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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Perceptions Of Paid Pastoral Staff Of Volunteer Engagement In The Assemblies Of God, Glorielba Orta Meléndez May 2024

Perceptions Of Paid Pastoral Staff Of Volunteer Engagement In The Assemblies Of God, Glorielba Orta Meléndez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Volunteers play a critical role in churches, and successful collaboration between paid pastoral staff and volunteers is essential for achieving the church’s mission. However, conflicts can arise when defining the roles and responsibilities of volunteers and paid pastoral staff. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceptions of paid pastoral staff regarding volunteer engagement in the Assembly of God’s (AG’s) church mission. The research drew from Harold Kelley and John Thibaut’s interdependence theory, which shed light on human interactions and their influences. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with 10 AG pastors in paid staff positions, the findings described the volunteer manager role that …


Applying Stewardship Leadership That Impacts Employee Work Attitudes To Reduce Voluntary Turnover, H. Dea Dietrick Wood May 2024

Applying Stewardship Leadership That Impacts Employee Work Attitudes To Reduce Voluntary Turnover, H. Dea Dietrick Wood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

At a time when leadership corruption threatens a hazard to sustainable organization development, a new brand of leadership governance is in demand. Therefore, the importance of this quantitative study was to examine a unique, newly proposed theory—stewardship leadership (SSL). SSL theory, based on a biblical worldview, was hypothesized to influence subordinates perceived organizational support (POS), subordinate affective commitment (AC), and subordinate organizational identification (OI) that, in turn, reinforces job embeddedness (JE) and reduces voluntary turnover intentions (TI) in comparison to servant (SL), transformational (TL), and leader-member exchange (LMX) leadership styles on work attitudes. SSL also appeared to be a composite …


There And Back Again: Oklahoma’S Metanarrative As A Southern State, Kenneth P. Schell Apr 2024

There And Back Again: Oklahoma’S Metanarrative As A Southern State, Kenneth P. Schell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The perspective to view Oklahoma as a Southern state where racial policy sets the tone for the land is not new, but previous scholarship argued that Oklahoma’s Southern foundation began during the period of statehood in 1907 and ceased following court and legislative action during the Civil Rights Era. This work argues that Oklahoma’s Southern turn commenced much earlier, during the Five Tribes' relocation to Indian Territory following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This Southern base cemented itself in the very fabric of the land when the Five Tribes joined the Confederate States during the war for secession and, …


Living A Better Story: The Lived Narrative Apologetic In The Book Of Acts, Cedric Lemar Thomas Apr 2024

Living A Better Story: The Lived Narrative Apologetic In The Book Of Acts, Cedric Lemar Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Is it possible to articulate an apologetic practice from the account of Luke-Acts, which is not among the current popular Christian apologetic practices within contemporary apologetic scholarship? Can one consider the narratives in this history of Acts as a description of apologetic methodology, a sort of a first Christian apologetic practice demonstrated by Jesus and then replicated by His disciples? The answer is yes. The historical work of Luke offers an early apologetic practice in which the story of Scripture, the narrative of God, witnessed incarnationally through the life of Jesus and continued by the early church. Like Scripture, the …


"More Nobility Of Soul": Honor At The United States Naval Academy, 1845-1875, Samuel J. Limneos Apr 2024

"More Nobility Of Soul": Honor At The United States Naval Academy, 1845-1875, Samuel J. Limneos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An import from the old European world, the new United States and its incipient national navy inherited a fierce honor culture that valued aggressiveness, impetuousness, defiance, boldness, and courage. In 1845, the Navy brought the education of midshipmen, the service’s youngest corps of junior officers to Annapolis, where it established the United States Naval School. There, the institution’s strict discipline, organization and order inculcated the midshipmen in the expectations of an officer and gentleman and subjected them to unprecedented restraint as a matter of duty. The midshipmen reacted to this restraint and all impugnation to their vulnerable sense of honor …


Early Forgiveness Intervention In Substance Abuse Recovery, Susan Janos Apr 2024

Early Forgiveness Intervention In Substance Abuse Recovery, Susan Janos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Recent statistics have shown significant increases in substance abuse in the United Sates indicated by rising overdose deaths and hospital stays nationwide. This study was conducted to determine if early forgiveness intervention by chaplains and clergy affects the decisions of individuals struggling with substance abuse in considering forgiveness as a pathway to recovery. Based on the success of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery program and recent studies, this research addressed forgiveness as a pathway to recovery for those struggling with substance abuse. Forgiveness was considered in one or more of five areas: forgiveness of self, forgiveness of others, forgiveness from …


