Religion Commons^™

Becoming Stuck In Complicated Grief: Turning Loss Into Resilience, Hope, And Healing, Elizabeth (Pam) Strachan-Proudfit

Doctor of Ministry

Grief is a natural and normal experience reaching back to the narrative of creation. Research has revealed that about 80 to 90 percent of grievers experience normal or uncomplicated grief while a small percentage ranging from 10 to 20 percent struggled with complicated grief responses. This small percentage is the focus of this dissertation. Those who experience complicated grief are observed to become stuck and unable to move through the grieving process independently. Grievers who are stuck appear to have on-going difficulty in their spiritual, emotional, cognitive, and even physical health. The uniqueness of grief is not only real with …

Forming Anglican Wayfinders In Aotearoa: A Contextual Approach To Ministerial Preparation, Karen Kemp

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation begins with a Church in crisis and a story of vocation under pressure. It identifies the need for clergy who are resilient and adaptive in the face of change.

Using the four phases of Appreciative Inquiry, Sections Two through Six build a picture of what New Zealand Anglican leaders need today.1

Discover: Section Two surveys bright spots in ministerial education, and exegetes the Rule of Benedict using a leadership lens.

Dream: Section Three identifies key challenges, evaluates emerging models of leadership, and proposes a fresh approach to training.

Design and Destiny phases (Sections Four through Six) present the …

Soul Journey: Rediscovering The Sacred Paths For Body, Heart, And Mind, Christopher Fillingham

Doctor of Ministry

The spiritually thirsty are leaving the church in the West. They do not find the church to be a place of spiritual wisdom and nourishment. This dissertation follows various ancient guides within Christianity to recover a life-giving spirituality for the Western Church in the twenty-first century. Chapter 1 draws on the desert monastics as it explores the lack of a transformational spirituality in the modern Church. It defines spirituality in terms of eros, clarifies the aim of spirituality as union, and explores the common reductions that have led the Church astray. Chapter 2 connects the three spiritual paths outlined in …

Exploring Leadership In The Middle: An Application Of Schon's Reflective Conversation—A Decision-Making Process For Assemblies Of God World Missions Area Directors, James A. Sabella

Doctor of Ministry

Middle leaders are an essential part of every organization. Their position in the organization’s structure places them at the center of the organization’s operations. From this middle position, the middle leader functions as both follower and leader, having a responsibility both upward and downward in the organization. In these capacities the middle leader becomes a critical link between the vision, goals and mission of the organization and the day-to-day carrying out of the vision, goals and mission. And yet middle leaders often go unnoticed. This dissertation focuses on those who lead in the middle: specifically, the Area Director in the …

“Me? An Addict?” Good News For Shame And Addiction, Rebecca Grisell

Doctor of Ministry

Addictions have penetrated all segments of society, including the Church. The problems addicts face is complicated, complex, and challenging for the church and ministry practitioners. Alongside the rising rate of addiction, society’s shame-awareness has also risen. This is not coincidental or unimportant. While addictive behavior seeks bonding, shame resists bonding. It is the contrary and paradoxical nature of this problem that makes it confusing, mysterious, and perplexing.

Yet there is hope. When shame is addressed with the good news of the Gospel, addiction will lose its grasp and new recovery solutions will arise. This dissertation suggests that the inability to …

The Future Of Undergraduate Biblical Higher Education: Abhe And The Bible College Movement, T. Scott Womble

Doctor of Ministry

The Bible college movement can trace its roots to the late nineteenth century and was given greater credibility when the accreditation era began in 1947. Today, the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) is still the leader of the Bible college movement. But a quick glance at the sixty-three ABHE institutions (64%) with undergraduate enrollment under 250 raises concern. Furthermore, 31 percent have enrollment under 100.

Rising costs and escalating student debt are creating enrollment challenges. The smallness of most Bible colleges makes them particularly vulnerable, especially since many lack endowments. Adding to the problem is the changing landscape of …

The Contemporary Problems And Solutions That Influence The Exodus Population Of Christians, Laura Lynn Howard

Doctor of Ministry

Section 1: The Problem addresses Christians outside of the churches that do not have ministerial support. Contemporary Exodus Christianity is the practice of Christianity outside of the institutional church. Currently there is a shifting of the global center of Christianity. Consumerism is affecting the Christian church. Consumerism is a potential contributor to the problem of church exodus. There is a trend of continuing decline of church attendance. A statistical exploration of the reasons congregants, members, and pastors have left the church is included. The sociological study of the Exodus Christian population delivers an introductory view of Exodus Christianity.

