This dissertation examines leadership and management competencies of Southern Baptist mega-church executive pastors. The study discusses the issue of limited research on the position of the executive pastor. Resources related to this position are cited. Possible reasons for the emergence of this position are examined including the minister's dilemma of being both shepherd and administrator and the issue of leadership training as preparation for the pastorate. Also provided is a theological and philosophical foundation for the leadership and management practices. Servant leadership as the biblical foundation for leadership and secular leadership models appropriate for church administration are reviewed. Research findings on ministerial effectiveness and the minister as manager are included. The available research on the role of the executive pastor is analyzed to reveal the practices posited in current literature. The methodological design is based on the 1988 research of Stephen Boersma. This study identifies and analyzes the self evaluated importance of leadership and management competencies. Demographic data and professional experience are studied to identify relationships between the executive pastors' response and his background. The analysis of findings presents the raw data, displays and statistical analysis. A description of how the raw data was compiled and an evaluation of the research design is provided. The analysis relates to the demographic data of the population, the rank order of the importance ratings, a comparative analysis of this study's findings with the finds of the Boersma study, an analysis of the demographic characteristics that are predictors of the importance ratings and a brief study of the findings related to the subjects' self-reported job satisfaction, performance and preparation in the role of the executive pastor. This research contends that there are certain leadership and management competencies necessary for the management and administration of the church. The executive pastor will employ these practices as foundational to the position. There is also a relationship of demographic characteristics to the importance rating. Finally, pastors and executive pastors tend to agree on the importance of these competencies. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

In this dissertation the author seeks to present a holistic theology proper (hereafter, simply "theology") for the first epistle to Timothy, with special regard to the letter's doxologies (King) and divine title, Savior. Chapter 1 identifies the problem, includes a history of research, and describes the method and procedure of the dissertation. The method of inquiry consists of determining the meaning and function of the letter's theology. Thus, the author seeks to understand the background and character of 1 Timothy's theology, while also wishing to discern why the author of 1 Timothy chose to emphasize these peculiar theological themes. Chapter 2 explores the meaning and function of the theological descriptions found in the doxologies of 1 Timothy 1:17 and 6:15-16. By thorough comparison to Greco-Roman, early Jewish, and OT literature, the author suggests a basically OT-informed view of God. The doxologies depict God as the only Sovereign who rules over all. The writer then determines that the doxologies function as a support and encouragement for Timothy to heed Paul's charge. This conclusion is largely based on the positioning of the doxologies and the macrostructure of the letter. Chapter 3 examines the meaning and function of the divine epithet Savior. After comparing this term to its occurrences in Greco-Roman, early Jewish, and OT literature, the author again favors an OT background for Savior. This term depicts God as one who mercifully and indiscriminately reconciles sinners who trust in Christ. While also recognizing other functions, the author suggests that God as Savior may have been aimed at the primary implied reader, Timothy, as well. Accordingly, the idea of Savior informs and strengthens Timothy, so that he might continue to labor in presenting the life-giving gospel of God. Chapter 4 considers every remaining theological description in 1 Timothy, as well as themes that significantly relate to the letter's theology, such as Christology. The author suggests that the entire theology of 1 Timothy either coheres with or supports the predominant ideas of God as King and Savior. Chapter 5 summarizes the dissertation's findings and concludes with suggested implications for NT studies. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

D. Phil. (Religious Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Phil. et Litt. / The interaction between law and love in Pauline writing has been an interesting topic, where we have discovered that the law of God cannot be separated from his agape love, which has followed mankind from creation and eventually leads him to eternity. We discovered that the law of God reveals God's character and that is his love. The Law of God and His Love are one and cannot be separated from each other. God gives the law to prove to man that he loves him deeply and eternally. When Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, He died because of the love for his created beings and the law that was broken and could not be altered or changed without the shedding of blood. The redemption of the sinner had to be made possible through the shedding of blood by the one who had not broken God's law. The love and death of Jesus can only be understood through the plan of salvation, which is the interaction between law and love as exposed in Pauline writings. This is a mystery of the wonderful love of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to discover the way Paul blends the law and love in a way that it makes it hard to separate the two. If not carefully studied, one would not be able to see this fact in Pauline writings. The Law of God is actually the expression of His love to us. He would like. us to love Him by keeping the first four commandments and loving our fellow man by keeping the last six of the Ten Commandments. We need to have a positive outlook on the law, so that we may love to do God's will and honour Him because He loved us dearly and did not spare His own son for our redemption. The plan of redemption was born out of the eternal love of God towards humanity that could not be measured by anything on earth and in Heaven. In chapter one and two, we look at the overview of law and love in Pauline writings. The Pauline framework, its theology and the ethics of law and love. The whole plan of salvation for all humanity and how God loves all His creation. Although God had a chosen people through Abraham, He only wanted to make His love known throughout the world and all generations. God had always had His special people through whom He made His love and care known although they sometimes failed to is do His will. Like the children of Israel failed him throughout the ages and He has always been patient with them until they killed Jesus on the Cross.

