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Frontmatter (Volume 44, Issue 4), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Fiction Book Reviews

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Implications: The Impact Of Universal Design For Learning On Student Engagement And Motivation In Diverse Classroom Environments, Hilary Sanguinetti

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This improvement science dissertation in practice (ISDiP) investigated the influence of universal design for learning (UDL) on student engagement and motivation in middle school classrooms at a K–8 school in Northern California. The plan-do-study-act (PDSA) framework examined the potential of UDL practices in the context of a Diocesan-wide professional development initiative and assessed if teachers’ deliberate integrations of UDL strategies contributed to enhanced student engagement and motivation. The study navigated nuances of transitions to UDL practices, observing teachers as they attempted to implement strategies while students participated in UDL lessons. This process uncovered intrinsic challenges educators face—adherence to traditional teaching …

The Influence Of Peer Feedback On Office Discipline Referrals In Unstructured Settings, Amber Duncan

Doctor of Education (EdD)

In this improvement science dissertation in practice (ISDiP), a continuous improvement cycle was used to attempt to reduce office discipline referrals on the playground with 4th and 5th grade students. The intervention involved a team of peers who received training to recognize prosocial behaviors in students on the playground. Over the course of 90 days, Peer Influencers went to recess and rewarded positive behavior with Recess Compliments. A networked improvement committee (NIC) was formed to examine the effects on office discipline referrals and consider adaptations that needed to be implemented. Quantitative data was examined in the form of office discipline …

The Relationship Between Number Talks, Multiplicative Fraction Reasoning, And Student Mathematical Self-Efficacy, Amanda Davidson

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Experiences involving the multiplication of fractions are common in daily life. For example, when preparing a meal, you may ask yourself questions such as, if 3⁄4 of a cup of flour is needed to make a dessert for 4 people, how much flour will I need to make 1⁄2 of the dessert for 2 people? (Lortie-Forgues et al., 2015). As you determine how much flour is needed, you may think conceptually by visualizing a cup-size measuring cup filled only 3/4 full. Since you need only half of it, you may think of dividing the 3/4 cup in half. The cup …

Reframing Addiction And Spiritual Care Through The Johari Window, Chi Hyang Yun

Doctor of Ministry

This doctoral project, Reframing Addiction and Spiritual Care through the Johari Window, is a continuing education webinar for chaplains and spiritual care providers. It was created and developed in response to patient reports of previous negative experiences with chaplains that directly impacts the NPO: Considering adults with chemical dependency, we have noticed that they decline spiritual services, preferring relational isolation, which may be caused by a fear of vulnerability. During the discovery phase, stakeholders—patients in recovery, individuals with history of chemical dependency, and family members—expressed emphatically a belief that “Normies cannot understand, be helpful, or even really care!” while simultaneously …

Improving The Ninth Grade On-Track For Native American Students, Charles Summers

Doctor of Education (EdD)

I conducted this improvement science dissertation in practice (ISDiP) to determine what strategies could be implemented to improve percentage of the ninth-grade Native American students on-track for graduation. This study provides high schools with information that can be used to positively impact Native American student success in their freshman year of high school. I implemented a strategize, implement, analyze, and reflect (SIAR) cycle with at-risk freshman Native American students to support them at staying on-track with their credits as they moved through their ninth-grade year. A networked improvement community (NIC) met throughout the cycle to collect and analyze data, strategize …

Frontmatter (Volume 44, Issue 3), Paul Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Response To Repressions: Lithuanian Clergy In Dramatic Post-War Turmoil, Regina Laukaityte

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

For a long time after the war, Lithuanians were convinced that the United States of America and England would demand that Stalin withdraw his troops from the occupied European countries. Predictions of imminent political change, based on all sorts of reasoning rather than evidence, continued to circulate among the people. The hopes of liberation were directly linked with the phenomenon of hiding, a self-defense against assumed or imminent Stalinist repression. The aim of this article is to highlight the causes and prevalence of the phenomenon of hiding in Lithuania in the face of Soviet repressions, and the role of the …

