<p>In this thesis, I examine the way in which Jürgen Moltmann and Juan Luis Segundo dialogue with Karl Marx. I point to the general similarities and differences that exist between each theologian's encounter with Marx. The scope of this thesis is limited to an examination of two of Segundo's works, The Liberation of Theology and Faith and Ideologies, and three of Moltmann's works, Theology of Hope, The Crucified God, and The Church in the Power of the Spirit. While the thought of Marx has significantly influenced both Segundo and Moltmann, I argue throughout this thesis that Moltmann and Segundo profoundly disagree with the philosophical anthropology that is assumed by Marx. In other words, Segundo and Moltmann do not agree with Marx's way of defining the essence of the human being. Moreover, I contend that their disagreement with Marx on this issue, colours the way in which they react to every other aspect of Marx's thought. Finally, I suggest that while Moltmann is most interested in Marx's theoretical or abstract discussions, Segundo is much more concerned with the practical implications of Marx's thought.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This thesis examines Gandhi's personal spiritual growth. It focuses on his growing understanding of the relationship between suffering and systemic violence. Personal spirituality is virtually identical with political life for Gandhi, and it is possible to look at the developing socio-political situation in India between the years 1915 and 1921 with an eye to understanding major spiritual changes in Gandhi's personal life. This thesis advances the idea that the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, a crime perpetrated against innocent Indian civilians, had a major impact on Gandhi's understanding of suffering and violence--particularly systemic violence. The Massacre amounted to a spiritual and hence political watershed in Gandhi's life.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>Wolfhart Pannenberg has established himself as a leading voice in the renewed discussion of trinitarian doctrine. Little has been written in English, however, to assess critically Pannenberg's doctrine of the Trinity. By examining a key point in Pannenberg's trinitarian theology, this thesis is intended to contribute toward meeting this need. The aim of this thesis is to explain the reasons for, and to assess the coherence of Pannenberg's revision of the traditional understanding of the trinitarian relations of origin. Patristic trinitarian theology regarded God the Father as the fount of divinity, from whom the Son and Spirit receive their existence; the Father eternally begets the Son and breathes the Spirit. Pannenberg rejects this view, declaring it to be logically inconsistent and without biblical basis. He proposes in its place an alternative conception of relations of "reciprocal self-distinction". The source of Pannenberg's revision can be traced back to his views of reason, revelation, and the God-world relation. An examination of the first four books of Augustine's The Trinity strongly suggests that the traditional view is not subject to the weaknesses Pannenberg indicates. As well, the comparison with Augustine reveals significant tensions within Pannenberg's trinitarian doctrine. Specifically, I contend that (1) Pannenberg's assessment of Augustine's trinitarian doctrine is inaccurate; (2) Pannenberg, in his rejection of the biblical basis of the classical view, does not correctly identify the patristic understanding of the biblical basis of relations of origin; (3) Augustine's distinction between what divine revelation signifies concerning God-in-eternity, on the one side, and God's relation to creation, on the other, provides a possible solution to the logical conflict Pannenberg sees in the traditional view; and (4) unresolved tensions in Pannenberg's interpretation of the relation of the immanent Trinity and the economic Trinity undermine the coherence of his critique and revision of the classical model.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>During a twelve-week test period the writer researched the problem of how to enhance the responsiveness of the worshiping congregation to God's presence in the preached word on Sunday mornings. A fivemember support team in. the local church assisted the writer in the development of four tools for measuring the congregation's responsiveness to God's presence in the preached word on Sunday mornings. The four measuring tools were: 1. Two Video Cameras, 2. A Response Form, 3. A Weekly Discussion Group, and 4. Personal Interviews. The development of these tools was aided by feedback from the congregation. From the research the writer gleaned these five principles of preaching for response called, Apples of Gold: 1. Seeing God's Pictures, 2. The Anointing of God, 3. Touching Real Needs, 4. Listening to the Listeners, and 5. Focusing on God's Calling. It was observed that these Apples of Gold were enriched by three special relationships: 1. The Spirit of Generosity, 2.The Spirit of Expectation, and 3. The Transcendent Spirit of God. The writer includes a 37-page, selected bibliography under four disciplines: 1. Contemporary Environment, 2. Worship Setting, 3. Preaching Focus, and 4. Hermeneutical Necessity including journal articles from both Leadership and Preaching plus a few videos.</p> / Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

