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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 …

2019 - Sorrow, Hope And Joy: Life In The Mountains And Valleys Of The Psalms, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

Abilene Christian University’s 2019 Summit is designed to remind how the spiritual foundation of praying, singing and meditation helps contemporary disciples flourish during times of despair, hope and joy. In the Psalms we encounter words, music and emotions for private and communal worship times. Although sometimes neglected in the 21st century, the Psalter supplies power to transform lives by bringing God’s kindness and mercy into our world.

Just as the Psalms were the hymn book for Jesus and his followers, at Summit 2019 we will examine the many ways in which they provide a steady, sustained foundation for healthy Christian …

Elders Intentionally Developing Future Leaders Through A Mentoring Program At The Central Church Of Christ In Topeka, Ks, Terry Kitson

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to implement an Elder Mentoring Program for the Central Church of Christ in Topeka, KS. In the first chapter, the context for this project, the Central Church of Christ, is described. The theological constructs for the project were drawn from The Book of Pastoral Rule written by Gregory the Great 590 C.E. and built upon by the application of contemporary Christian authors, and Biblical examples. The three key concepts taken from The Book of Pastoral Rule are contemplation, pastoral care, and mentoring. The third chapter reviews project methodology and mentoring curriculum. The findings and …

Practicing The Way Of Jesus In The College Ministry At The University Church Of Christ, Jonathan Andrew Gann

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the project was to give opportunities for a community group in the college ministry at University Church of Christ to experiment practicing the ways of Jesus. This purpose was accomplished by forming a Jesus dojo based on Mark Scandrette’s model as outlined in his book Practicing the Way of Jesus. The Jesus dojo met for eight sessions. During sessions we reflected upon different teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount. Students then were given the opportunity of experimenting with the ways of Jesus together based on the theme of the teaching that week from …

A Reader's Guide To Intergenerational Ministry And Faith Formation, Dudley Chancey, Ron Bruner

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

The concept of intergenerational ministry and faith formation has gained an increasing number of proponents over the last thirty years. Because of the burgeoning literature produced in this field, we have assembled an annotated bibliography intended to give practitioners and church members an overview of the printed work that addresses this important approach to ministry and spiritual formation.

Shared Leadership In Congregations: How To Construct A Holding Environment To Do Adaptive Work, Zach Ellis

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

Many congregations struggle to adapt to changes in their environment. Congregational and pastoral leadership is an important factor in a congregation’s success or failure. The emerging practice of Shared Leadership offers congregational leaders one tool that might help them successfully engage in the adaptive work necessary in the face of a changing environment. Recent research has connected the practice of Shared Leadership to increased innovation in businesses. This form of leadership should be explored as a model for congregations as they engage in adaptive change. However, because it is adaptive change that is required, and not only technical change, a …

Year In Review 2016-2017, Margarett And Herman Brown Library

Library Research and Publications

This Year in Review Annual Report highlights the scholarly activities of the Margarett and Herman Brown Library at Abilene Christian University, its departments, and its faculty and staff.

2017 - Ancient Scripture, Future Church: The Choices We Make And The God We Serve, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

Since its founding in 1906, Summit, formerly known as Bible Lectureship, has brought spiritual renewal to participants. We pray the same for Summit 2017 as we examine the ancient yet relevant principles found in Deuteronomy. May we renew our hearts and minds to be faithful disciples of Jesus. May your time on campus refresh and encourage you in your service in God's present and future church.

Theme speakers include: Landon Saunders, Sean Palmer, James K. A. Smith, Josh Ross, Thema Bryant-Davis, Chris Seidman, and Jeanene Reese

The Minister-Elder Relationship Within “Churches That Work”, Steve Cloer

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

This essay is the summary of a research project focused on how the minister-elder relationship in Churches of Christ can facilitate missional transformation in an established church. Twenty-five reputable congregations of Churches of Christ were researched that were profiled as “Churches That Work” by The Christian Chronicle from 2006-2013. A survey was conducted of these congregations’ elders and ministers assessing their leadership practices and perspectives. Four congregations were selected based on results of the survey and qualitative strategies of interviewing, focus groups, observation, and document gathering were used. Five patterns of a missional polity developed: elders as nurturing pastors, ministers …