A Phenomenological Study Of Female Master Of Divinity Graduates' Experiences And Role Incongruity At Texas Baptist Seminaries, Michele Lee Taylor Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Female Master Of Divinity Graduates' Experiences And Role Incongruity At Texas Baptist Seminaries, Michele Lee Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Women pursue Christian education, obeying God’s call to prepare for ministry leadership. This qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological research study aimed to examine the perspectives of women graduates from Master of Divinity (MDiv) programs at Baptist Seminaries in Texas and to discover if their treatment could be linked to traditionally held beliefs about gender. The lived experiences of the study participants were defined as their first-hand accounts and perceptions of interactions with their male classmates and professors. The theory that guided this study was the Role-Congruity Theory, defined by Eagly and Diekman (2005) as aligning a group’s characteristics with their typical social …


Uniform Intelligence: The United States Military Liaison Mission And The Cold War 1947-1990, Frank Christopher Ofner Apr 2024

Uniform Intelligence: The United States Military Liaison Mission And The Cold War 1947-1990, Frank Christopher Ofner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Powers, ending the war in Europe. As such, the Western Allies of Britain, France, and the United States came into direct contact with the Soviet forces in Germany, which they divided into four zones of occupation. With the potential of an armed conflict over Germany, the Western Allies and the Soviets agreed to use military liaison missions to help foster communication in Germany. The British and French maintained their units: British Commanders in Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS) and La Mission Militaire Francaise de Liaison (FMLM …


Restoring Functions Of Christian Worship: An Examination Of The Impacts Of Biblical Musical Meditation On Anxiety, Laurie P. Brooks Apr 2024

Restoring Functions Of Christian Worship: An Examination Of The Impacts Of Biblical Musical Meditation On Anxiety, Laurie P. Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Study Replication (NCS-R), an estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience anxiety at some time in their lives. This project outlines a mixed-methods research that examines the impact of music and Scripture, and illustrates the experiences of multiple individuals experiencing situational anxiety. For fifteen minutes, for seven days, the three groups listened to a cycle of three songs that depicted calming instrumental music, general worship music with promising themes, and positive lyrics or songs with lyrics based on Scripture. The three groups received varying treatments of music while completing a modified version …


Identifying Faculty Development Strategies: A Phenomenological Study On Affective And Behavioral Dimensions Of Worldview Development In Biblical Higher Education, Zane Thomas Darland Apr 2024

Identifying Faculty Development Strategies: A Phenomenological Study On Affective And Behavioral Dimensions Of Worldview Development In Biblical Higher Education, Zane Thomas Darland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study is to identify effective faculty development strategies used by academic leaders in biblical higher education to enable their faculty members to foster affective and behavioral dimensions of worldview development in their students. The theories guiding this study are the channeling model of religious socialization and Nkana’s conversionism educational theory as they relate to worldview development in young adults. The hermeneutical phenomenological study focuses on the lived experiences of academic leaders in biblical higher education, exploring their perspectives and practices related to worldview development. The sample included 10 academic leaders from biblical higher education …


Family Discipleship: Forming A Biblical Worldview For Godly Decisions, Eric Spencer Mccrickard Apr 2024

Family Discipleship: Forming A Biblical Worldview For Godly Decisions, Eric Spencer Mccrickard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research project focuses on equipping parents to disciple their children in home-based worship, Bible study, and developing a biblical worldview. The problem at The Mission Church is poor decision-making from teens in the student group. The students make decisions from a malformed biblical worldview, resulting in decisions contrary to God’s Word. Further analysis of this problem revealed the need for home-based discipleship. Contemporary literature demonstrates the need for family ministry, specifically family-based discipleship. Thus, this research is critical to developing parents to teach their families God’s precepts (Deut 6:7-9). This thesis intervention seeks to instruct the parents about …


Ministry After A Leadership Failure: Principles For Transitional Worship Leader, Eric R. Medford Apr 2024

Ministry After A Leadership Failure: Principles For Transitional Worship Leader, Eric R. Medford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite much information and attention given to senior leadership transitions after a moral failure in leadership, there is little information regarding supporting pastoral staff moral failures and how to lead a ministry department to a place of healing and restoration. This thesis examined the distinct challenges of transitional leaders assuming the role of guiding a worship ministry department through a previous leader's moral failure. This study analyzes commonalities and themes to demonstrate the unique challenges the worship ministry faces apart from the church. Literature and research on leadership transitions due to moral failures tend to focus on senior pastoral leadership. …


