Christianity Commons^™

Christmas I Series B 2017, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

This PDF comments on the Propers for the First Sunday of Christmas, Series B and offers ideas for proclamation and preaching.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Movie Review), Joshua Matthews

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"'Three Billboards' is in no way a crime movie. It is instead a profound movie with a deep insight into the human heart."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­one of the 2018 Golden Globes Best Motion Picture Drama nominees from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/three-billboards-review/

Advent 4 Series B 2017, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

This PDF comments on the Propers for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Series B and offers ideas for proclamation and preaching.

Seeing Witchcraft, Bernhard Udelhoven

Journal of Global Catholicism

When Christians in Zambia struggle with witchcraft, they also struggle with African cultural and religious concepts that deal with life’s ambiguities and that require discernment. It is not by working against the cultural and religious heritage, but by working with it, as far as possible, that the pastor can identify the broken relationships towards which many witchcraft discourses point. However, before we place the concepts of witchcraft into the realm of superstition (as are the trends of mission Christianity) or the demonic (as are the trends of charismatic Christianity), the Church has the duty to look at the concepts, stay …

Allocutio: Articulating The Task For The Future Of African Catholicism, Mary Sylvia Nwachukwu

Journal of Global Catholicism

This essay charts how Catholicism can become more indigenously African and respond better to African needs and concerns.

The Devil Of The Missionary Church: The White Fathers And Catholic Evangelization In Zambia, Bernhard Udelhoven

Journal of Global Catholicism

This article examines how Western Catholic missionaries in Zambia dealt with claims of witchcraft and Satanism. Within an analytic frame that draws upon cultural history, theology, and anthropology the article also considers how African Christians appropriated missionary notions of the devil.

Learning Religion In The Presence Of The Other: Mission And Dialogue In World Catholicism, Matthias Scharer

Journal of Global Catholicism

Based on selected texts of the Second Vatican Council and related to the process of the Council and Church experiences thereafter, this article offers a brief insight into the theological method known as communicative theology (CT). One of the factors most challenging to mission and dialogue in world Catholicism is the perpetual presence of the “other” as a stranger. This learning religion in the presence of the “other” is not the exception; this article argues that it is, in fact, very typical of mission and dialogue in Africa as well as in Europe

Relationships Between Religious Denomination, Quality Of Life, Motivation And Meaning In Abeokuta, Nigeria, Mary Gloria Njoku, Babajide Gideon Adeyinka

Journal of Global Catholicism

Inter-disciplinary research that combines methods in psychology of the impact of religious change in Africa and theological approaches has been very scant in Nigeria. This study examines the relationship among religious denominations, quality of life, motivation and meaning in life in Abeokuta metropolis in Ogun State, Nigeria using psychological and religious tools. The study hypothesizes that members of the Roman Catholic denomination would differ from members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Living Faith Church in motivational factors and meaning making.

The Ecclesiology Of Pope Francis And The Future Of The Church In Africa, Bradford E. Hinze

Journal of Global Catholicism

A consideration of the future of African Catholicism in light of the ecclesiology of Pope Francis. The article explores how themes in Francis's ecclesiology work together to challenge centralization, clericalism, and triumphalism in the church by promoting practices of synodality and how these elements support the church’s mission to work against forms of colonialism, neo-colonialism, and the most fundamental matrix of colonial power by advancing radical democracy in society

Editor's Introduction, Mathew Schmalz

Journal of Global Catholicism

An overview of African Catholicism. Part Two: Retrospect and Prospect, third issue of the Journal of Global Catholicism. A summary of the work of Bradford Hinze, Mary Gloria Njoku, Matthias Scharer, Mary Sylvia Nwachukwu, and Bernhard Udelhoven. Among the topics considered: African ecclesiology, African wellness and quality of life in Africa, interreligious dialogue in Africa, African Biblical scholarship, witchcraft and the Catholic Church.

Kitchen-Sink Enlightenment: A Review Of “Grace For Amateurs”, Melanie Springer Mock

Faculty Publications - Department of English

Excerpt: "Here’s an honest admission: Several times while reading Lily Burana’s new book Grace for Amateurs: Field Notes on a Journey Back to Faith, I consulted the copyright page, confirming again that Grace for Amateurs was really published by Thomas Nelson, the notoriously evangelical (and, in my mind, notoriously traditional) press. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Thomas Nelson asked another writer to remove the word “vagina” from her book, well aware that Christian readers would balk at language so closely associated with women and S-E-X. Would this same publisher be willing to support a memoir as edgy …

Who Are You?, Erin Olson

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"While knowing who we are in marriage is important, it’s even more important to remember whose we are."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­managing marital expectations from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/who-are-you/

The Merriment Of Christmas, Leah Farish Esq.

College of Arts and Cultural Studies Faculty Research and Scholarship

Better than any greeting card or bright package was the news that Mary received that she was going to bear Jesus, the Savior. Her humble response—“Be it unto me according to Your Word”—is called “the Fiat,” or “may it be so.”

