Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 219-221).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 219-221).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Rochester Divinity School/Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary, 1997. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-106).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Rochester Divinity School/Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary, 1997. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-106).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Münster (Westfalen), 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 223-259).

At present and in this country, the concept of spiritual support, pastoral support, or spiritual rehabilitation of the sick is not entirely clear, both in terms of the content and form. Despite this vagueness, spiritual support of the sick forms an inseparable part of so-called holistic, i.e., comprehensive approach to care for human beings. In any case, this type of care is not linked to any religious denomination; rather, we have to understand it as assistance in the area of finding one{\crq}s way (orientation) in the sense of valuating one{\crq}s reality. Namely, patients often seek a spiritual person, be it s professional or layman, who specializes in spiritual rehabilitation. Even patients who claim to be atheist or agnostic need to discuss problems of existential or philosophical nature, which they are unable to find the answer for by themselves. Sometimes, they wish to address issues that had been hidden, while they were enjoying good health, as supposedly "superfluous issues", but due to their sickness, they came to the surface and the patients are short of answers and unable to deal with them. The Master{\crq}s Thesis is divided into two parts: The first, theoretical part focuses on forms and solutions of spiritual rehabilitation, whereas the second part contains statistical comparisons of approaches, opinions, and attitudes on these issues on the part of medical personnel working in hospices and other facilities. In this Thesis, the above can be summed up into three basic factors: 1) Pastoral medicine offered as one of the options for those who are gravely ill or dying and seek "spiritual rehabilitation" and fulfillment of their spiritual desires; 2) Facilitation of access to information on the interaction of medical fields of specialty and psychology with spiritual guidance; 3) Documentation of the spectrum of opinions and experience that individual medical workers have about spiritual rehabilitation.

1 online resource (388 leaves) / This study examines the intersubjectivity of issues related to pastoral formation. It argues that a local theology of pastoral formation in the African context is most transformative when theological education and development are woven together in a synergistic approach. Such a model of local theology can result from a well thought out synergy between educational theories, developmental theories and theology. It is further argued that equipped pastoral leaders and healthy churches are at the heart of the process for holistic transformation. As such, this study proposes a philosophy and praxis that relevantly addresses the intersubjective context of leadership formation in the African context. It intends to challenge the church in Africa to redefine its task and itself in the face of the social problems posed on all levels of African life. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

The Kingdom of God is wherever the Triune God is worshipped as Lord. It exists beyond time and place, but breaks into our time and place wherever creation worships the Triune God as Lord. The local church, in its present time and geographical place, is the microcosm of the Kingdom of God. As such, the local church contains within it all the resources necessary for the Kingdom of God to be established. Therefore, the local church is called to lead creation to worship the Triune God as Lord. It does this by fulfilling three specific works as specified in Scripture: the work of evangelism; the work of discipleship and the work of reconciliation. The modern day church must start a revolution to discover afresh these works and become what Scripture describes as the ecclesia of the hodos: the local church extending the Kingdom of God. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Systematic Theology)

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.)

Baptist pastors in the early years of the twenty-first century find themselves in a challenging yet exciting period of South African history. Much has changed in the socio-political and religious contexts, yet Baptist pastors are still prone to operate according to earlier models of leadership and ecclesiology, with the result that they find themselves in situations of heightened conflict. Their position with respect to the laity, with whom they share a common priesthood of believers, is also an ambiguous one. After orientating the reader to the nature of the problem and various starting issues (chapter 1), this practical-theological thesis seeks to explore the nature of the changes in the socio-political milieu (chapter 2), as well as in the religious context (chapter 3). Baptist pastors are affected by a range of expectations that emerge from a particular view of the Bible and from the wider church community, as well as from the media and their own experience of pastors. Chapters 4 and 5 seek to understand these expectations, especially as these expectations have combined to produce role conflict and role ambiguity. In such a situation it is more understandable that ministry can lack a pastoral centre and an unclear identity. Pastors have adopted a stance in the midst of such competing demands on their role identity and chapter 6 attempts to make their position clearer through empirical analysis, before embarking – in chapters 7 and 8 – on a description of a new model of pastoral ministry that is founded on the theatrical notion of the antagonist. Several implications for future ministry are explored in chapter 9, as we look forward to a revised praxis. The pastor as spiritual antagonist is approached from the vantage-point of the world of drama, since this angle, in its metaphorical richness, is seminal for a new understanding of the provocative role of the pastor in a world that is steadily devaluing spiritual leadership. The spiritual antagonist is described in terms of his/her character and ministry actions as one who is profoundly spiritual in his awe of God and in his determination to live reflectively. At the same time the spiritual antagonist is one who has an imaginative grasp on the communicative possibilities of being with people, and alongside people, intensely and for the purpose of provoking decision and faith. Whatever conflict is generated by such a stance is deliberately incorporated for educational and transformational purposes. Whatever is modelled – in the mode of the spiritual antagonist – by ordained pastors / elders becomes facilitatory for fellow believers in the congregation to fashion a similar identity. Thus an old division in Baptist ecclesiology is healed. / Practival Theology / (D. Th. (Practical Theology))