Christianity Commons^™

The Conference Of Faith And History At Fifty: Memoir And Challenge, Ronald A. Wells

Pro Rege

Editor's note: This essay was presented as a plenary lecture at the Fiftieth Anniversary meeting of the Conference on Faith and History, held at Calvin College, now University, in October 2019. It was later published in Fides et Historia, the journal of the Conference. It is reprinted here with permission.

London Street: A Memoir (Book Review), James C. Schaap

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: London Street: A Memoir by Jane E. Griffioen . Eugene, Oregon: Resource Publications, 2020. 248 pp. ISBN: 9781725267558.

Congress Overwhelmed: The Decline In Congressional Capacity And Prospects For Reform (Book Review), Jack R. Van Der Slik

Pro Rege

Reviewed title: Congress Overwhelmed: The Decline in Congressional Capacity and Prospects for Reform by Timothy M. Lapira, Lee Drutman, and Kevin R. Kosar, editors. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2020. 334 pp. ISBN: 9780226702575.

Scriptural Reflections On History (Book Review), Keith C. Sewell

Pro Rege

Reviewed title: Scriptural Reflections on History by K. J. Popma. Translated and edited by Harry Van Dyke. Aalten, The Netherlands: Wordbridge Publishing, 2020. 142 pp. ISBN: 9789076660578.

Frontmatter (Volume 41, Issue 5), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Characteristics Of Growing Churches In Estonia: A Qualitative Study, Ago Lilleorg, Kaido Soom, TõNu Lehtsaar

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This is an overview of the characteristics of growing churches in Estonia. The study is grounded in semi-structured interviews conducted in 2019-2020 in nine Protestant congregations that have grown in 2003-2017. There were three to four interviewees from each congregation, a total of 14 being women and 18 men. The transcripts of the interviews were analyzed by combining both the open and the invivo coding model. No prescribed categories were used in the analysis. The results were formulated as characteristics of growing churches: spiritual life; inner climate; human focus; the minister of the church; relationships outside the church; and a …

Dynamics Of The Religious Situation Changes And Attitudes Towards Religion In Ukraine, Igor Bogdanovskiy, Kateryna Nastoyashcha

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes the results of several sociological studies on the level and nature of religiosity in Ukraine. In particular, the paper deals with the study “State and Church in Ukraine 2019: the Results of the Year and Prospects for the Development of Relations,” conducted by the Razumkov Center with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Representation in Ukraine; the latest wave of the World Values Survey, conducted by the Info Sapiens company (in Ukraine it was conducted by the Center for Social Monitoring), etc. The statistical data were analyzed, particularly official reports on the network of churches and …

Book Review (In Lieu Of A Belated Memorial): Ecumenical Adventure [Shapers Of Ecumenical Theology Series 2], Angela Ilić, Luka Ilić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Charles C. West, Ecumenical Adventure [Shapers of Ecumenical Theology Series 2]. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2019, 158 pages. ISBN: 978–1–5064–4934–0

Book Review: Democratization In Christian Orthodox Europe: Comparing Greece, Serbia And Russia, Regina Elsner

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Marko Veković, Democratization in Christian Orthodox Europe: Comparing Greece, Serbia and Russia (New York & London, Routledge, 2020) 176 p. ISBN 9780367420833.

Disaster Preparedness Plan For Cascade Hills Church, Columbus, Georgia, Kenneth Durell Dawson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While churches, especially large churches, may consider themselves well-prepared for a disruption in normal activities, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated churches’ lack of preparedness on multiple levels. This disaster as well as other natural or manmade disasters could disrupt normal functions of a church and seriously impede a church’s outreach to the community. This project defines the problem and delineates a plan for Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, Georgia. This study designs and implements an intervention by interviewing church staff members and by seeking the input of an expert in the field of disaster recovery. Results are measured by a tabletop …

Migrating And Amplifying Ministry To Online Platforms To Pursue The Great Commission, Daniel Elnaam Bagaas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 crisis was unexpected by the universal church. The current pandemic revealed that the universal church and many local churches were not prepared for its’ accompanying challenges or to adapt in general. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, churches across America were required to temporarily cease in-person public gatherings and later to reduce the number of participants once in-person meetings were allowed again. This scenario caused many churches to have to adapt to the current circumstances to continue ministering. The purpose of this DMin research project is to amplify Sonrise Church’s online ministry presence and determine if it garners greater engagement …

