The purpose of this case study was to explore, from the perspective of students enrolled in a baccalaureate evangelical nursing program, the process of learning to care as a professional nurse. A modified symbolic interactionist perspective guided the study. The specific research questions focused on identification of student conceptions of caring, social processes that may have an effect on student conceptions of caring, and the effect that diverse clinical rotations may have on student conceptions. Initially, a content analysis of selected institutional documents was conducted and a detailed description of the institution was reported to contextualize the distinctive nature of the evangelical institution. Following this analysis, students and faculty members were observed during clinical experiences and interviewed both formally and informally during one academic year. Twenty-three nursing students enrolled in medical/surgical, maternity and community health clinical nursing courses and their respective faculty members participated in the study. The process of learning to care was, for many students, influenced by their life experiences and Christian worldview. As students developed conceptions of professional caring, they identified issues and tensions related to trust, respect, and interpersonal balance. In relationships with patients, staff nurses and faculty members, students identified conflicting messages regarding professional caring. The reality and challenge of providing care as a nurse was most meaningfully realized and negotiated in the clinical settings. The general conceptions of caring students held remained stable in each of the clinical settings, although students identified selected clinical characteristics that had an effect on the implementation of professional caring.

This thesis is a critical survey of selected feminist writings on topics of interest to Christian, feminist thinkers. Specifically, this thesis has examined inter-feminist debates, highlighting those themes related narrowly to the virtues of self-sacrifice, care and peace, and broadly to how these relate to wider themes in Christian theology. This survey indicates directions and tendencies within works on virtues connected to women's work and gendered ideological assumptions about public and private spheres. / A summary of the contribution and themes of this thesis includes using critical social theory to uncover ideological distortions such as those perpetuated by patriarchy. The thesis highlights how a feminist critique contributes to the debate on values and virtues, pointing out biases which previously hid the contributions of women. An important theme uncovered using these critical tools is the dualist division between the public and the private spheres which reinforce gendered social and moral roles. The discussion is structured around three virtues with an emphasis on praxis, that is, since values arise out of shared practices, these values are inherently teachable and able to contribute to an evolving understanding of moral principles which break from and/or enhance traditional liberal understandings of these principles. Finally, connections are made with the gospel and utopian values grounded in a Christian vision of the kingdom of God.

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The New Testament writings provide abundant information about the mutual care ministries of church members toward one another. These ministries cover the New Testament landscape, with various examples and commands in both the narratives in Acts and the prescriptive one-another passages in the epistles. Sadly, standard systematic theology manuals give little treatment to this major New Testament theme. Many say little about any form of church ministry, fewer address ministries to members, and fewer still address member-to-member ministries, mentioning only the work of elders and deacons. Chapter one overviews the New Testament evidence and summarizes the deficiencies among systematic theologians. It provides justification for my thesis, namely, that the New Testament presents the church as God’s designed agent and setting for the ministry of mutual Christian care Chapter two explores four ways the New Testament uses the term church: household church, citywide church, regional church, and universal church. We focus on the first two, with the stress on local churches meeting in homes as the normal setting for shared life and mutual ministry. Moreover, the pictures of the church as Christ’s body, God’s family, and God’s new priesthood encouraged members to serve their Christian brothers and sisters. Chapter three demonstrates that the ultimate foundation of all New Testament one-another ministry is found in the salvation work of the triune God. God, Christ, and his Spirit provide models and motives for church members, as recipients of his redemptive grace, to minister to each other. God’s love in Christ, Christ’s self-sacrificial death on the cross, and the Spirit’s relational graces (e.g., the “fruit” of the Spirit) and ministry gifts guide and empower church members to care for each other. Chapter four examines seventeen varied ways that the New Testament describes and prescribes these practical ministries of mutual care, organizing them under three headings—attitudes, actions, and words. These seventeen ministry categories show the wide range of ways in which the New Testament called church members to care for the physical and spiritual needs of fellow members. Chapter five provides a brief conclusion with five summary lessons and some suggestions for further study. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

The New Testament writings provide abundant information about the mutual care ministries of church members toward one another. These ministries cover the New Testament landscape, with various examples and commands in both the narratives in Acts and the prescriptive one-another passages in the epistles. Sadly, standard systematic theology manuals give little treatment to this major New Testament theme. Many say little about any form of church ministry, fewer address ministries to members, and fewer still address member-to-member ministries, mentioning only the work of elders and deacons. Chapter one overviews the New Testament evidence and summarizes the deficiencies among systematic theologians. It provides justification for my thesis, namely, that the New Testament presents the church as God’s designed agent and setting for the ministry of mutual Christian care Chapter two explores four ways the New Testament uses the term church: household church, citywide church, regional church, and universal church. We focus on the first two, with the stress on local churches meeting in homes as the normal setting for shared life and mutual ministry. Moreover, the pictures of the church as Christ’s body, God’s family, and God’s new priesthood encouraged members to serve their Christian brothers and sisters. Chapter three demonstrates that the ultimate foundation of all New Testament one-another ministry is found in the salvation work of the triune God. God, Christ, and his Spirit provide models and motives for church members, as recipients of his redemptive grace, to minister to each other. God’s love in Christ, Christ’s self-sacrificial death on the cross, and the Spirit’s relational graces (e.g., the “fruit” of the Spirit) and ministry gifts guide and empower church members to care for each other. Chapter four examines seventeen varied ways that the New Testament describes and prescribes these practical ministries of mutual care, organizing them under three headings—attitudes, actions, and words. These seventeen ministry categories show the wide range of ways in which the New Testament called church members to care for the physical and spiritual needs of fellow members. Chapter five provides a brief conclusion with five summary lessons and some suggestions for further study. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

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)

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)

The aim of this study is to address the proposition that the spirituality of L'Arche has a great deal of potential to offer people with learning disabilities outside its own community setting. For chaplains who have the task of seeking to nurture and develop the spiritual lives of people with learning disabilities in schools, there exists the opportunity to draw out the fundamental characteristics of the spirituality of L'Arche and incorporate these into their own formation programs. The opportunity to be creative and imaginative in developing formation programs comes from within the context of legislation which requires schools to meet the spiritual needs of the children in their care. / Christian Spirituality / M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

The aim of this study is to address the proposition that the spirituality of L'Arche has a great deal of potential to offer people with learning disabilities outside its own community setting. For chaplains who have the task of seeking to nurture and develop the spiritual lives of people with learning disabilities in schools, there exists the opportunity to draw out the fundamental characteristics of the spirituality of L'Arche and incorporate these into their own formation programs. The opportunity to be creative and imaginative in developing formation programs comes from within the context of legislation which requires schools to meet the spiritual needs of the children in their care. / Christian Spirituality / M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)