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Present Church: Ecclesial Adolescence in the Twenty-First Century and Annual Re-Appraisal at Northland Village Church
Full text linkThe goal of this study was to consider a small worshipping community, Northland Village Church (NVC), as it enters its second decade, and whether and how it can pursue a commitment to reconciliation in the US in the twenty-first century. NVC’s seed verses, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, claim that God has reconciled and is reconciling the world to Godself through Christ. Within the ongoing nature of that work, a worshipping community is given the ministry of reconciliation whereby to participate in, and be subject to, God’s activity in Christ through the guidance of the Spirit.
In order to do this with integrity and coherence, this study outlines a theology of being present, such that a worshipping community, in a spatial, temporal, physical, and relational sense, is present with God, neighbor, and the worshipping community itself. Furthermore, it argues that being present requires a continuously reforming posture, wherein the worshipping community is attentive and responsive to the impact of being present with those three entities. A theology of being present is the way by which a reconciling community can allow itself to be reconciled, and, therefore, this transitional existence is both the means and the goal of faithful commitment to the role of God’s people. Approaching this with attention to the needs of the community specifically and humanity generally and a Spirit-led liberative and creatively disruptive hermeneutic of Scripture ensures that the progression will be in keeping with God’s Kingdom’s advance.
This study concludes that a reconciling worshipping community will allow its understanding of itself, its neighbor, and God, as well as its actions and principles, to be continuously subject to God’s work of reconciliation. A regular re-appraisal session for NVC is thus proposed and included
Realizing Global Intercultural Ecclesiology through the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
No full textThis dissertation presents a change process within the Cumberland Presbyterian (CP) Church (a denomination) to help it better realize global intercultural ecclesiology. I look at features of intercultural ecclesiology, the relevance of the global intercultural experience on the CP Church’s participants, and aspects of ecclesial shared identity in the midst of cultural diversity. To better assist the CP Church in its vision to be globally connected as a denomination, I connect theoretical and practical concepts, as well as human subject field research to a change process that will guide the CP Church toward greater intercultural connectionalism. In Part I, I present important theoretical and practical features related to global ecclesiology. I examine theological concepts that enlighten global connecting, missiological concepts associated with cultural diversity and shared identity, and missiological concepts that explain how global connecting is relevant to participants. In Part II, I utilize focus groups, interviews, and a case study as the research methods. I explain how the data from participants in seven different countries was collected and analyzed and present key findings from CP leaders related to CP identity, cultural diversity, views on global ecclesiology, relevant experiences and concerns of participants about intercultural connectionalism. I then draw conclusions based on the findings and literature reviewed to better inform the change process. In Part III, I present a change process designed to help the CP church move toward greater global connectionalism using a taskforce to advance change. I outline a three-phase, multi-year change process leading to greater intercultural connectedness. Though this study is iii primarily to benefit the CP Church, its application is wider and provides ideas that can help Christian churches and mission organizations be more interculturally connected
Mentoring Toward an Adaptive Capacity in Leaders: An Adaptive Leadership Model at Church of the Resurrection
Full text linkThis project develops an adaptive mentoring program for leader formation at Church of the Resurrection in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Utilizing literature on mentoring models and the adaptive leadership framework, the project proposes a model that utilizes the mentoring relationship as the holding environment for learning adaptive leadership and specifically adaptive capacity. The mentoring model partnered twenty-six emerging leaders with twenty-six existing leaders to cultivate within leaders the skill sets, characteristics, and practices for adaptive leadership in organizations.
Part one of the project outlines the community and ministry context from which the project arises. First, I focus on the history and demographics of the Kansas City region in the heartland of the United States. Then, I turn to the unique expression of the local church. Part two utilizes adaptive leadership literature in partnership with literature on mentoring relationships to propose a model for leader formation that builds adaptive capacity. Part three develops an overview of the strategy, implementation, and evaluation of the project. The findings highlight the difficulty of implementing the adaptive leadership framework, not only within the mentoring model but also within an organization that has a history of past success and technical competence. The results are limited and unable to prove that mentoring relationships produce adaptive capacity within leaders. The outcomes from this project provide guidance for changes to be made for future iterations of the project. The mentorship project was piloted at Church of the Resurrection and intended to develop a cohort of leaders with adaptive capacity
Covert Psychological Abuse and the Process of Breaking Free: A Transformative Mixed-Methods Study on Female Survivors of Male Partners
No full textPsychological abuse has been identified as the most pervasive and harmful type of abuse (Geffner & Rossman, 1998; Hamarman, Pope, & Czaja, 2002; Miller, 2006), yet research on the topic has been slow to advance and has predominantly focused on overt forms, such as verbal aggression. The covert forms of psychological abuse (e.g., manipulation and gaslighting) remain largely unaddressed in academic literature due to their inherently insidious nature. However, a growing movement across social media has allowed tens-of-thousands of covert psychological abuse survivors to gain awareness of the dynamics and support from one another. The present study used mixed-methods to pursue an in-depth understanding of covert psychological abuse in romantic relationships. Quantitative measures of psychological abuse frequency, adult attachment style, and differentiation of self were administered in relevant online support groups to glean a descriptive picture of this understudied population. From this group, a purposively-selected sample provided an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon through narrative life story interviews. In this qualitative component, particular attention was paid to formative relational and cultural experiences, the lived experience of covert psychological abuse, and the process of breaking free. Integrating the quantitative and qualitative data allowed for deepened examination of covert psychological abuse in romantic relationships and its enablement in power-over culture (Miller, 1976). Ultimately, this study advocated for increased clinical awareness regarding manipulative dynamics and provided insights into how to better treat survivors of this insidious form of abuse
A New Narrative: A Womanist Framework for Identity Formation and Self-recovery
Full text linkBlack women in America living in a White male-dominated patriarchal, capitalistic, misogynistic society are often forced to live on the margins as a shadow of themselves. They have learned the art of dissemination and acculturation causing them to shift and code switch as they seek to meet the needs of those in their life, without attending to their own needs. They have learned to wear the armor or mask of the StrongBlackWoman, as a survival mechanism that has often led to the loss of identity and sense of self.
