Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-168).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-168).

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:20:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 primeiras paginas.pdf: 40600 bytes, checksum: 23e7ab6c96eebd77fa55bf76f5ff4f1f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-31 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This research deals with the theme of Power as its primary object of study, specifically in the form of the relations of Power in directorial counsels (pastoral and administrative) of Mennonite churches in Curitiba. The governing form of these churches presumes to be congregational, as such, the assemblies of the respective churches are considered to be supreme and final in terms of deliberations. The methodology of the research is sociological, inductive, and functionalistic, with phenomenological tendencies, having as its principal perspective systemic theory and its varied resources for research. The general theory of systems orients the foundations of the research, while the theory of social systems offers the overall framework. While the primary theory is applied in general terms, without reference to specific authors, the second concentrates, as theoretical reference, on the theory of the sociologist Niklas Luhmann. The method of research is that of participant-observer, with registers via video and audio, transcriptions, analysis and elaborations of conclusions. The technique of research indicated demonstrates itself to be effective in the acquisition of research data in terms of the field of research that deals with groups and their different functions in ecclesiastical contexts. The objectives seek to identify the systemic dynamics in meetings of the councils that were observed, as well as identify the process of power relationships. The hypotheses proposed as beginning points affirm that systemic theory is observed in every context, as well as that the elements (the counselors) of relations of power are not conscious of their acts of power. The principal and secondary hypotheses were confirmed by the participant-observer. The research verifies the general hypothesis that the churches observed and their social systems present systemic principles according to the general theory of systems and the theory of social systems of Niklas Luhmann. The specific hypotheses verify that the counselors of leadership groups present awareness of the power exercised and of the implicit power involved in their functions and roles: as formal groups, elected by the assembly to exercise power or in informal forms of power; that there exists a correlation between formal power and rigid boundaries , that their exists informal power and diffuse boundaries ; and that it is possible to work in preventive and interceptive ways via the concepts of power relations. In general terms, the Mennonite Churches of Curitiba preserve traces of congregational government, but the transition to pastoral centered and autocratic styles of government based on the counselors observed is a fact that appears to be irreversible. Apparently, the cause of this movement is based in the metropolitan social context and its implications, rather than a strategically planned change formed by Church leadership. Nonetheless, the social transformations of Mennonite traditions are directly proportional to its inclusion in the social context in which it finds itself, confirming systemic social principles in general.(AU) / A pesquisa a seguir tem o poder como objeto de estudos, especificamente na forma de relações de poder em conselhos diretores (pastoral e administrativo) de igrejas menonitas em Curitiba. A forma presumida de governo dessas igrejas é historicamente congregacional, isto é, as assembléias das respectivas igrejas são supremas e últimas nas deliberações. A metodologia de pesquisa é sociológica, indutiva, funcionalista, com tendências fenomenológicas, tendo como perspectiva principal a teoria sistêmica e seus recursos de pesquisa. A teoria geral dos sistemas orienta os fundamentos da pesquisa, a teoria dos sistemas sociais é o arcabouço da pesquisa. O método de pesquisa é a observação-participante com registros em vídeo e áudio, transcrição, análise e elaboração de conclusões. A técnica de pesquisa citada demonstrou-se eficaz e útil para o levantamento de dados em pesquisas de campo que tratam de grupos e suas funções diferenciadas em agremiações eclesiásticas. Os objetivos buscam identificar a dinâmica sistêmica nas reuniões dos conselhos observados, bem como identificar o processo das relações de poder nos mesmos. As hipóteses lançadas como ponto de partida afirmam que a teoria sistêmica em qualquer perspectiva é observável, bem como os elementos (conselheiros) das relações de poder se demonstram inconscientes de seus atos de poder. As hipóteses principais e secundárias foram confirmadas pela observação-participante, a saber: a pesquisa verifica a hipótese geral de que mesmo igrejas e seus sistemas sociais evidenciam princípios sistêmicos segundo a teoria geral dos sistemas e a teoria dos sistemas sociais de Niklas Luhmann. As hipóteses específicas verificam se os conselheiros dos grupos de liderança evidenciam consciência do poder exercido e do poder implícito em suas funções e papéis; se os grupos formais, eleitos pela assembléia exercem poder de fato ou se existe influência do poder informal; se existe uma correlação, entre o poder formal e as fronteiras rígidas , o poder informal e a fronteira difusa ; se é possível trabalhar preventivamente e interventivamente através do conceito de relações de poder e os princípios sociais sistêmicos. As igrejas menonitas de Curitiba de maneira geral preservam traços de governo congregacional, mas, a transição para estilos de governo pastorcêntricos e autocráticos a partir dos conselhos observados é um fato e parece irreversível. Aparentemente a causalidade desse movimento surge no contexto social metropolitano e suas implicações, mais do que numa mudança estrategicamente planejada pelas lideranças. Portanto, a transição parece ser cultural. Aliás, as transformações sociais das tradições menonitas são diretamente proporcionais à sua inclusão e inculturação no contexto social em que se situam, confirmando assim os princípios sistêmicos da sociedade em geral.(AU)