The Conflict Of Orthodox Narratives In Ukrainian Society: Searching For A Methodology To Analyze The Religious Crisis, Hennadii Khrystokin, Vasyl Lozovytskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

As a result of the study, we were able to establish that the crisis of Ukrainian Orthodoxy is a conflict that has a clear linguistic and symbolic dimension. In order to analyze the conflict between Orthodox actors, it is advisable to use a critical-reflective methodology that allows for the analysis of both theological language and the tools that form this language. We have been able to establish that the Orthodox crisis in Ukraine reflects a conflict between the religious narratives and practices of the UOC and the OCU, the root cause of which is an internal crisis between the narratives …

Religious Security: Its Essence And Main Factors (Ukrainian Context), Olena Predko, Denys Predko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Religious security is the protection of the religious space from internal and external threats, which is a particularly important issue in Ukraine today. In the premodern era, the idea of security was formed, which ensured, on the one hand, the development of a certain system of practices as auxiliary factors of neutralizing fear, insecurity, etc., and on the other hand, contributed to strengthening the protective function of various gods and forces as a means of preserving human integrity. In contrast, in the Christian worldview, chain interdependence is built between the concepts of “prayer,” “religious faith,” and “religious freedom,” the totality …

The Experience Of Religious Organizations In The Formation And Development Of The Chaplaincy Movement In Ukraine, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Vadym Sluysar, Olha Hordiichuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The formation and development of relations between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and religious organizations, as well as the conditions and factors that influenced the formation of the institution of military chaplaincy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, were analyzed. It was determined that Russia's military aggression against Ukraine actualized the issue of urgent reform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The modernization of the Ukrainian army required not only structural changes in the military administration, the transition to NATO standards, but also the creation of qualitatively new conditions for meeting the religious needs of Ukrainian servicemen. With the beginning …

The Dynamics Of The Involvement Of The Georgian Orthodox Church In The Process Of European Integration: Perspectives, Transformations, And Challenges, Mariam Khakhutaishvili

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper explores the role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the European integration process, considering historical, cultural, and political factors. Despite Georgia's explicit foreign policy objective of integrating into the European Union, the Church's stance exhibits a blend of both support and ambivalence. As a key symbol of national identity, the Church raises concerns regarding potential conflicts between its traditional values and contemporary Western values. Given its status as the most influential social institution in the country, the Church's position significantly shapes political discourse. This paper presents a nuanced perspective on the Georgian Orthodox Church's involvement in Georgia's foreign …

The Impact Of Strategic, Skill-Focused Intervention On First Grade Students Identified As "At Risk" For Dyslexia: An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice, Stephanie Clawson

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The purpose of this Implementation Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) was to improve student achievement through the use of short, easily implemented, targeted interventions, performed by the classroom teacher. The targeted interventions provided in this study were aligned to specific skill areas, identified by the aimswebPlus Early Literacy Benchmark (ELB), and were evidence-based intervention tools currently in use within the district. The interventions were designed to be delivered by teachers within their literacy instructional blocks, and were 5-15 minutes in length. Teachers were asked to collect data using an aimswebPlus probe every two weeks to track student progress. Teachers then …

Understanding Teacher Perceptions Around Feedback, Cari Ann Sloan

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This narrative research study sought to better understand teachers’ perceptions around feedback, specifically the significant drivers of quality teacher feedback and the effect of the evaluator/teacher relationship. The theoretical frameworks of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, adult learning theory, social learning theory, and self-determination theory were examined to determine what the research reveals about adults’ incentive to improve. Research around accepted best practices in feedback was also reviewed in order to understand current implementation in educational settings, specifically what motivates teachers when given feedback on instruction. Four teachers, chosen for their specific characteristics, gave first-hand accounts of their experiences with the …

