Religion Commons^™

Exposed Heads And Exposed Motives: Coverings As A Means To Unity At Corinth, April M. Hoelke

MA in Religion Theses

This thesis argues that in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Paul asserts most centrally that women should wear head coverings while praying and prophesying in the Corinthian Christian assembly. I examine the honor and shame value system of the Greco-Roman world, both generally and in specific reference to head adornment, since head coverings and hairstyles were connected to honor and status. Then I look at Paul's treatment of honor and shame throughout 1 Corinthians, which denounces the worldly value system of status seeking in favor of the value system of the cross. Paul's stance leads him to subject cultural norms to gospel …

The Cleansing Of The Temple In The Fourth Gospel As A Call To Action For Social Justice, Douglas Thompson Goodwin

MA in Religion Theses

Historically, there has been the attitude that the writer of the Fourth Gospel, due primarily to his emphasis on the high Christology of Jesus, is uninterested, or even unconcerned, with the issues of social justice. The contention of this study is to show that this is just the opposite. By placing the Temple cleansing episode at the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry, instead of the end as the Synoptics do, the author of the Fourth Gospel uses Jesus' Temple episode as the vehicle for showing the importance of caring for those in society who have no voice and no future. …

Reference, Mimesis, And Application: An Examination Of Gadamer's Rehabilitation Of Allegory, Evan Weinzierl

MA in Religion Theses

The goal of this thesis is, first and foremost, the presentation of the stance of allegorical interpretation and its potential revaluation in a postmodern context (as argued for by Hans Georg Gadamer), giving special consideration to select pre-critical voices and allegorical methodologies that are becoming relevant to this discussion concerning personal, revelatory Truth or Truths. This goal is enriched by the incorporation of pertinent, contemporary (postmodern) perspectives in literary theory that concern the relationship between the world of a text, the world of the individual or society in which that text is interpreted, and any possible or useful allegorical link …

Learning Together: Integrating Worship, Education, And Personal Devotion At Oakhurst Baptist Church Of Asheboro, North Carolina, Hunter Duncan

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The hypothesis of this project is that an integrated worship experience that engages church members with one biblical concept each week through various interactions will strengthen the community of faith. The ministry experiment sought to accomplish this goal by integrating weekly worship, Sunday School, daily devotions, and an internet-based discussion forum. Data was collected from project participants before the project began, weekly to measure the ongoing impact, and again at the project's conclusion. The results of the project revealed that integrating worship elements does improve engagement with the community of faith and the overall satisfaction with the weekly worship experience.

Empowering Clinical Staff To Provide Spiritual Care For Patients With Life Limiting Illness And Their Family Members Under Hospice Cleveland County Care, Terry Pinkney Floyd

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Staff members at Hospice Cleveland County struggle to provide quality spiritual care to dying patients or their family members because the staff members are not trained chaplains. Staff members tend to fall back on "pat" answers that can sometimes cause the patient or family members to have even more unresolved spiritual issues.

This project sought to determine whether or not hospice staff could become more empowered to give quality spiritual care by being introduced to the basics of pastoral care to the dying and their families. Information was shared by way of presentations; practical experience was gained by role-playing and …

Discovery And Integration: A Framework Of Spiritual Formation For The Leadership Team Of Via Faith Community, Winston-Salem, Nc, Linda Marie Jones

Doctor of Ministry Projects

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (2 Corinth, 3:17-18, NLT )

The process of spiritual formation can be seen throughout all of scripture; men and women, growing in faith, learning to truly love God, themselves and God's people. There is something so special to be on this journey of faith …

Incorporating Giving As An Integral Part Of Worship At Blessed Harvest Institute Of Charlotte, North Carolina, Brian Gerard Fite

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Giving is one of the most effective forms of worship we have available to us, but it has become the most exploitive and misunderstood element of the worship service. The methods and language used to frame giving within worship have led to exploitation resulting in unwillingness to wholeheartedly participate in giving as an element of worship. The literature addressing giving and the biblical interpretations are lacking in accurately speaking to the issues that arise in applying Old and New Testament scripture to address giving as an element of worship. There are a growing number of articles attempting to address the …

Mobilizing Cedar Spring Baptist Church, Spartanburg, South Carolina, For Creation Care Through Project "C.A.R.E." (Christians Assuming Responsibilty For The Earth), Malcolm Todd Lowe

Doctor of Ministry Projects

For many Baptist churches, the theology and practice of environmental stewardship has historically been viewed as irrelevant to the Great Commission. However, as environmental degradation increasingly affects the lives of people and the earth's ecosystems, it is imperative that Christians understand the connection between the care of the environment and God's redemptive work for humanity. Through a designed project called C.A.R.E. (Christians Assuming Responsibility for the Earth) which involved the congregation and a Bible study group from Cedar Spring Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, this project proves that theological education can positively influence attitudes towards environmental stewardship.