The armor of the StrongBlackWoman is negatively impacting the mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and relational well-being of Black women. These five areas of well-being are often overlooked not just by dominant culture but also by Black women and those within their community. Black women need a new modality that moves from surviving to thriving as they navigate the complexities and consequences of race, class, and gender in their daily lives and on their well-being. This project utilized a variety of methods to journey with Black women on their identity formation and self-recovery process in forming a new narrative.
Part One of this paper will examine the historical context of race, class, and gender in Los Angeles County. It will also look at the ways Black women sought communal well-being and were portrayed by others. Part Two will provide an overview of controlling narratives and the impact they have on Black women. It will also provide an overview of womanist methodology, theology, and recovery models used that will be useful resources for Black women in forming a new narrative. Part Three of this paper will discuss the New Narrative project design and implementation. It will also look at areas of improvement and next steps
Mentorship Around a Mission: “So, You’re the New Wing Chaplain...”
Full text linkMany new Wing Chaplains start the most senior position in the Chaplain Corps at a Wing with no idea what it means to be a Wing Chaplain. Many Chaplains struggle to know and to excel at all their responsibilities. This project grew from a heart to equip and support incoming Wing Chaplains in the Air National Guard not just through content but primarily through relationships in a mentoring plan and culture.
The first part of this project lays the background for the role and responsibilities of the Wing Chaplain at an Air National Guard base. This information informs how individuals become Wing Chaplains and the current knowledge and systems to support Wing Chaplains from Air National Guard Readiness Center Headquarters. The challenges of a Wing Chaplain are also presented.
The second part of this project engages five scholarly works on the subject of mentoring. This project engages the purposes and programs of mentorship in the Christian world, the non-Christian world, and the military world. This project continues reflecting theologically on mentorship in the Bible. Three examples of mentorship in the Bible are analyzed to bring out information and application about mentorship.
The last part of this project proposes a mentorship plan for the Air National Guard Chaplain Corps: The Wing Chaplain Mentorship Plan (WCMP). WCMP seeks to incubate mentoring relationships where both mentor and mentee grow and thrive. This mentorship plan aims to be flexible and adaptable to the busy lives of Air National Guard chaplains. The most important aspect of the program is the consistent meeting of mentor/mentee through online video conferencing. Most importantly, this plan tracks each individual’s growth and progress, with surveys given in the beginning, mid-point, and end.
This project hopes that the Wing Chaplain Mentorship Plan (WCMP) will foster a culture of mentorship in the Air National Guard Chaplain Corps. This culture will create more supported and more competent Wing Chaplains., who not only care for each other but train and equip the next generation of leaders for the Air National Guard Chaplain Corps.
Content Reader: Alan Baker, DMi
Life in Community: Preparing Students and Young Adults for the Relational Road Ahead
Full text linkThe goal of this project was to develop a curriculum that helped students and young adults navigate the complex road of relationships and life in community. Culture in the nation and in much of the world is in a state of rapid change, and these changes impact the nature of relationships and how individuals interact with one another. Many factors such as social media, the breakdown of community, and political polarization have contributed to isolation, lack of social connections and loneliness. This paper addresses the current challenges, while also providing a theological framework for living in healthy community with one another. This paper uses the work and life of Jesus as a reference point for a theology of community, and as a model of relational wholeness. Based upon this study, a six-week curriculum is provided. This curriculum is to be used in a small group setting with students and young adults. The curriculum addresses six areas: dealing with conflict, leadership development, understanding one’s family of origin, boundaries and healthy relationships, and recognizing when one needs further help and support
Cultivating Key Practices for Resilience in Pastoral Ministry Among United States Foursquare Pastors
Full text linkPastoral ministry is challenging and at times difficult. Paul describes the stress of ministry in 2 Corinthians 7:5: “Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.” The purpose of this project is to provide a training manual that can be used in a pastors’ summit that encourages Foursquare pastors in the United States to cultivate key practices for ministry resilience for a lifetime of fruitful and fulfilling ministry. The introduction identifies cultural pressures and unrealistic expectations that make ministry difficult. Chapter 1 introduces the target audience. It also provides a brief history of the Foursquare Church and identifies Foursquare’s doctrine, domains of expertise, and polity. This constitutes Part One.
