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Concordia Seminary Magazine Fall/Winter 2024, Vicki Biggs

Concordia Seminary Magazine

Let us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

Theological Themes And Musical Influences Of Worship In Indonesian Immigrant Churches In The United States, Agnes Keren Bale

Masters Theses

Beyond evoking emotional experience, theologically sound songs are crucial for evangelizing, edifying the church, and congregational spiritual growth. This study examines worship in Indonesian immigrant churches in the United States, analyzing recurring theological themes in the most regularly featured songs in the worship repertoire. Additionally, it explores the influence of Western worship music which shapes the blended identity of these churches. Via the data gathered through worship service observations from a few churches and a survey for platform ministers, twenty-two congregational songs were coded and analyzed for their theological themes. Findings included the omnipotence and sovereignty of God, victory/battle, faith, …

Pentecostal Christian’S Influence On Marital Satisfaction And Longevity, Rebecca Burgess

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study aimed to explore the influence of Pentecostalism on marital satisfaction and longevity within the context of individuals who identify as Pentecostal Christians. By employing PENTECOSTALISM AND MARITAL SATISFACTION 3 phenomenology, the study sought to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences, perspectives, and beliefs of participants regarding the impact of Pentecostalism on their marriages. The research involves in-depth interviews with married individuals adhering to Pentecostal beliefs, examining their experiences and interpretations of how Pentecostal teachings and practices influence their marital satisfaction and relationship longevity. This study included a sample size of 10 participants, consisting of 5 married …

Digital Shepherding: Social Communication And Religious Leadership, Nadia Delicata, Thomas Boomershine, Bishop Maxim, Levi Checketts

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Peter C. Phan: Christianity And Migration: A Christian Theology Of Migration For Our Age., Shane Liesegang, Sj

Asia Pacific Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Pope Francis On Forced Migration: A Pastoral Of Mercy And Its Relevance In The Indonesian Context, Alexander Hendra Dwi Asmara, Martinus Dam Febrianto

Asia Pacific Mission Studies

Dealing with refugees, was the late Pope Francis’ legacy, during his pontificate, both as the leader of the Catholic Church and a global figure. This article reviews Francis’ pastoral approach of mercy, especially in his concern and advocacy for migrants and refugees, as expressed through his gestures, statements, thoughts, proposals, and policies. Along with issues of global inequality and ecological damage, Francis believed that forced migration can only be addressed through joint efforts based on recognizing human dignity, solidarity, the need for participation, as well as connectivity and inclusivity that encompasses the entire human family. This article then highlights the …

For Now We See Through A Darkened Mirror, But Then Face To Face: Striving To See Christ ‘Beneath The Veil’ In A Fourteenth-Century French Book Of Hours, Daniel S. Berman

Theses and Dissertations

M.90’s folio 130r evoked spiritual union with God in the Eucharist and in Heaven, and the concomitant need for repentance if divine union in any form could be achieved. It was also an authoritative relic of Christ’s body which helped the worshiper imaginatively reconstruct that body in their own space.

Career Counseling, Anthony (Tony) Headley

Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Internship, Robert (Jeff) Hiatt

Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Creation Of A Pastor Care Team For Pacific District Mennonite Brethren Pastors, Randolf Mark Reiswig

Doctor of Ministry

At the Redwood Mountain Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, the strength and resilience of sequoias provide a compelling example of the significance of communal interconnectedness. Despite their towering stature, these trees possess relatively shallow root systems that intertwine with neighboring trees to fortify their stability. This mutually beneficial relationship enables these giants to withstand formidable natural forces. Similarly, this paradigm offers pastors an invaluable lesson in fostering interconnections within their community as a strategy for a deeper connection. The grove’s interconnected root systems are a metaphor for the church’s vision of connectedness. It is an informative framework for pastors …

50 Years Of Women Cantors, Judith S. Pinnolis

Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

The Calvin Forum: Winter 2025, Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

CONTENTS - Vol. 35., WINTER 2025

Main Features: 2 - Letter from the President

6 - Where are the Pastors?

10 - Formation of Leaders in a Liminal season

16 - Where do Pastors come from?

23 - The minister as a manager of the mysteries of God

29 - Pastors are there and will be there

34 - Who will disciple the next generation of Disciple-makers?

39 - Raising up Ministry Leaders from the next generation

42 - Training Ministry leaders from the next generation

48 - Hope in the ruins

55 - A journey through Seminary in …

The Calvin Forum: Summer 2025, Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

CONTENTS - Vol. 36., SUMMER 2025

Main Features: 2 - Letter from the President

6- How John Calvin Shaped Modern Seminary Education BY KARIN MAAG

12- Why Calvin? Naming a Seminary After a Theologian of Consolation BY SAM HA

18- Reformed Roots in the Global South: Indonesia’s Calvinist Heritage BY YUDHA THIANTO

24- Why Bavinck and Kuyper?