Section 2: …

The Church Has Left The Building: A Leadership Perspective Of Online Church Versus Traditional Church, Valerie E. Crumpton

Doctor of Ministry

Where it was once thought that the decline of traditional church goers into a brick and mortar edifice meant that America was becoming less “faith based”, the everincreasing number of online worshippers indicates otherwise. Due to the rapidly shifting culture toward an online worship experience, the traditional church must re-evaluate and reform their processes to include this new wave of Christianity. If churches cannot transition to accommodate the new culture of church that is only accessible via the Internet, there is a possibility that they could lose the opportunity to share the Gospel Message with a population that may never …

How Does The Presence And Management Of Leadership Tension Affect Leaders And The Organizations They Lead?, Aaron A. Cole

Doctor of Ministry

Many leaders inside and outside the church struggle with the weight of leadership demands, feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by the tension that comes with leadership. It is not a lack of calling, clarity, or vision on the part of leaders but the tension of moving people toward achieving mission. Such tension, caused by the function of leadership and not necessarily the leader, is a crucial area that tends to cause a leader to rise or fall. Unfortunately, many leaders eject or struggle without success due to a lack of understanding and the skill set necessary to effectively manage leadership tension. …

Between Breaths: The Dialogic Shape Of Christian Authority, Meghan Larissa Good

Doctor of Ministry

Five hundred years ago, a group of Christians challenged the authority of church and tradition, provoking a Reformation that changed the face of the world. But the fractured history of Protestantism suggests the question of Christian authority is more complex than the potent rallying cry of “sola scriptura” might have first suggested. Scripture requires interpretation, and interpretation opens the door to substantial influence by church, tradition, Spirit, reason, and even individual experience. Branches of Protestantism have distinguished themselves in part by the authoritative priority they attribute to these sources. But Christian authority cannot be possessed as a static and absolute …

Transcendence At The Table: A Transfigurational Experience For Ecclesia While Breaking Bread Together, Julia Rachelle Hurlow

Doctor of Ministry

The Church has been slowly losing its identity. This loss of identity has a strong connection to the failure of the church to tend and till faith relationships, as well as pass the faith story on to children and others. There has been a loss of emphasis on the table as a place of significance in church, community, and home. To break bread together is to reclaim the spoken story of Jesus’ transfigurational power. The hope for growth in a stronger identity lies in believing in the Truth of a present and powerful Jesus who could transfigure lives, offer forgiveness …

A Portrait Of A Successful Pastor: Reanimating The Pastor As Shepherd In A Success Oriented Culture, Steve Bontrager

Doctor of Ministry

The purpose of this study is to define a set of metrics by which pastors can measure their “success” as pastors. It is important to note that this is not an effort to define a successful church, which would be a different study altogether. Studies show that a great majority of pastors are struggling in life and ministry and it seems reasonable to ask if this could be a result of ambiguity about the role pastors are supposed to fill and what constitutes successfully doing so. It is my contention that many pastors function without a clear sense of metrics …

Epic Discipleship Model For The Korean Millennials Through A Hybrid Program, Young-Hoon Jin

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation purpose to develop a hybrid discipling model through EPIC (Experiential, Participatory, Image-driven, Communal) approach that includes listening, teaching, coaching, meeting, sharing, studying and empowering through both online and offline will be an effective and working tool for younger generation. Cohort learning, individualized mentoring, personalized resources will meet the needs for each person in their process to grow as disciples of Jesus in their own settings and circumstances overcoming barriers of location, time, denomination, and anonymity.

God With/In: Heal The World. Sing The Good News, Amanda Zentz-Alo

Doctor of Ministry

Historical methods of evangelism are no longer working in North America. As religion declines among younger generations, Christians look at our methods and venture into a new way of living God’s good news in the world. Section One looks at the decline of evangelism’s effectiveness in North America. With an eye towards the healing of Jesus, the roots of evangelism are explored. Contrasted with these roots are the techniques that evolved after the legalization of Christianity under Constantine’s Empire. A domineering evangelism arrived in North America alongside of Christopher Columbus as a form of “power over” instead of as healing …

The Last Judge: Shepherding And Parenting The Church And Laity Through A 21st Century Family Dynamic, Kevin Anthony Wade

Doctor of Ministry

The purpose of this paper is to develop a solution to certain items ailing the church, removing boundaries where trusting and believing in the church family abounds. Through the five years of creating the context of this paper, the objective was established to first become successful in teaching and promoting spiritual behavioral change. During this five year period, I used five of my seven daughters, and 27 participants in the Young Adult Ministry as the sample church family for conceptualization of a reasonable model for my argument. The use of the information within this paper is not for a particular …

