Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-99, 158-160).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-174).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-94).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 249-254).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-222, 188-193).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 261-264, 201-205).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity International University, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 251-254).

While there is a plethora of research on the church, healing and reconciliation, there is none that has taken cognisance of the need to find solutions to deal with tribalism between Ndebele and Shona clergy in the Pentecostal church of Zimbabwe. Clergy are deployed according to the language they speak, instead of the passion and call of Elohim upon their lives. Many Researches have been done on centuries of tribal conflict; however, they centred on socio-political influences instead of socio-religious influences and consequences of the tribal conflict between Ndebele and Shona clergy. Tribal conflict has transcended generations and crossed all social settings that it has found its expression even among the clergy and laity within churches across Zimbabwe. The main focus of this research is the conflict between Ndebele and Shona Clergy in the Pentecostal church in Zimbabwe and has sought to “lift the carpet” and remove all the hidden social and unspoken debris, that continues to split the church along tribal lines. The Researcher writes from the perspective of being a female clergy who is also born by a Shona father and a Ndebele mother hence she relates to both sets of people outside the church. However, within the conservative Pentecostal church setting, the researcher was made to feel like an outsider by both groups which was even aggravated by the fact that her denominational organisation doesn't ordain and recognise female ministers let alone those of mixed ethnicity. The research established a participatory action research process so as to promote both education (creating curricula that deals with tribalism) and action (speaking against tribalism from the pulpit). The Research Methodology that was initially proposed was a Mixed Methods Action Research (Ivankova, 2015: 45), however during the course of the study it was changed to a qualitative method of enquiry as it thoroughly investigated and interrogated the tribal status quo among the Pentecostal clergy (Ndebele & Shona) in Zimbabwe. The research demography was two of Zimbabwe's largest cities (namely; Bulawayo and Harare), and the reason for choosing these two cities, was because they are predominantly Ndebele and Shona concentrations, respectively. Zimbabwe is composed of these two as the major tribes and many other small tribes, however these small tribes seem to be insignificant to the social fabric of Zimbabwe compared to the two major tribes (namely the Ndebele and Shona). The effects of tribal differences between the Ndebele and Shona people was assessed, in order to ascertain their effect on pastoral care. An exploration of the history between the Ndebele and Shona tribes formulated part of this research, thereby creating an understanding of the underlying causes of the existing Tribal Conflicts. Most of the literature that deals with the Zimbabwean conflicts has not tried to bring to light the tribal conflict between the Ndebele and Shona clergy. An investigation on how this conflict began and what has been its contemporary influence among the Clergy of Zimbabwe was conducted via interviews, questionnaires, folk tales, books and journals. The power of the church as the custodian of reconciliation was discussed in order to harness and promote a visible pastoral care drive that will promote real Truth and Reconciliation while bringing healing to the church of Zimbabwe, in particular. An interrogation of the effectiveness of previous truth and reconciliation efforts assisted to lay the foundation for engaging of the Clergy. This research sought to understand whether the 1983 to 1987 Gukurahundi incidents were clarion indicators of existing tribal tensions between the Ndebele and Shona people, in particular the clergy. / Dissertation (MTh)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Practical Theology / MTh / Unrestricted

This study has been an analysis of the impact of Early Catholicism to the United Methodist Church. The study has employed the following exegetical approaches; social scientific criticism, historical criticism and theological comparative method. It has also used data collection methods which include the designed questionnaire and unstructured interviews. The features of Early Catholicism were elaborated namely; the fading of the Parousia hope or imminent expectation, increasing institutionalization, crystallization of faith into set forms, the preservation of apostolic traditions, formulated creeds and confessions, established worship patterns, normative Christian ethics and distinctive collection of writings. The organizational structure of the United Methodist Church was delineated. The historical background of the church was provided. The constitution of the church was outlined with the following features; general articles, organizational structure, episcopal supervision, the judiciary and the amendments of the constitution. The theological heritages of the church are highlighted namely; basic Christian affirmation, distinctive Wesleyan emphasis, justification and perfection, mission, service and nurturing. The articles of religion of the United Methodist were also elaborated namely; faith in the Holy Trinity, sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for salvation, the original sin and free will, justification of men, the sacraments, sanctification, Holy Spirit and perfection. The doctrinal standards or methods of doing theology namely; scripture, tradition, experience and reason are elaborated. Wesley believed that the living of core of the Christian faith was reviewed in scripture, illuminated by tradition, vivified in personal experience and confirmed by reason. The study also explores the mission and ministry of the church which encompasses the ministry of all Christians, servant leadership, servant ministry, call to inclusiveness, the fulfilment of ministry and methods of organizing a new church. The United Methodist is a well organized church with social principles namely; the natural world, the social creed, the nurturing, social, economic and world communities. The duties and responsibilities of pastors, bishops and district superintendents are well defined and summarised in the fourfold ministry of sacrament, word, service and order. The study also provides the administrative committees and boards of the United Methodist Church. The liturgical calendar is also elaborated namely; advent, Christmastide, epiphany, lent, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and other special Sundays. Two sacraments of the United Methodist Church are stressed, Holy Communion and baptism. The study also provides rules and regulations that deal with church property. All tittles are held in trust, the emphasis is on compliance with the law, and church’s financial books should be audited. The church has its own ways of dealing with disputes, trails and appeals through the judicial council. An evaluation of the impact of Early Catholicism to the life and ministry of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe is provided. It was observed that the United Methodist Church adopted many features from Early Catholicism which includes its organizational structure, creeds and confessions, worship patterns and crystallization of faith into set forms. Finally, recommendations were made focusing ways to improve the organizational structure of the United Methodist Church. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / New Testament Studies / PhD / Unrestricted

The thesis Renewal of the Augustinian Lay Community in the Czech Republic after 1989 deals with the renewal of religious life in Augustinian laymen communities in the Czech Republic that started in the last decade of the 20th century. The development of this renewal is pursued against the backdrop of political and social changes in the Czech society, and in the Catholic Church in general. The Order of St. Augustine, its history, monastic rules, and spirituality, including its lay community, are introduced briefly too. A comparison of religious life both in the Czech Republic and in Italy, where it took place continuously for centuries, helps clarify the process of renewal.