Dissertations / Theses: 'Emergent church'

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Stockdale, Todd. "Ecclesiological contributions of emerging churches for their parent communities." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/8951.

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This thesis examines the contributions that emerging churches make to their parent communities’ understanding of church. As a work in practical theology, it is focuses on the theology that is deeply embedded within the everyday language, symbols, and practices of ordinary individuals and communities. Thus, the research in this thesis centres on two concrete emerging communities and employs qualitative methods to examine and analyse the actual practices, values, and beliefs of community participants—treating the data generated through the investigation of these emerging churches as theological material. The thesis is structured in six chapters, beginning in chapter one with a preliminary sketch of the wider emerging church phenomenon, a brief account of the researcher’s own earlier experiences with emerging communities, and an initial overview of the research already conducted on emerging church. Following this introduction, the thesis outlines the research methodology in chapter two, taking an approach to practical theology that moves beyond the prevalent models of correlation and recognizes the embodied nature of theology. Identified in this thesis as ‘theology in the vernacular’ or ‘local theologies’, this approach provides a mechanism for bringing two emerging churches into an impactful encounter with their parent communities’ understanding of church. This encounter unfolds through the remaining four chapters of the thesis. Chapter three provides the ecclesial context for this research by outlining the history and development of emerging church, and locating the two emerging communities within that narrative. Chapters four and five offer an in-depth portrayal and analysis of these two communities by depicting their ecclesial contexts and historical development, their weekly patterns, their physical and online spaces, their worship gatherings, the profiles and personal narratives of their participants, and the core practices of these communities. The findings from these separate sites of research are brought together in chapter six, where five key ecclesiological features are drawn from the common patterns present in these emerging churches. These are: (1) the prevalence of an ecclesial eclecticism, (2) the carving out of a space for theological discussion and intellectual enquiry, (3) a resolute fondness for their local cities, (4) the vital nature of the weekly gathering, and (5) a robustly verbal orientation in the worship gatherings. By bringing these five ecclesiological features into an encounter with the parent tradition of these emerging churches in chapter six, the contribution that these emerging churches are making to their parent communities understanding of church is explored. This thesis argues that these emerging communities are offering their parent communities two alternative ways of understanding church. The first is an understanding of church as a space for ecclesial borrowing and blending—which impacts on the formulation of a community’s ecclesial identity. The second is an understanding of church as a space for discussion, enquiry, and doubt—which impacts on the nature of belonging in ecclesial communities.

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Rutter, John Mark. "A comparison of traditional and emergent small group ministry approaches." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2006. http://www.tren.com/search.cfm?p001-1096.

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Latz, Deirdre Brower. "A contextual reading of John Wesley's theology and the emergent church : critical reflections on the emergent church movement in respect to aspects of Wesley's theology, ecclesiology and urban poverty." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.508712.

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This thesis surveys facets of the eighteenth century English social context in order to offer a reading of Wesley as a contextual theologian. It explores distinctive aspects of Wesley's theology related to his ecclesiological practice. Wesley's ecclesiology affects his understanding of how and why the church should and does respond to (particularly urban) poverty. In considering his praxis, a model of good practice begins to emerge, both of churchmanship and of considerations and responses to poverty and people living within it. Picking up the eighteenth century analysis and overlaying it on selected aspects of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, analogous patterns become evident in social history, both for Christianity and of poverty (again, especially urban poverty). This thesis focuses particularly on one response to cultural change experienced within the Christian church in the West, the emergent church movement, which is a relatively recent phenomenon. The movement is defined and then considered in its approach to ecclesiology and to the poor. Within the framework of analogy developed the thesis offers a critique of the emergent church movement in relation to key theological developments, and critically reflects on the movement in respects to particular theological elements that are crucial to Wesley. From this critique and comparison the thesis concludes that if the emergent church movement and its successors willingly engage with Wesley and learn from him as a contextual theologian, then they would be better equipped to be a reforming movement for the whole church. This would also enable them to be intentionally transformational for communities and people socially excluded by poverty in the twenty-first century setting. Because the reading of Wesley establishes him as a contextual theologian, whose theology is inseparable from his praxis and shapes it, the thesis contends that the emergent church movement can learn from this. Wesley's orthopraxis - particularly how he relates to his specific historical context and how to help the poor, as essential characteristics of being a Christian church - then offers a powerful paradigm for the emergent church movement.

