of heaven, hell, and Paradise. In the poem, Milton presents three pedagogical methodologies: first, the wrong way to knowledge is presented through Satan’s manipulations of the fallen angels and Eve; second, the divine way to knowledge is illustrated via Michael’s prophecy to Adam …

Bedeviled Beauty: My Journey Through White American Theater Institutions, J'Aila C. Price

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Game console: Oculus Quest

World: American Theater Institutions

Player: Minority

Place: United States

Level: “Ain’t no way.”

This thesis explores the contrast between the Westernized philosophies ingrained in my education and my identity as a Black female artist. It sheds light on the difficulties of pursuing higher education in the arts and the gaps that arise from limited exposure to culturally diverse Black resources, revealing the systemic issues in Western performance education. The paper also discusses the insights gained from my journey as a Black female artist, focusing on my thesis performance of Blood at the Root, which is …

Tales From The Classroom: A Qualitative Study Of Teacher Experiences With Covid-19, Stephen B. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to discover insights into how the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown has caused residual effects on students’ academic, social, and emotional health two years removed from the pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted education from the lockdown that the leaders in the United States mandated. This lockdown removed students from school’s traditional routines, causing them to learn new ways to participate in their education. The method guiding this study is a qualitative phenomenology to focus on the lived experiences of teachers. Using a transcendental approach, the researcher will focus on the depiction of the …

The Impact Of Christian Education On Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Levels Of Spirituality And Resiliency, Lynette Rae Fair

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nursing education must focus on preparing nursing students to be adaptable and resilient in the face of changing circumstances. The problem is there is a lack of research studies focused on evaluating the effect of a Christian college/education setting on nursing students’ level of spirituality and resilience. The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to examine the differences between Christian and non-faith-based pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing education programs for spirituality and resiliency. This descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional comparative study utilized two key self-report instruments: the Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments (ASPIRES) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Data collection occurred …

Taylor: A Magazine For Taylor University Alumni, Parents, And Friends, Taylor University

The Taylor Magazine (1963-Present)

The Spring 2024 edition of Taylor Magazine, published by Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.

Full Issue

Intersections

No abstract provided.

What Our Lutheran Heritage Entails For Lutheran Colleges And Affirmative Action, Mark Ellingsen

Intersections

No abstract provided.

Ecotheology In Context: A Critical Phenomenological Study Of Graduates Of Environmentally Focused Seminary Programs In The United States Of America, Cherice Bock

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In recent decades, the field of ecotheology has emerged in dialogue with the context of the interconnected environmental and climate crises, particularly relating to the critique of Christianity being used to justify human and resource exploitation. A range of disciplines within the religious academy have taken up these intersecting concerns, together termed “ecologically informed theological education.” Graduate institutions training faith leaders and theological educators have created degree programs and certifications, and/or incorporated awareness of ecology, sustainability, and care for creation into their curricula. A research approach for ecotheology is described through the conceptual framework of critical ecotheology, which acknowledges ecotheology …

Private Christian Education And Utilization Of Evangelism Curriculum, Amy N. Mcbrayer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and implement curriculum for equipping students to communicate their faith and the gospel interculturally. The central focus of this DMIN research project to introduce a novel World Religions course to the curriculum at Angleton Christian School in order to provide the students with practical training for cross-cultural evangelism and apologetics. There were eleven total participants, all who were either junior and senior-level students at the start of the 2023 fall semester. Each student was assessed using the same theological assessment and world religion survey on both the first day …

Taylor University Graduate Catalog 2024-2025, Taylor University

Graduate Catalogs

The 2024-2025 graduate catalog of Taylor University.