Abstracts L-Z
Title: The Echo Boom: Developing Effective Ministry to Reach a New Generation in the Arkansas Area of the United Methodist Church (2000).
Abstract: At this time little information exists concerning the Echo Boom Generation born after 1977. Awareness of this void in generational studies prompted this study concerning the future and what it holds for the Echo Boomers specifically those in the Arkansas Area of the United Methodist Church.
The purpose of this study was to discover what current United Methodist youth ministers in Arkansas report to be the needs and values of the Echo Boom generation. The purpose was also to discover what Arkansas United Methodist Echo Boomers report to be their own felt needs and values.
The study was comprised of both quantitative and qualitative components. A researcher designed survey questionnaire method with a purposive sample was used to observe the opinions of youth ministry workers for quantitative research. A discussion format involving three focus groups of Echo Boomers made up the second portion of the descriptive measure study.
The study identified that the Echo Boomers of the Arkansas Area of the United Methodist Church can be characterized as trusting, self-reliant, motivated, visually oriented, narrative thinkers, spiritually open, relative thinkers, open to technology, desirous of deep relationships and optimistic. The findings also affirmed the importance of such characteristics as being incarnational, indigenous and customized in ministry to Echo Boomers. Concerning important characteristics of worship for Echo Boomers, the study reports the significance of contemporary music, laid back atmosphere, narrative preaching and usage of media and technology.
The strongest life influence was found to be friends and the most likely family situation was to come from a home where the parents are divorced.
Based upon the findings of the study, recommendations for future ministry to the Echo Boomers of the Arkansas Area of the United Methodist Church are suggested so that they might find the church to be culturally relevant to their lives.
- Mah, Yeow Beng – full dissertation
Title: Critical Contextualization of Chinese Folk Beliefs and Practices: Feng Shui as a Case Study (2004)
Abstract: This is an evaluative study utilizing a quasi-experimental research method around a folk religion and critical contextualization seminar with feng shui (Chinese geomancy) as a case study. It demonstrates that Chinese Christians are more exposed to ancestral worship and Chinese medical practices, contextualize ancestral worship better, and are more open towards Chinese medical practices and martial arts than other folk beliefs and practices. People’s practice of contextualization is influenced by prior exposure and clarity and definiteness in convictions. The study also indicates that Paul Hiebert’s critical contextualization is helpful in contextualizing feng shui and other folk beliefs and practices.
Title: In Search of Shared, Transcendent Vision: A Multiple Case Study of Three Churches in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church (2000).
Abstract: Many church vision or mission statements hang as meaningless plaques on a wall, or are simply lost in the mountain of projects that did not work. The answer for church revitalization does not lie in a new program but in a Person. Proverbs 29:18a says, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” When pastors and congregations prayerfully seek God's vision for their church, God will reveal it to them. A transcendent vision is a unique, divine communication from God, balanced in Scripture, that is specific enough to draw forth passionate action from God's people. A shared, transcendent vision resonates in the hearts of people, unifies the church and aligns the church's resources and activities toward reaching that vision and fulfilling the church's mission. The purpose of the study is to evaluate evidence of shared, transcendent visions, and changes in vision statements and growth both before and after a pastoral change in three Louisiana United Methodist churches that possess quality vision statements and have experienced growth before and after a change of pastors. This qualitative study is descriptive and exploratory. A multiple case study method is utilized, using a researcher-developed evaluative tool for vision statements, a congregational questionnaire, semi-formal interview protocol, and site evaluations. Results included the following: (1) In two out of three United Methodist Churches in the Louisiana Conference studied, evidences of shared, transcendent vision in differing degrees were found; (2) When a pastoral change occurs in a congregation with a transcendent vision that is becoming increasingly shared, a new vision emerges which is built upon the vision discerned under the former pastor; (3) In the initial stages of reestablishing balance with the arrival of a new pastor, the church often experiences a change in growth patterns-more often an initial decrease in growth occurs; (4) When the departure of the former pastor creates trauma in the church, the degree of decrease in growth is proportionate to the degree of trauma; (5) Vision is systemic and moves more rapidly toward becoming a shared vision in the context of a healthy congregational system. Other findings which show theoretical replication relate to such areas as broad versus specific vision, transcendence and shared vision, the pastor and vision discernment, casting the vision and shared vision, a quality vision statement and an emphasis on a fresh vision, a quality vision statement and church growth and, a quality vision statement and shared vision.
Title: Narrative Biblical Preaching that Attends to Learning Styles (2000).
