One of the concerns of the modern Christian church and dissident groups is to ensure that the Church's fundamental doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices conform with the early apostolic church teachings. In this study the writer offers a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the modern church in the light of the early church. The case of the modern Seventhday Adventist (SDA) Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide is examined and compared, basing its survey on numerous published and unpublished documents from a combined use of primary, secondary materials and individual statements. Setting the early history of the SDA Church within the religious context of nineteenth-century America, the writer describes how SDA doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices link with those beliefs and practices in the early apostolic church, showing whether the SDA Church has departed from the early apostolic church’s Biblical, timeless principles or not. Several pertinent issues however have stirred up as much controversy in recent years within the Adventist dissident groups as that of the women’s ministries in the church, the righteousness by faith doctrine, the monarchical leadership, and various religious practices. Nevertheless, in the light of the early apostolic teaching, some enlightenment has been achieved, and several critical accusations from dissident groups were illuminated and confirmed.The accusation regarding the deterioration of Biblical doctrines appears not to have been confirmed by the Biblical evaluation and the lifestyle of the SDA believers. Rather, concerning this issue, it is confirmed that in the DRC and worldwide, the SDA Church has not departed from the fundamental doctrines of the early Apostolic church. / Thesis (D. TH. (Church History))

The main objective of this thesis is to demonstrate the possibilities of creative applications in public health education, based on the universality of biblical health principles. The author first tried in the theoretical part, explain the basic concepts, outline a theology of health and for the present, based on the general principles of overall health. The emphasis in this paper aims not only to the part of the theological, but also on the part of the application. In this practical part, the a

The integration and evangelisation of the minority groups in Zimbabwe in general, and in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in particular poses a challenge. The situation has become more acute after independence. Evidently, the socio-political atmosphere in Zimbabwe has not ameliorated the condition. Certainly, challenges stem from issues concerning racial prejudice, finances, cultural differences, as well as worship styles. While the efforts of the current multicultural ministries are appreciated, the results of the survey indicate that a lot still needs to be done. First, the organizational structure of the ministry needs to be reviewed. Such a review is relevant in order to check and regulate the balance and distribution of power, control and authority. Second, the need for the recruitment of leaders from within the minority groups themselves especially from the white population was clearly articulated. Third, it may be necessary to approach the whole issue from a social standpoint, so as to formulate theological strategies. Apparently, the social distance is more pronounced than the theological one. In addition, integration and evangelisation specifically among the Coloured population is further compounded by the split, which occurred in the early 1990s. Most of the Sabbath-Keeping Adventists from this group anticipate challenges if they would opt to merge with the national Conference. Some of the major barriers to such a step revolve around issues of properties, finances, and positions as well as the general upkeep of the workers. Unless, these apprehensions are clarified and the fears are allayed, integration seems enigmatic. Ecclesiological unity and theological unity in diversity seem to be eclipsed by racial solidarity and socio-economic and political expediency. Similarly, the reconciliation among the black majority itself, also needs a close and deliberate attention from both the church and society in Zimbabwe. For that reason, tribalism, racism, ethnicity, nepotism and any other discrimination should not be tolerated, first and foremost by the church and second, by all peace loving Zimbabweans (Gal 3:28). The reconstruction of the cultural landscape in Zimbabwe demands an affirmation of the common destiny for all Zimbabweans. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

In the master thesis the attention is concentrated on the two new religious movements – Latter-Days Saints Church (Church of Mormons) and Seventh-day Adventist Church. A research objective was studying of history of these churches in Russia, and in particular – in the Urals. Features of their penetration to the Urals, distribution and evolution throughout three-century history were characterized. The master thesis consists of introduction, two chapters in whom the doctrine and history of Mormons and Seventh-day Adventist Church, the conclusions, and also appendices in which photographic materials and the interviews which are written down by the author was analyzed. / В магистерской диссертации внимание сосредоточено на двух церквях, относящихся к новым религиозным движениям – Церкви Иисуса Христа Святых последних дней (церковь мормонов) и Церкви Христиан-Адвентистов Седьмого Дня (церковь АСД). Целью исследования являлось изучение истории этих церквей в России, и в частности – на Урале. Были охарактеризованы особенности их проникновения на Урал, распространение и эволюция на протяжении трехвековой истории. Работа состоит из введения, двух глав, в которых анализируется учение и история мормонов и адвентистов седьмого дня, заключения, а также приложений, в которых представлены фотоматериалы и записанные автором интервью.

