Digital Commons Network^™

Czech Resistance To Organized Religion, Donald L. Schwarz Jr.

Theology Undergraduate Work

According to current statistics, the Czech Republic is a secular, post-communist, post-Christian nation that is almost 80% atheist/agnostic, yet it boasts a vibrant spiritual heritage. Over the last twenty-five years of ministry in this country, the author has observed that it is challenging for Czechs, specifically those newly professing faith in Christ, to integrate into local Czech churches. This research paper briefly reviews the Biblical foundations for the Church, its mission and purpose, and then explores some of the reasons that Czechs resist the Church and organized religion. This paper argues that Czechs are not averse to God but rather …

Servant-Leadership: Social-Science Model Or Biblical Model--Which Is Predominant Within Southern Baptist Ministry Leadership?, Norman Custis Snead Sr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive research study was to discover the most predominant leadership style, of the five styles being measured (Autocratic/Authoritarian, Bureaucratic, Democratic, Laissez-faire, or Servant-Leader), that was found within the ministry leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention, and to discover which servant-leadership model (social-science or biblical) was more predominantly followed by those using a servant-leadership style. Furthermore, the correlation of their leadership position and educational level were analyzed for those ministry leaders predominantly following the social-science model of servant-leadership. The social-science model was identified and defined through a literature review. Whereas, the biblical model was defined and …

Youth To Adult Continuance Of Faith: How To Achieve Young Adult Retention Through Pre-Adult Instruction, Michael Leslie Tyree Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project grows out of the late teen through the twenty-something absence of young adult believers as active Crawford Road Baptist Church (CRBC) members. This phenomenon, young adult absence, is experienced in many churches and therefore worthy of research to discover causal influences and possible mitigations. Project research included scholarly books and direct interviews with ministry experts. The project topic is youth to the young adult continuance of faith and how to achieve young adult retention through preadult instruction. Research in this effort has included discipleship, church growth, worship, culture, and relevant young adult statistical data review. This project will …

An Attempt To Understand Gender And Gender Dysphoria: A Christian Approach, Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

"Read It Again!": Storytelling To Imitate The Great Teacher, Kate Whatley

Senior Honors Theses

The student’s mind is bent on stories, asking mothers around the world to ‘read it again’. These stories preserve information and emotions for centuries. In the classroom, stories enliven motivation and empathy in ways that result in higher academic achievement and social awareness. Learning to use stories as a key instructional strategy will allow for more equitable opportunities in classrooms, encourage mental health and truth telling for the teacher and the student collectively, and allow the academic community to imitate Christ by contributing to the bigger story taking place across time. In application of using stories as teachers, this thesis …

‘Jesus Is Not A Foreign God’: Baptist Music Making In Burma/Myanmar, Heather Maclachlan

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

Christians in the Southeast Asian country of Burma, also known as Myanmar, make up approximately five percent of the national population. The Christian community of Burma includes both Catholics and Protestants, and Baptists predominate among the Protestants. In this article I argue that twenty-first century Protestant Burmese Christians fulfill both aspects of a “twofold legacy” bequeathed to them by Adoniram Judson, the first Baptist missionary to Burma, and that their fulfillment of this legacy is manifest in their musical practices. I further argue that it has been, and continues to be, to Burmese Christians’ advantage to emphasize both aspects of …

Vatican Ii, Liberation Theology, And Vernacular Masses For The Family Of God In Central America, Bernard J. Gordillo

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) instituted reforms in the Catholic Church that included changes in language and music employed in the liturgy, inspiring a proliferation of sung vernacular masses throughout Latin America. Drawing on archival and ethnographic research undertaken in Nicaragua and the United States, this article examines three Central American vernacular masses—Misa típica panameña de San Miguelito (1967), Misa popular nicaragüense (1969), and Misa campesina nicaragüense (1975). Each mass emanated from communities founded as part of the transnational Familia de Dios (Family of God) movement, which established programs of religious education, leadership training, and community building among impoverished …

Sankyoku Magazine And The Invention Of The Shakuhachi As Religious Instrument In Early 20th-Century Japan, Matt Gillan

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

The early 20^th century was a period in which understandings of music, religion, and the nation-state underwent rapid change in Japan. In this article I examine Japanese cultural discourse from the first decades of the 20^th century in which the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute, was frequently portrayed as a religious instrument. In some cases, this discourse referenced pre-20^th century historical affiliations of the shakuhachi with the Fuke-sect, an organization that was loosely affiliated to Rinzai Zen Buddhism. But the article also explores how religio-musical discourse surrounding the shakuhachi intersected with developments in modern Japanese religious life, …