26- Herman Bavinck and the Mission of Calvin Seminary: Theology That Glorifies God BY JESSICA JOUSTRA

30- Why Abraham Kuyper’s Vision Still Shapes Reformed Theology and Education BY JORDAN BALLOR

34- Carrying Calvin’s Legacy: How Calvin Theological Seminary Equips Culturally Engaged Ministry …

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

Seminary Academic Catalogs

No abstract provided.

2025 Agenda And Acts Of Synod, Crcna

Agendas and Acts of Synod

Redeemer University, Ancaster, ON: Rev. Stephen Terpstra, president; Rev. Ken Benjamins, vice president; Rev. Joshua M. Christoffels, first clerk; Rev. Gary van Leeuwen, second clerk

Evil, Suffering, And The Divine: Reassessing Theological Responses In Schillebeeckx's Work, Paulinus Daeli

Obsculta

Human suffering has transformative potential, both at the individual and community level. This article specifically explores Edward Schillebeeckx’s theological reflections on the transformative dimension of suffering. By highlighting the complexity of suffering and the challenges it poses to Christian faith, the article offers seven reflections from Schillebeeckx’s theological perspective on human suffering, which encourage the faithful to face the “unanswered questions” surrounding suffering with humility and hope. In this context, Schillebeeckx’s theological reflections offer deep insights into the goodness of God, which can encourage Christians to respond to suffering with compassion, resilience, and a commitment to justice. Ultimately, this article …

Sitting In The Presence Of Jesus: Self-Care In Ministry Rooted In Martha And Mary, Kristyn Demers

Obsculta

Many ministers face burnout and compassion fatigue based on their jobs and are not given the proper tools to care for themselves. This essay analyzes some theologies of self-care, using humility and kenosis as guiding principles, before using Luke’s narrative of Martha and Mary as a case study for how self-care is necessary within ministry.

Ukrainian Catholicism In A Time Of War And Ecclesial Debates, Valentyna Kuryliak Dr, Ivan Ostashchuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the diverse responses of Ukrainian Catholics–encompassing both influential individual voices and official church structures to two key contemporary challenges: the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine and ongoing intra-church debates on issues of life, sexuality, and gender ideology. The analysis highlights inherent tensions and points of convergence between the universal teaching of the Catholic Church and the local experience of profound crisis. It demonstrates how believing communities navigate both external existential threats and internal doctrinal shifts, contributing to a deeper understanding of contemporary Catholic identity and mission in times of conflict.

Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Training Small Group Leaders For Effective Discipleship At Ilive Ministries In Pacolet, South Carolina, Kadeem Antonio Ellis

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project examined the need for discipleship training among small group leaders at iLive Ministries in Pacolet, South Carolina. A four-week workshop incorporating lectures, discussions, and interactive activities was designed and implemented. Evaluation tools included Pre- and Post-Tests, structured observation, and participant interviews. Findings demonstrated measurable growth in confidence, facilitation skills, and discipleship understanding. The project concluded that intentional training not only equips leaders with biblical grounding and practical skills but also highlights ongoing needs for mentoring, refined assessment, and sustainable support, strengthening iLive Ministries’ discipleship culture and offering a replicable model for other congregations.

Scoring A New Jazz Standard: A Collaborative Approach To Implementing Spiritual Care At Erlanger Hospital Palliative Care, Richard Fleck

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Just like a jazz combo brings together professional musicians who are instrument specialists to improvise together, Palliative Care brings together healthcare specialists for holistic, patient-centered collaboration. This ministry project, which is a phenomenological inquiry based on the theological theme of suffering, follows a collaborative approach to implementing spiritual care at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN. This project describes the researcher’s collaborative work in scoring a new jazz standard for Erlanger Palliative Spiritual Care, which includes recommendations for quality improvement and recommendations for professional development.

