Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 262-267).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 262-267).

This study offers an overdue exploration of the early years of the deaconess community in Neuendettelsau from a gender perspective. Drawing on rich archival material, it focuses on the process of the formation of a distinctive collective identity. Central to this study is the assumption, drawn from the social sciences, that collective identity is a social construction which requires the participation of the whole group through identification and which is consolidated by developing specific rituals, symbols, codes and normative texts, which facilitate integration, and by constructing external boundaries, which separate from the world and wider church. The centrifugal forces which came into play when deaconesses were sent out in isolation were counterbalanced by a communal life which offered forms of participation and identification for the individual members and which consolidated their sense of belonging. The first chapter introduces the methodology. Chapter Two explores the social, cultural and theological context of the foundation of the Deaconess Institute, and offers a brief outline of the institution's historical development. The third chapter offers an in-depth analysis of the initiation ceremony as a rite which both admitted into the community and conferred an ecclesiastical office. Chapter Four analyses formative and normative texts that shed light on the community's norms, values, and expectations. In the fifth chapter, non-literary means of consolidating and affirming the deaconesses' collective identity are explored. This study concludes that the process of the emergence of a specific deaconess culture was pervaded by bourgeois norms, values, patterns of behaviour and notions about gender roles which measured out the women's radius of action and were at times difficult to reconcile with the deaconess profession.

Using the framework set up by rhetorical critic Thomas M. Lessl in his article "Heresy, Orthodoxy, And The Politics Of Science", this study examines the ways in which heretical discourse defines community boundaries and shapes perceptions of right belief. Specifically, this study analyzes the historic conflict in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod which produced the doctrinal statement "A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles". Comparison is made between this event and other "heretical" conflicts in other discourse communities. This study concludes that community boundaries must be drawn, and that a doctrinal or policy statement is a useful rhetorical tool to accomplish such a task. Rhetorical critics may assist in this by examining heretical conflicts as historical trends, rather than emotional dissonance.

[pt] A pesquisa é realizada sobre a dimensão missional, ética e horizontal que flui do Sacramento da Ceia do Senhor na teologia luterana, em viés teológico, perspectiva dialogal e ecumênica e com um interesse particular por uma aplicação pastoral que afete a realidade paroquial. Em um tempo marcado por uma práxis eucarística individualista, descompromissada e improdutiva do ponto de vista dos frutos do sacramento, busca-se pelo aprimoramento da espiritualidade litúrgicoeucarística direcionada para o serviço encarnado da caridade cristã no mundo. A partir de certa lacuna que se percebe na reflexão acadêmica e eclesial nesta relação entre Eucaristia e missão, particularmente no contexto luterano brasileiro, e na intuição de que existem suficientes elementos na teologia sacramental luterana para serem mais bem aproveitados, este trabalho postula a questão: que tipo de missionariedade eucarística pode ser encontrada na teologia luterana? A pesquisa tem metodologia bibliográfica, tendo procedimentos de explanação histórica e de discussão dialética e progressiva. Ela parte de uma contextualização do movimento da Reforma Luterana, assumindo sua intenção em valorizar o Evangelho, e continua pelo desvendar da teologia eucarística luterana, sintetizada como o Evangelho encarnado. Em uma imersão em textos de Lutero e outros teólogos desta tradição, a missionariedade eucarística luterana é revelada em um pujante e fecundo chamado à vivência missional deste Evangelho que se pretende encarnar horizontalmente. Finalmente, emerge uma proposta pastoral para o proveito da missão que flui do altar para a vida, tendo a Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil como foco. Em todo o percurso, são acolhidas gemas do diálogo bilateral entre católicos e luteranos e da própria teologia católica. / [en] The research is carried out on the missional, ethical and horizontal dimension that flows from the Sacrament of the Lord s Supper in Lutheran theology, in a theological bias, dialogical and ecumenical perspective and with a particular interest in a pastoral application that affects the parish reality. In a time marked by an individualistic eucharistic praxis, uncompromised and unproductive from the point of view of the fruits of the sacrament, comes a search for the improvement of the liturgical-eucharistic spirituality directed towards the incarnated service of Christian charity in the world. Based on certain gap that is perceived in academic and ecclesial reflection on this relationship between the Eucharist and mission, particularly in the Brazilian Lutheran context, and on the intuition that there are enough elements in lutheran sacramental theology to be better used, this work poses the question: what kind of Eucharistic missionary spirit can be found in Lutheran theology? The research has a bibliographical methodology, with procedures for historical explanation and dialectical and progressive discussion. It starts from a contextualization of the Lutheran Reformation movement, assuming its intention to value the gospel and continues by unveiling Lutheran eucharistic theology, synthesized as the incarnate gospel. In an immersion in Luther s texts and other theologians of this tradition, the lutheran eucharistic missionarity is revealed in a powerful and fruitful call to the missional living of this gospel that intends to be incarnated horizontally. Finally, a pastoral proposal emerges for the benefit of the mission that flows from the altar to life, having the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil as its focus. Along the way, gems of the bilateral dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans and of Catholic theology itself are considered.

