Thesis (M.A.)--Cincinnati Christian Seminary, 1986. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-130).

The purpose of this thesis is to examine both the philosophy and realization of lIinisterial education of the brotherhood of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) during a period extending from 1900 to 1915.

The diploma emphasizes the rediscovered holistic view of humans as bio-psycho-socio-spiritual beings, characterizing the spiritual dimension in a more detailed way and clarifying what the role of Christian denominations clergy may be in fulfilling spiritual needs of the clients. The theoretical part of the work deals with the spiritual dimension of a human in general, then it explains the term of religion regarding Christian roots of Europe and the position of spirituality among the needs of a human. It also deals with characteristics of possible spiritual needs of the clients, the role of clergy in fulfilling spiritual needs of the clients and the concept of sacramental care in selected Christian congregations. The work itself aims to characterize the ministry of clergy and its place in fulfilling spiritual needs of the clients. In the conclusion the author{\crq}s views of the field of spiritual needs of the diseased are presented as well as recommendations for practice.

The name of Tomas Wharton Phillips, (1835-1912), occurs quite frequently in the history of the Disciples of Christ. Probably his family name is best known by its association with Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma. There has also been a renewed interest in him through the recent completion of the "T.W. Phillips Memorial Library" in Nashville, Tennessee, now the headquarters of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. This general interst generated into a special interst, when, during the lectures on the history of the Disciples of Christ, a remark was made to the effect that "there was a need for a more adequte understanding of the place of T.W. Phillips in the Brotherhood of Disciples of Christ." This promoted the undertaking of a study of this layman.

The purpose of this research is to study the development of Christianity in contemporary China. It adds to the limited literature that explores how Christianity has developed as the fastest growing religion in China post the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The data derive from semi-structured and focus group interviews with Chinese Christians and field observation notes collected at both official and non-official Christian churches in Beijing. I found an ambivalent attitude toward the development of Christianity across different social levels in China. At the state level, the Chinese government expects Christianity to provide a much-needed stabilizing influence in an increasingly self-centered and materialistic society. At the same time, the government fears that Christianity's increasing power may pose a threat to the Communist regime. Correspondingly, at the community level, Chinese Christians wish to see an increasing Christian influence throughout Chinese society to improve people's quality of life, but many Chinese traditionalists oppose the increased Christian influence that seems to be supplanting traditional Chinese culture. These disagreements do not seem to have seriously impeded the development of Christianity in China today. Applying a pervasive cultural perspective – the lens of Yin-Yang interaction – to the current situation of the Christian churches in China, I find that the Yin traits within Christianity and the Yang traits embedded in the Chinese political ideology are coexisting paradoxical values whose interaction facilitates an acceptance, or at least sanction, of oppositions that have reshaped the social and political landscape of Chinese society and fostered the continuing growth of Christianity in China.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-27T13:48:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Onyemauche Cletus Chukwujioke.pdf: 707570 bytes, checksum: e8336f4c215c4c3914644310ebd1836d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-09-20 / The theme Eucharist and its symbolisms are treated in this work as the central point. However, the Eucharist and symbolisms treated not as separated theme but in the ecumenical context. Once ecumenism and its different ramifications are too vast, the concentration will be only around the churches that are members of National council of Christian churches of Brazil (CONIC). Here are the names of the churches that are members of CONIC; The Roman Catholic church, Catholic Orthodox church of Sirian, The reformed Christian Church, Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, Evangelical church of Lutheran Confession of Brazil and the Presbyterian United Church. Eucharist is the center of Christian faith surviving in the midst of plurality of believes in Brazil. Will it be possible one day seeing the Christians celebrating the Lord s Supper around one altar? According to one of the persons we interviewed, when this type of celebration happens, then it will not be called anymore the ecumenical celebration but fulfillment of the Jesus dreams. May they all be one, just as you, father, you are in me and I am in you . / O ponto central deste trabalho é a eucaristia e o simbolismo. Contudo, a eucaristia e o simbolismo não como tema elaborado isoladamente, mas no contexto do ecumenismo. Uma vez que o sentido da palavra ecumenismo, em suas ramificações, é bastante grande, o aspecto ecumênico da eucaristia aparece somente naquelas igrejas que fazem parte do Conic. As denominações cristãs que compõem o Conic são as seguintes: Igreja Católica Romana, Igreja Católica Ortodoxa Siriana, Igreja Cristã Reformada, Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil (IEAB), Igreja Metodista, Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil (IECLB) e Igreja presbiteriana Unida (IPU). O ponto central da fé cristã é a eucaristia, a fé cristã existente no meio de uma pluralidade de outras crenças no Brasil. Será possível que um dia todos os cristãos celebrarão a Ceia do Senhor ao redor de uma única mesa? Segundo um dos entrevistados deste trabalho, quando esta celebração única acontecer, ela não será mais uma celebração ecumênica, mas uma plena realização do sonho do Jesus: A fim de que todos sejam um .