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Anarnejc, Humphrey. "Mission of the Laity as Mission of the Church -Emergent Contemporary Theological Discussion." Bulletin of Ecumenical Theology, 2007. http://digital.library.duq.edu/u?/bet,3093.

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Klawitter, Paul. "Youth and church - shall the twain connect? a comparative analysis of the emergent French youth culture and contemporary church planting approaches /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) Access this title online, 2005. http://www.tren.com.

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King, Sarah E. "To Hell with Hell?: A Review of Rob Bell's Love Wins." Ohio University Honors Tutorial College / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1368547313.

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Hladky, Kathleen Mahoney. ""Modern day heroes of faith" the rhetoric of Trinity Broadcasting Network and the emergent Word of Faith movement /." Oxford, Ohio : Miami University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=miami1154624326.

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Sheridan, Timothy Michael. "Being a hermeneutic of the gospel : hermeneutical and epistemological foundations for a missional ecclesiology." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/19913.

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Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The church in the West is facing a crisis of identity. Who are we as the church and what is our purpose in the world today? The recovery of a missional ecclesiology in the West is an urgent task. The aim of this study is to contribute to this work on a missional ecclesiology by focusing on the need for the church to grow its capacity to discern missional vocation. This study‘s central question: ―How can the church in the West discern its missional vocation?‖ The first chapter considers how global realities are forcing the church to re-examine its missional identity and vocation. In addition, the local realities in which this study is situated are highlighted, with particular emphasis on the realities that demand discernment. The chapter concludes with consideration of historical developments in hermeneutics, in particular the development of a missional hermeneutic. The emergence of a missional hermeneutic is important in the church‘s discernment. The second chapter ―puts on‖ a missional hermeneutic to aid in this discernment of missional vocation. Dwelling in the biblical story with this lens, and so allowing the story to renew our understanding of the role and identity of God‘s people, will shape our missional discernment. The third chapter focuses on the contemporary cultural context in its North American expression, in which the church must forge its missional identity. A retelling of the cultural story of the West demonstrates the challenges, both old and new, facing the church. Two important movements are already seeking to answer the question of how the church discerns missional vocation. The fourth chapter engages the important conversations that are happening within both the Emergent and Missional Church movements. These conversations encompass a wide diversity of theological traditions and backgrounds, but are held together by a common desire to discern what a missional ecclesiology means for the West. Particular themes that are important for discernment are highlighted as these conversations are engaged. Finally, the questions of the early chapters converge on the crux of this study: a framework for discernment, articulated in detail in the fifth chapter. Building on important examples, both Western and African, this affirmative-antithetical model of discernment is offered as a broad ―lens‖ for reflective churches seeking to discern their missional vocation. The final chapter then practices discernment in six key areas facing the church in the West today, at times using for illustration the local context in which this study is situated. These parting thoughts seek to both recognize the challenge facing missional churches, and point to encouraging dialogue already happening among those seeking to do the same.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kerk in die Weste beleef ŉ identiteitskrisis. Wie of wat is die kerk en wat is haar doel vandag? ŉ Misssionale ekklesiologie is in die lig hiervan ŉ noodsaaklikheid. Die studie beoog om ŉ bydrae te lewer tot die ontwikkeling van ŉ missionale ekklesiolgie. Dit wil fokus op die kerk se behoefte om geloofsonderskeidend missionale roeping beter te verstaan. Vandaar die sentrale vraag wat die studie stel: ―Hoe kan die kerk in die Weste sy missionale roeping onderskei?‖ Die eerste hoofstuk kyk hoe globale werklikhede die kerk tans forseer om sy missionale identiteit en roeping in heroorweging te neem. Die konteks waarin die studie plaasvind word beskryf met die oog op die vraag watter geloofsonderskeidende uitdagings hulle stel. Die hoofstuk hanteer ook hermeneutiese ontwikkelinge wat bygedra het tot die ontwikkeling van ŉ missionale hermeneutiek. ŉ Missionale hermeneutiek is belangrik vir geloofsonderskeiding. Die tweede hoofstuk werk met ŉ missionale hermeneutiek as dit geloofsonderskeidend die kerk se huidige roeping en uitdagings wil formuleer. As sodanig wandel dit in die Bybel se verhaal om die identiteit van die volk van God te verstaan. Laasgenoemde is ŉ voorwaarde vir enige missionale onderskeidingsproses. Die derde hoofstuk fokus op die huidige konteks van die Noord-Amerikaanse kultuur en die uitdaging wat dit vir missionale identiteit stel. ŉ Oorsig oor die verhaal van die Westerse kultuur demonstreer die ou en nuwe uitdagings waarvoor die kerk gestel word. Twee belangrike bewegings probeer antwoorde op dié uitdagings vind. Die vierde hoofstuk hanteer die gesprekke in die Ontluikende (Emergent) en Gestuurde Gemeente (Missional Church) bewegings. Die gesprekke vind plaas teen die agtergrond van ŉ wye verskeidenheid teologiese tradisies maar het in gemeen dat hulle probeer onderskei wat ŉ missionale ekklesiologie in die Weste behels. Belangrike temas in die proses van geloofsonderskeiding word belig in die bespreking van die twee bewegings. Ten slotte vloei die vrae van die vorige hoofstukke saam om die fokus van die studie aan die orde te stel: ŉ raamwerk vir geloofsonderskeiding. Hoofstuk vyf. Belangrike voorbeelde uit die Weste en uit Afrika word gebruik as ŉ lens om ŉ bevestigende-antitetiese geloofsonderskeidings-model voor te stel wat kerke kan help om hulle missionale roeping te ontdek. Die laaste hoofstuk pas geloofsonderskeidende beginsels toe op ses sleutelareas wat die kerk in die Weste moet aanspreek. Praktiese voorbeelde uit die konteks waar die studie gedoen is illustreer wat bedoel word. Met dié voorbeelde en gedagtes word die uitdagings waarvoor missionale gemeentes staan op die spits gedryf en word almal wat reeds deel is van die dialoog, uitgenooi om dit voort te sit.