Abstract:In communication, a triangular equation of speaker, message, and listener forms the backdrop against which the sermon is created. As a result, this project sought to build a sermon model that would make possible an opportunity for persons to be changed by the preaching of the Word of God that would take into consideration the multiple ways persons learn. Therefore, the purpose of this research project was to identify and describe changes in listeners when utilizing narrative biblical preaching that attends to the learning style of listeners.
The participants of this study were the worship attendees of the Holly Calvary United Methodist Church who listened to at least seven of ten sermons based on the Ten Commandments. The study identified and described changes that occurred in affect, cognition, and behavior of these listeners by employing a quasi-experimental mode which utilized a pretest/posttest design with no comparison group. A midtest instrument was also employed to measure learning style preference and narrative biblical preaching component preference.
The results of this study indicate that statistically significant positive change occurred in listeners. When measuring one's relationship with God, the affective component showed the largest increase. In terms of one's relationship with others, the affective and behavioral components revealed strong positive change.
Title: A Map Through the Minefield: Church Merger as a Strategy for Starting New Faith Communities (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
Title: The Anointed Pulpit (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
- Mindling, James Joseph, Jr. – full dissertation
Title: Proclaiming What We Have Seen and Heard: The Role of Prayer In Hermeneutics for Homiletics (2006)
Abstract: Biblical preaching is by definition rooted in the ideas of the biblical text and can only be faithful to the text to the degree that the text is accurately understood. Because the written Word of God is an expression of the heart of God, one would expect the primary way of communicating with God, that is, prayer, be given a significant, intentional role in seeking to understand what is written.
The role of prayer in sermon preparation is often either totally ignored or receives what amounts to a token acknowledgement. In books where it does make an appearance, most of it is focused on utilizing prayer as a way to “prepare one’s heart” to preach. This “preparation of the preacher” theme is important, but it is too often silent concerning the role of prayer in the hermeneutical task of penetrating the heart of the passage being studied.
The purpose of the research was to explore the role of prayer in interpreting God’s Word for sermon preparation among preaching pastors and to identify positive practices that can be incorporated in current and future preparation models. The study utilized a questionnaire filled out by 1,250 preachers to create a purposeful sampling group of thirty preaching pastors who were then interviewed to explore their sermon preparation practices.
Title: Evaluating the Presence and Importance of Selected Principles for Nurturing Volunteers among Youth Ministries Considered Effective (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
Title: The Use of Participatory Drama Technique in the Sermon (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
Title: Worship as an Expression of the Word: Finding a Common Ground for Christ-Centered Worship (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
Title: Identifying and Equipping Intercessors for Prayer Evangelism at Trinity United Methodist Church (2002)
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of an eight-week course on intercessory prayer on the spiritual well-being, prayer practices, and the understanding of prayer evangelism of eight prayer intercessors at Trinity United Methodist Church, Merchantville, New Jersey.
The participants were given the eight-week class and evaluated by a pretest and posttest of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, pretest and posttest interviews, and field research notes.
Some findings show that (1) Prayer impacts church growth, (2) Prayer enhances lives, (3) Mainline laity are open to spiritual warfare prayer and, (4) Spiritual mapping is a welcome new spiritual technology.
Title: Church Planting Programs of Similar-Sized Denominations in the United States (2000).
Abstract: The purpose of this dissertation was to describe elements of a national missions program in the United States which provides the best opportunity for starting and growing new congregations to becoming self-supporting within five years. The study utilized a multiple case study approach. The first case study described the church planting programs of five denominations which are similar in size. The second case study examined the statistical records of churches started in 1993 and 1994 by those denominations. The third case study utilized interviews of church planters, denominational church planting leaders, and outside church planting consultants to assist in evaluating and analyzing the data.
The study analyzed the education and training of church planters, funding of new church plants, models used to begin new churches, and selected demographics of communities where new churches began. The study shows evidence of a strong correlation between whether a new church becomes self-supporting in five years and the funding formulas used to start new churches, the models used to start new congregations, and the use of assessment centers to evaluate and select church planters.
Title: Contemporary Worship as a Tool for Deepening Baby Boomers' Spiritual Well-being (2000).
Abstract: Most United Methodist Churches are not speaking the worship language baby boomers understand. When the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren in 1968, membership peaked at 10.5 million members. Today membership has shrunk to approximately eight million. Reversing the decline will require new liturgical forms built on the timeless building blocks of preaching and teaching, fellowship, the Eucharist, prayer, and music. When these building blocks are contextualized for each generation they cultivate a deeper meaning and satisfaction in their lives.