Discipleship And Mentoring In Youth Retention At Crosspointe Church, Gregory Clement Bedner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leaders at Crosspointe Church in Monroe Michigan have identified a need to develop a more effective discipleship program to keep emerging adults involved in church after high school. Research shows that there is a growing trend of emerging adults leaving the church and the leaders of Crosspointe Church in Monroe Michigan have noticed this trend of emerging adults leaving the church after high school. It is hypothesized that a more effective discipleship program along with more parental involvement will positively correlate with Crosspointe Churches youths making the decision to stay in church after high school. This research utilized a discipleship …

A Biblical Understanding Of Making Disciples, Gregory Douglas Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the many functions of the local church is to make disciples. Unfortunately, thoughtful and consistent efforts have not always proven to yield the results that accompany transformational living. This thesis project seeks to address and remove some of the barriers around discipleship and disciple-making in the local setting. This study provided a discipleship training course targeted toward spiritually mature male leaders. Individuals were invited to attend a six-session training course where they were equipped with a biblical understanding of discipleship, and training in spiritual disciplines, to aid in their personal growth and ability to teach others. Data was …

Promoting Health Literacy To Aging Christians To Combat The Scourge Of Euthanasia Through The Church, Willie Mae Corley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The many dilemmas that occur in the medical care of chronically ill seniors raise the question of whether senior populations have become the new black. The research seeks to provide an evidence-based review of limited health literacy among elderly African American Christians regarding diagnoses and medical treatments, which has resulted in unethical Christian practices becoming a norm. The researcher adapted the health literacy framework of Paasche Orlow and Wolf’s view of three distinct causes that influence health literacy: the access and utilization of health care, the patient-provider relationship, and self-care. The problem is that Victory Church members may not understand …

Fidelity In Institutional Structure: Divine Family Formation And The Variance Of Church Amid Dysfunctional Behavior, Terrence Lyne Toliver

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been a rift in the providential establishment of our Lord. Humanity is indulgent unto sin and the family is suffering. Disobedience and selfishness have blinded humankind into a false sense of reality. The fallacy has taken the place of divine order in the chosen avenues into humanism depicted as science, technology, philosophy, cultism, and any other route devoid of Christ. Therefore, this in-depth study seeks to dispel or to bring to light a revelation of where humanity rests in the grand scheme of contemporary life. Two notions of preponderance present themselves, to forgo selfishness and to embrace righteousness. …

Lived Experiences Of Assemblies Of God Pastors With Regards To Leadership Style, Demands, Stressors, And Ministry Burnout, Barbara Christina Chavez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover the perception of 15 small church Assemblies of God pastors in San Antonio with regards to leadership style, leadership demands, leadership stressors, and ministry burnout. The researcher used the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach due to the openness of collecting the data through semi-structured interviews that allowed participants to respond to open-ended questions. The additional interview instrument was the WLAB scale and the burnout inventory instrument from Iverson, Olekalns, and Erwin (1998). The researcher coded and evaluated data using NVIVO12 software. Through the association of common themes, the researcher unearthed …

Lead Pastor Support In Balancing Marriage, Family, And Ministry As It Related To Stress And Depression, Yolanda K. Mcbride

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The role of a pastor encompasses many duties and responsibilities within the church as well as in the home. In particular, associate pastors are akin to lead pastors in dealing with issues that arise in their personal marriages, family, and ministry. Balancing the three can be daunting and arduous tasks without proper guidance and leadership. Lead pastors have a responsibility to assist associate pastors in balancing those three areas of concern to ensure the ability to serve in ministry with a strong state of mind necessary for a full and thriving career in leading others to Christ. Without the assistance …

Impacts Of Network Training On Church Revitalization, Timothy Alan Houston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Does the impact of executive team training in church networks enhance problem-solving at the local church level and develop theologically informed theoretical practices? The action research project addressed the question that if the staff at Harvest Network received instruction in biblical principles of church revitalization, the expected result might be that the network team may become better equipped to serve the churches of the network. Four primary themes emerged from the literature research: barriers to church revitalization; detrimental pastoral leadership; church revitalization culture; and organizational team training. The designed intervention included interviews, focus groups, participant observations, reports, surveys, instruction, and …

The Art Of Heritage And Mortality, Barbara Johanna Mileto

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Through my art I explore the formation of cultural and personal identity addressing the importance of heritage, ancestors, and religion in Latin-American culture, while I develop my unique deities and spiritual space, creating my own iconography. The pieces are strongly autobiographical, using my family members, and frequently lived experience as a subject. Furthermore, I am drawn to the circle of life and productive failures - beginnings, deaths, and transitions. - My work integrates two-dimensional and three-dimensional mediums, ranging from photography and printmaking to assemblage and textiles, video and digital.