An Exploratory Study Of Campus Ministries Affiliated With Churches Of Christ In Ghana, Frank Obeng Essien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Churches of Christ in Ghana commemorated 50 years of the Restoration Movement in Ghana in 2012. As part of the historical development of this community in Ghana, the number of individuals who have accessed higher education through the various institutions of higher learning in the country have increased significantly. This development also led to the emergence of campus churches to meet the spiritual needs of members of this faith-tradition as they pursue academic interests on the various university campuses. This development notwithstanding, almost no literature exists which provides a record of the historical evolution of these campus churches and …

Haven: Asceticism, Spiritual Formation, And Youth Ministry, Brandon Pierce

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

This essay reflects upon the application of a field of scholarly study—ascetic theology— to a ministerial context: youth ministry. The goal here is to offer an example of and reflections upon the application of a personal scholarly interest to ministerial contexts.

The essay begins with an assessment of the ministry context, illustrating the problems that demanded attention and solution. It then outlines the sociological and theological theories of asceticism that informed the proposed solution. Having discussed the foundational context and ideas, the next section describes in detail the proposed solution named "Haven" and elaborates on the ascetic theory behind it. …

The Eucharist In An Unarticulated World, Tim Sensing

Graduate School of Theology

Ethnographic data from the lived experiences of teenagers participating in the weekly observance of the Eucharist provided rich data for an application of Bakhtinian approaches to discourse in order to inform current practice. Bakhtin’s understanding of dialogism and heteroglossia asserts that all discourse communities are located in historical situations that involve complex interactions. Each utterance takes meaning from its “actual social life.” Bakhtin gives priority to utterances that occur in context and focuses on the intentional negotiation of meaning and interpretation between author and reader, or, in this case, researcher, participant, and community. The research provides opportunity for teenagers to …

Cultivating The Practice Of Missional Hospitality For Small Groups At West Houston Church Of Christ, Kevin Stewart

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project in which I led a team to develop a plan to cultivate the practice of missional hospitality for small groups at West Houston Church of Christ. I used missional theology as a framework to give shape to the practice of hospitality. The project team met for nine weeks in the fall of 2014. The team practiced lectio divina focused on Luke 10, participated in theological reflection on missional hospitality, and fulfilled assignments to practice missional hospitality. These activities helped form the group spiritually and informed the development of a …

A Cappella Chorus, With Jeffery H. Goolsby Conducting And Rebecca Hutton On The Piano, Abilene Christian University

Recital Programs

No abstract provided.

2015 - Same Mind: United In Imitating Jesus, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

The theme of Summit 2015, "Same Mind: United in Imitating Jesus," reminds us of the significance of these words from the second chapter of Paul's letter to the Philippians. Communal unity, like-mindedness and looking to the needs of others over our own interests are the marks of mature followers of Christ.

Featured speakers include: Brady Bryce, Richard Beck, Chris Smith, Amy Bost Henegar, Raymond Carr, Phil Brookman, and Mike Cope

Facilitating Holistic Spiritual Formation At The Northside Church Of Christ In Laredo, Texas, Kirk R. Cowell

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes a project to facilitate holistic spiritual formation at the Northside Church of Christ in Laredo, Texas. A program consisting of seven weekly sessions of intergenerational religious experiences was enacted at the church in hopes of catalyzing growth in the cognitive, relational, affective, and behavioral domains. These sessions were constructed on a foundation consisting of the experiences of the non-class Churches of Christ—a group of congregations that has historically rejected the Bible class model—and informed by the intergenerational formation literature. Evaluation of this project showed relational and affective growth greater than what the congregation had experienced with the …

Developing An Intentional Mentoring Model For Disciple Formation At The Mayfair Church Of Christ, Jason Bybee

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project to lead a team in the development of an intentional mentoring model for disciple formation at the Mayfair Church of Christ. This intervention involved the team members in a series of sessions during September and October 2013. Project sessions were designed to provide participants an intentional mentoring experience through exposure to four core practices: exploration of the biblical text, appreciative inquiry exercises, communal sharing, and prayer. Sessions were informed by (1) an understanding of discipleship as following behind Jesus and walking alongside our fellow sojourners, (2) the nature of …

2014 - Earthed: Discovering Our Origin In God, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

Enjoy these outstanding speakers with special thanks to the College of Biblical Studies, the Honors College, the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, Students' Association, and the Deparment of Language and Literature.

