Digital Commons Network^™

The Revitalization Of Pentecostal Churches In Rural Appalachia, Justin W. Rowland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pentecostal churches in rural Appalachia face challenges such as declining attendance, aging congregations, demographic shifts, and changing cultural values. Although denominations such as the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) and the Assemblies of God remain active throughout the region, many churches struggle to sustain growth and ministry effectiveness. Limited research has examined the factors that contribute to the health and vitality of thriving Pentecostal churches in this rural setting. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the characteristics and practices of healthy, growing Pentecostal churches in rural Appalachia to understand what contributes to their vitality, discipleship, and sustained …

Center And Edge A Flourishing Relationship : Encouraging Best Practices In A Mixed Ecology, John Marsh

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Coverage Of Charity In The Pr Activities Of Ukrainian Churches, Yuliia Kondratiuk, Oleksandr Mosienko, Lesia Zaiko, Nadiya Yablonska

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Information technologies have an active impact on the development of the information society. The paradigm shift in humanity's communication capabilities has occurred with the active use of Internet technologies, which has accelerated the communication process in modern society. Societies are modernizing due to the widespread use of Internet communication to transmit information. This outlines the undoubted value of the possibility of rapid interaction between organizations and the public. The purpose of the article is to study the content and central areas of public relations (PR) activities of Ukrainian churches, analyzing the example of the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church …

The Role Of Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyi In The Formation Of Ukrainian National Identity, Iryna Krasnodemska

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the main statehood ideas and views of the socio-political and Church figure, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi’s contribution to the struggle for the establishment of an independent, united Ukrainian state. The impact of the Metropolitan’s activity as the hierarch of the Greek Catholic Church on the Ukrainian national spiritual revival in Ukraine (at the end of the 19th to middle 20th century) is clarified as the solid foundation which was laid by his ecumenical ideas. The judgment of A. Sheptytskyi regarding the necessary prerequisites for building a strong, independent Ukraine, and his ideas about reforming state authorities, the Church, …

Growing A Megachurch Staff's Discipleship Understanding, Michael A. Wooton

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Shimmering Cathedral: Extraordinary Spiritual Experiences And The Meaning We Make Of Them, Seth Daniel Jones

Doctor of Ministry

This project portfolio presents the formational work for a book about Extraordinary Spiritual Experiences (ESEs). The project seeks to create a spiritual cartography which helps guide clergy, professionals, interested persons, and experiencers as they navigate ESEs and the subsequent process of making meaning from such experiences, particularly in the context of Christian faith, but by no means limited to it. By way of a novel exploration of the structure of an ESE event and stories from scripture, it is hoped that pathways for creating a safe space to share ESEs in group settings will blossom. In the context of the …

Shared Oversight: Equipping Elders To Shepherd The Flock, Eric Michael Hartman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leadership structures vary greatly across various faith traditions, but how much flexibility is biblically warranted? Far from being silent, the Bible is descriptive and prescriptive with regard to a plurality of leadership within a congregation. These elders, also called overseers, are to shepherd the flock (Acts 20:17, 28). The problem is that there is often lack training to that end. This study constructed a process for training elders and/or potential elders within a congregation to better understand the nature of plurality and parity of those tasked with caring for God’s people. The four training sessions covered the following: (1) The …

"The Colored Problem:" Milwaukee's White Protestant Churches Respond To The Second Great Migration, Peter Borg

Dissertations (1934 -)

In 1963 Dr. King observed that America was most segregated on Sunday mornings when its churches were filled with worshippers. My dissertation investigates the response of Milwaukee’s white urban Protestant churches to the Second Great Migration, which led to tremendous growth in the city’s African American population. The difficulty caused by many white members living in the suburbs while still attending church in racially transitioning city neighborhoods was compounded in some cases by the negative influence exerted by denominational history and polity. While those realities were often far more significant than theology in determining how individual congregations reacted to the …