Thesis (M.A.)--Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, Tenn., 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-71).

Thesis (M.A.)--Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-189); bibliographical notes at ends of chapters.

This thesis examines the challenges faced by the ministers of religion in Churches of Christ (Restoration Movement) in Bicol, Philippines. The goal is to do theology from below, not from above, as pastoral ministry must come from the experience of those who practice it, not from textbooks. The pastoral perspectives of the dilemmas that the ministers raise are heard, observed, documented, and then reflected upon. To do this, case studies of four preachers are used and the mga problema that they present are explored with them. As a result, first, I introduce some of those challenges which are perplexing on the ground level and which appear to be under-researched in serious theological circles, especially in an Asian context. Second, I hope that these case studies can be used to stimulate reflection in ministerial and spiritual formation. Third, I document some of the theology and methodology of the Churches of Christ, particularly as practiced in the Philippines. Chapter 1 explores the dichotomy between the perceived satisfaction in the pastoral ministry with the crisis of role and identity. In particular, issues such as forced exits and stress are presented while baptism and preaching are scrutinized. Chapter 2 centres on the conundrums experienced in planting a new church and being the lone planter. Chapter 3 examines three challenges–the task of ministering in a home congregation, the issue of accreditation in ministerial training, and how the minister can be a success and grow the church. Never far from the thoughts and actions of any of the Bicolano ministers is the problema of poverty, so Chapter 4 considers some of the Filipino, personal, and spiritual complexities of poverty, delineates a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration in any effort to overcome this malady and concludes with a particular reference to ministry.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo a identificação e o estudo da permanência de formas arquitetônicas greco-romanas, ditas clássicas, nas primeiras igrejas cristãs, em uma fase inicial do seu estabelecimento na região da Palestina, desde o governo de Constantino, na primeira metade do século IV d. C., até o final do século VI d. C. Nesse intervalo de quase três séculos procuramos identificar as formas arquitetônicas essenciais que serão constitutivas das igrejas cristãs em seu momento inicial de organização e estudar de que maneira elementos da cultura clássica foram recuperados e usados nesses espaços. Buscamos ir além da análise estritamente material desses edifícios, que evidenciam em suas formas idéias e valores antigos em contraposição a novos elementos que são adotados nesse momento de mudança, produtos concretos de uma nova cultura que se configura nessa época, conhecida como Período Bizantino. / The goal of this dissertation is the identification and study of Graeco-roman architectural forms - classical forms - that were preserved in early Christian churches built in the Palestinian area. The chronological scope is from the first half of the IVth. century, under Constantine\'s rule, to the end of the VIth. century AD. Studying these three centuries, we tried to recognize which basic architectural shapes had been part of early Christian churches and which classical shapes were preserved. We tried to go beyond the building materials, looking for ancient ideas and values still in use in this age of transformation, called Byzantine Period, when the new concepts of an arising culture were starting to achieve material forms.