The purpose of the following research is to evaluate the effects of a contemporary worship service on the spiritual well-being of baby boomers at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is an evaluation study in a true experimental mode that utilizes a pretest/posttest design with a control group.
The results of this study do not demonstrate a significant increase in spiritual well-being after participating in a contemporary worship service. A t-test and a two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the Existential and Religious Well-being subscales and their composite, which comprise the Spiritual Well-being scale.
This research sought to identify the basic components of Christian worship, trace their development in the formation of the early church, and their use in the beginnings of the Methodist Church. The characteristics of baby boomers were identified and a model of worship was created for them. This model used the same building blocks of worship found in the early church and the first years of the Methodist Church, but in a form more attractive to boomers.
Title: The Communication of Biblical Truth through Contemporary Sermon Stories (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
- Salierno, Lori Ellen. full dissertation
Title: The Evaluation Of A Program (Teach One To Lead One®) That Teaches Universal Principles In The Context Of Relationships Among Students At North Cobb High School
(2003)
Abstract: The lives of young people are enhanced when universal principles based on God’s Word are taught in the context of positive relationships. This study explored a successful program in Georgia. The literature review addresses the biblical basis for character development and transference of truth and examined contemporary sources on effective character development methods. The research observed that the level of understanding in students of universal principles (nine out of ten) deepened after the treatment. The quality of that treatment was further examined. The context of positive relationships was confirmed as an essential element in transferring universal principles to the next generation.
Title: Training in Listening As Preparation for Leadership in Vocational Ministry (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
Title: Preaching as Pastoral Care (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
- Shei, Edwin Arthur - full dissertation
Title: Persuasion and Church Ministry as it Relates to Woman Abuse: An Evaluation of No Place for Abuse on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior of Asbury Theological Seminarians.
Abstract: This study was an evaluative study in the quasi-experimental mode utilizing a modified time-series design. Its purpose was to evaluate the impact of the book No Place for Abuse upon Asbury Theological seminarians’ knowledge, affect, and intent toward church ministry as it relates to woman abuse (acts perpetrated by a male intimate with the intent of causing physical pain and/or harm). In this study No Place for Abuse positively affected participants’ attitudes toward church ministry as it relates to woman abuse in a significant way.
- Smith, J. Gaile – full dissertation
Title: Equipping Women for Leadership in a Wesleyan Church (2002)
Abstract: Women, as part of the priesthood of all believers, have been given the spiritual gift of leadership. These women should be involved in the leadership of the local church and provided with leadership training for their development and release into ministry.
The purpose of this research was to implement and evaluate the impact of the “Women in Leadership” seminar. It is an evaluative study conducted in a descriptive mode utilizing semi-structured, researcher-directed interview protocol with focus groups.
The findings of this study demonstrate that women’s leadership training results in significant changes and, therefore, is highly recommended.
- Tankler, Ullas – full dissertation
Title: Building Culturally Relevant Bridges for the Gospel Between the Local Church and the World at Its Door, (2000)
Abstract: Too often there is a deep cultural gap between the local church and the unchurched community in which it is located. This gap hinders communication. The secularized society is not able to understand the message about Jesus Christ the church proclaims. It requires an intentional effort by the church to bridge this cultural gap.
The present study focuses on the strategies and activities of leadership that enable a predominantly maintenance-focused congregation to begin to look for ways for reaching out with the Gospel to the unchurched target community in which it exists.
Thirty-seven pastors were interviewed who claimed to have changed their congregations from inward to outward focus in order to reach out more effectively with the good news of Jesus Christ. Twenty-six of them came from thirteen different states in the United States, the others were pastors in Finland, Sweden and Estonia. Three case studies were done in Baptist, Lutheran (Tulsa, OK) and United Methodist churches (Lubbock, TX) respectively, in order to gain fuller understanding and additional insights from the lay people.
Analyses of the stories shared by pastors and lay people reveal the strategies and activities of leadership required to change the focus of the local church.
The objective of this research is to provide well-grounded cross-cultural insights to leaders who sense the need to help their congregations find ways to incarnate the gospel in culturally relevant terms.
Title: A Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Study For Believers In The Local Church (1996).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
Title: Towards a Definition of Biblical Preaching for the Year 2000: An Historical Approach (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
- Thomas, Reid S., Jr. – full dissertation
Title: Evidence of the Gospel in Preaching to Postmoderns: A Study of the Sermons of Leading Preachers (2005)
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to discover how much leading preachers in today's postmodern environment depend on the power of the gospel in their preaching and, consequently, influence the church's understanding of preaching. The gospel shapes both the content and delivery of sermons. This project addressed both aspects of preaching.