Reframing And [Re]Presenting Evangelism In Oral Cultures : A Case Study Of The Harare West (Mumc) Vabvuwi Choir In Zimbabwe, Irene M. Kabete

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Rise Of The Part-Time Worship Leader In The Mid-Size Southern Baptist Church, Donald Oren Blakeney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this paper is to explore the prevalence of part-time, bivocational, semi-retired and volunteer worship leaders within mid-size Southern Baptist church and the need for further training and education through a denominationally-driven mentor program. The known decline in attendance and financial giving that most Southern Baptist churches have experienced has affected the moneys available to fill staffing needs and thereby require a reassessment of staff positions; the percentage of the budget allocated for staffing and continuing education. Most of these part-time worship leaders are already educated in another field and cannot allot the resources for a return to …

Punks In The Church: The Relationship Between The Punk Subculture And Church In East Germany, Ruth A. Aardsma Benton

Masters Theses

A punk subculture emerged in East Germany during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was an expression of their disillusionment with life, their frustrations with the government, and their pessimistic view of a future that seemed pre-planned. The subculture refused to conform, disengaged from the established system, and expressed their views through song lyrics and other acts of defiance. In the eyes of the state, punks were a threat. The subculture turned to the East German Protestant churches for shelter. The churches occupied a unique place within East German society because the government had granted the churches limited free …

The Ecclesiological Implications Of The Priesthood Of All Believers, Alan Parker

Faculty Works

The Protestant Reformation encouraged the "priesthood of all believers" but how does that concept impact the local church in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination? The lack of a clear ecclesiology has hampered the growth and effectiveness of Adventism. Both Exodus 19:6 and 1 Peter 2:9 provide a theological hermeneutic for how to reframe our ecclesiology in a way consistent with the Protestant principle of every believer serving as a priest. Priests are teachers, holy representatives, and mediators. The practical implications of these three aspects are examined. Luther's struggle with papal power structures are examined in the light of his radical understanding …

The Church And Magna Carta, R. H. Helmholz

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

The Identifying, Equipping, And Sending Of Laypersons To Lead A Multi-Site Church, Kenneth Jeffrey Nash

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Liberian Clergywomen And The Women Of Liberia Mass Action For Peace : Causal Factors For Clergywomen's Participation Or Nonparticipation And The Impact On Clergywomen's Leadership In The Liberian Church, Katurah York Cooper

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Subjectivities Of Pastors And Beliefs About The Current American Church Culture, Michael Ellis Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the spiritual subjectivities of pastors in the Mainstream White Middle Class Evangelical Church in the context of American capitalism. The Evangelical church carries extreme amounts of power and influence in shaping the beliefs of individuals in American society. However, very little pointed research of pastors' spiritual subjectivities that guide their teachings and views in this sub-sect of church culture is present in academia. Anthropology, along with other disciplines, often focuses on dominant churches from an etic perspective of politics and power relations without fully considering the spiritual beliefs of pastors. This etic perspective can miss the deeply …

Triumph After Catastrophe: Church, State And Society In Post-Boxer China, 1900-1937, Patrick Fuliang Shan

Peace and Conflict Studies

The Boxer Rebellion of 1900, originally a regional anti-Christian and anti-foreign movement in Western Shandong, turned to be a sensational international event, prompting eight great powers to dispatch a large number of troops for its suppression. Ironically, soon after the catastrophe, Christianity entered into a golden age as the number of Chinese converts skyrocketed while the religion enjoyed an unprecedented growth. It was only temporarily halted by the Japanese invasion in 1937. This paper probes the complicated relationship among church, state and society during this historical era. It tries to figure out factors leading to the booming enterprise as it …

Of Merchants And Missions : A Historical Study Of The Impact Of British Colonialism On American Methodism In Singapore From 1885 To 1910, Andrew Peh Swee Kian

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Church In The Apostolic Spirit: A Strategy For Building Indigenous Apostolic Congregations In The Cultural Context Of Eastern Orthodox And Post-Communist Romania, Vasile Alexandru Talos

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Prayer-Driven Church Plant, David A. Slagle

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

From The New Day To The New Century : Free Methodist Strategies For Metropolitan Church Planting In Light Of 1985-2000 Efforts And Results , Dwight Tilden Gregory

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Towards Heterogeneous Faith Communities: Understanding Transitional Processes In Seventh-Day Adventist Churches In South Africa, Alan Parker, Ph.D.

