Religion Commons^™

Intergenerational Christian Community: A Vision For Spiritual Formation For All Ages, Robin Pyles

Doctor of Ministry

For decades, American churches have been struggling with shrinking attendance, particularly among young people. An increasingly polarized society that elevates individualism and secularization, along with widespread escalating age segregation, has contributed to this trend. In response to these societal norms, many local churches have defaulted to a primarily age-segregated programming model. This model results in the absence of a sense of community and belonging, and a lack of Christian spiritual formation growth among both youth and adults within the church. This research revealed that creating regular opportunities for meaningful cross-generational interactions that combine shared experiences of play, creative expression, intentional …

Examining The Synergy Between The Marketplace And The Church In Ghana: Strategies For Enhancing Socio-Economic Development, Grace Opuni-Darko

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation explores the complex relationship between the marketplace and Church in Ghana, seeking to identify collaborative strategies that lead to sustainable socio-economic development. The study aims to unravel the complexities of this relationship and identify effective strategies that can foster sustainable growth and development within the Ghanaian context. At the core of this research is an in-depth historical analysis, tracing the evolution of the Churches' role in the Ghanaian economy from colonial times to the present day. This historical perspective provides a critical backdrop for understanding current dynamics and trends. The study employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating both qualitative …

The Light Shines In The Darkness : Advent Meditations- By Members Of The Faculty, Alumni, Staff And Board Of Trustees Of Asbury Theological Seminary, Tammy L. Cessna

Books

No abstract provided.

No Orthopathy Without Orthoaesthesis: On The Necessity Of Negative Effort, Ryan G. Duns

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

Theologians have become increasingly attentive to the role emotion and experience must play in theological reflection. Several thinkers have recently done so by appropriating and developing Jon Sobrino’s understanding of orthopathy, or “right affect.” A close examination of these efforts, however, reveals inconsistencies in the way the category is understood and deployed. This article redresses these inconsistencies by complementing orthopathy with orthoaesthesis, or “right perception.” The article opens by considering various appeals to orthopathy before suggesting how William James’s theory of emotion might provide the category with clarifying content. The second stage engages Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch as practitioners …

From The History Of The Religious Life Of The Ossetians, An Ethnic Minority Living In Georgia (Goat Cult Associated With St. Elijah), Giorgi Sosiashvili Prof. Dr., Aleksandre Mgebrishvili Prof. Dr.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores the historical and cultural interactions between the Georgian and Ossetian peoples, tracing their complex relationship from ancient times to the present. It highlights the origins of the Ossetians, stemming from the Scythian-Sarmatian tribes and the Alans, who migrated to the North Caucasus in the early Middle Ages. The work discusses the impact of Mongol invasions on Ossetian settlement patterns and how Christianization efforts, particularly from Georgian missionaries, facilitated cultural exchange and integration. Key historical figures, such as the Apostle Andrew and St. Nino, played significant roles in promoting Christianity among the Ossetians. The article also examines the …

Use Of The Council Of Religious Cults By The Totalitarian Regime To Fight Against Protestant Communities In Ukraine, Oksana Vysoven, Olga Shkolna, Alina Zadorozhnya, Yuriy Figurnyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes the use of the Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults in the fight against Protestant communities in Ukraine by the totalitarian government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In the 1940s, the Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults, created by the order of J. Stalin, directed all of its activities to the unification of Protestant communities and their comprehensive subordination to the totalitarian government. In the 1950s and 1960s the Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults continued to successfully perform the registration, control, punitive, and repressive functions towards Protestant communities in Ukraine and …

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 Activity Of Parliamentary Institutions In Ukraine And The Republic Of Poland In The Religious Sphere: A Comparative Analysis, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Serhii Stelnykovych, Liudmyla Horokhova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article provides a comparative analysis of the religious policies of parliamentary institutions in Ukraine and the Republic of Poland in regulating social relations in the sphere of religion. It overviews the principles, methods and mechanisms for the formation and implementation of state-church and interfaith relations. The influence of the church on the social and political life of Poland is noted, as it plays an important role in the formation of the state and nation and in preserving national identity. Secularization trends in Polish and Ukrainian societies have resulted in the decline of religiosity, in the weakening of the influence …

Search For Resonance: The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church’S Quest For Relevance And Resonance Amidst The Complexity Of Contemporary Societal Discourse, Jānis Meļņikovs

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This investigation examines the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church's role in Latvia's political debates, uncovering diverse opinions within the church on its public policy influence. Despite some members' active opposition and others' reluctance to engage in polarizing topics, the church steadfastly positions itself as a moral arbiter in society. Applying Hartmut Rosa's theories on public discourse and resonance, the study proposes the church as a place for deep, meaningful engagement with faith and society, where resonant experiences can foster individual and community well-being. Analysis of interviews illustrates the church's struggle to maintain its values in a modern, secular world, with individual …

Holiness School At Camp Sychar, Camp Sychar

Photographic Material

No abstract provided.