Then she ran off to share the news with her cousin Elizabeth. “Now follows,” says Calvin in his commentary on the gospel of Luke, “a remarkable and interesting song of the holy virgin….”

You Are His, Tara Boer

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"When we experience trials, our faith grows stronger, and our children see the realities of this hard life and the depth of security that a relationship with Christ can bring."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­knowing we are children of God from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/you-are-his/

Advent 3 Series B 2017, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

This PDF comments on the Propers for the Third Sunday of Advent, Series B and offers ideas for proclamation and preaching.

The Problem With Christmas Carols For People Longing For The King, David J. Mulder

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The commercialization of Christmas is the heart of the problem. Rather than taking time to be truly watching for the coming King, we get caught up in the stuff we do to celebrate."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­missing Advent in the rush toward Christmas from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/the-problem-with-christmas-carols-for-people-longing-for-the-king/

Where Have All The Young Adults Gone?, Pivot Nw Research

Blog

No abstract provided.

Advent 2 Series B 2017, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

This PDF comments on the Propers for the Second Sunday of Advent, Series B and offers ideas for proclamation and preaching.

Practicing Missional Hospitality In A Suburban Church, Kevin Stewart

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

The West Houston Church of Christ is typical of many churches in North America that struggle to relate in meaningful ways to the surrounding culture. Over thirty years West Houston changed from a small, vibrant young church with a thriving family-like atmosphere to a large church in a new building, yet mourning its loss of family connections. It was struggling to find a new identity. In this article I discuss the ingrained sense of family that has served as the identity of West Houston and explore both theological and practical ways—specifically those involving missional hospitality—through which a church can navigate …

Shared Leadership In Congregations: How To Construct A Holding Environment To Do Adaptive Work, Zach Ellis

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

Many congregations struggle to adapt to changes in their environment. Congregational and pastoral leadership is an important factor in a congregation’s success or failure. The emerging practice of Shared Leadership offers congregational leaders one tool that might help them successfully engage in the adaptive work necessary in the face of a changing environment. Recent research has connected the practice of Shared Leadership to increased innovation in businesses. This form of leadership should be explored as a model for congregations as they engage in adaptive change. However, because it is adaptive change that is required, and not only technical change, a …

Interview With Rick And Laurie Comfort, Cherice Bock, Ralph Beebe

War & Conscientious Objection in Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1940-1975

Rick Comfort discusses being a high schooler during the Vietnam War and being on the Air Force after the war, during the war in Grenada, and how he never held a gun. He also talks about his childhood in Bolivia and how it influenced his actions in the Air Force.

Church Differentiators, Pivot Nw Research

Blog

No abstract provided.

Interview With Gordon Crisman, Cherice Bock, Ralph Beebe

War & Conscientious Objection in Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1940-1975

Gordon Crisman talks about he originally registered for the draft as a 1-A before he became a Christian, but after he attended George Fox he made to decision to do alternative service instead.

Interview With Sam Farmer, Cherice Bock, Ralph Beebe

War & Conscientious Objection in Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1940-1975

An interview with Sam Farmer about his attitude toward military service as a young man during the Korean War, and about his religious upbringing in Greenleaf, Idaho.

Interview With Steve And Glenda Gilroy, Cherice Bock, Ralph Beebe

War & Conscientious Objection in Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1940-1975

Steve and Glenda Gilroy reflect on their life during the Vietnam War. Specifically, Steve talks about being drafted as a conscientious objector and how being stationed as an orderly in a hospital helped him realize what he wanted as a future career. Glenda reflects on conversations she had with her father and brother during the war and how her upbringing influenced what she thought about conscientious objectors.

Interview With Ron Stansell, Cherice Bock, Ralph Beebe

War & Conscientious Objection in Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1940-1975

Ron Stansell discusses how he registered as a conscientious objector for the draft. He talks about how his childhood and his faith influenced his decision. Furthermore, he talks about his life as a missionary in Bolivia and how he met his wife, Carolyn, through this whole process.

Interview With Dwight Kimberly, Cherice Bock, Ralph Beebe

War & Conscientious Objection in Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1940-1975

Dwight Kimberly reflects on how he registered for the draft during the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector. He also talks about his experiences serving in a troubled boys home as he worked there to qualify for alternative service.

Advent 1 Series B 2017, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

This PDF comments on the Propers for the First Sunday of Advent, Series B and offers ideas for proclamation and preaching.

Evangelism Training For The 21st Century: Complexities And Opportunities For Seminary Education, Jay Jay Moon, Tim Robbins, Irene Kabete

Witness

No abstract provided.

Kerux - Vol. 52, No. 2, Calvin Theological Seminary

Kerux

Inside This Issue

• Let’s make room Page 5
• Beauty for ashes Page 8
• R.S.V.P. please Page 11
• Whistle while you work Page 14
• Finding the straight and narrow Page 21
• Travelers Page 28
• White what privilege? Page 30
• Just as you are Page 35
• No M.Div. required Page 40
• The misconception of contraception Page 49