Thesis (D. Min.)--Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, 1977. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-201).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Yale, 1938. / Printed on one side of double leaves folded once in Japanese style. Includes bibliographical references (p. 381-389).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Yale, 1938. / Printed on one side of double leaves folded once in Japanese style. Includes bibliographical references (p. 381-389).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, 1977. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-201).

Marburg, University, Diss., Diss., 2003.

Beginning with the creation of a Methodist denomination in the United States in 1784, Methodists have had prescribed liturgical texts starting with John Wesley's prayer book entitled The Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America, and later its authorized revisions. However, Methodist leaders were never required to use the approved forms, and so were at liberty to employ, modify or abandon those texts. This polarity of ritual form and freedom of practice has created an ever-present tension within Methodist liturgical praxis. Methodism has also often found itself seeking to distinguish its liturgy from the cultural trends of the day, while at other times striving to contextualize its worship practices. This tension exhibits another polarity within Methodist worship practice, that of distinction and inculturation. These two polarities have often made it difficult for Methodists to evaluate the faithfulness of their own liturgical praxis. Similarly, because of these areas of tension the answer to the question "what makes Methodist worship, Methodist?" has remained elusive. This project considers the life, work, and significant contributions of three persons-- Thomas O. Summers, Nolan B. Harmon, and James F. White--who sought to answer that question within their own contexts. This study employs liturgical biography as a means of discerning shared "liturgical convictions" of these three mediators in order to move toward the construction of a paradigm for evaluating emerging liturgical practices from an American Methodist perspective. A key feature of this work is that it seeks to hold in tension the dialectic between liturgical text and liturgical praxis. Each of the mediators in consideration utilized the foundational liturgical texts within the Methodist tradition--John Wesley's Sunday Service and the Wesleyan hymns--yet each also demonstrated concern for how these texts might be employed within their particular contexts. Careful attention is given to how each of the mediators understood this interplay between text and praxis. A central conclusion of this study is that American Methodists have unique characteristics seminal to their liturgical identity. Not only do these include particular elements within a liturgical ordo, but also several distinguishing features of a liturgical piety. / 2022-08-30

No description available.

This thesis explores the significance of contemporary Christian spirituality for authentic Christian ministry. To this end an extensive survey of contemporary academic literature is conducted. The research bears in mind the almost unprecedented contemporary interest in `spirituality,' both for academics and laypersons alike, and presupposes the need to redefine and understand spirituality for our times. The study yields the finding that contemporary academic spirituality contributes a newfound authenticity to Christian ministry. Spirituality achieves such authenticity for ministry through highlighting and realising a number of outstanding features. These features include: a new global awareness, and an appreciation of spiritual diversity; a `this-worldly' embodiment or `materialism' as integral to spirituality; a rediscovery of the experiential dimension of ministry; a re-awakening of the contemplative spirit as permeative of every dimension of life and activity, and a new inter-disciplinary appreciation of the metaphors, means and stages for spiritual formation and maturation. The hermeneutically sound and convincing contribution of spirituality is ascribed to its growing academic credibility, its utilisation of its own historical tradition and documented experience, and its discriminative deployment of postmodernism's amenability to Christian spirituality. Finally, the thesis is not concerned with distilling practical ministerial activities from spirituality. It strives, rather, for an understanding of ministry at the ontological level, where self-understanding, vocational awareness and a desire for God realise the essence and dynamic of ministry. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / Thesis (D.Th.)

This thesis explores the significance of contemporary Christian spirituality for authentic Christian ministry. To this end an extensive survey of contemporary academic literature is conducted. The research bears in mind the almost unprecedented contemporary interest in `spirituality,' both for academics and laypersons alike, and presupposes the need to redefine and understand spirituality for our times. The study yields the finding that contemporary academic spirituality contributes a newfound authenticity to Christian ministry. Spirituality achieves such authenticity for ministry through highlighting and realising a number of outstanding features. These features include: a new global awareness, and an appreciation of spiritual diversity; a `this-worldly' embodiment or `materialism' as integral to spirituality; a rediscovery of the experiential dimension of ministry; a re-awakening of the contemplative spirit as permeative of every dimension of life and activity, and a new inter-disciplinary appreciation of the metaphors, means and stages for spiritual formation and maturation. The hermeneutically sound and convincing contribution of spirituality is ascribed to its growing academic credibility, its utilisation of its own historical tradition and documented experience, and its discriminative deployment of postmodernism's amenability to Christian spirituality. Finally, the thesis is not concerned with distilling practical ministerial activities from spirituality. It strives, rather, for an understanding of ministry at the ontological level, where self-understanding, vocational awareness and a desire for God realise the essence and dynamic of ministry. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / Thesis (D.Th.)

Two primary sources of data were utilized: official church records, and a questionnaire survey administered to a random sample of Anglo and African-American United Methodists in the North Texas area. Questions covered socio-demographic and theological matters as well as perceptions of racism in the church. Ministers and lay members were surveyed separately.