Thesis advisor: Cynthia Lynn Lyerly / My dissertation examines the process of cultural adaption and change. Nineteenth-century Lutherans in many ways were cultural outsiders and a religious minority. They were confessional in a land of evangelicals. A fundamental divide between Lutherans and their evangelical neighbors was that Lutherans did not believe that an emotionally charged conversion experience was necessary in order to obtain salvation. Whereas evangelicals believed individuals had to decide to accepted Jesus as their personal lord and savior in order to receive salvation and grace, Lutherans believed that God made the decisions to save individuals, and they received God's grace and salvation as a totally free and unmerited gift. Lutherans, therefore, had to decide how to respond to the revival movement that swept across the antebellum south. While Lutheran theological tradition focused on a mystical and yet intellectual relationship with God obtained by studying the Bible, the popularity of revivals forced Lutherans to negotiate their religious differences with their evangelical neighbors. Moreover, since Lutherans placed such value on an intellectual relationship with God, they emphasized the importance of education even when those around them were hostile to education. Unlike evangelicals, Lutherans did not have church courts, but they were still very interested in public morality. My dissertation examines how they negotiated their response to the moral dilemmas of their day such as drinking, dancing and dueling, which were important components of honor culture. Lutherans also found themselves separated from their evangelical neighbors due to the fact that they spoke German while the evangelicals spoke English. For many Lutherans the German language and Lutheranism were inseparable. This language barrier not only separated Lutherans from their neighbors but also acted as a wedge between the older Lutheran generations who spoke German and the younger generations that grew up speaking English. Lutherans had to decide whether to give up German, the language of Luther, or risk losing the youth. Upon arriving in North Carolina, they were confronted with the issue of slavery. While evangelicals at first rejected slavery and only slowly embraced it, Lutherans appeared to have no moral qualms with the institution. Finally, North Carolina Lutherans were members of a national Lutheran church at a time when national evangelical churches were being torn apart due to sectional tensions. It was only after the country was at war that a schism finally occurred in the national Lutheran church. My dissertation examines how North Carolina Lutherans and Lutherans across the country were able to hold their church together as long as they did and how this division finalized North Carolina Lutherans' southernization. This project begins with the Lutherans' arrival in North Carolina just prior to the Revolutionary War and concludes with the aftermath of the Civil War. The majority of German Lutherans lived in the piedmont region of North Carolina, and this study focuses geographically on this region. As a social history this project explores questions of how German Lutherans eventually transformed from outsiders to proud members of the Confederate nation. "Adapting to Dixie" examines the dynamics of rapid cultural change in which Lutherans struggled to retain a sense of their separateness while still conforming to the region's mores. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: History.

Magister Theologiae - MTh / Taking the recent history and the present situation of South Africa as my context, I have found that with regard to their ethical stance the Lutheran Church has been accused of taking the "cheap grace" (anti-nomian) option and the Reformed Churches have often been criticised (especially by Lutherans, although recently also by some of their own theologians e.g. Johan Cilliers, 1994) for propagating the salvation by "works of the law" (semi-pelagian) option. Both the above "accusations" need to be critically verified by an analysis of the two theologies and their functioning in South Africa. This analysis will be done by using sermons from both churches as its empirical basis. I have decided to use seven sermons from each tradition. The Lutheran ones were brought together by directly contacting my colleagues and asking them to help me in this project by sending their sermons (especially on Exodus 20, if possible) to me. The Reformed sermons used are taken from published sermon collections available in South Africa.

Bibliography: leaves [152]-165.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-108).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-150).