Lsd To Galilee: Incarnation In The Psychedelic Subculture, Rob Zahn

Doctor of Ministry

This project is the result of a curiosity that there might be an opportunity (NPO) for the church, for everyone, to “learn how God is incarnate and works outside of the parameters of the church as evidenced by the birth of Contemporary Christian Music from the psychedelic hippie subculture of the late ’60s and early ’70s.” From a theological perspective, the answer might be obvious. Of course God is incarnate and works outside of any and all parameters humanity attempts to impose on the divine! However, what rises to the surface when such questions are engaged, is the extent to …

Frontmatter (Volume 44, Issue 2), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Miscellaneous, Bruce R. Johnson

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Announcements:

Call for papers (The Abolition of Man 80 Years On)

The C. S. Lewis Correspondence Project

The Inaugural Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference (George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon September 5-8, 2024)

Submission guidelines, style guide, copyright notice, and order form.

Review Of C.S. Lewis In America: Readings And Reception, 1935-1947, Gina Dalfonzo

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Review of Mark Noll, C. S. Lewis in America: Readings and Reception, 1935 –1947 (Donovan Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023). 176 pages. $20.00. ISBN 9781514007006.

Review Of Mere Evangelism, Monique Stam

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Review of Randy Newman, Mere Evangelism, (Charlotte, NC: The Good Book Company, 2021). 160 pages. $16.99. ISBN 9781784986445.

“A Noise Of Great Good Coming”: C. S. Lewis’S Dymer As A Spiritual Autobiography, Norbert Feinendegen

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

C. S. Lewis is no doubt one of the most recognized Christian prose writers of the twentieth century. The same, however, cannot be said about his pre-Christian attempts to make a name for himself as a poet. His two volumes of poetry, Spirits in Bondage (1919) and Dymer (1926), received few positive reviews and found even fewer readers at the time of publication, and sadly they didn’t receive much attention after Lewis became famous as a Christian apologist and novelist.

I am going to argue that Dymer is a symbolic narrative in which every event on the level of the …

Frontmatter (Volume 17, Issue 1), Bruce R. Johnson

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

General Editor's Note:

This year’s Table of Contents requires some explanation. As a young man, C. S. Lewis aspired to make his mark as a poet. His first two books remain testaments to that unrealized dream: Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics (1919) and his narrative poem, Dymer (1926). Don King has done much to refocus scholarly attention on the poetry of Lewis through C. S. Lewis, Poet: The Legacy of His Poetic Impulse (2001) and more recently in The Collected Poems of C. S. Lewis: A Critical Edition (2015). Jerry Root first advanced his own theory regarding the …

Pr Activity Of Muslim Organizations Of Ukraine (On The Example Of The Ramu “Ummah”), Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The content and main directions of PR activities of Muslim religious organizations of Ukraine were analyzed (on the example of the RAMU “Ummah”). It was determined that it is characterized by the use of many resources and modern media technologies. PR activity has a multi-channel nature: through print and electronic media, as well as radio and television, although Internet resources, including social networks, prevail. An universal model of PR activities of Muslim organizations is the posting of general information on the basics of Islamic belief and features of religious practice, as well as digitized thematic literature, on electronic resources. The …

Ecumenical Dialogue Between Reformers And Orthodox Under The Ottomans (15-16th Century), Svetoslav Svetoszarov Ribolov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Despite the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, the Orthodox Church continued to make contacts with the West. In the 15^th and 16^th centuries, Patriarchs Joasaph II and Jeremias II had ecumenical contacts and theological dialogues with two generations of Reformers. Martin Luther and Melanchthon, and later Martin Crusius, Jakob Andrеä, and their associates in Wittenberg took up the initiative for a serious ecumenical dialogue with Constantinople. Despite a sincere desire on both sides, lack of a common methodological framework in the talks did not allow for significant results. In the end, both sides did not …

Stop Feeding The Homeless: A Theological And Theoretical Examination Of Reconsidering Homeless Aid Through Informed Collaboration With Faith-Based Organizations, Marci Lynn Jackson

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation examines the issue of homelessness in Dallas, Texas. It argues that simply providing meals to homeless individuals is not enough to address the complex factors that contribute to homelessness. Instead, long-term and sustained solutions are needed, which require the collaborative efforts and substantial involvement of the Church.

