Thesis (D. Min.)--Erskine Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-127).

Project Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 273-284).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Seminary, Portland, OR, 2010. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-165).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-146).

The central issue of this study revolves around the necessity of the church to understand its essence in order to maintain a healthy balance between its identity and its relevance. The point of departure of this thesis is based on the supposition that in its attempt to remain relevant, the possibility exists that the church may in the process loose its identity. Yet on the other hand, the possibility exists that in its attempt to preserve its identity, the church may become irrelevant. While the point of departure of this study is based on the above premise, it is also postulated that it is essential for the church to reconsider the essence of its being, in order to fully appreciate the irrefutable meaning of church. Balance between identity and relevance seems nonexistent within the church unless the church understands the fundamental nature and real meaning of itself. In the Prolegomena, introductory remarks analyse the hypothesis as stated above, followed by an explanation of the research problem, a stimulus, the methodology applied, the purpose of the thesis, a chapter defining the terminology applied and a brief explanation of the close relationship between identity and relevance to other areas relative to the church as indicated in point 3 below. Within the thesis it is argued that the essence of the church is an attribute that every member of the church universal must necessarily partake of in order to belong thereto. Historical indications are employed whereby deductions can be made by which the essence, identity and relevance of the church may be demarcated. Discussions include: the origin and nature of the church; the current academic debate about the person of Jesus; the relationship between the kingdom and the church, and the implied current crisis of the church. The thesis closes with the formulation of the conclusion based on this research, namely that in order for the church to maintain a healthy balance between identity and relevance, theologians and church leaders - although situated in a variety of differing contexts - need to acquire a fresh understanding of the essence of the church and who constitutes the church / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

Universidade Católica de Pernambuco / Nosso estudo pretende mostrar como as Missões Populares, surgidas na idade moderna e adaptadas às circunstâncias atuais, valendo-se inclusive, das novas tecnologias de comunicação, vêm sendo novamente incentivada pela Igreja Católica como alternativa no resgate de costumes e valores sociais e religiosos perdidos nas últimas décadas, visando principalmente evitar a migração de fiéis para outras Igrejas e para os chamados novos movimentos religiosos. Para isso, analisaremos a documentação produzida pelas igrejas do Regional, em busca das justificativas usadas para sua retomada, e de seus reais interesses, ligados, segundo supomos, à busca da reconquista/manutenção da hegemonia religiosa católica na sociedade do Nordeste Oriental do Brasil. Hegemonia esta solapada, nos decênios sucessivos ao aggiornamento católico implantado após o Concílio Vaticano II (1962-1965), por processos tanto ad intra, tais como desnorteamento e perda de referências em função das mudanças no imaginário católico, quanto ad extra, resultantes da secularização, das migrações, da urbanização no interior dos estados e da penetração, cada vez mais agressiva, de igrejas e movimentos religiosos concorrentes com a proposta católica. / Our study aims to show how such a method, which emerged in the modern age, once adapted to current circumstances and making use of new communication technologies, is being encouraged again by the Catholic Church as an alternative in the recovery of traditions and social and religious values lost in the last decades, mainly aiming to prevent the migration of believers to other churches and to the so-called new religious movements. For this, we will analyze the documentation produced by the Regional churches in search of the justifications used for their recovery, and their real interests, linked, as we assume, the pursuit of conquest / maintenance of Catholic religious hegemony in the society of Eastern Northeast Brazil. Hegemony is undermined in successive decades of the Catholic aggiornamento implemented after the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), both for ad intra processes such as disorientation and loss of landmarks due to changes in the Catholic imagination, and for ad extra, as a result of secularization, migration, urbanization within states and penetration, more aggressive, churches and religious movements competing with the proposed Catholic.