Submitted by Noeme Timbo (noeme.timbo@metodista.br) on 2016-09-14T18:52:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 IGORMARQUES.pdf: 1484987 bytes, checksum: 222e9ad06f9f0aead873e9543fe463b9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-14T18:52:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 IGORMARQUES.pdf: 1484987 bytes, checksum: 222e9ad06f9f0aead873e9543fe463b9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-27 / Against the backdrop of the denominational status of network Adventist education present in a remarkable way in the school space and the intense religious diversity students, this research analyzes the relationship of possible tensions between the denominational school status and religious diversity present. It takes into account the process of modernity causing significant change in education, in religion and in the form of the two institutes relate to each other. It took into account the socio-economic and religious profile of the students and how is the reception of religious education in Adventist school space, including students who declare themselves Adventists. The area chosen for this research was the Adventist schools located in the ABCD Paulista context, which offer high school. These school units are located in the cities of Diadema, Santo Andre and Sao Caetano do Sul, cities located in the same micro region, but with different socioeconomic realities. / Tendo como pano de fundo a confessionalidade da rede adventista de educação presente de maneira marcante no espaço escolar e a intensa diversidade religiosa discente, esta pesquisa analisa a relação de possíveis tensões entre a confessionalidade escolar e a diversidade religiosa presente neste espaço. Leva em consideração o processo de modernidade causadora de importantes transformações na educação, na religião e na forma dos dois institutos se relacionarem. Levou-se em consideração o perfil socioeconômico e religioso dos alunos e possíveis tensões na recepção do religioso no espaço escolar adventista por parte dos discentes, inclusive por aqueles que se declaram adventistas. O espaço escolhido para esta pesquisa foi o de colégios adventistas localizadas no contexto do ABCD Paulista, que ofertam o Ensino Médio. Estas unidades escolares estão situadas nas cidades de Diadema, Santo André e São Caetano do Sul, cidades localizadas na mesma microrregião, mas com distintas realidades socioeconômicas.

Text in German, with German and English summaries / As a regionally-led church-body the German Seventh-day Adventist church (SDA) has nonetheless the unanimously agreed goal of spreading the gospel in the whole republic. The different regional administrative bodies however, have not consistently or nationally documented their evangelistic efforts. It is therefore the aim of this study to understand the theology of SDA mission between 1992 and 2005. Commencing in 1875, with the first overseas missionary's arrival, the mission theology of the German SDA-Church will be roughly sketched through 1990. The following enquiry deals primarily with the various levels of SDA-leadership, with Adventist print media, institutional work and special mission-conceived events. Generally, statements concerning missiology will be studied with regard to their content and meaning. In particular cases quantitative data will be considered and evaluated. This will lead to fundamental data, apt to answer the following questions: - How do Adventists define the term mission? - Do German Adventists dispose of missionary concepts or an overarching mission strategy? - Do they take up the challenge of self-reflection concerning their mission in order to enhance success? The individual objects and questions studied in this thesis are structured to be evaluated at the end of each chapter. Questions raised will be attempted to be answered satisfactorily. The result of this study is the unveiling of several strengths and weaknesses of the Adventist understanding of mission in Germany. It is therefore the goal of this study to enhance further discussion by pointing to relevant facts. Initial starting points could be seen in the conclusions drawn, thereby rendering mission efforts of the German SDA church more effective. / Die Freikirche der Siebenten-Tags-Adventisten in Deutschland ist keine zentral gefuhrte Kirche. Sie hat aber das ubergreifende Ziel den eigenen Glauben in der ganzen Republik zu verkundigen. Verwaltungstechnisch gliedert sie sich in verschiedene Bereiche und Ebenen, die allerdings keine einheitliche Dokumentation ihres missionarischen Engagements vorhalten. Forschungsgegenstand dieser Arbeit ist deshalb das missionstheologische Verstandnis der Siebenten-Tags-Adventisten (STA) in der Zeit zwischen 1992 mid 2005. Ausgehend von 1875, dem Jahr der Arbeitsaufhahme adventistischer Missionare in Deutschland, wird das Missionsverstandnis der deutschen STA uberblickartig bis ins Jahr 1990 skizziert. Die sich anschlieBende Untersuchung befasst sich mit den verschiedenen Leitungsebenen der STA, mit den adventistischen Printmedien und Institutionen sowie am Thema Mission ausgerichteten konzeptionell arbeitenden Sonderveranstaltungen. Im Einzelnen werden die jeweiligen Aussagen zur Mission auf ihre inhaltliche Ausuchtung und Bedeutung hin untersucht, in ausgewahlten Fallen werden auch quantitative Daten einbezogen und ausgewertet. Dadurch entsteht ein grundlegender Datensatz, der es erlaubt, nachstehende Frage zu beantworten: Wie verstehen die STA den Begriff Mission? Verfugen die STA in Deutschland uber missionarische Konzepte oder eine ubergreifende Missionsstrategie? - Stellen sich die STA der Aufgabe der Selbstreflexion, um ihre Missionsanstrengungen zu verbessern? Die vorliegende Arbeit ist so angelegt, dass die jeweiligen Untersuchungsebenen und -gegenstande am Ende des entsprechenden Kapitels einer Beweitung unterzogen werden, sodass die aufgeworfenen Fragen gesichert beantwortet werden konnen. Als Ergebnis der Untersuchung zeigen sich Starken und Schwachen des adventistischen Umgangs mit dem Thema Mission in Deutschland. Ziel dieser Albeit ist es deshalb, durch Benennung von Fakten zu einer weiterfuhrenden Diskussion anzuregen. Erste Ansatzpunkte dafur sind in den sich ergebenden Sclussfolgerungen zu sehen, die darauf abzielen, das missionarische Engagement der Freikirche effizienter zu gestalten. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