Chapter 2 reviews key books that deal with pastoral resilience, the Holy Spirit’s relationship to the pastoral vocation, and pastoral theology that relates to ministry context. Chapter 3 completes Part Two and articulates a practical pneumatology that accesses the help of the Holy Spirit in pastoral ministry.
Part Three consists of two short chapters and a conclusion. Chapter 4 lists theological conclusions and ministry challenges of the project and the pastoral summit format. Chapter 5 concerns the implementation and evaluation of the training manual and summit, followed by a conclusion.
The heart of the project is a training manual entitled “Pastoral Grit: Key Practices for Resiliency in Ministry.” The manual articulates twelve key practices that apply to the whole of the pastor’s life and ministry. The manual is less about strategy, methods, and church growth and more about the transformation of the inner life of the pastor for his or her emotional, spiritual, and mental health in ministry. The approach to these practices is fourfold: a story from my pastoral experience, biblical texts that apply to the practice, a teaching on the practice, and pneumatology accessing the help of the Holy Spirit
Planting in Difficult Soil: Equipping Planters and Spouses for Church Planting in the Pacific Northwest
Full text linkThis paper presents the cultural, theological, and practical background for a church planting manual. By examining the ideological, geographical, and cultural challenges of church planting in the Pacific Northwest, this project presents a culturally sensitive, yet innovative, approach. While church planting in a post-Christian climate is not new, there are unique challenges and opportunities for church planting in this region, especially for conservative denominations. After describing the culture and context of the Pacific Northwest, it surveys the most helpful works that have emerged in the past twenty years. Most of the books are geared towards church planting, however, one book is a theological analysis of Leslie Newbigin\u27s missional ecclesiology. This theological analysis provides the synthesis that informs the ontology and economy of a viable, missional, and sustainable ecclesiology in this secular age.
Building off practical and theological assessments, the next section examines three different theological traditions; Reformed, Anabaptist, and Celtic. While the Reformed and Anabaptist traditions are a product of modernist, enlightenment epistemology, they both offer constructive theological convictions, ecclesiological practices, and unique postures of engaging culture. These contributions have helped the church over the past half millennia. While these traditions are often seen in juxtaposition with each other, the older Celtic Church side-stepped these problems by embodying the strengths of both traditions in an attempt to evangelize and reach a culture much like the Northwest. After positing the Celtic tradition as a preferable model to consider when planting in the Pacific Northwest (and thereby incorporating the strengths of both the Reformed and Anabaptist traditions), the focus turns to the practical aspects of the manual. After presenting the vision, the mission, and the context of the manual, the final section describes implementing and evaluating the manual. The first appendix provides the training manual
Rediscovering Faith as a Transforming Way of Life: Creating Covenant Community in Mexico City
Full text linkThis project is the creation of an initial learning cohort in Mexico City that will intentionally train in spiritual formation through retreats, common readings, and shared practices aimed at enhancing the awareness of God’s presence and activity in everyday life.
This project is designed to convene a Spanish-speaking pioneer cohort for spiritual formation that will gather with the intention of cultivating spiritual renewal and shared practices in community, thus providing a viable alternative to the exhaustion and joylessness so common in today’s residents of Mexico City. This project develops a monthly reading list, shared spiritual practices, and two weekend retreats that provide formational education and experiences for a group of self-selecting individuals to journey with great intentionality through one year in their spiritual life together. Ultimately this project has the potential of continuing in long-term covenant community, forming a very loose religious “third-order” through a shared Rule of Life.
The ministry challenge at the heart of this project is the distressed human condition of life in Latin American cities. Most are surrounded and bombarded by hurry, noise, and crowds, and the struggle often results in a noisy and disordered heart. As an alternative to the empty, feverish pace of Latin American city life, this collective group of spiritual friends can experiment with the life-giving rhythms of grace, modeled by Jesus Christ. Through intentional shared learning and practice, this project can address the unique burdens and hindrances to spiritual formation and inspire the with-God life for those who live in Mexico City.
Those of us who are participating in this doctoral project envision that through this intentional spiritual formation program, apprentice-circles like this pilot cohort will one day be found in other Spanish-speaking countries scattered across the hemisphere