This thesis was designed to determine the uses of media distributed by the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). The study compared laypersons' and ministers' respective uses of seven church media.A telephone survey was conducted of 597 subscribers of Vital Christianity magazine: 382 laypersons and 215 ministers. Participants' responses were analyzed by mean scores, t-tests, Pearson correlations, multiple regression analysis, partial correlation tests and factor analysis. Demographic data concerning lay and ministerial status, participation in church life, educational level and age was cross tabulated with 14 statments related to Blumler's three categories of media uses and gratifications: surveillance, interaction and diversion.The study found significant differences in the amount of church media used by ministers and laypersons. Whereas ministers use Vital Christianity primarily for surveillance, laypersons value interaction uses as highly as surveillance uses. Laypersons' also indicated significantly greater interest in both interaction and diversion uses of the magazine than did the ministers. Finally, the study found a modest correlation between age level and use of Vital Christianity to gratify diversion needs. / Department of Journalism

The purpose of this study was to describe what Christian education programs were like in Black congregations of the Church of God (Anderson, IN) which were served by graduates of Bay Ridge Christian College or were located in Texas, Louisiana, or Mississippi. The researcher, a Christian education professor at Bay Ridge Christian College which is located in Kendleton, Texas, used the description to assist in curriculum development at the College. A nine page research instrument was designed and distributed to sixty-three pastors in the constituentgroups. The data were provided from twenty-eight respondents, all pastors. The data were analyzed in four major categories: Demographics and Pastoral Role, Congregational Data, Status of Christian Education Ministries, and General Concerns. The data were used to test eighteen hypotheses. The study indicated the majority of the pastors were bi-vocational in urban settings. They considered preaching, teaching, and administration as their (Anderson, IN), the Sunday School in Churches, and Bay Ridge Christian College the thesis. Southern Black were included in primary pastoral responsibilities. In the churches, volunteers were responsible for the Christian education programs. The programs did not have written goals and objectives but provided a variety of programs for all age groups in addition to the Sunday School classes. The congregations represented by the respondents provided and encouraged leadership development. They used Sunday School curriculum published by Warner Press, the Church of God Publishing Company in Anderson, Indiana; but did not find the materials distributed by the Board of Christian Education in Anderson to be useful to their local programs. The respondents indicated Bay Ridge Christian College could serve them by providing workshops in the following areas: children's ministries, administration of Christian Education, use of audio-visual aids, youth ministry, and Sunday School growth and development. They also expressed a desire to know more of the content of The Bible and for help in Bible study skills. The study concluded with recommendations to the Christian Education Department at Bay Ridge Christian College, the Administration of Bay Ridge Christian College, and the Board of Christian Education of the Church of God located in Anderson, Indiana and the Board of Christian Education of the National Association of the Church of God located in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania. Brief histories of the Black constituency of the Church of God (Anderson, IN), the Sunday School in Southern Black Churches, and Bay Ridge Christian College were included in this thesis. / Department of Educational Administration and Supervision

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-195).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-230).

Thesis (M. Div.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [91]-98).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2008. / Abstract . Includes bibliographical references (leaves 229-236).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 1994. / Abstract. Includes critiques of the paper written by Gale A. Barnett and James Simpson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-120).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Erskine Theological Seminary, 1998. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-158).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Erskine Theological Seminary, 1998. / Abstract. This is an electronic reproduction of TREN, #064-0032. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-158).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-230).