Stations Of The Cross: An Imitative Devotional Exercise Conducted At Lamb Of God Lutheran Church Spartanburg, South Carolina, John Rickert

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The general goal of this project was to strengthen the spiritual life of the members of Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Spartanburg, SC. It was held that introducing a form of the Stations of the Cross at Lamb of God could help towards this goal. The congregation responded to both a pre-project survey and a post-project survey. Three couples were also interviewed before and after the project. The results indicate that the Stations of the Cross can indeed be valuable in strengthening the spiritual life of believers who use them.

Have 21st Century Skills Made Their Way To The University Classroom? A Study To Examine The Extent To Which 21st Century Skills Are Being Incorporated Into The Academic Programs At A Small, Private, Church-Related University, Christopher Scott Boe

Education Dissertations and Projects

With the increased expectation of college or university attendance as a prerequisite for workforce entry, the criticism of business leaders and the general public, and the increasing cost of postsecondary education, it becomes critical for institutions of higher education to know what they are offering students and how well those offerings are being presented. Meaningful, engaged learning that prepares students for life and the ever-changing world of work is what these consumers are seeking. It becomes, then, the responsibility of the institution of higher education to evaluate its programs to determine what it is actually providing students in terms of …

Connecting The Dots: A Case Study Examining The Impact Of Service Learning On A Youth And Young Adult Student Ministry, Thomas Spencer Legrand Jr.

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide a case study on the application of service-learning curriculum in a youth ministry at a traditional mid-size church. The intent of the curriculum was to provide a new and creative way for the church to impact youth by getting them involved in actions that correspond with Biblical principles. Church leaders hope that this curriculum change will not only impact youth in their teens but also influence them to remain involved in a traditional church as they reach college and become young adults.

The researcher used the process model of curriculum study from …

Enhancing The Koinonia At Camp Creek Baptist Church In Union Mills, North Carolina, By Expanding "Sacred Space", Tony Dwayne Mccraw

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Since the day of Pentecost, the defining characteristic of the church has been the extraordinary bond of unity and fellowship amongst Christians. Scripture refers to this intense sharing of life as koinonia. Fellowship, however, is often neglected in deference to earthly priorities.

This project aimed to inspire and enable the members of Camp Creek Baptist Church to practice the type of fellowship descriptive of first-century Christianity. Through studying Scripture, analyzing social demographics, and conducting statistical analyses, a solution for enhancing the koinonia. at CCBC emerged--namely, the regular gathering of its members into one another's homes, thereby expanding "sacred space."

Maximizing The Sermonic Moment At Adaville Baptist Church Of Spindale, North Carolina, Calvin Ray Sayles

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The goal of this study was to present the most effective weekly sermon that is fresh, clear, interesting, relevant and life-changing for those that hear it. Congregational feedback was gathered over four weeks, through surveys, biometrics captured on film, and simultaneous sermon feedback. Adjustments, based on the feedback gathered during the first four weeks, were utilized in sermons during two additional weeks. The desired outcome was that the sermonic moment will be meaningful to the congregation, help them to internalize God's desires and expectations for His people, and contribute to the transformation of His children into Christ-likeness.

Teaching Disciples To Pray: Improving The Understanding And Practice Of Prayer At Calvary Baptist Church Of Floyd, Virginia, Randy Thomas Mcdaniel

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project was undergirded by a theory that intentionality and discipline in prayer will yield valuable benefits. Growing more knowledgeable in prayer practice as well as learning to faithfully set aside time for prayer were two components of specific importance in this project. Such components can be engaged by the individual in private study. However, the position of this ministry experiment is that the greatest gains regarding knowledge and practice with prayer are to be found from intentional study with the additional element of a dialogical small group experience.

Yahweh As Father: The Image In Ancient Israelite Context And Modern Appropriation, Joshua Wayne Lovelace

MA in Religion Theses

The goal of this thesis was to appropriate the image of Yahweh as father for modern Christendom in light of feminist critiques of the image. The methods in accomplishing this task were as follows: defining feminism and feminist biblical interpretation, conveying the critiques of Rosemary Radford Ruether and Julia M. O'Brien who were scholarly dialogue partners, studying the social milieu of ancient Israel, using historical, literary, textual, and social criticism to exegete texts that mention Yahweh as father, comparing findings of exegesis with social milieu of ancient Israel, responding to critiques of Ruether and O'Brien, and lastly taking the findings …

