Digital Commons Network^™

A Training Manual For Small-Group Evangelization Of Youth Unbelievers, Stanley Vincent James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project is a study on the evangelism toward young adult unbelievers by church members of The Power of the Living God Church of Galveston. This DMin action research project aims to motivate church members to evangelize this critical group of unbelievers. The focus will concentrate on the reasons given by members for non-participation. The questions concerning the lack of participation would be analyzed to assess the behavior of the members and to ultimately determine a path forward for effective participation. The project will utilize interviews and focus groups to ascertain the reasons for the lack of motivation for …

Sterba’S Logical Argument From Evil And The God Who Walks Away From Omelas, Erik J. Wielenberg

Philosophy Faculty publications

The logical argument from evil, generally thought to have been defused by Alvin Plantinga’s free will defense, has been reinvigorated by James Sterba’s exposition and defense of a new version of the argument that draws on recent work in moral philosophy. Whereas J.L. Mackie’s argument uses what can now be seen to be overly simplistic principles to try to establish a logical incompatibility between the existence of God and any evil at all, Sterba’s argument uses more sophisticated moral principles and seeks to establish a logical incompatibility between the existence of God (specifically, the God of Perfect Being Theology) and …

Church Stigma: Healing A Wounded Reputation In The Community, Ryan Shane Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

MWBC developed a pernicious stigma in their community that consumed their reputation, making it virtually impossible to witness because of the negativity encompassing the church. If the stigma was not remedied, it was apparent that the church would struggle to be a light for Christ in the community and keep its doors open. The methodology of this research project successfully designed a model that revived the church and restored its reputation in the community. Sources on revitalization are abundant, but unearthing sources on how a church might restore a stigma or wounded reputation in the community to a holy character …

Evaluating Congregational Leaders And Flourishing, Isaac Voss

Essays

No abstract provided.

Review Of: Heaven Will Heal: Eternal Perspectives In The Life And Times Of Oregon Bishop, John P. Yoder. Iowa To The West Coast, 1885-1975—Mary (Gingerich) Kropf, Paul Smucker

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Heaven Will Heal is a history of the life and times of John P. Yoder written by John’s granddaughter. John wrote and received numerous letters in his lifetime and saved all his letters that he received. After John’s death his son Glenn also saved the letters. When John’s granddaughter Mary gained access to the letters and postcards, she read them carefully, and she decided to use these letters as a basis of telling the history of her grandpa, the Anabaptist community in the southern Willamette Valley, and the Harrisburg Mennonite Church from its beginnings to the 1970s. [First paragraph.]

Symposium Review: The Teacher's Manual—Jennifer Anderson, Keri Yoder, Caleb Yoder, Jonathan Erb

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

A compilation of an experienced teacher’s advice and wisdom, The Teacher’s Manual conveys tons of information in a methodical, serious tone. The author, Jennifer Anderson, has taught in a variety of settings including parochial schools, Christian day schools, and public schools. Her pupils came from a range of Conservative Mennonites, Old Order Mennonites, Amish, Amish-Mennonites, Dunkard Brethren, and non-Anabaptists. She has taught every grade level.Her book is directed at Amish and Mennonite teachers and tackles not only the oft-heard problems and misunderstandings but also wades into the sticky stuff teachers face. She not only lists potential problems but also provides …

The Ramifications Of Wisconsin V. Yoder: Six Foundational Problems With A 50-Year Old Landmark Case, Torah Bontrager

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

My essay introduces the 1972 United States Supreme Court case Wisconsin v. Yoder to readers who don’t come from a legal background who want to understand the negative ramifications of the case and how it affects their individual rights. Yoder says that children of practicing Amish don’t have a right to any education and future other than one inside the Amish Church. My essay deconstructs the case from the perspective of an Amish American woman— yours truly — who escaped in the middle of the night at age 15 because of how this ruling has shaped the Amish people. I …

Gish's "God's Wounded World: American Evangelicals And The Challenge Of Environmentalism" (Book Review), Deborah A. Millier

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Elementary Teacher Efficacy In Christian Private Schools And Public Schools, Jasmine Floyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to compare elementary teacher efficacy in Christian private schools and public schools to determine if there was a difference in overall efficacy, instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement. Teacher efficacy shapes instructional performance and student academic achievement, so a deeper study of public and Christian school teacher efficacy was significant to recognize factors present in each type of school that could impact instruction and achievement. This study consisted of a convenience sample of 229 teachers of kindergarten through fifth grade at Christian private and public schools in the southeastern United States. …