Barbara Brown Taylor is the Butman Professor of Religion at Piedmont College in rural northeast Georgia . An Episcopal priest since 1984, she is the author of 12 books, mostly on the preaching life, including The New York Times best-seller An Altar in the World, acclaimed and award-winning Leaving Church, and most recently, Learning to Walk in the Dark. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion …

2013 - Margins: Following Jesus At The Edge In Luke's Gospel, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

Enjoy these outstanding speakers with special thanks to the College of Biblical Studies, the Honors College, the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, the Alumni Association, the Halbert Institute for Missions, the Students’ Association, and the Center for Youth and Family Ministry.

Luke Timothy Johnson is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Emory University's Candler School of Theology.

Peter Williams is the warden of Tyndale House, an honorary senior lecturer in biblical studies at the University of Aberdeen, and a lecturer at University of Cambridge.

Scot McKnight is a popular speaker, author, professor, and …

Extending Story Listening As A Practice Of Communal Formation At The Lake Orion Church Of Christ, Eric R. Magnusson

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project that explores the potential for extending a practice of story listening as a way of forming community across social circles at the Lake Orion Church of Christ in Lake Orion, Michigan. The intervention involved guiding a group of six participant-researchers, each of whom had previous experience in story listening, through six sessions in the fall of 2011. Each phase of the project was informed by a participatory social Trinitarian theology. The first three sessions were designed to empower participant-researcher pairs to facilitate story listening groups of four to five …

2012 - 106th Annual Summit, "Intimacy", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

Implementing A Discernment Phase For Those Nominated In The Shepherd Selection Process At The Cinco Ranch Church Of Christ, Aaron Walling

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project that implemented a discernment phase for those nominated in the shepherd selection process at the Cinco Ranch Church of Christ. Occurring in the fall of 2010, this project involved nominees in a series of six one-hour, thirty-minute sessions designed to establish the theological foundations for shepherding and to explore its practical expression at Cinco Ranch. For the theological component, this project primarily utilized Ephesians 4:11-16, and for the practical side, it incorporated group interactions with those serving as shepherds along with the review of guiding leadership documents. The project‟s …

Providing Training For The Adult Bible Class Teachers At The Three Chopt Church Of Christ, Robert Phillip Odle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports on a project that provided training for adult Bible class teachers at the Three Chopt Church of Christ in Richmond, Virginia. The project sought to increase the skills of the teachers in allowing the biblical text to shape every Bible class they teach.

2011 - 105th Annual Summit, "Enough: Isaiah 1:11-17", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

Communally Discerning A Covenant Of Hospitality For The Care Of Children At Westview Boys' Home, Ron Bruner

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project addressed the lack of a covenant defining the practice of hospitality towards children for team members of Westview Boys’ Home. The purpose of the project was to facilitate the creation of such a covenant. The Westview ministry team already claimed hospitality as a strength; the hope was that reframing the ministry around this strength would improve the quality of care for children and the quality of life for the community. Invited into a communal discernment process (the methodology), the ministry team invested weeks in the examination of biblical texts, theological tradition, personal and communal narratives, cultural trends, psychological …

2010 - 104th Annual Summit, "Aliens & Light: Finding God In The Darkness", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

2009 - 92nd Annual Summit, "On The Mountain With God: Exodus Expedition, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

2008 - 91st Lectureship Summit, "The Righteousness Of God", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

Forming Faith In Adult Seekers: Enhancing The Process Of Evangelizing For The West Houston Church Of Christ, Matt Soper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project recruited six church members to help design a small group curriculum for adult seekers as part of an enhanced process of evangelization in the West Houston Church of Christ. The design team met for eleven weeks and considered what beliefs, values, and practices would best help prepare adult seekers to be baptized and to pursue full participation in God's kingdom life.

When Scholarship Goes South: Biblical Scholarship And Global Trends, Evertt W. Huffard

Restoration Quarterly

Huffard, Evertt W. (2006) "When Scholarship Goes South: Biblical Scholarship and Global Trends," Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 48 : No. 2.

This repository hosts selected Restoration Quarterly articles in downloadable PDF format. For the benefit of users who would like to browse the contents of RQ, we have included all issue covers even when full-text articles from that issue are unavailable. All Restoration Quarterly articles are available in full text in the ATLA Religion Database, available through most university and theological libraries or through your local library’s inter-library loan service.