Religion Commons^™

Mirror-Reading Moral Issues In Paul's Letters, Nijay Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Biblical interpreters have long recognized the need to engage in mirror-reading when it comes to studying the apostle Paul’s letters, as they are ‘occasional’ writings, where an understanding of the context of the wider conversation gives insight into the proper understanding of the text’s meaning. In 1987, John Barclay made a key contribution to the practice of interpreting Paul’s letters by offering a criticism of unwieldy attempts at mirror-reading and by presenting a methodological standard for how mirror-reading can and should be carried out.While Barclay’s article has brought a helpful critical standard to the practice of mirror-reading Paul’s letters in …

How Women Plant Churches, Marykate Morse

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No abstract provided.

Conference Participation And Publishing (Chapter Eight Of Prepare, Succeed, Advance: A Guidebook For Getting A Ph.D. In Biblical Studies And Beyond), Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Two clear marks of a good scholar or doctoral student are published pieces of research (articles, essays, reviews, etc.) and active participation in academic conferences (presenter, chair, respondent, etc.). Especially for graduate students, the research experience can be very isolated and have a minimal impact without attention to such avenues of dialogue and interaction. Also, practically speaking, when the time comes for the job search, a demonstration of such activity often shows that the prospective professor is a real participant of and contributor to the field of biblical studies. We will begin by discussing how to get involved in conferences.

God's First Discourse: Connected By The Community Of Creation In The Harmony Way, Randy Woodley

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Tight Fists Or Open Hands: Wealth And Poverty In Old Testament Law, Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "David Baker fills a lacuna in scholarship with this theological interpretation of wealth and poverty in OT law. Under thematic categories, such as property rights and just lawsuits, Baker outlines the pertinent passages from biblical texts within the context of ancient Near Eastern legal collections. After a whirlwind survey, Baker acknowledges some commonalities between biblical and ancient law regarding economic concerns. But he emphasizes that the biblical law codes ultimately derive from the covenantal relationship with YHWH. Thus, biblical law collectively attests to higher standards of economic ethics than its ancient Near Eastern counterparts."

Under One Umbrella: Multiple Communities, One Church, Timothy Jacob Gillespie

Doctor of Ministry

It is my claim that the need for alternative communities within established church structures is not only growing, but is also paramount to the continuation of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the post-Christian, post-Modern world. These alternative communities often take the form of "emerging" worship services, Young Adult services, and "churchwithin- a-church" expressions of worship and community. They are seen in large, medium, and small church settings; as such, we see many of the same problems to varying degrees. The search for relevance has led us to these communities, and this author sees them as valid expressions of faith …

Anglican Eucharistic Liturgy: A Church-Planting Hope For The Post-Christian Culture Of The Pacific Northwest, Anthony D. Kriz

Doctor of Ministry

The question addressed in this dissertation may be stated as follows: 1tJ1l1at hope does Anglican Eucharistic Liturgy bring to the future of church planting within the increasingly post-Christian urban centers of the Pacific Northwest? According to our research of a sample zip code of inner-city Portland, Oregon, only one in four people self-identify with Christianity and less than one in five attend church. Churches are shrinking and closing rapidly and our culture is increasingly defined as post-Christian. The plans of the recent church-planting efforts are losing ground. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but there is significant evidence that the Anglican …

Listening Life: An Approach To Spiritual Formation At Newberg Friends Church, Stephen D. Fawver

Doctor of Ministry

At Newberg Friends Church we have developed a Listening Life approach to spiritual formation based on the call of God recorded in Mark 9:7, "This is my Son, whom I love, listen to him." A listening life is a holistic life - one that is open to being in a love relationship with God, creating intentional space and time with Christ, and responding to the nudges of the Spirit in the spontaneity of life. This listening is richer when done together with others and more free if it embraces an experimental attitude that holds things loosely as we seek to …

Desert Living For Modern Day Ministers: Embracing The Life And Practice Of Desert Living In Ministry Today, Kaye L. Mckinley

Doctor of Ministry

Ministers spend most of their time assisting others through trouble and hardship, yet they are often unable to cope with their own personal struggles. In doing so, they neglect their own spiritual lives for the sake of others. This dissertation will explore the desert experiences of the past to determine if the desert metaphor holds value for ministers today as a place of healing and spiritual transformation. In biblical times, the desert was a literal place where people sought God and explored their life and faith. The Desert Fathers and Mother followed this example. Desert living is available for us …

The Relationship Between The Great Commission, The Most Important Commandment, And Abundance, Mark Mcnees

Doctor of Ministry

No abstract provided.

The Moral And Ethical Influence By The Christian Faith Community Upon The Non-Christian Population Of Harney County, Oregon, John D. Stauffer

Doctor of Ministry

The principal problem that this paper addresses is the diminishment of the Christian church‘s moral influence in Harney County, Oregon. The author asks two primary questions: (1) what are the role and the responsibility of the Christian faith community with respect to influencing the wider culture of Harney County, and (2) how should pastoral leaders of Harney County, Oregon facilitate collaborative efforts among their respective congregations to enhance the Christian faith‘s collective influence on our community.

