Thesis (Ph. D. in Missiology)--Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, 2004. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 491-498) and indexes.

Thesis (Th. D.)--Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 444-484).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 337-440).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 337-440).

Using the framework set up by rhetorical critic Thomas M. Lessl in his article "Heresy, Orthodoxy, And The Politics Of Science", this study examines the ways in which heretical discourse defines community boundaries and shapes perceptions of right belief. Specifically, this study analyzes the historic conflict in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod which produced the doctrinal statement "A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles". Comparison is made between this event and other "heretical" conflicts in other discourse communities. This study concludes that community boundaries must be drawn, and that a doctrinal or policy statement is a useful rhetorical tool to accomplish such a task. Rhetorical critics may assist in this by examining heretical conflicts as historical trends, rather than emotional dissonance.

decisionmaking in a free-associative, or non-imperative, organisation, focusing on the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn as a case study. Because people choose to participate in the Anglican Church as a religious community, it is postulated that they may perceive its decision-making as being characterised by consensus. Through an analysis of the organisational elements and the participants involved in the decision-making process, their inter-relationships are examined. By survey the biographical nature of synod participants is specified and elites identified. Finally, by case-decision analysis the process of decision-making is explored, and the presence and use of consensus examined. The study draws upon those members attending the 1988 session of the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn as the population to be surveyed. Members of synod are also members of the various decision-making groups in the diocese. Two recently implemented decisions are used as case studies in order to examine the process of decision-making in the diocese. Results of the Synod survey are detailed at Chapter 4, and the analysis of the case decisions is at Chapter 5. The study found that there was an indication of an elite in the decision-making structure and that a strong administrative agenda was promoted by that group. The study concludes by suggesting that there are similarities in function between public, commercial and free-associative bodies of comparative size in regard to elites, professionalism and the lack of consensus in the decision-making process. The study also concludes that the nature of elites may be similar to that portrayed by the community studies school where the organisation is sufficiently like a community in the nature of its interpersonal relationships. The researcher suggests that the study provided illumination about church management procedures and a framework applicable to the study of other organisations.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Concordia Seminary, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-144).

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

Thesis (M.C.S.)--Regent College, 1988. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [139]-145).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Theological Seminary, 1987. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-89).