Discovering The Inventory Of Spiritual Gifts Of Bethel Baptist Church Of Rock Hill, Inc., Rock Hill, South Carolina, Robert Joseph Crawford

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The hypothesis of this ministry project is that Bethel Baptist Church does not lack any spiritual gifts that are needed for contemporary Christian ministry. The challenge is which church members possess which spiritual endowments. To discover the church's spiritual gifts inventory, we used Bugbee's spiritual gifts assessments and gave opportunities for the expression of the gifts that were uncovered. The ministry experiment revealed clusters of spiritual gifts in the Bethel faith community. They were the gifts of faith, helps, mercy, and teaching. Ministries formed were prayer team ministries, praise and worship leaders, and a teacher's preparedness team.

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Outreach And Retention Methods Of Six Congregations Of The Brunswick Baptist Association, Jeffrey Gibby

Doctor of Ministry Projects

I chose two hypotheses to form a survey. The first hypothesis is that persons are reached by the style of building, existing relationships, or advertising. The second hypothesis is that persons maintain their membership based on the content of preaching, the quality of teaching programs, or fellowship.

I employed the Mann-Whitney Statistical Test to analyze the data.

The data revealed that good preaching, good worship, and good fellowship make a growing church. The data results also show the significance of the Pastor and revealed that age-graded Bible study groups are still valid in reaching and retaining members.

Helping The Parents Of Middle School Students Communicate Biblical Truths Of Sexuality At The First Baptist Church Of Lenoir, North Carolina, Thomas Russell Hinton

Doctor of Ministry Projects

An educational program was developed to discover the role of the church in promoting healthy parent/child communication about sexuality. Believing scripture affirms sexuality as a blessing from God, parents and middle school youth were recruited and led through the study. Surveys measured attitudes, opinions, and understanding of biblical knowledge, anatomy, and communication levels. After the program the families were given two months to observe parent/child communication. Final surveys indicated that the church can play an active role in promoting parent child communication about sexuality, and participants reflected a positive outcome by recommending the continuation of this program as a part …

Congregational Health And Wellness Ministry Using Locus Of Control To Develop Teaching Methods, Theresa Lee Trivette

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Faith communities have a unique opportunity to help congregational members modify health-seeking behaviors in order to reduce modifiable health risk factors. Health researchers have increased their use of health locus of control as a preferred method for studying health promotion and sick-role behaviors. Targeted education and activities designed from the context of the subjects' health locus of control may provide an effective method to influence people to make positive healthy behavior modifications with a higher likelihood of success because locus of control beliefs have been shown to have direct relationships with healthy behavior choices. The health locus of control theory …

Between The Way To The Cross And Emmaus: Deconstructing Identity In The 325 Ce Council Of Nicaea And "The Shack", Trevar Simmons

MA in English Theses

This paper argues that when Christians acknowledge the deconstruction of their identity surrounding orthodoxy/heresy, Christians can embody the imitatio Christi and imago Dei. The argument begins by analyzing how Christians construct their identity along the orthodoxy/heresy lines by investigating a 2009 Bible burning by Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, NC. Reaching into the past and present, deconstruction is found in a prototypical orthodoxy/heresy debate at the 325 CE Council of Nicaea and the modern hubbub in and surrounding William Paul Young's novel The Shack.

The Israel Of God: A Literary-Historical And Sociological Examination Of Paul's Use Of Israel, Thomas Joshua Whitley

MA in Religion Theses

This paper attempts to test the hypothesis that the meaning of the term "Israel" actually was open to debate and that Paul was not the only one who defined "Israel" in such a way as to endorse a particular understanding of the term. This paper further examines whether there was literary precedence for Paul's use of Israel. These claims are examined how the use of "Israel" expanded during the relatively short period of time between the appearance of post-exilic Israelite literature and Paul's writings. This is accomplished by citing various examples of Jewish and Christian literature during this time period.

A Study Of Compassion: Aaron's Creek Baptist Church In Virgilina, Virginia Reaching Single Parent Families, Billy Ray Mcentire

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Christ's mandate requires the Church to minister to those in physical and spiritual need (Matt 25:31-46). This project ministers to disadvantaged single parent families in Southside Virginia and makes clear to the congregation of Aaron's Creek Baptist Church several things: its responsibilities to society, the need for its service to society, and God's mandate that it practice and minister with compassion. A field study involving church volunteers and single parent families provides observation and interview data for the project's analysis. Volunteers develop into a self-driven ministry team that needs less direction in future ministry projects.