Chapter One introduces the problem through a narrative based on the author‘s local ministry setting of Harney County. Chapter Two presents scriptural evidence to …

Conflict And The Campus Ministry Leader : A Strategy For Preparation, Robert S. Henry

Doctor of Ministry

No abstract provided.

Re-Imaging Leadership Development For Millennials, John Scott Ramsey

Doctor of Ministry

vii ABSTRACT Statistics of church attendance in America shows a chronic trend toward younger generations leaving the church. What will happen to the church in America over the next fifteen years when Boomer1 pastors choose to retire? The Church will face a monumental leadership transition and many churches will not be equipped with a new generation of experienced leaders. Seasoned church leaders (aka those of the Boomer population) must give great care, and with a sense of urgency, develop the Millennial generation2 as leaders for the future vitality of the church. The thesis of this study is seasoned church leaders …

Spiritual Abuse : When The System Becomes The Persecutor, Gary R. Veenhuizen

Doctor of Ministry

Spiritual abuse is an extremely subtle issue in its early stages. Often one doesn’t recognize when they are a subject of abuse, or how they have been influenced in ways that are controlling and involve manipulation of behavior and thought. It should be understood that all institutional systems are vulnerable to manipulation by leadership, tradition or culture of the system or organization. I am proposing that it is possible that a system itself can be an abuser, inflicting spiritual control and manipulation on the organization, the leadership and members for future generations. I want to examine the earmarks of unhealthy …

Adventures In Churchland: Discovering The Beautiful Mess Jesus Loves, Dan Kimball

Doctor of Ministry

A growing number of young adults (those in the 18-30-year-old age range) are not
engaging, becoming involved or entering into the church of America. An increasing
number of those who grew up attending church are leaving after their high school years.
I have observed this as a pattern when visiting churches and talking to church
leaders across America. Statistics are showing this as seen in studies such as Dave Kin-
naman’s research and writings from the Barna Research group and Ed Stetzer’s research
from LifeWay Christian Resources. This is a very significant problem because if the
church loses connection with …

Sustaining Team Leadership In Recovery At Magnolia Baptist Church In Riverside, California, Richard Perez

Doctor of Ministry

No abstract provided.

Who Cares? Establishing And Integrating Care Systems Within A Framework Of Faith Communities, Medical Centers, And Government Agencies, Elizabeth T. Boatwright

Doctor of Ministry

No abstract provided.

Designing Communitas, Kevin Tyler Bates

Doctor of Ministry

No abstract provided.

A Contemplative Vocational Discernment Model For Christian College Students, Barbara K. Dewald

Doctor of Ministry

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Welcome to the summer issue of the ICCTE Journal. Recently, your ICCTE Leadership Council met at Azusa Pacific University in preparation for the 2012 Biennial Conference. While there, we contemplated what it meant to implement ’emphatic listening’, as expressed in the book Messengers of God: The sensuous side of spirituality by Arthur Roberts as an act of worship to God and out of respect to each other. In this beneficial devotional within community, we were able to fellowship, plan, eat and laugh as a team who would return with something to share with you all. I invite you to send …

Transforming Teaching In Inclusive Settings: An Educator Looks At Vim, Robin Labarbera Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Inclusive classrooms are those in which students with special needs are educated alongside their non-disabled peers. This article examines the attitudes that teachers in inclusive settings may hold that are believed to be barriers to successful inclusion. Given that historically, students with special needs in inclusive classrooms have made limited academic progress through traditional whole-class instruction, it is suggested that a transformation in inclusive teaching take place. This article suggests that educators apply Dallas Willard’s (2002) concept of VIM, outlined in his book, Renovation of the Heart. Christian teachers may find the vision, intention, and means Willard advocates to be …

High-Stakes Assessment: Is A Christian Ethic Of Care Possible?, Paul Shotsberger Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The No Child Left Behind Act, the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), has fundamentally changed the landscape of education in the United States. Amidst the current debate over reauthorization of ESEA, it is vital that Christian educators consider the moral implications of continuing and expanding current policies, especially as they relate to high-stakes assessment and its impact on students and teachers. The focus of the article is the challenge a high-stakes environment poses for educators who truly desire to demonstrate a Christian ethic of care in their teaching and what Christian teacher education can do …

“Is It Because I’M Black?”: Creating Space For Diversity In The Christian University, Mary Ashun Ph.D., Steve Sider Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This paper examines the experiences of a black female faculty member as she enters the Christian university where there is limited ethnic diversity. She experiences critical student responses to her teaching which lead her to consider the reasons why she may be experiencing such resistance. As she confronts the possibility that it’s because she’s black, she enters into an on-going dialogue with a white male faculty member. Their experiences and conversations create a space for shared learning. The paper raises the question of how Christian universities might intentionally create space for faculty of color to feel welcome and embraced in …