Faculty Works

This dissertation examines racial transition toward heterogeneity in three Seventh-day Adventist congregations in South Africa. This dissertation aims to uncover social factors involved in this change as well as to set forth a theological direction with application to the local faith community.

The first section examines recent studies and literature on multiracial congregations, indicating a possible breakdown between theory and practice. Using insights from Kuhn, Gadamer, Habermas, and Geertz, a critical correlational approach is proposed using narrative, community-based praxis, dialectical thinking, and eschatological vision. The theological methods of Groome and Browning are combined to suggest a four-phase approach to practical …

Ms 615 Foundations Of Church Growth, George G. Hunter

Syllabi

Textbooks: The following textbooks are for students in MS 615 and ME 700. The literature, especially McGavran's Understanding Church Growth, should be perceived as the heart of the course. Class sessions will stimulate deeper reading, provide perspective, headline some themes and expand upon others, fill gaps, suggest implications and applications, and facilitate learning and strategic thinking. Class sessions may involve varied technologies, such as lectures, experiential lectures, case studies, visiting speakers, films, maps, data gener-ation, simulations, pencil and paper instruments, reports, processing of assigned readings, etc.

Ch 500 Turning Points In Church History, Meesaeng Lee Choi

Syllabi

Noll, Mark A. Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic Books, 2000. Olson, Roger E. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999 Selected primary source and additional readings cited under each lesson (see the Course and Reading Schedule) are available in electronic and/or library reserves (Intra\School of Theology\Lecture Power Points\Choi, Meesaeng\CH500).

Ms 615 Foundations Of Church Growth; Me 700 Principles Of Church Growth, George G. Hunter

Syllabi

I. Course Description: "The foundational principles and strategies of the Church Growth movement pioneered by Donald McGavran, seen as one informed approach to strategy development in mission and evangelism and as a means to inform congregational and denominational outreach and expansion. Focus upon North American and Third World cases."

Ms 615 Foundations Of Church Growth, Ronald K. Crandall

Syllabi

1. Donovan, Vincent J. Christianity Rediscovered. 2. McGavran, Donald A. Understanding Church Growth, Third Edition. 3. Hunter, George G. III. To Spread the Power: Church Growth in the Wesleyan Spirit. 4. Arn, Win and Charles. The Master’s Plan for Making Disciples, second edition. 5. Schaller, Lyle E. 44 Steps Up Off the Plateau. 6. Winter, Ralph D. and Steven C. Hawthorne, eds. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Third Edition. 7. Acquire, from the ATS bookstore, a packet of readings. The following books are also required reading for students taking ME700. *8. Donald A. McGavran. The Bridges of God. *9. …

Lds Seminary Participation In The Las Vegas, Nevada Area For The Class Of 1998, Norman William Gardner

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S. Church) attaches great importance to the religious education of its youth. The L.D.S. Church conducts a daily religious education program, called seminary, to church members ages 14 to 18; A young person's completion of four years of seminary has long been viewed as an indicator of future church activity. While seminary attendance is not compulsory, great emphasis is placed in the L.D.S. Church on the importance of participation by potential students in the program; The discontinuation of seminary enrollment by students is of great concern to the administrators of the program, …

Church Growth And Evangelism In Haiti: Needs, Problems, And Methods, Clinton Eugene Lain

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

O, The Depth Of Love Divine : The Historical Resources Of Methodist Worship In Light Of Contemporary Renewal, Jennifer L. Woodruff Tait

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Involving Men In The Church, Dennis Edward Yocum

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.