Thesis (D. Min.)--Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 179-185).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-140).

Listening is a critical skill for those who lead. Research indicates that leaders significantly influence followers through their listening practices; however the relationship between leadership styles and listening is assumed but not conclusively proven (Kouzes and Posner 2002). The purpose of this current study was to determine if a relationship exists between leadership style and listening practices of International Mission Board (IMB) overseas team leaders (Burns 1978, Bass 2004). The population for this research was overseas team leaders of the IMB serving in this position for more than six months with a team of four or more team members. A total of 145 of 391 team leaders participated in this study with a response rate of 37%. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to measure transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant leadership style and the Listening Practices Feedback Report-360 (LPFR) assessed listening practices of attention, empathy, memory, open mind, respect, and response. A correlational analysis using Pearson r was conducted between leadership styles and listening practices. Further analysis was conducted to determine which leadership style was most significantly correlated with each of the six listening practice subscales. The subscale of open mind was not significantly correlated with any leadership style. The findings indicated that transformational leadership had a statistically significant and moderately positive correlation with the total LPFR score and on five of the six listening practices subscales. Transactional leaders also had a moderately positive correlation with total LPFR score and significant correlations on empathy, memory, and response subscales. Passive/avoidant leadership style had a significantly moderate negative correlation with LPFR and with empathy, memory, respect, and response subscales. Transformational leadership scored highest on the LPFR total listening score. Passive/avoidant leaders' showed the lowest total listening scores and were rated ineffective listeners. This study shows that transformational and transactional leadership styles have a statistically significant and moderately positive relationship with listening dimension scores as measured by the LPFR and supports transformational leadership theory.

This thesis looks at the missiological implications of church planting in global cities. Chapter 1 introduces the main argument for this thesis: that all evangelism strategies should hold church planting as the end goal and that the most strategic places to implement these strategies are our global cities as evidenced by what has happened in New York City. The chapter will begin with a look at the significant movement that has happened in Manhattan over a twenty year period (1990- 2010) with the evangelical population of the city growing from less than one percent evangelical to now more than three percent. An introduction to the definition of global cities will segue into a look at the imperative for church planting initiatives in these cities. Chapter 2 will offer a deeper study of the characteristics of a global city and the missiological significance of such cities. It will explore world urbanization in light of the fact that over 50 percent of the world now lives in cities. The strategic nature of the cities will be analyzed given the influence that global cities have on the culture of the rest of the world. Finally, New York City will be shown as a global city and its significance on the missiological landscape will be highlighted. Chapter 3 provides a history of some of the major New York City church planting initiatives. Specifically, it will review the church planting history of Concerts of Prayer and the Church Multiplication Alliance, Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Jim Cymbala and The Brooklyn Tabernacle. Lastly this chapter will reveal methodologies used by other prominent ministries to reach the city context. Chapter 4 will look at implications learned from New York City on how a global city church planting strategy could impact the Southern Baptist Convention. A look at the history of SBC church planting in New York City will be looked at with special attention being paid to the effectiveness of these strategies. Chapter 5 will conclude this thesis with a look at the lessons learned during this research process. It will also look at three areas of further study that are needed. This work contends that the priority of all missions strategies should be a focused approach on global city church planting. This will prove to be an effective use of people and financial resources that ultimately has an impact on the whole world.

Project (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2008. / Abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-170, 64-69).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-137).

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-179).

ABSTRACT THE MISSIOLOGY OF T. G. JOHN SULLIVAN WITH IMPLICATIONS ON CONTEMPORARY SOUTHERN BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION WORK Michael Allen Tatem, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 Chair: Dr. Adam W. Greenway This dissertation analyzes the missiology of T. G. John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist State Convention since 1989, and provides implications of his missiology on contemporary Southern Baptist State Convention work. Chapter 1 introduces the need for this dissertation and provides the thesis, background, methodology, and limitations of the dissertation. Chapter 2 provides a brief biography of the life of T. G. John Sullivan. Sullivan was born on October 20, 1936, in Ansted, West Virginia. His early life, conversion and call to ministry, education, pastorates, and denominational work at the state and national levels are highlighted. Chapter 3 provides the biblical and theological foundations of T. G. John Sullivan. Sullivan's views of the Bible and his beliefs about God, the condition of man, and the atoning work of Christ are examined. Also presented are his beliefs about salvation, the Christian life, and doctrine of the church. Chapter 4 presents the missiology of T. G. John Sullivan and the practical application of that missiology in Sullivan's understanding of the Great Commission. The chapter presents a discussion of Sullivan's priorities of evangelism, church planting, and church health in the context of his views on church growth principles, cooperation, and partnership missions. Chapter 5 gives the implications of Sullivan's missiology on contemporary Southern Baptist state convention work. Special attention is given to the implications of the future of state convention work in light of the Great Commission Resurgence and the Imagine If . . . Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. Chapter 6 draws conclusions from the previous chapters. The conclusion provides a model of emphases of state convention work that will accomplish a Great Commission Resurgence among Southern Baptist churches.

This dissertation argues that the life and ministry of Basil Manly Jr. had remarkable impact on the spiritual lives of Southern Baptists. His ability to transform people through the diversity of his labors, which he personally felt were too broad, continues to exert meaningful sway upon his denomination, and more broadly, American evangelicalism. Manly must be remembered as a central figure in the establishment, shaping, and preservation of many of the enduring institutions of the Southern Baptist Convention—Sunday school, hymnody, and theological education—all while not compromising historic, orthodox beliefs of the church. By reviewing his primary sources, this dissertation develops a cohesive understanding of the themes and practice of piety demonstrated in the life and thought of Manly. The introduction explains the importance of Manly’s life, ministry, and piety in light of his influence within the Southern Baptist Convention. Chapter 2 analyzes the impact of the teaching and preaching of his father and the spiritual tradition that became known as the Charleston tradition with its emphasis on Calvinistic theology, orderly worship, and, most significantly in Manly’s life, an educated and professional clergy. Chapter 3 studies the influences upon Manly in the development of his piety during his theological education at two Northern institutions. Chapter 4 discusses the role of Manly played in the establishment of a Sunday school in every Baptist church for the conversion and spiritual growth of all but especially children and young people. Chapter 5 explores Manly’s work as not only a hymn writer but also an editor and compiler of hymns. The hymns written, tunes composed, and the hymnals edited by Manly are marks of a rich spirituality of worship. Chapter 6 examines Manly’s view of Scripture, chiefly his understanding of the doctrine of inspiration. Chapter 7, the conclusion, discusses the long-term impact of Manly not only on the Southern Baptist Convention but several Southern Baptist institutions. Manly’s piety, grounded firmly in and fashioned by Scripture, was instrumental in shaping the piety of future generations of Southern Baptists.

Primarily focusing on his political career (1878-1894) and as an unofficial public figure after his retirement from formal politics (1895-1911), this study considers William J. Northen’s efforts in leading Georgia to the vague but resonant ideal of progress by analyzing his combination of religion and politics for social change, modern governance, and economic progress. After Reconstruction, urban middle-class southern Baptists like Northen began to realize the social problems of their civilization. Gradually, these reformers worked to expand their traditional mission of saving indivdual souls into a modern mission of saving the collective soul of society. Whereas personal, localized relationships customarily ordered southern society, under Northen, public policy and an increasingly coercive state informed by Christian princilpes of social outreach began to overtake the role of the individual.