This research uses qualitative methods, such as field observations, interviews, surveys, attending webinars, and conferences to examine the homeless ecosystem in Dallas, Texas. It highlights the importance of collaboration and faith-based organizations to address homelessness, emphasizing systemic issues and potential improvements.

This research explores the Church's involvement in addressing homelessness, examining …

Women Senior Pastors In The Black Baptist Church: A Study Of Pathways To Access And Model For Sustainability, Wendy Vanhosen

Doctor of Ministry

The thesis of this research is that the continued survival and influence of the Black Church hinges on the level of access and sustainability of women in senior leadership roles, emphasizing the historically protected position of senior pastor. It has become urgently necessary to move the needle beyond engaging in the perpetual debate about the role of women in ministry, and towards solutions that address the unique issues of this contemporary era. This era is characterized by a collision of the rise in women occupying senior leadership roles, increases in social justice concerns, and the unanticipated post-pandemic ramifications that have …

Using A Decision-Making Process To Determine Where To Relocate A Newer Dual Language Program, Laura C. Weiss

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This qualitative research study used culturally responsive protocols to provide stakeholders in a small rural community access to a district’s decision-making process. Community stakeholders were tasked with making a recommendation for relocating its dual language program (DLP). The committee identified three themes to guide their decision making: (a) keep the school in one location, (b) maintain the culture, and (c) provide access to resources. Despite intentional protocols used, barriers remained that impacted committee members’ level of engagement and participation. Key factors contributing to a lack of engagement included insufficient time and lack of trust. Additionally, native Spanish speakers (NSS) and …

Inter-Orthodox Conflicts In Ukraine And The Movement To Unite Ukrainian Orthodox Churches In The 20th And 21st Century, Tetiana Havryliuk, Yuriy Chornomorets, Bogdan Gulyamov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

he article analyzes the historical conditions in which the movement towards independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place. It is shown that the stages of formation of the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine coincided with the stages of the Ukrainian people's struggle for state independence. The role of P. Skoropadskyi's government in establishing Orthodox statehood and the idea of building a canonical Ukrainian church independent of the Russian Orthodox Church is revealed. It is shown that in the 40s of the last century two Ukrainian Orthodox churches were formed on the territory of Ukraine - the Autonomous Orthodox Church, …

The Estonian And Latvian Orthodox Churches Of The Moscow Patriarchate Before And After The Russian War In Ukraine, Priit Rohtmets, Valdis Teraudkalns

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

From the beginning of the Russian war in Ukraine the Baltic Orthodox churches subordinated to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) have gone through considerable changes in their canonical status, but have also stood out with controversial public statements about the war.

In this article we analyse how the Orthodox churches of the Moscow Patriarchate have reacted to the Russian war in Ukraine and what have been the major canonical changes in Latvia and Lithuania. Additionally, we describe the most important narratives, which the churches have used when speaking about the ongoing war and pay attention to the reaction, which these …

In Vivo Behavior Of The Soleus Muscle During Various Activities In Persons Post-Stroke, Madison Swaney, Molly Carter, Mitchell Mckinley, Joshua Nelson, Robin Dorociak, Tyler Cuddeford

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Current protocols for post stroke populations consists of inconsistent and outdated interventions that target less functional strength training through heavier and slower movements. Current research displays a 90/10 principle displaying the tendon as the primary power absorber and generator during ballistic and cyclic movements, supported by a primarily isometric muscle activation. Power generation is key for walking. High angular velocity needed during the gait cycle to be able to produce and absorb power rapidly. Ballistic training requires the perfect tradeoff between speed and force to generate and train populations targeting power absorption and output with greater tendon activity. Therefore, current …