<p>As evangelicals living in Canada, we are tasked with finding a way to faithfully live out the calling of the church in our North American context. Yet as we try to do this, we are regularly faced with the cultural reality of individualism and are often influenced by it in ways that we do not fully understand. This thesis will suggest that the integration of individualism in the Western evangelical church is having a detrimental effect on our ability to create or maintain Biblical community. This thesis will examine the issue of individualism as it relates to Christian community through interviews with 15 evangelical laypersons and pastors. This thesis will also employ secondary sources in the analysis of these interviews, engaging them in dialogue with some classic and contemporary theologians of the church.</p> / Master of Divinity (M.Div)

Over the past fifty years, Christian contemporary music has joined hymnody and psalmody as a major form of evangelical liturgical and devotional song. While the production and content of this genre have been explored by scholars, few studies have attended to the devotional use of the genre and its role in shaping the religious lives of American evangelicals. This project draws from several sets of data to address this matter: analysis of church-created worship music albums, listener testimonials on Christian radio websites, and focus group interviews of laity and clergy at four South Carolina churches. The data revealed that music is significant to their religious lives outside of church as a means of encountering God, managing emotions, and displaying spiritual capital. Inside churches, the music is used to create a sense of corporate identity that reinforces social bonds within the community and attracts newcomers. Drawing on the methodological framework of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice and his work on social distinction, I argue that American evangelicals who listen to Christian contemporary music are engaged in aural piety, a set of practices, attitudes, and ideas invested in music that structure and evoke the experience of the sacred. / Religion

Followers expect leaders to provide clarity and assurance in uncertain times. These expectations apply to church leaders as well. American churches are in crisis regarding growth in worship attendance. According to Eymann (2012) and Shattuck (2014), more than 85% of churches in the United States are either stagnant or in decline. In addition, Redfern (2015) posited that about 4,000 churches in America are closed down each year. However, the good news is that a few churches in the United States are experiencing consistent growth in weekly worship attendance. If the pastoral leadership in those growing churches has anything to do with the growth, the researcher wondered what leadership qualities those pastoral leaders possessed that could be lacking in the pastoral leaders of churches that are not growing. Keen interest in whether or not the Emotional Intelligence competencies of the lead clergy of growing churches have any relationship with the growth, served as the impetus for this research study. This quantitative study was intended to investigate what relationship, if any, existed between the Emotional Intelligence competences of the lead clergy and church growth in the selected congregations within the Wesleyan Church North America. The Genos Emotional Intelligence Inventory Concise instrument was utilized to assess and to determine the scoring pattern in the Emotional Intelligence competencies of the selected lead clergy within the Wesleyan Church North America. The conclusion of the study was that, of the seven competencies of Emotional Intelligence, only Emotional Reasoning was significantly higher among the lead clergy of growing Wesleyan churches than those of the lead clergy in the Wesleyan churches that were not growing. Other Emotional Intelligent competencies showed no significant differences. / Ph.D. in Leadership / A quantitative study on the relationship between the emotional intelligence of the lead clergy and growth in church worship attendance.

The study sets to establish trends with regard to the role of the praise singer, the changes with regard to the traditional praise singer's rendition/performance and the material or content of his/her poetry. Thus the study highlights the distinction observed between the praise singer of the past and the present praise singer. The study also shows that the praise singer's performance, in terms of his/her role and content, is in the state of flux. The study also demonstrates that the singer of the past and the present praise singer have the same role and their chants or poetry or songs have the same effect. It also highlights situations where praises are chanted in modern times. These are graduation ceremonies, weddings, political gatherings and traditional ceremonies, for example, the annual rain making ceremonies. These events or occasions are inextricably linked to traditional praises. The study also highlights the fact that traditional praises present the history and heroic deeds of members of the clan to which the beneficiary belongs. They also express the deep feeling of royalty and loyalty. Like in the past they boost morale. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