Text in Afrikaans / Die Wetenskap filosofiese en prakties teologiese posisionering word deur 'n postmoderne benadering bepaal. Met die doel van die studie naamlik, dekonstruksie van die teologiese diskoers, liefde, in die oog, volg 'n blik op kwalitatiewe navorsing. Sosiale konstruksie diskoers word as epistemologiese vertrekpunt bespreek. Metodologies het die keuse op 'n narratiewe benadering geval. Voortvloeiend hieruit volg die gebruik van metafore, eksternalisering en dekonstruksie van die gesprekke. Die doel van die studie vereis ook bestudering van verskeie sienings oor liefde. Die literatuurstudie word bespreek onder die volgende metafore, naamlik algemene sienings, 'n historiese oorsig en teologiese sienings. Die relevansie van die gekose inligting word weerspieel in die gesprekke. Met behulp van veelvuldige reflekterende gesprekke word saam met gesinne gekonstrueer aan 'n nuwe verstaan van liefde. / Both the Scientific Philosophical and the practical theological positioning are determined by a postmodemistic approach. Keeping in mind the aim of this study, namely the deconstruction of the theological discourse, iove, a view on qualitative research is given. A review of social construction discourse as epistemological starting point is given. Methodologically a narrative approach was used. Emanating from this follows the use of metaphors, externalization and deconstruction of the interviews. The aim of this study also demands the study of various views on love. The study is arranged under the following metaphors, namely general views, a historic review and theological views. The relevance of the chosen information is reflected in the interviews, and new understanding of love is constructed in collaboration with the families. / M.Th.(Practical theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die Wetenskap filosofiese en prakties teologiese posisionering word deur 'n postmoderne benadering bepaal. Met die doel van die studie naamlik, dekonstruksie van die teologiese diskoers, liefde, in die oog, volg 'n blik op kwalitatiewe navorsing. Sosiale konstruksie diskoers word as epistemologiese vertrekpunt bespreek. Metodologies het die keuse op 'n narratiewe benadering geval. Voortvloeiend hieruit volg die gebruik van metafore, eksternalisering en dekonstruksie van die gesprekke. Die doel van die studie vereis ook bestudering van verskeie sienings oor liefde. Die literatuurstudie word bespreek onder die volgende metafore, naamlik algemene sienings, 'n historiese oorsig en teologiese sienings. Die relevansie van die gekose inligting word weerspieel in die gesprekke. Met behulp van veelvuldige reflekterende gesprekke word saam met gesinne gekonstrueer aan 'n nuwe verstaan van liefde. / Both the Scientific Philosophical and the practical theological positioning are determined by a postmodemistic approach. Keeping in mind the aim of this study, namely the deconstruction of the theological discourse, iove, a view on qualitative research is given. A review of social construction discourse as epistemological starting point is given. Methodologically a narrative approach was used. Emanating from this follows the use of metaphors, externalization and deconstruction of the interviews. The aim of this study also demands the study of various views on love. The study is arranged under the following metaphors, namely general views, a historic review and theological views. The relevance of the chosen information is reflected in the interviews, and new understanding of love is constructed in collaboration with the families. / M.Th.(Practical theology)

Practical theology has society as its horizon and should not be limited to a clerical paradigm because Christianity is not limited to a church but its horizon is the whole of society. In line with this understanding of practical theology, this study is a contribution to Christian education for a culture of peace in the Great Lakes region (the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi). Millions of people have been slaughtered in this region where Christianity is the main religion. The Church in this region has lost its credibility and is seen as contributing to a culture of violence through its church leaders and parishioners. This study focuses on the research question: Can teaching twofold love contribute to a culture of peace in the Great Lakes region? The thesis has empirically argued that the cause of turmoil in the Great Lakes region is the lack of twofold love, which has disguised itself in all evils known in the region, such as corruption, hegemony, predation, indirect rule, divide and rule, tribalism, fetishism, mass killings, prostitution, over-trust in modernism and breaking God's Ten Commandments, more than anything else. Humankind finds it difficult to love the neighbour like oneself and this lack of neighbourly love causes unrest in this region. The discussion in chapter three has empirically demonstrated through educational psychology that teaching is love of the learner. Therefore, an effective teacher should be able to give loving care to the learner's spiritual, physical and social needs, in a specific context. This is what Jesus did through verbal and behavioural media (Byrskog, 1994: 321). Such a liberationist teaching that should avoid pouring socially irrelevant knowledge on the learner is still an urgent need in the Great Lakes region. Christian education in this region has been learnt in a rote manner without educating Christians to be problem solvers. The fourth chapter makes practical suggestions on how to deal with the dilemmas of teaching Christian education in the region. Thus the study has empirically confirmed the research hypothesis that an effective teaching of twofold love can contribute to a culture of peace in the Great Lakes region. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Practical theology has society as its horizon and should not be limited to a clerical paradigm because Christianity is not limited to a church but its horizon is the whole of society. In line with this understanding of practical theology, this study is a contribution to Christian education for a culture of peace in the Great Lakes region (the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi). Millions of people have been slaughtered in this region where Christianity is the main religion. The Church in this region has lost its credibility and is seen as contributing to a culture of violence through its church leaders and parishioners. This study focuses on the research question: Can teaching twofold love contribute to a culture of peace in the Great Lakes region? The thesis has empirically argued that the cause of turmoil in the Great Lakes region is the lack of twofold love, which has disguised itself in all evils known in the region, such as corruption, hegemony, predation, indirect rule, divide and rule, tribalism, fetishism, mass killings, prostitution, over-trust in modernism and breaking God's Ten Commandments, more than anything else. Humankind finds it difficult to love the neighbour like oneself and this lack of neighbourly love causes unrest in this region. The discussion in chapter three has empirically demonstrated through educational psychology that teaching is love of the learner. Therefore, an effective teacher should be able to give loving care to the learner's spiritual, physical and social needs, in a specific context. This is what Jesus did through verbal and behavioural media (Byrskog, 1994: 321). Such a liberationist teaching that should avoid pouring socially irrelevant knowledge on the learner is still an urgent need in the Great Lakes region. Christian education in this region has been learnt in a rote manner without educating Christians to be problem solvers. The fourth chapter makes practical suggestions on how to deal with the dilemmas of teaching Christian education in the region. Thus the study has empirically confirmed the research hypothesis that an effective teaching of twofold love can contribute to a culture of peace in the Great Lakes region. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)