When Bishop Robert Gray arrived at the Cape in 1848, he was concerned at the large percentage of the former slave population who had been attracted to the Muslim faith. He appointed Michael Angelo Camilleri (1848-1854) as a missionary to the Muslims of Cape Town. Camilleri's tenure was short and he was frequently used to fill other ecclesiastical posts. From 1854 until 1911 the responsibility of mission to the Muslims was given to priests whose parishes had large Muslims populations. In 1911 a fulltime missionary was once again appointed. Thomas Fothergill Lightfoot, arrived at the Cape in 1858 and served at St Paul's, Bree Street until his death in 1904. His was a ministry of love and caring. He was greatly respected for his work by all sections of the population. John Mühleissen Arnold worked in the parish of St Mary's, Woodstock. His aggressive missiological technique broke down much of the religious tolerance which had existed. His publication of a pamphlet supposedly written by a Muslim, raises doubts about his integrity as a missionary and his ethical stance as a Christian. In 1907 the Diocesan Mission Board took control of the Muslim mission and in 1911 appointed Stephen Garabedian as director. Under Garabedian the policy of the mission was aimed primarily at preventing Christian women 'lapsing' from Christianity and becoming Muslims through marriage. After his resignation in 1922, the work continued under numerous women workers who concentrated on Muslim women and children through sewing guilds and childrens' clubs. In 1960, George Swartz was appointed as director. Swartz was the first Coloured and South African-born priest to hold the post of director. Swartz served as director until he was appointed to Bonteheuwel as parish priest. He subsequently chaired the board until it ceased to meet in 1976. Throughout its one hundred twenty eight years of active existence, the Anglican mission to the Muslims failed to attract a large number of converts. Initially this could be attributed to the attraction the Muslims had to those seeking a strong community life. Later, outside influences from the Islamic world strengthened the faith of the Muslim community against any Christian conversion attempts. During the latter part of the twentieth century the mission viewed its tasks as preventing the conversion of Christians who wished to marry Muslims and informing and educating Christians on the Islamic faith. In the late 1960s, the Board encouraged dialogue rather than confrontation. It changed its name to the Board of Muslim Relationship. Apartheid was seen as the common enemy of both Christians and Muslims and they worked together against its evils. The need for a Mission Board was seen as redundant and from 1976 it ceased to be active.

The thesis focuses on the activity of laymen - volunteers in the Chlumec church community in the period after November 1989 in the context of their contribution to fulfilling the mission of the church. The work is divided into four main chapters. The aim of the first chapter is to expound the role of the church in the present-day world and to describe its four functions. Dealing with the church community, the second chapter clarifies various aspects of how the church community may be perceived, and identifies its mission in the sphere of spreading the Gospel and work for those in need. To be found in the third chapter is a detailed description of the work of laymen in the church of Chlumec nad Cidlinou, whose service contributes to fulfilling both the parish functions as well as certain expectations of the neighbouring local community. The objective of the fourth chapter is to map out the hitherto unexplored activities of the Parish charity in Chlumec nad Cidlinou and its volunteer work, the curative stay of the Chernobyl children. During the particular period, these activities were carried out above all by the laymen - volunteers and represented a significant part of diaconia in the church community. The conclusion of the thesis offers a reflection on the manner in which the laymen activities...

Individuals and organisations follow a general developmental cycle, that begins with birth, and progresses through growth, maturity, decline and death. While individuals necessarily die after a period of years, organisations may continue through many generations, though they too may die. Once an organisation reaches maturity, it tends toward decline, for sin has corrupted not only men, but all creation (Rms. 8:21-22). Though all things tend toward decay and death, they can be revitalised, for such is the power of God's grace. Like all organisations, the church can become ineffective. Many prefer abandoning the old organisation and starting a new work. Revitalisation may be the better solution, though it is certainly the greater challenge. This project considers the organisational life cycle biblically, historically and contemporarily. It considers how the church grows, and what keeps it from growing. It also considers the merits of creating `new wineskins,' versus revitalising old ones. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

In this thesis the researcher has investigated which of the two concepts: believing before belonging or belonging before believing, is a more accountable perspective in regards to ministry in post-Christendom society. With the final stages of the modern period the power of hegemonic ideologies is coming to an end as people identify less with grand ideologies and more with subcultures related to technology and social and economic networks of different kinds. The post-Christendom phase has begun and is radically challenging Christendom notions of ministry. We have to assume that among post-Christians the familiarity with Christian concepts will fade as the decline of Christendom has meant that Christianity has been losing its status as a lingua franca, only to be understood in the long run, by those who are professing Christians. It is therefore important that the church will anticipate longer journeys towards faith and not move on to disciple new converts too quickly. Post- Christendom evangelization will consequently take longer, start further back and move more slowly. In the context of post-Christendom, knowledge of Christianity is rather limited and people need to come to an understanding of what Christianity entails. For those seekers, exploratory participation at first is safer than making a definite commitment. Postmodern society is also suspicious of institutions and eager to find whether Christian beliefs also work in practice and not only in theory. Therefore is belonging before believing very much necessary for seekers to test whether Christians live out in their communities what they claim to be true? / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)