Text in Afrikaans / Lofprysing en aanbidding, wat die kern behoort le vorm van elke erediens, omdat God sentraal staan daarin, en wat ook die middelpunt van die erediens van die !ewe behoort le wees, omdat dit die reaksie van dankbaarheid op God se goedheid is, word in die Gereformeerde tradisie heel dik els met groot skeptisisme bejeen. Deels gebeur dit omdat die begrippe "lofprysing" en "aanbidding" dalk nog nie duidelik gedefinieer is nie en daar dikwels baie subjektiewe betekenis daaraan gegee word. Dis 'n groat jammerte omdat dit baie van die vreugde, die hartlikheid en die warmte van byeenkomste van die geloofsgemeenskap ontneem. Verder het dit tot gevolg dat sommige lid mate - en veral jongmense - hulle heil elders gaan soek, waar hulle behoeftes aangespreek word. Aangesien hierdie 'n studie is wat fokus op die Skriftuurlike en teologiese begronding van lofprysing en aanbidding, asook die behoeftes van jongmense, word aandag geskenk aan belangrike tendense wat 'n invloed uitoefen op hulle behoeftes, voor- en afkeure en algemene lewensuitkyk. Sake wat aan die orde kom is onder andere kultuur - met verwysing na subkulture en pop-kultuur - die sogenaamde Generasieteoriee en spiritualiteitstipes. Laastens word aanbevelings gemaak oor hoe gemeentes en kerke, met in agneming van veral die behoeftes van jongmense, lofprysing en aanbidding op 'n Skriftuurlike en teologiese verantwoorde wyse kan beplan en aanbied, terwyl jongmense in die proses bemagtig word om mede-verantwoordelikheid daarvoor te aanvaar. / Praise and worship, central to every church service, as a grateful response to God's goodness and mercy, is frequently met with scepticism within the Reformed tradition. This is, partly, due to different definitions, resulting in a variety of subjective interpretations. It deprives the faith community of the joy and warmth expected to be experienced at gatherings. It furthermore results in youth having to seek alternative pastures for their specific needs. This research focuses on the Scriptural and theological foundation of praise and worship, as well as the needs of the youth, relevant trends influencing their needs, their preferences and dislikes as well as their attitude towards life in general. Aspects such as culture and the so called Generational theories and types of spirituality will come under scrutiny. Lastly recommendations are made for planning and presentation of Scriptural sound praise and worship, whilst, at the same time, empowering them to take joint responsibility. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Diac. (Jeugwerk)

The dissertation starts from the premise that we are living in an increasingly individualistic and secular society. The church is seen as a worshipping community, where mutual care emanating from true Christian community could serve as a corrective to current fragmentation. A theory is developed of the church as a caring and worshipping faith community which exists alongside other communities. The church therefore exists to enable people to embody the gospel ideals in their lives. The whole Christian community must thus be seen to be offering the love, compassion and acceptance that is needed today. This role can be enhanced by encouraging training in caring skills. The faith community exercises its nurturing support system through the fusion of horizons as members seek to give expression to their faith. This faith community functions against the background of the myriad of relationships and different communities in which its members find themselves in. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

This study is about the identity of Coloured Pentecostals living in Retreat, Western Cape. It concerns the effects which social change has upon boundary markers and worldview. It uses Robert Schreiter's semiotic approach to culture. Schreiter says that social change along with boundary markers and worldview are the basis for changing identities. This study applies Schreiter's approach to a case study to see if it will work. The study considers the traditional Coloured Pentecostal Culture's identity represented by the older generation of Pentecostals in Retreat. It then considers some responses to those traditional boundary markers and worldview given primarily by the younger generation of Pentecostals. It then suggests some possible solutions to the problems which have been identified as the reasons for the changing cultural and religious identity of the Coloured Pentecostal Culture . / Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

