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Encountering the Gospel Anew: Confirmation as Ecclesial, Personal, and Missional Practices
Get PDFGiven the challenges facing congregations and young people today, some church leaders are wondering if confirmation continues to have a role in discipling young people. Based on the findings from The Confirmation Project, this article asserts that confirmation is, in fact, uniquely positioned to be a vibrant ministry for young people to encounter the gospel anew when congregations integrate ecclesial, personal, and missional practices. Such an approach strengthens confirmands’ understanding of faith, deepens their experience with Christian community, and equips them to discern their call to join in God’s mission in the world
Better Together: Leadership that Enhances Ministry Collaboration
Get PDFThis project is an exploratory case study research project of three different collaborative efforts consisting of one or more congregations working together or a congregation and agency working together. Each entity operated independently prior to working together. Collaboration was understood through the theoretical lenses of adaptive leadership and collaboration theory as well as a biblical and theological understanding of the body of Christ and perichoresis. Qualitative research using interviews and focus groups was used to identify how leadership enhances ministry collaboration. Three findings emerged with regard to leadership: flexibility, proactive communication, and external support, each with internal and external indicators
Lutheran Doctrine of the Office of the Ministry and Its Impact in the Life and Ministry of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
Get PDFThe purpose of this thesis is to investigate the impact of the Lutheran doctrine of the ministry in the ministry and growth of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. In line with this purpose, it analyzed the historical, sociopolitical, cultural, religious, and economic context of Ethiopia in the nineteenth and twentieth century at the time of arrival of pioneer Lutheran missions from Europe and later on joined by the American Lutheran mission. In order to present the understanding of Lutheran doctrine of the ministry in Ethiopian context, the historical development of the Lutheran doctrine of the ministry, the ministry in the Lutheran Confessional writings, the ministry in Lutheran Orthodoxy and Pietism was used as a guiding rod. The doctrine of the ministry is the key or main thread that carries all of the chapters. The contributions of the Lutheran missions and the understanding of the ministry in the EECMY was a foundation for practice and call to the office of the pastoral ministry. The EECMY is the fast-growing Lutheran church but facing acute shortage of trained pastors and thus call to the office of the pastoral ministry with special focus on women ordination was given due attention. Finally, this thesis surveyed ministries contribute to the growth of the EECMY
Confessional Biblical Preaching in the Face of Whiteness: Challenging the Preacher’s Understanding of White Supremacy
Get PDFThis thesis addresses the need for preachers to hear the voices of people of color, to hear the “prophets in the streets,” specifically African-Americans, and to have their eyes opened to their own white privilege and role in white supremacy. This thesis argues that this is an important step in preachers finding their confessional voices for preaching before they can begin to help the individual members of those congregations become aware of their individual and collective white privilege and role in white supremacy. With the help of black clergy a “Twin Cities Pilgrimage” was created. This involved learning the stories of locations (sacred places both hopeful and painful), for the black community in the Twin Cities, hearing Scripture at the locations and the white preachers preaching from those same Scriptures the following Sunday
Faith Formation for Families in a Post-Programmatic Era
Get PDFThis thesis project sought to answer the question: What are effective ways for congregations to engage in ways of faith formation that encourage spiritual growth and Christian identity in over-programmed families, so they may see God as an active subject in their daily lives? The research in this thesis included case studies from the current congregation I am serving in, and other selected congregations. While implementing my research, I discovered that we struggle to find the right language around how to address the issue of busy families. When asking colleagues for input, the responses went back to the implementation of programs, and technical changes. The question still remains how we make adaptive changes, so we can address this challenge of faith formation in our churches today. Throughout my research, I uncovered another area that was unexpected, and shaped a lot of my thinking when it comes to moving forward in ministry. This was the rise of anxiety and depression in our young people. I address this in my conclusions, and as options for future research
(Re)Discovering a Midrashic Biblical Imagination for the Progressive-Liberal Community
Get PDFThis thesis presents the case for the development of a sustainable community practice of midrashic biblical imagination as a catalyst for transformative engagement with the Bible in progressive Christian congregations. Notes that a midrashic imagination applied to the polyvalent testimonies of the biblical canon is an apt partner for post- modern, progressive congregations, whose theology embraces diversity, plurality, and critique of hegemonic structures. Uses a longitudinal qualitative methodology, with Appreciative Inquiry, to trace the various methods used for cultivating curiosity among Scriptural skeptics over nine years, concluding with the Midrashic Imagination Project, which involves the community in study, worship, preaching and discipleship
Celebrating the Congregational Anniversary: Planning the Congregational History, Part 2
Get PDFThis article discusses style and tone considerations of planning a congregational history
Great Members, Great Churches: Adaptive Change and Missional Theology in the Local Church
Get PDFAn Action Research (AR) project focusing on congregational participation in ministries within the church and outside it. Theological lenses of Trinitarian theology, missional theology, and spiritual practices. Theoretical lenses of adaptive change theory, consumerism and social capital, and organizational theories of relationship, four-frame model, and open source model. Identifies adaptive challenges faced by a small Reformed Church in America church in northern New Jersey, with a strong emphasis on the tension between living busy lives and active participation in the ministry of the triune God. Reframes leadership through the lens of writing the church’s story