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual (Lgbt) U.S. Latinx Catholics And The U.S. Catholic Church: A Critique Of Certain Aspects Of Roman Catholic Moral Teaching In Light Of A Latinx Theological Anthropology, Leonardo Daniel Mendoza

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This Capstone Research Project aims to address the certain aspects of Roman Catholic moral teaching. Throughout this project I argue that when it comes to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Queer (LGBTQ+) Catholics, the moral teaching is essentially corrupt. This paper begins by providing an overview of current Catholic teaching relevant to LGBTQ+ persons. In the second section I focus on the lived experience on the Latinx LGBTQ+ community in the United States to demonstrate several flaws in Catholic moral tradition. I place a special emphasis on the Latinx LGBTQ+ community in Florida as I base my argument on …

Institute For Pastoral Initiatives 2025 Strategic Plan, University Of Dayton. Institute For Pastoral Initiatives

Documents and Publications of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives

This document reflects IPI’s Team discussions with Dave Ramey and the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office for Phase I of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives Strategic Planning Process. Phase II begins September 2022 through January 2023 developing specific action steps for each Strategic Goal (A-G) for 2023-2025 in consultation with various groups associated with the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives' future.

"I Am Who I Am": Lgbtq+ Student Experiences At A Baptist Liberal Arts University., Edwin Pavy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Though studies exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ students on Christian college and university (CCU) campuses are increasingly prevalent, research continues to demonstrate that CCU environments are often unwelcoming. Gender and sexual minority students often face additional challenges or risks in attending a faith-based institution. To drive meaningful change, recommendations need to be tailored to individual institutions. This study sought to make meaning alongside LGBTQ+ students at a single institution – Baptist Heritage University (BHU) – with a decidedly appreciative approach. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecology of human development, we conducted an arts- based action research study to gain a deeper understanding …

2022 Visiting Scholar Reflection: Alyssa Maldonado-Estrada, Alyssa Maldonado-Estrada

Marian Fellowships and Other Sponsored Research in the Marian Library

Alyssa Maldonado-Estrada, an assistant professor of religion at Kalamazoo College and editor of the journal Material Religion, received the Marian Library Visiting Scholar Fellowship for the project “Reinventing the Rosary: Innovation and Catholic Prayer.”

The rosary has been a fixture of Catholic prayer life for centuries, Maldonado-Estrada says. Its most familiar form — a string of grouped beads with a separate strand ending in a crucifix, is familiar to the point of being iconic. But according to Maldonado-Estrada, the design of the rosary isn’t locked in. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the rosary has undergone marked transformations that appeal …

Foundational Missionaries Of South American Adventism [Review] Plenc, Daniel O., Silvia C. Scholtus, Eugenio Di Dionisio And Sergio Becerra, Eric E. Richter

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

This is a book review by Eric E. Richter.

How To Help The Bi-Vocational Pastor At Sandy Grove Church To Have Balance In Ministry And Life Through Equipping & Teaching Of The Saints Along With A Structured Plan To Meet The Ministry Demands, Duran Kiley Odoms

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Burnout, a subject that was birthed in the 1970s was only associated with the private and public sectors of the workforce. It has transitioned into other avenues where personal interaction takes place. Ministry is a profession where people interaction happens weekly and sometimes daily. Ministry is repetitive work that must be done daily, weekly, and monthly. Many pastors have fallen prey to this awful and painful enemy. Burnout has caused many pastors to lose their church, family, and life. The lack of ministry assistance and the demand for the job have taken a toll on many pastors whether they are …

Higher Meanings: A Speaker Series Connecting Mathematics And Religion, Lawrence M. Lesser, Patricia S. Barrientos, Ben Zeidman

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

An innovative grant-funded general adult audiences international speaker series on connections between mathematics and religion yielded six 2021 (now archived) presentations. We share reflections and lessons learned, informed by two sets of surveys.

Review Of Faith-Based Organizations In Transnational Peacebuilding, Timothy Seidel

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Oscar Romero And Juan Gerardi: Truth, Memory, And Hope, Scott Wright

The Journal of Social Encounters

Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero and Guatemalan Bishop Juan Gerardi were prominent defenders of human rights during the civil wars that characterized their two countries during the 1980s and 1990s. By their public proclamations and prophetic witness, they laid the foundation for the United Nations Truth Commission in El Salvador, the United Nations Commission for Historical Clarification in Guatemala, and the Recovery of the Historic Memory (REMHI) project in Guatemala. Inspired by the need to dignify the victims of state-sponsored violence by refusing to forget, and accompanying the survivors in their struggle for justice, Romero and Gerardi were instrumental in uncovering …

An Angry Shepherd: Sudanese Bishop Macram Max Gassis, John Ashworth

The Journal of Social Encounters

Bishop Macram Max Gassis is a near-legendary figure in Sudan since he first spoke out against human rights abuses in his country before a committee of the US Congress in 1988. Targeted by the Islamist military dictatorship which ruled Sudan for thirty years, for protesting enslavement, religious oppression, forced starvation and mass murder in Sudan, he lives in exile, bringing help and hope to his persecuted people.