This study asks whether the use of non-English words in the novels of Canadian Mennonites perpetuates a cultural binary, and concludes that it does not. The use of the non-English word, rather than enforcing a binary between "us and them", ultimately reveals that cultural boundaries are permeable and unstable. Recent reader-response theory, which sees the reader as always influenced by a context, is central to this inquiry. Analysis of readers' responses in the form of questionnaires constitutes part of the support for my assertions, while an examination of typography, orthography, interlingua, and theme in three novels by Canadian Mennonites provides the balance. Chapter one lays the theoretical framework for the investigation. It discusses: reader-response theory and the impossibility of accessing a stable textual meaning coincidental with the author's intention, the challenge of the non-English word to the concept of universality, and the distinction between proper “English" and non-institutional "english". Chapter two examines some readers' responses to non-English words and finds that “inside" readers have interpretations in common with "outside” readers, and that variations exist between the interpretations of “inside" readers. A binary model is too simplistic to encompass the range of contexts from which readers read. Chapter three discusses typography, orthography, and interlanguage in relation to (Low) German, and suggests the importance of these features to a discussion of the texts. Chapters four through six examine Rudy Wiebe's The Blue Mountains of China (1970), Anne Konrad's The Blue Jar (1985), and Armin Wiebe's The Salvation of Yasch Siemens (1984) respectively. Each novel's thematic concern with cultural boundaries serves as a framework for interpreting its physical and linguistic features. Chapter seven concludes by examining the influence of my own fragmented identity on the development of my argument, and revisits the issue of authorial intent in our politically less-than-perfect world. A lengthy appendix serves as a pluralistic glossary to the texts, and contains the responses to my questionnaires. A brief section outlines some of the appendix's interesting patterns and trends. An index to the appendix is provided since the appendix is not arranged alphabetically. / Arts, Faculty of / English, Department of / Graduate

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<p>This thesis presents the results of a study exploring the health status and health determinants in two farming groups in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Old Order Mennonites (OOMs) and non-OOM farmers. Physical health and mental health are examined, and Canada’s 12 health determinants (excluding genetics) are included in the analysis. A survey was distributed to both groups in 2010 to obtain information on health status and determinants. Comparing the two groups reduces the likely impact of contextual features impacting both, such as local economic conditions. The mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-12 were used to measure mental and physical health. The study compares health in the two populations, and uses ordinary least squares (multiple) regression to determine the relative importance of the determinants in shaping health. The study found that mental health is better in OOMs, mainly due to OOM women’s strong mental health. Physical health was worse in OOMs, and while true for both genders, OOM women appear to be particularly disadvantaged. There is overlap between the groups in the determinants shaping physical and mental health. In both groups, mental health is shaped by social interaction, stress and coping; and physical health by age, childhood disease history, coping and body mass index. This suggests these factors may be important across many populations facing different life circumstances, thus representing priorities for policy action. Interestingly, the key determinants shaping physical health in both groups do not include social factors such as social capital, although social factors do shape mental health (especially in OOMs). This may be due to the rural or farming status of the two groups, or differences between physical and mental health. Determining which is more likely requires reconciling the results of this study with others, an effort hampered by differences in models, methods and health outcomes employed.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Text in German / Das Thema Gemeindezucht war allen Reformatoren ein Anliegen. Seit einigen Jahren ist es nach einer Hochphase in der Periode der dialektischen Theologie in der Evangelischen Kirche um das Thema Gemeindezucht sehr ruhig geworden. Es findet, von Ausnahmen abgesehen, in der Evangelischen Kirche weder eine theoretische Reflektion noch eine praktische Anwendung von Gemeindezucht statt. Etwas anders ist es in der täuferisch-mennonitischen Kirchenfamilie. Das Anliegen Gemeindezucht wird dort nach wie vor sehr hoch bewertet. Allerdings herrscht, so scheint es, eine große Unsicherheit, wie denn Gemeindezucht konkret, verantwortlich und sachgemäß zur Anwendung kommen kann. Die wenige veröffentlichte Literatur zur Kirchenzucht erschöpft sich meist in einer Darstellung und Diskussion der Bibelstellen zum Thema. Theologische, ekklesiologische und kirchengeschichtliche Überlegungen fließen in der Regel nicht in die Literatur ein. Das Ziel dieser Forschung ist es, einen Beitrag zur Schließung dieser Lücke zu leisten. Außerdem sollen Schlussfolgerungen erarbeitet werden, die es ermöglichen, dass Gemeindezucht in täuferisch-mennonitischen Kirchen verantwortlich zur Anwendung kommen kann. Es handelt sich bei dieser Forschung im ersten Teil um eine Literaturstudie. Der zweite Teil ist eine Fallstudie mittels Dokumentenanalyse zur Kirchenzucht in der Täufergeschichte. Um zu den Praxisimpulsen zu gelangen, wird das Thema Gemeindezucht anhand von fünf Leitfragen aus drei Perspektiven evaluiert und dann synthetisiert bzw. diskutiert. Diese drei Perspektiven sind die täuferische Ekklesiologie, das Neue Testament und die Täufergeschichte. / The issue of church discipline was a concern for all reformers. Whereas the discussion of this issue had its peak during the period of dialectic theology, it has become very quiet around this subject within the Protestant Church. With some exceptions, neither theoretical reflection nor practical application of church discipline is taking place within the Protestant Church. The situation is, however, a little bit different within the Anabaptist-Mennonite church community. Anabaptist-Mennonite Churches view the matter of church discipline with a relatively higher level of importance. However, great uncertainty seems to persist with respect to the question of how to apply church discipline in a practical, responsible and appropriate way. The limited literature published on the subject of church discipline is often restricted to a mere description and discussion of corresponding Bible references. As a rule, one does not include theological, ecclesiological and church-historical reflections within this literature. The purpose of this research is to close this gap by achieving well-founded conclusions which will make it possible for Anabaptist-Mennonite Churches to, once again, apply church-discipline responsibly. The first part of the research includes a literature review. The second part is a case study using document analysis. In order to arrive at practical impulses, the subject of church discipline will be evaluated, assuming from five central questions, from three different perspectives and synthesized or discussed. These three perspectives are the Anabaptist-Mennonite ecclesiology, the New Testament and the Anabaptist-Mennonite church history. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

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