A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of McMaster Divinity College in partial fulfilment ofthe requirements for the degree of Doctor of Practical Theology / Board members and pastors in Canadian Protestant churches need a stronger theological foundation for the practice of evaluating what “success” means for the local church. The Canadian church exists in a post-Christendom context where significant shifts have taken place relative to its perceived value and prominence in Canadian culture, which has sparked new interest in examining ministry fruitfulness. Within this context, the skill of conducting a theologically sound organizational evaluation will become a critical practice. This practical theology project follows the methodology of Richard Osmer, giving prominence to practice-led research as an over-arching paradigm. Empirical research, biblical interpretation, and theological reflection are key features ofthis project, which the researcher approached from the perspective of a consultant to church board leaders. Primary research was conducted among pastors and board members of Canadian Protestant churches to provide a research-informed understanding of evaluation criteria, processes, and tools currently used; theological principles, biblical passages, and spiritual practices that guide the evaluation process; and barriers or obstacles experienced. The messages to the seven churches in Rev 2-3 were used as an evaluation paradigm, which was tested, refined, and validated in research with five case study churches. Within these messages, Christ set out criteria for evaluation as well as an evaluation process methodology. Christ exhorted the seven churches to maintain a faithful witness, practice love, and produce fruitful service. Christ also warned them about the dangers of assimilating with culture as well as the importance of being attentive and diligent about false teachers and influencers within their churches. The evaluation methodology modelled in the literary form ofthe messages provides a Christcentric pathway for ministry evaluation. Christ’s evaluation methodology includes an acknowledgement ofChrist’s sovereignty, a context specific evaluation, an authoritative and aligned evaluation, a balanced approach of commendation and exhortation, a call to action, the practice of discernment, and a focus on the long-term mission of God. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study has attempted to show the overarching significance of the conquering motif in relation to discourse dynamics of the entire book of Revelation and the significance of salvific history for its syntagmatic understanding. Based on language-in-use as a whole between the model author and the model audience, syntagmatic analysis (i.e., SVU analysis) and associative analysis (i.e., sign-intertextual reading) are eclectically and concertedly utilized by means of sampling analysis. Utilizing this integrative method, the findings are as follows: (1) the interwoven network of the prologue (Rev 1:1-8) programmatically provides the paradigmatic reading strategy for understanding the key paraenetic motif in the rest of the book against the background of salvific history; (2) by summarizing the churches’ earthly prophetic roles – withdrawal and witness through martyrdom – in terms of conquering, the model author alerts his audience to the military significance of their daily actions or choices in their ordinary earthly lives through visionary communication; (3) just as the prologue preliminarily guides, the ever-forward-moving historical framework serves as an incentive device for the paraenetic-imperative in Rev 2-3 and 4-22.