How To Create Things With Words: Identifying The Performative Speech Acts Of God’S Spoken Words In The Genesis 1 Creation Account, Ivan C. Yu Apr 2024

How To Create Things With Words: Identifying The Performative Speech Acts Of God’S Spoken Words In The Genesis 1 Creation Account, Ivan C. Yu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Speech Act Theory is a branch of linguistics that explores not only how language is used to convey meaning, but also how it is used to perform actions or functions. In recent decades, it has been applied as a viable hermeneutical tool to aid biblical interpretation and defend the inerrancy of Scripture. Identifying the speech acts of the biblical author or speakers in the biblical narratives can be useful to understand the meaning and intention of the utterances, phrases, and words spoken. In the Genesis 1 creation narrative, God spoke words to create the universe. While adopting a canonical approach …


Equipping Local Pastors To Develop A Comprehensive Chaplaincy Ministry For The Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Matthew W. Smith Apr 2024

Equipping Local Pastors To Develop A Comprehensive Chaplaincy Ministry For The Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Matthew W. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement officers’ high incidence of suicides and career abandonment is often attributed to work stress and inadequate support. The unmet emotional, physical, and spiritual needs further compound this situation. The researcher addressed the problem of unmet needs by training local pastors to serve as chaplains. Seven deputies, including six males and one female, and ten ministers, including eight males and two females, participated in the program. The training sessions included the following topics: introduction to law enforcement chaplaincy, personal issues LEOs’ battle, ministry of presence, building relationships, the chaplain’s purpose and role, qualities desired in a chaplain, ride-alongs, death …


The Relationship Between Participation In Chorus And The Acquisition Of Higher-Order Reasoning Skills Among Middle School Students, Jason M. Streun Apr 2024

The Relationship Between Participation In Chorus And The Acquisition Of Higher-Order Reasoning Skills Among Middle School Students, Jason M. Streun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This predictive correlational study examined the relationship between participation in chorus and the acquisition of higher-order reasoning skills among middle school students. Although the education profession focuses on ways to engender higher-order reasoning skills in their students, today’s high-stakes climate so rigorously addresses STEM subjects that it tends to ostracize music from the discussion. Thus, the significance of this study lies partly in its endeavor to better understand the connection between linguistic development and reasoning, the positive influence that participation in choral music can potentially wield in the acquisition and improvement of linguistic skill, and, correspondingly, the attainment of higher-order …


Do Not Neglect To Show Hospitality To Strangers: Developing And Implementing A Program Of Home Hospitality At Furnace Creek Baptist Church, Philip D. Bramblet Apr 2024

Do Not Neglect To Show Hospitality To Strangers: Developing And Implementing A Program Of Home Hospitality At Furnace Creek Baptist Church, Philip D. Bramblet

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher identified the lack of intentional interaction for the sake of the gospel between members of Furnace Creek Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, VA and people in the local community as an issue that should be addressed. This problem was addressed by developing and implementing a program of home hospitality with members of FCBC. Hospitality in private homes was identified as an important and biblical method of increasing interaction between the church and the community that has been neglected in doctoral action research. Many hospitality projects have addressed the corporate hospitality dynamic, but few have dealt with Christian hospitality …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Perception Of Racial Unity In Evangelical Churches In Chicago, Amber L. Harvey Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perception Of Racial Unity In Evangelical Churches In Chicago, Amber L. Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

“Racism in the United States is part of a much older and global phenomenon” that has effects that are seen “today in hearts, minds, and institutions” (Lovelace, 2021, p. 67). Regarding the African American population, housing discrimination continues to be an obstacle to families (Burke et al., 2018), racist systems have led to collateral damage in the health of adults (Bleich et al., 2019), and African American men constitute approximately 25% of police shooting victims (Schwartz, 2020). This study seeks to examine if racism has infiltrated into the local church. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore …


Police Brutality: The Nexus Between Historical Injustices, Police Culture And The African American Experience, Claude M. Rhone Apr 2024

Police Brutality: The Nexus Between Historical Injustices, Police Culture And The African American Experience, Claude M. Rhone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on the harassment, maltreatment, and brutality of African Americans by police officers. The recent widespread condemnation and social justice protests in response to incidents of police brutality point to historical injustices inherent to the culture of policing. Slavery provides the overarching backdrop; however, Jim Crow laws cultivated the structural adaptations necessary to fulfill segregation between African Americans and Whites. The American policing model, which evolved from slave patrols to public entities, continued as an apparatus in the marginalization and disenfranchisement of African Americans. The narrative of “defunding the police” suggests that the past’s cultural proximity renders the …