Her Story: Forming A Woman's Voice In The Pulpit, Mindy Smith

Doctor of Ministry

Story is a paradigm for how women shape their preaching identity. Women preachers benefit from developing their voice through the stories of women in scripture, and the voices of women from the past and present day who have found their authentic preaching voices. Shaping a voice through story is a model in which the preaching identity can develop, and as a result minimizes insecurity, stress and fear around the craft of preaching. Section One defines the preaching identity and examines the elements that form identity. It explores the challenges that have impacted how women understand their role in preaching. Section …

The Digital Catechism: Confirmation For A Digital World, James Mueller

Doctor of Ministry

Faith education and formation is important to every Lutheran pastor. Our denomination was born with a love for catechesis. Of all the rituals that remained after the split of the Western church, Confirmation might be the most treasured among churches. Unfortunately, for many pastors who have taught Lutheran Confirmation over their careers they have never felt more disconnected from their students. Their hearts are completely invested in catechesis but their methods do not produce effective results. Though they search more thoroughly than ever to find the right curriculum, nothing seems to work. We know that parents wonder why their children …

Narrative-Based Visual Theology For Oral Learning Pastor Training, Raymond Neu

Doctor of Ministry

In the realms of popular education, literates hold the day, yet they are not the majority. Even in our highly-advanced world, non-literates or oral communicators, still comprise the largest class of potential learners awaiting an education. The problems they face are complicated and challenging. Physical and financial access to education stop most oral communicators before they even start. If they had access to a local educational institution, more massive hurdles await, including literacy itself followed closely by lack of attention to the learning styles of oral learners. Yet there is hope. When educators determine to address the unique needs and …

Key Components Of A Culturally Relevant Multiethnic Church Model, Pablo Morales

Doctor of Ministry

The increasing ethnic and lingual diversity of the City of Richardson in north Texas is a microcosm of a social trend observed in the United States and around the globe. This demographic shift has propelled Ethnos Bible Church to pursue a multiethnic church model, yet, Ethnos does not understand the unique components of a culturally relevant multiethnic church. Therefore, this dissertation seeks to answer one question: What are the key components that Ethnos Bible Church needs to implement in order to cultivate a culturally relevant multiethnic church poised for ministry impact? This research reveals that although the current degree of …

Creating An Officer Lifescape: A Path For The Vocational And Spiritual Formation Of Salvation Army Officer-Moms, Janene Zielinski

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation claims that the formation of a healthy Salvation Army officermom identity is foundational for future organizational leadership development and personal vocational efficacy. Section One explores the historical management of officermoms, root causes of dissatisfaction, and modern barriers to healthy functioning. Section Two describes the deficiencies within three current methods of officer-mom identity formation. Section Three focuses on Scriptural models of identity formation and suggestions for implementation as a formative and sustainable approach in alleviating four key longings of officer-moms. This dissertation proposes that fledgling officer-moms need a safe and reliable mechanism to receive instruction and encouragement in establishing …

A Rhythm, Ritual And Rule For A Wisdom Monastic Community For Second Half Of Life Pilgrims, Mary Laymon

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation explores the establishing of a wisdom monastic community to nurture disciples living into the Second Half of Life. A critical problem facing mainline churches today is the increasing number of US-American adults describing themselves as “spiritual, but not religious.” In 2012, a survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life documented that 20 percent of the adults in the United States classify themselves as religiously unaffiliated. Adding to this population are longtime, faithful lay leaders announcing they are “done” with church. Recent research suggests that a growing number of these adults leave congregations that …

A Study In Worship: Blending The African American Style Of Preaching With Epic Preaching, Jamale D. Kempt

Doctor of Ministry

The stories in Scripture are rich in meaning, mood and mystery with messages often concealed from those who would just glide over them with a glancing eye. The art of preaching exhibited in the African American pulpit is complete with theology, struggle, issues, passion, and excitement. This style of sermon presentation is uniquely tied to the many cultures of the West African diaspora into the Americas. This unique style was used in the storytelling of the ancestors and through the struggles of the African in America evolving into the art of black preaching. The purpose of this dissertation is to …

Shema, Shabbat, Shalom, And A Savior: Implications For Pastoral Ministry, Richard Hovey