A Review Of Child Protection And Safeguarding Inspections In Irish Primary Schools: A Safety Net For Our Children?, Margaret Nohilly

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Following the full implementation of all sections of the Children First Act in 2015, a dedicated Child Protection and Safeguarding Inspection model was introduced in Irish schools. This inspection model was developed as part of the ‘oversight’ arrangements of the legislation and, as with other inspection models developed in schools, the inspection reports are publicly available on the Department of Education website. Since 2019, 105 final child protection and safeguarding reports in the primary sector are available. This paper reviews the findings of the evaluation reports. It outlines the challenges schools have faced, particularly in terms of the record keeping …

Assessing Best Practices Of Facilitation Of The Free Exercise Of Religion By Army Chaplains Utilizing The Success Case Method, Geoffrey N. Bailey Phd

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined how U.S. Army chaplains experience and facilitate the free exercise of religion. The research explored compelling narratives of best-case facilitation experiences, identified leadership qualities associated with successful religious support, and analyzed similarities and differences between best and worst-case scenarios. Using Brinkerhoff's Success Case Method, the study distributed a quantitative survey to 1,478 active-duty chaplains (achieving a 23% response rate) followed by twelve guided interviews with participants representing diverse ranks and faith traditions. The research revealed six major themes: significant gaps in education for pluralistic ministry, tension between personal religious convictions and professional duties, crucial impact of …

A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health Intervention To Improve Hospital Inpatient Outcomes, Jennifer S Mascaro, Patricia K Palmer, Marcia J Ash, Marianne P Florian, Deanna M Kaplan, Roman Palitsky, Steven P Cole, Maureen Shelton, Charles L Raison, George H Grant

Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: Inpatient medical settings lack evidence-based spiritually integrated interventions to address patient care needs within a pluralistic religious landscape. To address this gap, CCSH™ (Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health) was developed to leverage the skillsets of healthcare chaplains to improve patient outcomes through spiritual consultation. Here, we report the results of a randomized, wait-list controlled, pre-registered (NCT03529812) study that evaluated the impact of CCSH on patient-reported depression and explored putative mediators of CCSH's effects.

Method: Chaplain residents were randomized to be trained in CCSH as part of their clinical pastoral education (CPE) residency in the fall (n = 8) or …

Weeping In The Household: Equipping Pastoral Caregivers Among Grieving Families At Grace Presbyterian Church In Baltimore, Maryland, Charles Brandon Brewer

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project sought to equip pastoral care ministry members of Grace Presbyterian Church to explore communal grief and deepen their own understanding of family systems in intergenerational grief. Participants engaged in a four-week training series aimed at reducing fear surrounding discussions of death, dying, and grief, empowering pastoral caregivers in the church to offer compassionate care to grieving individuals and families. Participants were trained to facilitate Bible studies, group discussions and were equipped with the skills necessary to guide and expand the church’s existing bereavement ministry beyond crisis intervention, strengthening pastoral care efforts, and the pastoral care ministry of the …

Qa Manual V. 5.3- 2025, Cct College Dublin

Quality Assurance Manuals

No abstract provided.

Shaping A Wellness-Oriented Culture: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of The Mental Health Training And Stigma Reduction Among College Seminarians, Evan P. Taja-On

Journal of Catholic Education

Mental health is vital to seminarians' holistic development, playing a crucial role in their personal growth and pastoral readiness. Equipping seminarians with mental health training enhances their human formation and addresses stigma, creating a foundation for more compassionate and effective ministry. The study utilized an explanatory research design with 11 college seminarians as the participants. The study reveals that mental health training significantly improved seminarians' knowledge, awareness, and beliefs, leading to a more supportive and informed approach to mental well-being. Seminarians transitioned from initial skepticism to active mental health advocacy, recognizing the importance of psychological support alongside spiritual care. The …

The Martyrdom Of Nadezhda Kurchenko: Soviet Hero Cults And The Spiritual Turn In Late Socialism, Steven E. Harris

History and American Studies Articles

This article argues that the spiritual turn in Soviet atheism under Brezhnev provided a meaningful solution to the problems of producing heroes when self-sacrificing martyrs were losing their appeal. To support this claim, I examine the story of Nadezhda Kurchenko, a nineteen-year-old flight attendant killed by two hijackers on an Aeroflot plane in October 1970. This article traces the heroic and spiritual dynamics of Kurchenko’s martyrdom through her funeral, hagiographies, iconic photograph, and sacred spaces. The spiritual turn enabled the authors of her story to free it from the shadows of wartime youth martyrs and ground it in the conservative …

Going Inside A Church Staff Group: A Qualitative Case Analysis Of Team Characteristics, Decision-Making, And Identity, Hillary Rose Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Many organizations, including churches, rely on leadership groups to coordinate efforts and fulfill their mission. Guided by the characteristics of highly effective teams, the functional theory of group decision-making, and symbolic convergence theory, this study examines how one church staff group engages in decision-making and enacts identity through socioemotional and task-related communication. This group is unique in that its members each lead different areas necessary for the church’s functioning. Data for this qualitative case-study consists of semi-structured interviews with each group members and five meeting observations. Findings provide insight into the group’s dynamics, decision-making process, and identity. However, of most …