The purpose of this study is to reveal that local churches are in a declining state. It further proves there is a need for strategies to turn around decline in local churches, with an emphasis on a case of Second Bethel, African Methodist Episcopal local church. To address the possible causes of the decline in local church membership, this study was conducted. The participants provided data indicating the causes of local church membership decline. The participants agreed that as per chapter four report what were the cause for this decline in membership This study presented several reasons why churches are declining in membership and possible strategies to curb a decline in membership into growing churches. / MA (Biblical Studies/Theology)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015.

This thesis is an examination of the eucharistic doctrine of ten Scottish theological writers in the tradition of Scottish Episcopacy; five from the seventeenth century, two from the eighteenth century, and three from the nineteenth century. The doctrine espoused by each one throughout the stated period, 1620–1875, is found to agree with the other writers considered herein, because each writer turned to many of the same Church Fathers as the source of his doctrine and his interpretation of Holy Scripture. The argument of this thesis is that all of the writers, rejecting the Tridentine, Lutheran, Bezan-Calvinist, and Zwinglian definitions of the Eucharist, maintained a material sacrifice in the Eucharist, which is an offering to God the Father of bread and wine as the propitiatory memorial of Christ’s death on the Cross, commanded by Christ himself at the Last Supper. The sacrifice is propitiatory because it is the means of representing the one sacrifice of Christ on the Cross to God the Father, thereby pleading the benefits of the Cross for the communicants. The bread and wine do not change substance, but become effectively the body and blood of Christ. Three of the ten writers produced eucharistic rites, one in the seventeenth century, and two in the eighteenth century. It is argued that each of these rites is expressive of the Eucharist as being a commemorative and representative sacrifice. Each rite explicitly offers bread and wine to the Father, invokes the Holy Spirit’s action over the elements, and prays that by receiving the consecrated bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ, the communicants will receive the forgiveness of sins, the continuing grace of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life.

My PhD offers a reassessment of the representation of English bishops within episcopal vitae composed between 1093 and 1214. It argues that the depiction of episcopal sanctity was shaped by the expectations of the community for which these texts were written and the hagiographer’s specific causa scribendi (reasons for writing). Through an investigation of four distinct Latin episcopal saints’ lives, I investigate the relationship between hagiographical function, episcopal identity and patronage by setting each text within its specific institutional and historical context. The vitae I have selected are: Faricius of Arezzo’s life of Aldhelm (c.1093-1099), William Wycombe’s life of Robert Bethune (c.1148-1150) and Gerald of Wales’s lives of Remigius (c.1198-1199) and Hugh of Avalon (c.1210-1214).

Given the rapidly changing nature of third party reproduction, there is an increasing need for pastoral guidance about the use of these technologies and the relationships that develop from them. This dissertation explores theological bases upon which Episcopalians can ground their practice of third party reproduction, with implications for the wider Church. Beginning with a study of Episcopal clergy and their present practices, this dissertation engages Episcopal, womanist, and feminist theological resources to forge a practical theological response. It highlights layered practices, including the development of relationships between third parties and intended parents, the abuse of third parties, and disclosure to children that call for theological reinterpretations of family, the ministerial vision of Jesus, and the doctrine of God. The thesis of this dissertation is that third party procedures offer an opportunity for Christians to enrich their relationships with one another and with God in unique and--literally--life-giving ways. The argument unfolds with qualitative research findings from Episcopal clergy interviews and it documents how the writings of F.D. Maurice and David H. Smith provide additional context for an Episcopal practical theology. It then turns to the work of Delores Williams for the purpose of arguing that, while contemporary third party reproduction potentially casts third parties as scapegoats, it does not necessarily do so. In response, it develops a six-fold application of William's ministerial vision to prevent abuse. This model in turn provides resources for Episcopal clergy to use in pastoral conversations. The next chapter discusses Sallie McFague's metaphorical theology to argue that American culture upholds the biological family as a model much as Christians have upheld patriarchal language as a model. It advocates for new language to express the God-human relationship that might in turn support the construction of broader metaphors for family relationships. Finally, this dissertation incorporates these findings into practical theological themes and questions that Episcopal priests can utilize in their work. It advocates for applying discernment when navigating loyalty claims, for thinking about reproduction as a calling, for broader constructions of family, for building awareness of how autonomy can facilitate idolatry, for encouraging disclosure and healthy boundaries, and for composing liturgies for those participating in third party procedures.

O presente trabalho visa o estudo da produção documental da Sé do Porto entre 1113-1247. Para tal procedeu-se num primeiro momento ao estudo da própria instituição diocesana: os seus bispos, as relações com a canónica, com o monarca e com outras instituições e os membros das respectivas casas; e a instituição capitular: as suas origens estrutura elementos dignidades e funções. A segunda parte foi dedicada ao estudo da chancelaria da Sé: os documentos que produziu, o processo de elaboração e a sua tipologia, os agentes envolvidos, as fórmulas utilizadas e a sua evolução ao longo do período estudado.

<p>This research project focuses on the relationship between the American and the African districts of the African Methodist Episcopal Church during the period from 1896 to 2004. It investigates the factors which led to the tensions emerged in the relationship between the American districts and the African districts. It specifically investigates the reasons for the five secession movements that took place in the 15th and 19th Districts of the AME Church in 1899, 1904, 1908, 1980 and 1998. The research problem investigated in this thesis is therefore one of a historical reconstruction, namely to identify, describe and assess the configurations of factors which contributed to such tensions in relationship between the AME Church in America and Africa. The relationships between the American and the African districts of the AME Church have been characterised by various tensions around the sovereignty of the African districts. Such tensions surfaced, for example, in five protest movements, which eventually led to secessions from the AME Church in South Africa. The people of the African continent merged with the American based AME Church with the expectation that they would be assisted in their quest for self-determination. The quest for self-determination in the AME Church in Africa has a long history. The Ethiopian Movement was established by Mangena Maake Mokone in 1892 as a protest movement against white supremacy and domination in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. However, the lack of infrastructure within the Ethiopian Movement and the constant harassment from the Governments of South Africa in the formation of black indigenous churches compelled Mokone to link with a more established and independent Black Church. The AME Church presented such an opportunity to Mokone. The parallels of subordination in the history of the Ethiopian Movement and the AME Church in America gave Mokone to hope that the quest for self-reliance could be attained within the AME Church...</p>

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-165).

Thesis (M.A.)--Bexley Hall Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-84).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-183).

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