Doctor of Ministry

In the Global North there are disparaging figures within evangelicalism for both pastors and the churches they lead. Evangelical pastors have lost their moorings, suffering the consequences of a lost call and purpose in ministry. This has lead to an abandonment of post by the contemporary evangelical pastor in North America, and to a church left to drift in a secular sea. This project will suggest an answer in the return to a true pastoral ministry which will have positive implications for both pastor and church. Chapter 1 will provide an overview of the problem within contemporary evangelical pastoral ministry. …

Working Priests: Improving The Care For Vineyard Bivocational Pastors, Aaron Peterson

Doctor of Ministry

The number of Vineyard bivocational pastors in the US Vineyard church is unknown, and although pastoring bivocationally is common, there is a current lack of resources available to meet their unique challenges. The Association of Vineyard Churches, USA has improved from where it used to be, but they are currently not where they want to be in terms of caring for Vineyard bivocational pastors. This dissertation explores the current bivocational situation in the Association of Vineyard Churches, USA and argues that the Vineyard needs to take better care of Vineyard pastors who work jobs outside their churches. This project shows …

Pastoral Leadership For The Small, Rural Church: The Second Career Pastor, Randall C. Nichols

Doctor of Ministry

Due to financial and demographic factors plus a shortage of qualified candidates, small, rural churches often struggle to secure and retain pastoral leadership. An examination of these problems from the perspective of the church and that of pastoral candidates reveals the remoteness of location among small, rural churches creates an inability to attract candidates. Faced with college loan indebtedness, young growing families, and the need for full employment for spouses, candidates feel unable to accept a call from a small, rural church. The dissertation reviews the origins of the church, the historical prevalence of the small, rural church, and the …

Crossing Lines/Weaving Lives: Storytelling As A Means Of Building Bridges Across The Progressive/Conservative Divide, Jennifer Yocum

Doctor of Ministry

Christians in the United States have been divided against each other since before the Pilgrims touched dry land and Plymouth Rock. These divisions have created disaster in their wake, ranging from literal witch hunts in the early Massachusetts colony, to religiously fueled engagements in World War I, through to the continuing battles over sexuality, civil rights, and the American Christian exceptionalism that exist today. While the divisions are not new, our contemporary context suggests that these divisions themselves, even more than the subjects over which Christians are divided, are creating mortal danger to the body of Christ as a whole. …

The Jesus Quotient: Iq -> Eq -> Aq, Jennie A. Harrop

Doctor of Ministry

While we have discussed home churches and missional community involvement in recent decades, we have done little to acknowledge that the vernacular Tim Keller calls us to is nearly impossible to achieve in a culture that is deeply entrenched with biblical mythologies. How do we speak without raising walls of assumption, judgment, defensiveness, or anger? How do we assess the criticisms or hurt of others if we cannot identify our own? Jesus did not ponder IQ or EQ. He knew his God-given purpose and emotional character so deeply that he was able to operate out of those foundations without pausing …

Reviving Aspects Of Ateetee: An Arsi Oromo Women's Musical Ritual To Empower Women To Protect Their Human Rights And Participate In Society's Social And Religious Life, Talilee B. Fiqruu

Doctor of Ministry

In the Arsi Oromo society, prior to the introduction of organized religions and subsequent colonization by Abyssinian rulers, women had been leading a cultural musical institution called ateetee. It is organized and performed by married women for the purposes of empowering and protecting their interests and the interests of their community. For instance, if a husband violates her well-being, other women would gather in front of the man’s house, confront him to admit his fault, and require of him forgiveness. Women also play a great role in bringing peace and reconciliation between warring clans in a non-threatening way, simply by …

Where The Desert Fathers And Mothers Meet Permaculture, Brenda Nagunst

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation claims that a retreat center with an eco-spiritual focus is one way to introduce Christians to the connection between stewardship of God’s creation and relationship with God. For the purposes of this paper the word “creation” is used to identify the natural world: earth, soil, plants, animals, birds, fish, and humans. Many Christians do not steward the earth as God commanded in Genesis, thus missing a spiritual connection with God that can uniquely happen through creation. This dissertation addresses the question, “In what way is care of creation a critical part of a modern Christian’s relationship with God?” …

A Semiotic Approach To Conflict Transformation: Can Signs And Symbols Help Make Peace?, Samuel Kefas Sarpiya

Doctor of Ministry

Religion has always had the ability to play a major role in peacemaking and conflict transformation. But over the years, the power of religion to engender peace and to have an active voice in community issues has been lost on many secular theorists who see religion as one of the major reasons for lack of peace in the world. So, reclaiming the voice of religion in a pluralistic world is needed. Religious voices could have a positive impact in transforming conflict and bringing peace. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic religions that are also the Abrahamic faiths. This is a …