Liturgy and Worship Commons^™

When Earth And Heaven Dance:The Liturgical Year As Sacramental Theology Of Time And Ecological Model For Dwelling Faithfully In And Among Creation, Brenna N. Stross

Masters of Theological Studies

ABSTRACT In the beginning, God created time and ordered it; He gave His creation rhythms to live by. As a result of the Fall, all of creation became fragmented versions of what the Creator had intended. Time was created by God and therefore was impacted by the consequences of sin, causing a fracture in both the experience and perception of time. This fragmentation caused time to be severed in two: xpóvos (chronos, linear and measurable) time and kaιpós (kairos, perfect and immeasurable) time. In order to draw His people into His time, the Creator appointed feasts that created regular intersections …

Analyzing The Methods And Effects Of Implementing Multiple Service Styles In The Church, Chloe E. Dillman

Selected Honors Theses

This thesis explores the motivations and methodologies behind offering different styles of worship services in churches in Lakeland, Florida. The study is inspired by the ongoing debate over modern worship, which has intensified over the past fifty years. As contemporary worship grew in popularity, many churches adapted by incorporating various worship styles into their services. In response to the controversy surrounding these changes, some churches implemented multiple service options—one reflecting a contemporary/modern style and another adhering to a more traditional approach. As this practice became more widespread, it sparked further discussion among church leaders regarding its impact on congregational unity, …

A Guide For Spiritual Leadership And Christian Discipleship- Be Optimistic, Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift: Integrating The Beatitudes, The Fruit Of The Spirit, And Emotional Intelligence For Multigenerational Leadership, Adriane Smalls-Owens

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Title of Project: A Guide for Spiritual Leadership and Christian Discipleship

Be Optimistic, Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift:

Integrating the Beatitudes, the Fruit of the Spirit, and Emotional

Intelligence for Multigenerational Leadership

Defense Date: April 8, 2025

Candidate Name: Adriane Smalls-Owens

Personal Email Address: [email protected]

First Advisor: Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor: Dr. Bethany Peters

DSL Final Project

Project Type: Manuscript

Project Overview: The book introduces the integrated concepts of Be Optimistic,

Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift as The B.E.N. Model

for Spiritual Leadership and Christian Discipleship by

integrating the Beatitudes, the Fruit of the Spirit, and Emotional …

Ecclesial Communion: Of Divine Economy Through Love And Participation, Kyle J. Groesch

Masters of Theological Studies

Following the councils of Nicaea and Constantinople, the early followers of Christian faith understood the proper name for their God to be entirely triune in essence: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While this trinitarian heritage has scarcely been passed down to modern believers of Christianity, the fundamental truth of God’s triune nature remains the same. Out of the divine economy, humanity was crafted in the image of God with koinonia at heart. As Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comprise the singular ousia and cannot exist apart from one another, so the Body with many members is only possible in the …

Sabbath As A Healing Place: Alleviating Anxiety, Worry, And Depression In Gen. Z, Christopher Stephen

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

"Sabbath as a Healing Place: Alleviating Anxiety, Worry, and Depression in Generation Z" delves into the restorative capacity of Sabbath observance as a mechanism to reduce anxiety, worry, and depression, within Generation Z. Generation Z's unique socio-cultural landscape is characterized by pervasive digital interconnectedness and significant exposure to multiple global crises. Within this context, observance of the Sabbath provides an opportunity to experience a physical and psychological respite. The research aims to explore the potential of Sabbath observance as a mechanism for alleviating anxiety, worry, and depression among individuals in Generation Z. Nine participants within the Generation Z demographic underwent …

Toward A Eucharistic Gathering: The Efficacy And Implications Of The Recovery Of The Great Tradition At Faith, Hope, And Charity Worship Center, Ernest J. Crocker

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

While humankind not only has to eat to survive but also enjoys eating, the church, which shares this same need to survive, has, in some cases, found itself in a forced fast. This forced fasting, often justified by 'biblical' reasons, can significantly hinder the church's spiritual formation, leaving worshippers deficient in their spiritual journey. Promoting a more balanced approach to spiritual discipline is crucial, as using Scripture to justify this fast is counter to the words of Christ, the teachings of the apostles, and the church's mind for over two millennia. It's important to note that from Pentecost to the …

Embracing Worship And Performance, Robson N. Galvao

Selected Honors Theses

Music is a very powerful tool. It is a very important part of the world around us. Some would even say that without it, life would not be the same. When it comes to church, it is not any different. Music plays a very large part of most church services today, whether that be having someone play a church organ in a more traditional church or by having a full worship band with lights and production in a more contemporary church. With that comes the issue of performance within the church music context. One of the biggest issues within the …

Gospel With A Groove:
A Historical Perspective On The Marketing Strategies Of Contemporary Christian Music In Relation To Its Evangelistic Purpose With Recommendations For Future Outreach, Autumn E. Gillen

Selected Honors Theses

Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is an effective tool for the evangelism of Christianity. With its origins dating back to the late 1960s, CCM resembles musical styles of popular-secular culture while retaining fundamental Christian values in lyrical content. This historical perspective of CCM marketing strategies, CCM music television, CCM and secular music, arts worlds within CCM, and the science of storytelling in CCM aims to provide readers with the context and understanding of the significant role that CCM plays in modern-day evangelism. This thesis will present CCM as an integrational religious style of music, meaning that it targets both Christian and …

Psalms, Hymns, Or Spiritual Songs?: A Millennial’S Journey With The Worship Wars, Courtney E. Fritz

Selected Honors Theses

Since the 1980’s, the rise of popular and rock n’ roll music has had a significant impact on the music in Protestant churches. The emergence of the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) industry, fueled by the popularity of these types of music, changed how many churches use music in their gatherings. The widespread use of popular music in the church (often causing hymnals to be discarded) caused a major rift among congregations, a term coined the “worship wars.” This argument is still being fought today. This paper is designed to give an overview of other times in history when the church …

Mission In Evolving Cultures: Constructively Managing Music-Related Conflict In Cross-Cultural Church Planting Contexts, David R. Dunaetz

Selected Faculty Publications

The choice of music, an essential element of worship and church life, must be addressed in cross-cultural church planting contexts. As cultures evolve, church planters are faced with choices about musical styles that may lead to interpersonal conflicts within the church. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine factors that may enable cross-cultural church planters to constructively manage music-related conflicts when they arise. Members of church plants, like all people, have various goals when entering into such conflicts. They are concerned about the content of the conflict (i.e., the musical style) and thus have content goals. They are …

New Leaves On Old Trees: A Synthesis Of Early American Music Through Contemporary Composition, Leslie A. Robinson

Selected Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the hymnody and choral music of 17th, 18th, and early 19th century Protestant communities in America with the goal of creating a historically informed composition that articulates musical and theological ideas of the past with a fresh voice. It will emphasize unique characteristics of the musical communities and connections between the communities. It will also focus on two relationships within individual communities: the association between the community’s music and its texts, and the connection between its theology and musical identity. The thesis and composition should reveal an understanding of early American musical …