Project (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2008. / Abstract. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-161, 50-54).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-146).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-105).

ABSTRACT A MISSIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST MULTIETHNIC CHURCHES IN THE UNITED STATES Stephen Gary Crouse, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 Chair: Dr. Adam W. Greenway The thesis of this dissertation is that Southern Baptist multiethnic churches exemplify the mission of the church as revealed in the Scriptures and offer a valuable strategy for reaching the increasingly diverse population of the United States. Chapter 1 introduces the ethnic segregation of Southern Baptist Churches and begins to establish a missiological foundation for ethnic inclusiveness. A discussion of the research problem including the background of the dissertation follows. The broader question of the missiological need for multiethnic congregations in the current milieu of American society is addressed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the definitions of key terms, limitations and delimitations, and the research methodology employed. Chapter 2 explores the mission of the church and the extent to which it applies to all peoples. The ethnic inclusiveness of the ministry of Jesus and the ethnic diversity of the New Testament churches address the need for multiethnic Southern Baptist churches. The chapter ends with a discussion of Paul's charge that Christ broke down the dividing wall of separation between the Jews and Gentiles and the implications for Southern Baptist multiethnic congregations. The focus of chapter 3 is a historical examination of Southern Baptist multiethnic churches. While many ethnicities are included in Southern Baptist life, attention is limited to African Americans and Hispanics in this historical survey. Southern Baptist churches had many African slaves among their members when the Convention was founded. The western expansion of Southern Baptists and the United States' acquisition of the Southwest territories following the Mexican American War led the young Convention to initiate mission work with Hispanics. The unequal treatment that these ethnic groups received from Anglos has lingering effects on contemporary Southern Baptist multiethnic churches. Southern Baptist attitudes about integration and the Civil Rights Movement also influenced ethnic relationships. Immigration policies and socioeconomic factors that favor the majority ethnicity create obstacles for multiethnic congregations. Contemporary Southern Baptists actions to improve ethnic relationships are examined. An in-depth study of Donald McGavran's homogeneous unit principle and its impact on contemporary Southern Baptist multiethnic congregations is offered in chapter 4. This principle is scrutinized from a biblical and missiological perspective. The implications related to cross-cultural evangelism in light of the biblical witness conclude the chapter. Chapter 5 segues into a critical look at worship in the twenty-six Southern Baptist multiethnic churches used for the social research. The chapter begins by defining worship as an integral part of the mission of the church. The need for an authoritative standard as a reference point in navigating the challenges of leading a multiethnic congregation to worship God is examined including data obtained through the social research. Aspects of corporate worship and their impact on multiethnic churches are explored based on the social research data. The chapter concludes by addressing ethnic inclusivism in Southern Baptist multiethnic churches and exploring the biblical notion of worshiping God in spirit and truth. Chapter 6 offers a summation of issued raised and addressed in the dissertation. Southern Baptist multiethnic churches offer a valuable strategy for reaching the increasingly diverse population of the United States. Areas for further study are suggested.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain what Southern Baptists are doing in alternative programs of ministerial education for ministers who will not attend a theological seminary. Fifty-three percent of all Southern Baptist ministers will not attend a seminary.This study consisted of two phases. The purpose of phase one was to identify the variety of programs of alternative theological education. Six types of alternative education for Southern Baptist ministers were identified based on two criteria--residential or nonresidential programs and educational entrance requirements. The purpose of phase two was to select for detailed study one program from each of the six types of alternative education available to Southern Baptist ministers.The purpose and philosophy of these programs of study were to provide alternative education for ministers who cannot pursue a college and seminary education. Training the adult for Christian ministry is a common goal.The curriculums of these programs of study were all centered around Biblical and theological courses with varying amounts of liberal arts. The campus-based institutions also offer such extra-curricular activities as chapel programs, denominational organizations, and religious emphasis conferences.Two of the three residential programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The transfer of credits earned in the non-degree programs of the extension centers must be approved on an individual basis by the institution receiving the transfer.The graduate program has the highest student tuition of any of the programs. Financial aid is available at all three institutions studied. Tuition required by the non-residential programs is minimal and should be affordable by any minister.The most impressive future plan concerns the use of a satellite transmission of lectures simultaneously to classrooms across the country.The most important conclusion reached in this study is that any Southern Baptist minister in any place in the United States, regardless of educational background, has available educational opportunities offered by the Southern Baptist Convention or by a Baptist state convention.

The Southern Baptist Convention has experienced both tremendous growth and intense turmoil in its relatively short history. After experiencing increasing internal conflicts throughout the late twentieth-century, a decade-long battle over the direction of the denomination resulted in a permanent schism within the Convention. The Shift, as I name it, forever altered the landscape of the Southern Baptist Convention. Notably, The Shift witnessed an apparent replacement of traditional Southern Baptist church-state separationism in favor of overt involvement in partisan politics. In this dissertation, I provide a historical sketch of the Southern Baptist Convention and explore the denomination‘s evolving positions on church and state by analyzing the Southern Baptist political rhetoric at the individual, agency, and Convention levels after The Shift. Considering the work of H. Richard Niebuhr, I argue that Southern Baptist participation in politics can be understood as an attempt to transform culture to a biblical worldview. However, drawing from the work of Richard Hofstadter and Kenneth Burke, I argue that the Convention struggles to achieve its goal because its political rhetoric is characteristic of the paranoid style and employs scapegoating to blame others for society‘s ills. This dissertation reveals that the Southern Baptist Convention suffers from a rhetorical problem of audience. I argue that while the denomination‘s political rhetoric galvanizes its conservative base, it alienates non-religious individuals, members of other religious faiths, and even some within the Southern Baptist Convention. I conclude that in order to be a transformative agent in society, the Southern Baptist Convention‘s political rhetoric must undergo a shift in topoi that has more universal appeal. Namely, I argue that the denomination needs to return to its ―Old Rhetoric‖ and, in doing so, appeal to choice, freedom, religious liberty, free exercise, and free expression.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 214-222).

Thesis project (D.Min)--Denver Seminary, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 341-347).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-157).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions, Columbia, S.C., May, 1995. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 231-236).