This essay is condensed from the 2021 book by the same author with the same title.

Opening Plenary Address At The Catholic Peacebuilding In Times Of Crisis: Hope For A Wounded World Conference, H. E. Cardinal Charles Bo

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

The Existence Of Indonesian Islamic Market Stocks During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Febryna Rizka Pratiwi, Nur Fatwa Dr.

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

When the first Covid-19 case entered Indonesia, Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) underwent a very deep correction until it reached its lowest point in the last decade, from the level of 6,300 to the level of 3,975 as of March 24, 2020. But, an interesting fact in the following months the JCI consistently rose, and even managed to break back above the 6000 level in the period from the end of 2020 to the beginning of 2021. Indonesia has again won the nomination for the category 'The Best Islamic Capital Market 2020' from the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA). The growth …

Doing Philosophy Comparatively In Southern Europe: Western, Mediterranean, Islamic And Other Perspectives In Engagement, Nevad Kahteran

Comparative Philosophy

Aiming to become a part of transcultural discourses and debates, the author argues in this paper for the use of transcultural approaches overcoming the traditional ones in doing philosophy comparatively in the Southern Europe. Within this framework, new forms of cross-cultural philosophizing in the Mediterranean philosophy will arise in the triangle among the Western Balkans, Italy and Greece as a transcultural exchange of knowledge and ideas including more than twenty surrounding countries in the Mediterranean basin. In this regard, the author is trying to find a way for deepening and broadening transcultural approaches concerning the Southern Europe in general and …

Internalized Homophobia: A Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapeutic Approach Using The Principles Of Complex Thinking, Daniel Rzondzinski

Consensus

This article describes the construction and application of a complex spiritually integrated psychotherapeutic model for assessment and treatment of internalized homophobia. Homophobia is a complex phenomenon because it includes multiple dimensions: personal, interpersonal, institutional, cultural, political, social, and historical. Internalized homophobia is a mental health problem that affects the subjectivity of 2SLGBTQ+ people. The model explained in this article is a product of the integration of principles from psychoanalytic psychotherapy, 2SLGBTQ+ affirmative framework, narrative therapy, and spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The integration is facilitated by the principles of complex thinking. This article emphasizes the problem of internalized homophobia and the coming …

Jesus Before Pilate In The Passion Of The Christ: A Film Essay Exploring Honour And Shame, Brock J. Vaughan

Consensus

No abstract provided.

The Need For Queer Education In Graduate Psychotherapy Programs, Rachel Warner

Consensus

No abstract provided.

"Letter To The Central Committee Of The World Council Of Churches," By The Conference On Religion And Politics In The Context Of The War Against Ukraine, Various Authors

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Sport Chaplains And Social Workers: A Theoretical Understanding Of A Necessary Component Of An Interprofessional Collaborative Practice In Sport In The United States, Lauren Beasley Phd, Ms, Lmsw, Emily J. Johnson Mph, Ms, Steven N. Waller Phd, Dmin, Cspc

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

Holistic care of athletes is a growing area of research and practice. Yet, there is still much to consider as attention to this matter continues to expand. Specifically, what are the different theoretical perspectives of each profession working together towards the holistic care of athletes? The theoretical understanding between professions is essential for effective interprofessional teams—what some scholars have termed interprofessional cultural competence. The purpose of this paper is thus to provide the theoretical underpinnings for collaboration between sport chaplains and social workers, both emerging professions within interprofessional care in sport. This paper presents the unique partnership of sport chaplains …

Digging Deeper Into Constitutional Law, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Unfinished Play Takes Stage, Ana Timmer

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Spouses’ Scriptural Beliefs, The Faithfulness Of Relationship With God, And Marital Satisfaction, Cristina Sanda Emrich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A substantial body of research attests to religion's prominent influence on marital relationship quality. Aspects of religiosity that appear to enhance the quality of marital relationships include couples’ religious homogamy, prayer, religious involvement, spouses’ virtues, and sanctification of marriage. The couples reported studying the Scriptures to be beneficial in coping with life challenges and playing an important role in spouses’ conflict resolution. This study examines the association between marital satisfaction and biblical principles related to constructs such as forgiveness and commitment. It is assumed that relational virtues become relevant for marital quality as scriptural beliefs required by God. Spouses forgive …