The Symptoms Of Music Performance Anxiety Unique To College Music Majors Attending Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Kevin D. Durham Apr 2024

The Symptoms Of Music Performance Anxiety Unique To College Music Majors Attending Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Kevin D. Durham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Themes related to music performance anxiety (MPA) have recently received much attention in the academic media. Numerous specialists offer a variety of divergent remedies to treat this condition, concentrating on conventional college music majors. Still, there are few substantial studies investigating the hypothesis that MPA may be affected by ethnic origins. Academics currently have no dedicated resources for this information. Using proper research, time-tested philosophies, and pertinent case studies, the researcher investigates perceptions of MPA affecting college music majors attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in this project. The symptoms of MPA are becoming increasingly familiar to music majors …


Providing Biblical Knowledge To Women Ages 25–70 To Place Women In Ministry And Leadership Positions In The Church, Evelyn Diane Scott Apr 2024

Providing Biblical Knowledge To Women Ages 25–70 To Place Women In Ministry And Leadership Positions In The Church, Evelyn Diane Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide biblical knowledge to equip women to assume scriptural roles in church ministry and leadership. The project was conducted at The Word Ministry Church in rural Dallas County, Alabama. The writer reviewed women’s challenges and issues in the Christian community dominated by patriarchal theories. This project provides an overview of the study group and the training criteria for preparing women for ministry and leadership. The goal was to educate women not serving in leadership or ministry positions to obtain biblical knowledge to give them the confidence and support to accept their gift of …


Critical Thinking And Worldview Formation In Ministry, David W. Belles Apr 2024

Critical Thinking And Worldview Formation In Ministry, David W. Belles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research thesis project engaged eleven ministers in the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies with a multi-session training designed to help them identify potential areas of cultural accommodation detrimental to Christian life and witness. The project utilized a multi-week training program where participants viewed training videos and attended online discussion sessions. The participants recorded their impressions throughout the four-week training period. Six weeks after the training concluded, small group sessions were scheduled to determine whether the participants could utilize the training material in their ministry. Data were collected through journaling, entrance and exit questionnaires, and small group interviews. The …


Digital Technology Use And Influence On The Mission And Ministry Of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Church Community In The United States Resulting From The Covid -19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Study, Phillip Steven Woodruff Apr 2024

Digital Technology Use And Influence On The Mission And Ministry Of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Church Community In The United States Resulting From The Covid -19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Study, Phillip Steven Woodruff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Digital technology use within the church has received mixed responses from both the church leadership and members of the congregation. Some believe that using digital technology, such as social media, is a way of expanding the church’s mission and ministry. Other people believe that using these methods are costly, secular, or evil, and have no place in church ministry. The COVID-19 pandemic caused churches to rethink how they connected to their members since in-person worship services were canceled. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between the use of digital technology among the smaller churches within …


The Inclusive Music Classroom For Elementary Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Benjamin Bartow Harrison Apr 2024

The Inclusive Music Classroom For Elementary Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Benjamin Bartow Harrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Even though considerable research has been conducted regarding the inclusion of self-contained students in regular education settings, little research has been conducted specifically on elementary, self-contained students with EBDs in music classes. Given the fact that there are increasing numbers of students with EBDs, suggestions for empirically supported techniques specific to this demographic, as well as evaluation of unique challenges with educating this population, will prove beneficial to the overall classroom environment. Considering the negative impact of emotional outbursts on mainstream students, deciding when it is appropriate to exclude self-contained students from the inclusive classroom is crucial. Identifying proper utilization …


Efficacy Post-Event: Mass Killing Integrated Response Training, Danny Scott Jarrell Apr 2024

Efficacy Post-Event: Mass Killing Integrated Response Training, Danny Scott Jarrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Regarding the killing or attempted killing of people in confined and populated areas, whether defined as an active threat, active shooter, or active killer, the results for public safety professionals responding to these incidents are the same. The Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics indicate that many mass killing events involve the use of firearms(s) with no pattern or method to the killer's selection of victims. The increasing frequency of these events, coinciding with the high number of casualties, is forcing first responders to adopt improved operational responses. Developing procedures through the collaborative efforts between first responders (e.g., fire, emergency medical …