Bus Line 163: A Public Pilgrim Bus To Rachel’S Tomb In Jerusalem, Mustafa Diktaş

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Buses are networks for both physical and social mobility. They permit people to become part of temporary communities of individuals whose goal is to travel along linear routes, which connect multiple stops and reach certain destinations. Through an ethnographic case study of Bus No. 163, which is designated for Jewish pilgrims traveling to Rachel’s tomb in Jerusalem, this paper focuses on the interactions between travelers that took place on this bus during December 2019 and February 2020. The interactions of people on Bus No 163 helps us better understand this liminal phase of pilgrimage. The findings of the research, as …

Spirit Of Community: Forced Vulnerability, The Little Details As Realized Hope, And Lament As Prophetic Protest, Neomi De Anda

Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

This paper presents the Holy Spirit Lecture Response to James Keenan, S.J., in 2021. The paper argues that vulnerability needs further contextualization because of power dynamics. In some situations, vulnerability is forced, even when an individual has full agency in making choices. Mary of Nazareth is used as an example as is the song "Lamento Bolivano."

Beyond Translated Vs. Indigenous: Turkish Protestant Christian Hymnody As Global And Local Identity, Jeremy Perigo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

At Turkey’s first national worship conferences in 2011, a passionate debate arose on whether Western music or indigenous Turkish music was most appropriate for worship. Some Turks felt that the Western missionaries were imposing indigenous musics on Turks as a type of “reverse colonization”. They felt that the current Western musical styles were best for worship. One Turk stated, “the saz is being forced down our throats”. Other Turks felt liberated to sing and play songs in traditional Turkish musical styles. The debate at the conference highlights the desire of missionaries and Turks to see renewal in congregational hymnody. Nevertheless, …

Reviews, Robert D. Mcbain

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Reviews Wonsuk Ma and Kathaleen Reid-Martinez. Human Sexuality & the Holy Spirit: Spirit-Empowered Perspectives.

Robert D. McBain ................................................................................................333

Robert D. McBain. Depression, Where is Your Sting?

Cletus L. Hull, III .................................................................................................335

John R. Levison. The Holy Spirit Before Christianity.

William Lyons ......................................................................................................337

Andrew Ray Williams. Washed in the Spirit: Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Water Baptism.

Christopher J. King ..............................................................................................341

Makoto Fujimura. Art and Faith: A Theology of Making.

Martin Mittelstadt ................................................................................................343

Hannah R. K. Mather. Spirit, Scripture, and Interpretation in the Renewal Tradition.

Rick Wadholm, Jr. ................................................................................................345

Frank D. Macchia. The Spirit-Baptized Church: A Dogmatic Inquiry …

Adult Catechesis: Cognition And Application For The Christian Life, Jason D. Gudim

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Gudim, Jason D. “Adult Catechesis as Formation and Habitus for the Christian Life.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2021. 127 pp.

The Small and Large Catechisms are a central part of confessional Lutheran theology. Catechism instruction is built into the practice of confirmation. But for many Lutherans, catechesis stops at confirmation, with some never opening their catechisms again. Built into the Great Commission as a disciple-making process are both baptizing and teaching. Catechesis fits the model in that the people of God are guarding the truth of Scripture that has been handed down to them generation by …

The Prophetic And Black And Pentecostal Voice: A Review Of Shoutin' In The Fire, Howard Schaap

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Shoutin’ in the Fire is a series of personal essays with elements of memoir to them, but from the start, Stewart finds his voice in others’ voices."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the book Shoutin' in the Fire 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.

https://inallthings.org/the-prophetic-and-black-and-pentecostal-voice-a-review-of-shoutin-in-the-fire/

St. Augustine Parish Sunday Bulletin, October 3, 2021

Saint Augustine Parish Sunday Bulletin

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Cleveland, OH

Saint Augustine Parish Sunday Bulletin Finding Aid

Apprentis D’Auteuil: A Place Of Spiritan Mission, Marc Whelan C.S.Sp.

Spiritan Horizons

No abstract provided.

Faith-Based Social Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Case Study Of Evangelicals, Richard Clark

Business as Mission Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study is the experiences of eight individual evangelical social entrepreneurs within their congregations. What type of legitimacy do they seek and/or receive for? Do they sense any pressure to conform/motivations to act relative to their congregation’s values/identity? Do these relationships encourage or discourage their entrepreneurial orientation/intensity and in what ways?

The primary research question is “how does embeddedness in an evangelical faith community affect the experiences and expression of social entrepreneurial orientation and intensity for evangelical faith-based social entrepreneurs, if at all?”

The study identifies three types of congregations in terms of their relationship to the …

Spiritan Mission In Asia, Pat Palmer C.S.Sp.

Spiritan Horizons

No abstract provided.

What’S Happened To My Church, South Church Andover, Ucc? Individuals Change Within A Community Of Faith, Changing The Church, Evangelical To Progressive, Janet Clarke

Religious & Theological Studies Student Work

My college admission letter dated August 25, 2020, the personal statement for my college application, included here, states my heartfelt concern about the declining church, for my family, for all people, and for society in general.