<p>Under the revivalistic example and persuasion of German Methodistic groups in the midnineteenth century, scattered groups of Swiss-German Mennonites and Brethren in Christ in North America came together in a union called the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church in 1883. This denomination deliberately drew closer to mainstream evangelicalism of a Wesleyan holiness type. Valuing "aggressive evangelism," and trying to serve widely located Anabaptists, the denomination supported foreign missions but did not have any mission sending structure until 1905. By then several dozen young members, men and women, had volunteered and joined nondenominational holiness movement missionary societies. When A W Banfield resigned from service in Nigeria with one such mission in 1905, some Mennonite Brethren in Christ Conferences led by the Ontario Conference organized themselves to send him and his wife back to Nigeria to start the first foreign mission of the denomination. A stronger organization, the United Missionary Society, was constituted in 1921, supported by all but one of the Annual Conferences. In Nigeria, the mission selected the Nupe people along the middle Niger River and slowly added mission stations, eventually serving about nine people groups in the west and north of Nigeria. A Nigerian church, the United Missionary Church of Africa, was organized as part of the indigenizing policy of the mission after the Second World War, but the mission retained leadership and ownership in key areas until moved to turnover control by mission board policies and the nationalizing mood of Nigeria through the 1970s. Nigerians converted through or serving with the mission became the leaders of uneven periods of growth, although overall the church has grown tenfold since the 1960s to average Sunday attendances of over 52,000 by 1999.</p> / Master of Theology (Th.M)

Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This thesis was born out of questions raised in a New Church Development setting about how best, if at all, to develop a piece of property. The community of goods passages, located in Acts 2: 42-47 and Acts 4:32-35, formed the theological foundation. Three congregations were visited and subjects interviewed in each setting. These settings all combined housing for senior citizens with a church sanctuary, so that the needs of the worshipping community, and the particular needs of a segment ofthe larger community could both be met. The assumption was made that Faith United, as the New Church development project is now called, might opt to erect something similar.</p> / Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

<p>This research is a descriptive study of current long tenure pastors in a sampling of Canadian churches practising a congregational form of governance. The purpose of the study was to determine if there are common psychological and relational characteristics possessed by long tenure pastors, and secondly, if there are common factors considered important by those pastors in the achievement of their long tenures. The value of the research lies in the potential application of strengths or other features found in these experienced pastors for facilitating healthier tenures that do not end in unplanned resignations or forced terminations. Thought concerning long tenures, their desirability and the difficulty in achieving long tenure was explored. Theological and biblical bases were identified for appreciating a commitment to sustained relationship in ministry tenures, as determined through an examination of personhood, community and suffering. The sample population of fifty-one current long tenure pastors completed four qualitative questions and a Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis through an online website. Responses from the study sample indicated a strong emphasis from pastors on the quality and care of relationships. As a group, the pastors displayed good personal and interpersonal adjustment. Their level of personal composure was excellent. Levels of enthusiasm, emotional expressiveness, and compassion were good. Fair-minded thinking, personal confidence, tolerance for others and good self-discipline yielded strong scores. Destructive relating styles were absent from this group. On an individual basis, both pastors with sound adjustment, and some with less sound adjustment demonstrated characteristics intent on maintaining relationships. The long tenure pastors in this study presented an awareness of the importance of relationships in their ministry. They articulated a commitment to sustained relationships in their responses. They demonstrated that commitment in their distinguished track record of long and consistently increasing lengths of tenure. Finally, they evidenced personal qualities favourable to establishing and maintaining relationships. The research may be important in forming a fresh perspective on relationships and conflict in ministry, and for considering a greater emphasis on relational values in ministerial education and practice.</p> / Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

<p>Before I thank others I would like to give special thanks to my parents for their gift of the foundation of learning and inclination by which academic studies became a possibility for me. I have only begun to realize how much I am indebted to them, and the extent to which time spent with them in conversation or exploring untrodden regions of British Columbia and Yukon continues to inspire. Next I would like to thank Frank and Sharon, my brother and sister-in-law, for making their dinner table available this autumn for daily gatherings of the extended family. This has been a season of good food and my parent's excellent home-made wine. I also thank Jessica and Isaac, my niece and nephew and Emma and Brigete, the children of my roomates, for visiting me while I was writing some of the more difficult sections of this thesis and bringing me gifts of power (or so these gifts were explained to me). And I reserve my final thanks for Professor John Robertson, my supervisor, for his help and encouragement, and for introducing me to Tillich.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This thesis examines contemporary devotion to Mary and the Saints in the Cathedral Parish of Christ the King in Hamilton, Ontario. The main objectives of this ethnographic study were to determine which public and private devotions to Mary and the Saints are currently practiced, to assess whether these devotional practices are consistent with contemporary Church teaching, and to determine to what extent the teachings and reforms of the Second Vatican Council have impacted these devotional practices. Ethnographic data from this study indicate that devotion to Mary and the Saints is important within the faith life of the parish and in the private devotional lives of many of the study's participants. Both public and private devotions to Mary and the Saints are consistent with contemporary Church teaching and in many respects with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. It is clear that the teachings and reforms of the Second Vatican Council have had a significant impact on both public and private devotions and in the way that the study's participants relate to Mary and the Saints.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)