The study sets to establish trends with regard to the role of the praise singer, the changes with regard to the traditional praise singer's rendition/performance and the material or content of his/her poetry. Thus the study highlights the distinction observed between the praise singer of the past and the present praise singer. The study also shows that the praise singer's performance, in terms of his/her role and content, is in the state of flux. The study also demonstrates that the singer of the past and the present praise singer have the same role and their chants or poetry or songs have the same effect. It also highlights situations where praises are chanted in modern times. These are graduation ceremonies, weddings, political gatherings and traditional ceremonies, for example, the annual rain making ceremonies. These events or occasions are inextricably linked to traditional praises. The study also highlights the fact that traditional praises present the history and heroic deeds of members of the clan to which the beneficiary belongs. They also express the deep feeling of royalty and loyalty. Like in the past they boost morale. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

Text in Afrikaans / Lofprysing en aanbidding, wat die kern behoort le vorm van elke erediens, omdat God sentraal staan daarin, en wat ook die middelpunt van die erediens van die !ewe behoort le wees, omdat dit die reaksie van dankbaarheid op God se goedheid is, word in die Gereformeerde tradisie heel dik els met groot skeptisisme bejeen. Deels gebeur dit omdat die begrippe "lofprysing" en "aanbidding" dalk nog nie duidelik gedefinieer is nie en daar dikwels baie subjektiewe betekenis daaraan gegee word. Dis 'n groat jammerte omdat dit baie van die vreugde, die hartlikheid en die warmte van byeenkomste van die geloofsgemeenskap ontneem. Verder het dit tot gevolg dat sommige lid mate - en veral jongmense - hulle heil elders gaan soek, waar hulle behoeftes aangespreek word. Aangesien hierdie 'n studie is wat fokus op die Skriftuurlike en teologiese begronding van lofprysing en aanbidding, asook die behoeftes van jongmense, word aandag geskenk aan belangrike tendense wat 'n invloed uitoefen op hulle behoeftes, voor- en afkeure en algemene lewensuitkyk. Sake wat aan die orde kom is onder andere kultuur - met verwysing na subkulture en pop-kultuur - die sogenaamde Generasieteoriee en spiritualiteitstipes. Laastens word aanbevelings gemaak oor hoe gemeentes en kerke, met in agneming van veral die behoeftes van jongmense, lofprysing en aanbidding op 'n Skriftuurlike en teologiese verantwoorde wyse kan beplan en aanbied, terwyl jongmense in die proses bemagtig word om mede-verantwoordelikheid daarvoor te aanvaar. / Praise and worship, central to every church service, as a grateful response to God's goodness and mercy, is frequently met with scepticism within the Reformed tradition. This is, partly, due to different definitions, resulting in a variety of subjective interpretations. It deprives the faith community of the joy and warmth expected to be experienced at gatherings. It furthermore results in youth having to seek alternative pastures for their specific needs. This research focuses on the Scriptural and theological foundation of praise and worship, as well as the needs of the youth, relevant trends influencing their needs, their preferences and dislikes as well as their attitude towards life in general. Aspects such as culture and the so called Generational theories and types of spirituality will come under scrutiny. Lastly recommendations are made for planning and presentation of Scriptural sound praise and worship, whilst, at the same time, empowering them to take joint responsibility. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Diac. (Jeugwerk)

The dissertation starts from the premise that we are living in an increasingly individualistic and secular society. The church is seen as a worshipping community, where mutual care emanating from true Christian community could serve as a corrective to current fragmentation. A theory is developed of the church as a caring and worshipping faith community which exists alongside other communities. The church therefore exists to enable people to embody the gospel ideals in their lives. The whole Christian community must thus be seen to be offering the love, compassion and acceptance that is needed today. This role can be enhanced by encouraging training in caring skills. The faith community exercises its nurturing support system through the fusion of horizons as members seek to give expression to their faith. This faith community functions against the background of the myriad of relationships and different communities in which its members find themselves in. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)