Recommendations For Improving The Recruitment Of High School Orchestra Students Using Basic Psychological Needs Theory, Ryan Michael Silvestri Apr 2024

Recommendations For Improving The Recruitment Of High School Orchestra Students Using Basic Psychological Needs Theory, Ryan Michael Silvestri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student recruitment and retention are paramount for music educators at the secondary level, where enrollment is often non-compulsory. It is difficult for directors to build and maintain successful programs without sufficient retention from middle to high school. Low enrollment can lead to the elimination of string teacher positions and put programs at risk. The academic and social demands on students today are great, and music educators must find creative ways to make their classes appealing to students while maintaining the rigor required for musical excellence. In recent years, researchers have used basic psychological needs theory, a subset of Self-Determination Theory, …


The Interdisciplinary Music Degree: Music Education, Music Performance, And Music And Fine Arts Administration, Edwin R. Williams Apr 2024

The Interdisciplinary Music Degree: Music Education, Music Performance, And Music And Fine Arts Administration, Edwin R. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite numerous available careers and degrees in music education, music performance, and music administration, perspectives of many music educators and students desiring an interdisciplinary music degree program inclusive of music education, music performance, and music administration have yet to be expressed or examined publicly. The notion of 21st-century skills presents a demand for flexibility across most facets of K-12 and higher education. These skills necessitate fluency in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration, thus, music education must move toward more flexible and rigorous preparatory music training programs to remain consistent with current trends. Most undergraduate and graduate degree programs in music …


The Impact Of Covid-19 On Student Motivation In Secondary Instrumental Music, Martha Jane Robinson Apr 2024

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Student Motivation In Secondary Instrumental Music, Martha Jane Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide strategies to improve student motivation in band and orchestra programs in Elkhart Community Schools. The problem for band and orchestra teachers was declining enrollment and student participation in outside music activities such as audition opportunities since the COVID-19 pandemic. The rationale for this study was to examine student motivation and provide educators with immediately applicable strategies to improve student participation in instrumental music programs. Educators must understand why students continued to struggle with returning to normalcy by seeking strategies as to how to reach and help these students. Early research following the …


Fear Of Failure In High School Band Sight Reading: Effects On Student And Teacher Experiences, Andrew D. Lightner Apr 2024

Fear Of Failure In High School Band Sight Reading: Effects On Student And Teacher Experiences, Andrew D. Lightner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students' fear of failure among social, cultural, experiential, and internal pressures influence sight-reading abilities in the high school band classroom. Investigating the error culture in band sight-reading skills can affect the learning and teaching methods found in current practice, emphasizing the need to understand the experiences of both students and teachers. Band teachers may refine their teaching and learning methods to address student fears while enhancing sight- reading skills implied throughout the study. Although copious research exists on high school sight-reading methodology and rehearsal strategies to help music educators provide an all- encompassing musical experience, students may need help applying …


A Narrative Study: Professional Development Of A Piano Teacher Through Various Music Education Philosophies And Psychologies In Different Sociocultural Contexts, Shuenda Wong Apr 2024

A Narrative Study: Professional Development Of A Piano Teacher Through Various Music Education Philosophies And Psychologies In Different Sociocultural Contexts, Shuenda Wong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Philosophers have analyzed music education philosophies since Ancient times. For example, Plato and Aristotle in Greece mused over such matters, as did Confucius and Mozi in China. Today, music educators must examine both philosophies and psychologies of music education to understand the value of teaching music. They need music education philosophies to critique their actions and delve into their pedagogical methods to gain meaning from their teaching efforts. Previous research focused on music education philosophies in one or two countries without a thorough comparative analysis between countries or continents. This narrative study on music education philosophies traced the unique journey …


Reinventing Holistic Healthcare: Pastoral Perspectives Of Biblical Insights For The American Healthcare System, Leanne Michelle Bergey Apr 2024

Reinventing Holistic Healthcare: Pastoral Perspectives Of Biblical Insights For The American Healthcare System, Leanne Michelle Bergey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine pastoral perspectives of Biblical healthcare. These perspectives are essential to consider due to the long history of the connection between spirituality and healthcare and the church’s successful intervention worldwide for increasing healthcare outcomes. Since the church has been successful worldwide at creating faith-based organizations that meet community needs, it is vital that research focus on how churches might continue this success within the United States. This study used semi-structured interviews to examine the research questions of 1) What is the Biblical responsibility of healthcare? 2) How does culture influence the role …