Transforming Attitudes And Commitment To Missions At The Mt. Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church In Greenville, South Carolina, Jermaine A. Boyce

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This ministry project's goal was to seek transformation in attitudes and commitment to missions at the Mt. Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. The goal of transformation was to guide the congregation's mission practices to be exemplary of its 'Missionary' name and the overall mission of the church as discovered in Luke-Acts and in the Abrahamic Covenant.

The project tested the attitudes and commitment to missions from the Missionary Society in comparison to the general congregation. The project revealed both strengths and weaknesses in the attitudes and commitments of the Missionary Society and the congregation about missions. The …

Glimpses Of Heaven Among Friends: The Utilization Of Film To Draw Interest In Small Group Studies At The First Baptist Church Of Albemarle, Roger William Thomas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

A small group study about heaven in scripture and contemporary film was developed in order to create interests in small groups. Believing small groups, discussions of the after life, and the power of storytelling are affirmed throughout scripture, individuals were recruited and led through the study. Surveys measured opinions on heaven and small groups among the entire congregation and the small group participants. Following the study, the participants were surveyed one final time on both subjects. Ultimately the study did not always change minds with concern to the afterlife, but the overall opinions of small group experiences seemed to be …

Developing A Process For Missional Formation: A Ministry Project In The Baptist Church Of Beaufort, Sc, Eric Thomas Spivey

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Traditionally, Christians and church leaders compartmentalize their lives into growing spiritually and serving other people. One studies the Bible, worships or serves others without much thought for how these spiritual disciplines of formation and missional living impact and influence one another. Through a designed pastoral experiment involving twenty-four individuals in three community groups, this project proves that missional living combined with spiritual practices increases the spiritual growth in the members of The Baptist Church of Beaufort (SC).

Spiritual Care For Missionaries Within The Ministry Context Of Make Way Partners, Milton R. Smith

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Spiritual Care for Missionaries Within the Ministry Context of Make Way Partners is the report of a research project. The objective of this project was to study the spiritual care of missionaries within the ministry context of Make Way Partners (MWP). The ministry context of MWP is to prevent and combat human trafficking. The context of this project was in the country of Sudan, in and near Darfur.

In particular, the study addressed the possibility that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator might aid the leadership of MWP in predicting how missionaries might respond to stress in the field. Also, the project …

Ordination Training For Bi-Vocational Clergy In The United Cornerstone Churches International, Inc. Of Thomasville, North Carolina, George Bernard Jackson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

In many rural communities there exists a stereotype about clergy education perpetuated since slavery. This project offered bi-vocational clergy opportunities to be equipped, empowered and certified for servant leadership. Data captured from 2006 through 2008 was taken from the 25 ordinands. Questions that guided this study were grouped into two sets: examination by quantitative measurements through the passing of a catechism; and by qualitative measurements from personal and telephone interviews. The results of the research revealed a discrepancy in the ordination process where prerequisites and retention studies must play a greater role for future ordinands.

2001 Minutes Of The Kings Mountain Baptist Association, Kings Mountain Baptist Association

Kings Mountain Baptist Association Minute Books

The 2001 meeting of the Kings Mountain Baptist Association met at Double Springs Baptist Church and Boiling Springs Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. The Spring Session met at Camps Creek Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. The minutes are dedicated to the memory of Rev. David Edward Lucas, Rev. Billy Daniel "Danny" Ritch, and Rev. H.F. "Bud" Tutherow. It is the 150th anniversary of the Association. Visions of Faith: The Sesquicentennial History of the Kings Mountain Baptist Association 1851-2001 by Lansford Jolley was published. Reflections on the events of September 11th focused on prayer.

2000 Minutes Of The Kings Mountain Baptist Association, Kings Mountain Baptist Association

Kings Mountain Baptist Association Minute Books

The 2000 meeting of the Kings Mountain Baptist Association met at Patterson Baptist Church, in Grover, NC and New Hope Baptist Church, in Earl, NC. The minutes are dedicated to memory of Rev. Rochelle Ray Ingle, Mrs. Jane Monroe Brendle, and Mrs. Mafrey Richard Sesson. The Baptist Counseling Center of Cleveland County was established in August; Dr. Gary McFarland is the counselor. Gardner-Webb is reported to be the fifth largest private university in the state and the Doctorate of Ministry program will begin next fall.

1999 Minutes Of The Kings Mountain Baptist Association, Kings Mountain Baptist Association

Kings Mountain Baptist Association Minute Books

The 1999 Fall meeting of the Kings Mountain Baptist Association met at Zoar Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. The Second Spring Session was held at Christopher Road Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. The minutes are dedicated to the memory of Rev. C.O. Greene and Rev. Glenn Griffin Short. The Association includes their incorporation as a non-profit corporation. Gardner-Webb's School of Divinity is noted to be receiving accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in November.