HEARING ALL THE DRUMS: TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE CONGREGATION is about increasing the participation of women in positions of both leadership and church ministry praxis within the Seventh Day Adventist church in South Africa. Women have been excluded in the office of elder, and have been generally excluded from preaching during the worship hour. The research process followed a participatory way of doing research, while using theories on social construction and post-modernist epistemological approach. The theologies that inform this work are contextual in nature and include African and Feminist theologies. In the pursuit for change, however, care is maintained to use inclusive practices that attempt to avoid polarising the congregation and their concomitant theologies. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

Theological divisions are threatening the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s unity and focus on mission. Some Adventist theologians suggest that the cause of these divisions is a departure by other Adventist theologians from adhering to and applying the sola Scriptura principle. This study analyzes this problem. Chapter one presents reasons for a call during the 16th century, to reform the church to its apostolic purity. Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers argued against the medieval church, popes, and church councils’ claim for authority to properly interpret and teach Scripture and Tradition. Differing views of reforming the church sparked divisions among the Protestant Reformers, creating two main streams, the magisterial and the radical Reformers. The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformations with a Counter-Reformation. Chapter two discusses Seventh-day Adventism’s application of the sola Scriptura principle. Although Adventism claims to descend from the radical wing of the Protestant Reformations, its acceptance of Ellen G. White’s prophetic ministry and her non-canonical inspired writings departs from a radical application of the sola Scriptura principle. Chapter three presents Biblical evidences for God’s use of multiple media of communication beside the Bible. Therefore Adventism needs to clearly define its understanding and application of the sola Scriptura principle to accommodate other theological sources in addition to the Bible. Chapter four presents Scripture in Zambian Adventist context, tracing Adventism’s use of the Bible in evangelization. Adventism’s responses to changing socio-political and religiopluralistic trends which threatened to marginalize Bible Instructions, and the development of, but failed attempt to implement an Adventist Bible-based Religious Education syllabus at Rusangu Secondary School are presented. Chapter five gives the general summary, conclusion and recommendations. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

Women have been abused from the beginning of time and it would appear that a patriarchal system has facilitated this abuse. Churches, in general, and Seventh-Day Adventists, in particular, have been silent on the issue of Abuse. It is my thesis that a predominantly confessional Seventh-Day Adventist's view and use of Scripture are foundational to this silence on human rights issues. Adventist eschatology is predominantly apocalyptic in nature, focussing on end-time events, thus, the present is viewed secondary. Human rights issues are marginalised with the focus on evangelism. Thus, relationships are secondary and abused women have not been accommodated within the Seventh-Day Adventist framework of worship and caring. / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Il lavoro di ricerca analizza in tutti i suoi aspetti la disciplina relativa alla rilevanza delle festività religiose nell'ordinamento italiano. Il primo capitolo è dedicato all'individuazione del valore che la festività assume nei diversi ordinamenti religiosi e in particolare nel diritto canonico, ebraico, islamico ed avventista. Il secondo capitolo analizza l'evoluzione della normativa unilaterale dello Stato italiano in materia di giorni festivi. Tra i vari problemi che interessano i rapporti tra confessioni religiose e Stato, quelli che più hanno dato luogo a dissensi, e che sono oggetto di trattazione nel terzo capitolo, riguardano essenzialmente la libertà di osservare il riposo festivo e di adempiere i doveri religiosi ad esso connessi, nonché l'obbligo dei datori di lavoro di rendere effettiva tale libertà organizzando l'attività lavorativa in modo che essa non ostacoli l'osservanza del riposo festivo. Nel quarto capitolo viene analizzata la disciplina pattizia, e in particolare le modalità di tutela del diritto alla festività e al riposo per i fedeli di confessioni che hanno stipulato un'Intesa con lo Stato italiano. Infine nell’ultima parte viene esaminata la normativa sulle celebrazioni pubbliche in occasione delle festività religiose in ambito statale, regionale e comunale. / This research analyses in all its aspects the importance of religious festivity in Italian law. The first chapter is dedicated to the individuation of the festivity value in religious rules, in particular in canon, islamic, jewish and adventist law. The second chapter analyses the evolution of unilateral italian rules of week days and holidays. One of the most important problem in the relationship between State and religious confessions regards the freedom of observe the weekly day off and connected religious duties. Employers must guarantee religious freedom, organizing working activity without preventing the observance of festive rest. In the fourth chapter has been analysed the pactional discipline, and in particular the way of protecting the right to observe holidays and rests for people who belong to a religious confession that stipulated an agreement with Italian State. In the last part of the thesis have been examined the norms about public celebrations on the occasion of religious festivity in statal, regional and communal laws.