"My faith journey has been so rich and informs who I am, as a child of God, living in God's Grace, and Love, and Forgiveness, and taught me so much of how to live in the wider universe, teaching what was unavailable from my family or schooling. I am so grateful for God’s Grace and Peace, and I can not understand how others live …

Concordia Seminary Magazine Summer 2021, Vicki Biggs

Concordia Seminary Magazine

Made Ready

The Multi-Step Approach To Covid Prevention In The Casamance Region, Saraí Hernandez Salguero

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Located in the Oussouye Department approximately 43 kilometers away from the city of Ziguinchor in the Basse Casamance region of southern Senegal is the Oussouye commune where I had the pleasure of staying for three weeks. I had learned that the inhabitants of this village were not significantly impacted by the Covid-19 virus since it became global knowledge at the start of 2020. As of March 2020, the village had only reported 69 active cases and the department saw only 8 deaths in total. I sought to figure out what could be the cause of this and through a series …

More Sick, More Spiritual? More Research Needed: A Review Of Spirituality In Youth With Chronic Illness Compared With Their Healthy Peers, Carrie Ives

Religious & Theological Studies Student Work

Purpose: This review seeks to discover whether youth with chronic illness are more spiritual than their healthy peers.

Methods: A total of 111 articles were gathered via MackSearch and reference list evaluation. Of those, 63 were ruled out by title or abstract. Forty-three sources were appropriate for background reference, leaving five articles for review.

Findings: Based on the reviewed studies, any increase in spirituality among chronically ill youth compared to their healthy peers is minimal. There is suspicion that the majority of the assessment tools used were not adequately sensitive for the adolescent population.

Discussion: Assessments that are validated for …

Biblical Social Justice And Ethical Leadership: A Pastoral Perspective, Boubakar Sanou

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Systematizing Mission: Focusing On Counting Down Rather Than Counting Up, Jeff Scoggins

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

First Responder Chaplaincy: Sending Sources As Key Social Support Structures, Christopher Alan Bassett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Police and fire chaplaincy comprises an emerging ministry profession that is underrepresented in academic study. This study addresses the problem of support structure inadequacies among First Responder Chaplains (FRCs) which create conditions that lead to burnout. The study examines their often-problematic connections to churches, denominations, and other endorsing agencies (sending sources). The purpose of the project is to assess those connections and provide remediation inadequacies. The thesis project examines Chaplaincy Organizational Agencies (COAs) and develops solutions for FRCs to build better initial and ongoing relationships with their sending sources. The thesis suggests that chaplains who are properly affirmed, supported, and …

Equipping Military Chaplains With A Framework For Mental Wellness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Stephanie Okolo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although it is said that the sight of a battlefield after combat can fill princes with a love of peace and haunt them with the horrors of war, the mental health effects of war on soldiers are often frustratingly difficult to comprehend. It is, however, clear that warzones and the general environments in which deployed soldiers work can have negative impacts on their mental health. Military chaplains work closely with deployed soldiers and should be well-equipped with the knowledge to help them understand their mental health needs. It is important that they possess the right skills to do this well. …

The Messiah, The Mandate, And The Mission To Implement Multicultural Evangelism Through Intentional Racial Reconciliation Among African Americans And Caucasian Christians, Panisha Levern Stigger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The Household Of God: Building Communities Of Shalom, Jodi Gatlin

Doctor of Ministry

This paper explores the problem of anxiety, loneliness, and division within the United States. Research shows that while anxiety, loneliness, and division are on the rise, church participation is on the decline. In light of this reality, this paper asks the question, “How can the church be a community so that lonely and anxious people can be seen, known, and belong?”

From Genesis through Revelation, Scripture witnesses to God’s presence in creation, uniting with humanity to expand God’s heaven and earth temple into the rest of creation. Within God’s temple, God’s people are called to love God first, then self …

Dissertation Notices

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Gaspard, M. (2020). Communication in leadership conflict: A phenomenological approach to Protestant leader’s management of conflict. EdD, Northcentral University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 28154095.

Lampton, C. (2020). More listening = Less conflict. PhD, Union Institute and University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 28765571.

Moiso, A. C. (2020). Standing in the breach: A relational homiletic for conflicted times. PhD, Vanderbilt University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 27736939.

Pirtle, C. M. (2019). The discipleship principle of peacemaking: Exploring Christ-centered conflict mediation and reconciliation among Leaders at Elohim Christian Center, Garden City, GA. DMin, South University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 28155504.

Slotta, C. A. (2020). Addressing conflict successfully: A …

Concordia Seminary Magazine Fall/Winter 2021, Vicki Biggs

Concordia Seminary Magazine

Your Word is a lamp to my feet