Thin Places: A Six Week Prayer Guide For Experiencing God In Your Everyday, Keith Riley

Doctor of Ministry

My NPO statement is that at Menlo Church, Menlo Park Campus there is a lack of applied knowledge for adults in how to listen to God. My ministry context is at Menlo Church which is a historic presbyterian church set in the highly educated and affluent town of Menlo Park, which is in the San Francisco Bay Area. I began working at Menlo Church in 2019 and found there was a general intellectual knowledge of prayer and spiritual formation. This intellectual knowledge of spiritual formation has been influenced by leadership of John Ortberg as senior pastor, and other voices such …

Applying The Normative Design Approach To Civil Engineering, Justin R. Vander Werff

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

In 1986, the book Responsible Technology [1] was published as an important compilation from a number of thoughtful Christians engaged in technology and engineering in that era. In many ways, this book and those involved with it laid the foundation for what has become the Christian Engineering Society. A particularly valuable aspect of this work was that it laid out a biblically normative framework for doing engineering based on Herman Dooyeweerd’s modal aspects [2], fleshing out how the higher aspects such as faith, ethics, and justice should play an integral role in engineering development, even though we often have a …

Inter-Orthodox Conflicts In Ukraine And The Movement To Unite Ukrainian Orthodox Churches In The 20th And 21st Century, Tetiana Havryliuk, Yuriy Chornomorets, Bogdan Gulyamov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

he article analyzes the historical conditions in which the movement towards independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place. It is shown that the stages of formation of the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine coincided with the stages of the Ukrainian people's struggle for state independence. The role of P. Skoropadskyi's government in establishing Orthodox statehood and the idea of building a canonical Ukrainian church independent of the Russian Orthodox Church is revealed. It is shown that in the 40s of the last century two Ukrainian Orthodox churches were formed on the territory of Ukraine - the Autonomous Orthodox Church, …

Analysis Of Public Media Discourses Of The Main Actors Of The Church Crisis In Ukraine, Hennadii Khrystokin, Vasyl Lozovytskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

By analysing the main public statements of the actors of the church crisis in Ukraine, we managed to identify their basic narratives, main discursive logics, power positions, hidden motives and interests that influence social processes. To do this, we used the techniques of narrative analysis of public discourses. The main actors (players, participants) in the church crisis are representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (next - UOC) and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (next - OCU), the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church (next - ROC), government agencies, popular media, international and Ukrainian experts. Theological, political, state, and mass-media …

The Issue Of War In The Basic Social Concepts Of The Russian Orthodox Church And In The Compendium Of The Social Doctrine Of The Catholic Church: A Comparative Analysis, Olga Nedavnya

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The assessment by the Russian Orthodox Church of the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine as a holy war prompts to determine whether this position of this Church is determined by its theological recommendations on social life, recorded in the Basics of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church. The analysis of this current official document of the Russian Orthodox Church revealed that in the central part of its provisions, where the grounds for evaluating this or that war are given, there are references to the social doctrine of the Catholic Church. This fact led to the need …

The Problem With The Performance Of Alternative Or Military Service Of Ukrainian Adventists In War Conditions, Valentyna Kuryliak Dr

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article discusses the lack of legal documentation faced by Ukraine in defending its borders and national interests, taking into account its historical experience. Attention is drawn to the issues encountered by Protestant churches, especially, but not exclusively, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A proposal has been made to utilize the volunteer non-combatant potential of churches, regulating it legislatively without involving the Ukrainian court system. The question of alternative (non-combatant) service during mobilization and in times of war in Ukraine is analyzed. The author argues the necessity of preserving the right to alternative service for church members, which according to the …

Gendered Labor Division In The Evangelical Lutheran Church Of Latvia Through The Lens Of Gifts And Reciprocity, Māra Neikena, Gareth E. Hamilton