To understand better the role of the gospel in preaching content, this study focused on the extent to which the preaching of today's leading communicators is influenced by orthodox doctrine as expressed in the Apostles' Creed. Five sermons each from five top preachers were evaluated as to the degree to which they upheld one or more of the twelve statements of the Apostles' Creed. As for the role of the gospel in preaching delivery, this study focused on the extent to which the sermons of today's leading preachers evidenced an incarnational approach. Having identified the primary characteristics of an incarnational style, the sermons were evaluated as to the degree to which they exhibited these characteristics.
A panel of preaching experts selected the project participants. After evaluating all twenty-five sermons, this study concluded the group demonstrates a gift for contextualizing the gospel in their unique environments and does well in keeping the focus on the person and work of Christ. The primary deficiency is failing to provide a well-rounded picture of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Not enough is said about the Father and the Spirit. To strengthen the impact of the gospel on the sermons under analysis, this study recommends the recovery of trinitarian God language, implementing a trinitarian preaching emphasis and more preaching and teaching on the nature of the Church. While participants communicate God's Word in a style that connects with their listeners, greater attention must be given to the message itself in order to incarnate more fully the gospel in today's postmodern world.
Title: Equipping the Equippers(2000).
Abstract: The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a replicable training model that will increase the effectiveness of bi-vocational and full-time local pastors in the core competencies of equipping laity for ministry and centering in Christ. The methodology for accomplishing this purpose was an evaluation study utilizing a
quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group. The intervention treatment consisted of six monthly two-hour enrichment sessions offered through three covenant groups, each composed of the researcher/designer, a mentor, and four to eight participants. Both quantitative instrumentation (a researcher-designed multiple choice questionnaire) and qualitative instrumentation (journals and interviews) were utilized in measuring changes effected by the intervention in the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of covenant group participants.
This study verifies that participation in the intervention treatment resulted in an increase in awareness and positive attitudes related to the core competency of equipping laity for ministry. Changes in biblical/theological understandings and behaviors were initiated, though additional reinforcement was needed for significant biblical/theological changes and a longer time period for changed behavior.
A serendipitous discovery was an increase in regular personal devotional practice by both covenant and control group participants. The researcher/designer hypothesizes that raising the question in the pretest of having a regular devotional time with God heightened awareness in control and covenant group participants, evoking the significant level of change in devotional habits.
The willingness of part-time and full-time local pastors to participate in this research project suggests an openness among BI-vocational pastors to participate in covenant group sessions that meet their hunger for fellowship and competency development.
Title: Pastoring Revival: Case Studies of Two Churches "In the River"(2000).
Abstract: Since 1994 revival has broken out in a number of churches, primarily in North America. Those involved often refer to themselves as being "in the river," God's river of revival. The purpose of this study was to learn what pastors of churches experiencing this kind of revival should do to sustain revival and maintain church health.
The methodology was descriptive case studies of two churches, relying primarily on personal observation and unstructured interviews. Rock City Church, pastored by Bart Pierce, is an independent Pentecostal church just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Washington Crossing United Methodist Church, pastored by Scott McDermott, is a denominational church in affluent rural eastern Pennsylvania.
Based on a literature search and analysis of the case studies, the result of the study is a list of "Advice to Those Pastoring a Church in Revival." This advice covers the areas of leadership, revival meetings, personal considerations, and relationships beyond the local church.
Title: The Impact of a Short-Term Mission Experience on Faith Maturity (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.
- Yamazaki, Shinobu – full dissertation
Title: Holistic Healing Ministry: The Current Understandings and Attitudes of Clergy and Laity of Wesleyan Holiness Churches of Japan (2004)
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the current understandings and attitudes of clergy and laity of the Wesleyan Holiness Church of Japan (WHCJ) toward holistic healing ministry.
The study shows that the WHCJ members recognize that God’s love is the source of holistic healing, but they do not fully understand the importance of holistic healing based on a trinitarian relational model.
To meet the need of today’s broken world, the WHCJ must renew its understandings and attitudes toward holistic healing by reconsidering the healing community, the means of healing grace, the causes of sins, and the fourfold gospel as a framework of the entire Christian life.
Title: The Impact of Perceived Forgiveness on the Self-Concept and Spiritual Well-being of Inmates at the Ohio State Penitentiary Correctional Camp (2000).
No Abstract available. Contact D.Min. Program or B.L. Fisher Library for complete dissertation.