Palestinian Evangelical Christian Music In Bethlehem, Israel/Palestine, Abby Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Often the story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is portrayed as Jewish vs. Muslim, Hebrew vs. Arab. There is little room in the international dialogue for minorities such as Arab Christians. Though Palestinians have a rich culture of Arabic musical and poetic heritage, they are unable to produce their own new songs. In this study I interviewed three members of Immanuel Evangelical Church on their experiences and opinions on local Christian worship. The findings show that Palestinian Christians may feel unable to write worship music because of a prevalent feeling of inadequacy and a lack of musical training. I propose several …

"I Can't Breathe": Toward A Pneumatology Of Singing And Missional Musicking For Racial Justice In Jacksonville, Florida, Thomas Shapard

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

This thesis develops a philosophy of musicking that intersects with missional ecclesiology and expands the role of music-making beyond the church walls. The central hypothesis assumes that predominantly white congregations in the Free Church tradition located in the southern United States incorporate ways of singing that reinforce, albeit inadvertently, attitudes toward others that buttress white ethnocentricity. Musical practices arising from a Western European heritage can promote cultural exclusivity as well as a perceived—yet false— sense of superiority. Is there an implicit theology of singing in white churches that engenders a culture of complicity and apathy in matters of racial injustice, …

Reviewing The Flourishing Teacher: Vocational Renewal For A Sacred Profession, Chancey Bosch

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Intersectionality And The Church, Pivot Nw Research

Blog

No abstract provided.

Making A Safe Space For Young Adults, Pivot Nw Research

Blog

No abstract provided.

I Show You A Mystery, David Schelhaas

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Death's mystery is still frightening."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­I Corinthians 15 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/i-show-you-a-mystery/

Religious Mega-Events And Their Assemblages In Devotional Pilgrimages: The Case Of Círio De Nazaré In Belém, Pará State, Brazil, José Rogério Lopes, André Luiz Da Silva

Journal of Global Catholicism

The article presents a typological categorization of contemporary mega-events and their characteristics, in order to interpret the assemblages mobilized by sectors of the Catholic Church in traditional devotional pilgrimages in the northern region of Brazil. It uses ethnographic accounts of the Círio de Nazaré feast, in Belém, Pará state, Brazil, considered the largest Catholic procession in the West, in order to analyze how the promotion of this event is organized through institutional and market logics that overlap with the religious phenomenon, evincing a contemporary trend. These assemblages open a field of possibilities for institutional religious reproduction and generate concentric flows …

Young Brazilian Catholics Reaffiliating: A Case Study In The City Of Campos, Rj, Brazil, Cecilia L. Mariz, Wânia Amélia Belchior Mesquita, Michelle Piraciaba Araújo

Journal of Global Catholicism

Through a case study in Campos, a northern city of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, this article analyzes reports from young people who state that they have undergone a process of revival or reactivation of their Catholic faith. They all declared to have participated in the “St Andrew’s School of Evangelization.” They also mentioned having experienced an "encounter with God." Their narratives were similar to conversion accounts reported by practitioners of other religious traditions. The interviewees describe faith as a personal choice, and emphasize the need for religious study and the value of religious knowledge. To what extent these values …

Contemporary Brazilian Catholicism And Healing Practices: Notes On Environmentalism And Medicalization, Juliano F. Almeida

Journal of Global Catholicism

Anthropological studies on Brazilian Catholicism traditionally focused on popular variants of this religious practice and their relationship with the official Catholicism. Encouraged by recent anthropological perspectives, which highlight the relevance of devoting researches not only on the margins, but also on the center of social practices, this paper analyzes contemporary practices of Brazilian Catholic friars and priests on health promotion. The analysis of their publications (books that include practices and tips on health and that became best sellers etc.), as well as interviews, allows us to perceive a process of environmentalization on the contemporary Brazilian Catholicism. This process seems to …

Strong Church, Weak Catholicism: Transformations In Brazilian Catholicism, Carlos Alberto Steil, Rodrigo Toniol

Journal of Global Catholicism

In this paper we explore data on Catholicism from the 2010 census in Brazil, as well as other data from the Center for Religious Statistics and Social Investigation. Using these statistics, we question those arguments that explain the reduction in the number of Catholics in Brazilian society as a problem in the institution’s adaptation in response to the challenges of evangelization, or as a lack of ministerial vocations to meet the religious demands of the people. Pursuing an alternative argument, we consider the weakening of the relationship between the Catholic institution and traditional popular Catholicism to be a fundamental aspect …

Editor's Introduction, Marc Roscoe Loustau

Journal of Global Catholicism

No abstract provided.