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores the concepts of 'gift's and 'reciprocity' within anthropological literature and applies them to ethnographic fieldwork conducted within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. In interviews, pastors and members of parishes used the word 'gift' to rationalize gender differences in performed tasks and assumed inherent abilities of men and women. The article aims to investigate the variety of reciprocity that takes place when informants refer to the idea of the 'gift' in various social contexts. Through qualitative interviews, analysis highlights that the gendered labor division in managing the 'household' of a parish is tied to a sense of …

The Kingdom Of God In Selected Christian Living Education Modules Viewed Through Jesus Of Nazareth’S Vision Of The Reign Of God, Romela D. Sanga, Ferdinand D. Dagmang

Theology Department Faculty Publications

This article offers a study of Jesus’ Vision of the Reign of God as a foundation for the Christian Living Education Modules. Jesus of Nazareth’s ministry during the Roman Empire’s rule should be part of existing modules on God’s Kingdom as this would clarify the context of discipleship and ministry. Jesus, who lived and proclaimed God’s ruling presence, will be better understood and also grasped as a model if he is examined through historically-grounded studies, especially those written by Richard Horsley and other authors who are identified with the ‘Christology from below’ approach. Horsley’s scholarly studies could assist in a …

Readings In Western Philosophy For Louisiana Learners, Jeff Mclaughlin, Marco Altamarino (Editor), Ryland Johnson (Editor), Peter Klubek (Editor), Michael Martin (Editor)

Open Educational Resources

It is important for students not only to get an appreciation and understanding of philosophy but also to be exposed to the very words and ideas of those who have shaped our thinking over the centuries. Accordingly, the title of this collection hints at the facts that these readings are from the original sources and that these philosophers were the originators of many of the issues we still discuss today.

Major areas of philosophy covered here are Ethics, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, Ethics, Sociopolitical Philosophy, and finally, Aesthetics.

Week 6: Humility In The Hand Of God, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 2: Knowing Our True Names, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 1: The Unexpected Way Of Discipleship, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 3: Patterns Of Prayer And Praise, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 5: Modeling The Mercy Of Our Maker, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 1 (Jan 28-Feb 3): Overview Of John, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 4: A Trust That Transforms Trial, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Implementación De Un Seminario De Educación Sexual Para Matrimonios En La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día De Satélite, México, Josué Omar Martínez Grimaldo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Satellite District is composed of four churches belonging to the Seventh-day Adventist Association the Central Mexican Union, which maintains a limited and reduced teaching on the topic of marital sex education, despite the availability of governmental information, denominational publications, and other resources which indicates that it has been omitted from church programming for the last ten years. Within this context, the following research question was formulated: How does the lack of guidance and information on sexual education impact the marriages of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Satelite District in the second semester of 2023?

Methodology

The researcher …

Desarrollo, Implementacion Y Evaluacion De Un Seminario De Liberazgo Para Lideres De La Iglesia Central De Cojupeque, El Salvador, Alvaro Rafael Linero Vargas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in the ministry of all believers, and at its base, the local church is not only led by pastors but also by members who take on leadership roles. In order for these members to excel in their ministries, their training and education must be intentional. The Central Cojutepeque Seventh-day Adventist Church of the Paracentral El Salvador Conference did not have an intentional leadership instruction program that can help said leaders assist in the leading of the church.

Methodology

This project is a research initiative in the field of practical theology. It was applied within …

Seminarios Para Aplicar Principios De Interpretacion De Los Escritos De Elena G. De White Para Las Iglesias Adventistas Hispanas En Paterson, New Jersey, Jose Alberto Hernancez Lache

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The observations made by the researcher in the district of Hispanic Adventist churches in Paterson, New Jersey, in the years 2021 and 2022, led to the conclusion that the way the leaders uses the writings of Ellen G. White is not the best. Even the understanding held by fellow church members, mostly used for rebuking the behaviors or judging certain situations of other members, clearly demonstrates a lack of wisdom and balance on this subject. This issue creates discontent and animosity towards the task Ellen G. White sought to accomplish when called by God to encourage, strengthen, and sustain …

Programa Para Fomentar El Ministerio Filantrópico En La Iglesia Adventista Del Septimo Día Hispana De Georgetown, Delaware, Luz E. Pinzón González

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In the last few years, many of the members of the Hispanic Adventist Church in Georgetown, Delaware, had not learned of community service activities, especially those available in Philanthropic Ministry. The church community has many families with economic needs, which would benefit from a philanthropic program that would supply their basic alimentary needs. Such a program would also open doors for the church to share the Adventist message with the beneficiaries. This problem was directly observed by the author, in consultation with the pastor and the church leaders.

Methodology

This present project is based on creating a program to …