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Elliott, Julie R. "The Role of Faith-Based Congregations during Disaster Response and Recovery: A Case Study of Katy, Texas." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2020. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1752353/.

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When governments are unable or unwilling to provide necessary relief to communities, local faith-based congregations (FBCs) step in and fill the gap. Though shown to provide for so many needs following disaster, FBCs have largely been left out of the institutional emergency management cycle. The aim of this study was to explore the role of FBCs in the disaster response and recovery process and investigate how recovery impacts FBCs. The primary objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of FBCs and how to better integrate them into the formal emergency management process.The main questions were as follows: First, what is the role of FBCs during the disaster recovery process? Second, how do FBCs change (temporarily and permanently) during disaster recovery, and what factors may promote or inhibit change? To answer these questions, qualitative semistructured interviews were held to develop a case study of Katy, Texas and its recovery from Hurricane Harvey of 2017. The applied and conceptual implications resulting from this study, which apply to FBCs, researchers, emergency managers, and policy makers, highlight the opportunity to better incorporate FBCs formally into emergency management practices.

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Resane, Kelebogile Thomas. "A critical analysis of the ecclesiology of the emerging apostolic churches with special reference to the notion of the fivefold ministry." Thesis, Pretoria : [S.n.], 2008. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11042008-160311/.

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Baab, Lynne M. "The future church : identity and persuasion on congregational Websites /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/6208.

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12

Springer, Laura Kathleen. "An articulation and evaluation of an emerging church ecclesiology." La Mirada, CA : Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.2986/tren.042-0153.

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Willard, Nathan A. "I believe the Apostles' creed for the emerging church /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2007. http://www.tren.com/search.cfm?p004-0123.

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Renehan, Caroline Anne. "The Church, Mary and womanhood : emerging Roman Catholic typologies." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/27258.

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This thesis is about the exploration of two distinct theological disciplines and the hope of finding conciliatory mediation between them. The Roman Catholic Church as hierarchical Institution is one side while Christian feminism within that context is on the other. Rosemary Radford Ruether has been chosen to state the Christian feminist case while certain selected documents and teachings of the Church have been chosen to portray Roman Catholic tradition and teaching. The theological mediation point between the two is to be found particularly in one aspect of Marian theology. However, it is not possible simply to claim that theological conciliation is to be found in Marian theology without first stressing that this discipline in itself is fraught with difficulties which have accumulated throughout the centuries. Therefore, it has been necessary to divide Marian theology into three different classifications. These have been built into the thesis and are known as theatypology, christatypology and ecclesiatypology respectively. An outline and explanation of the tradition that gave rise to the introduction of these typologies is explained and justified in the text. Specifically within the ecclesiatypical context it will be shown that certain theological aspects are found which are common to the normally opposing patriarchal and feminist disciplines.

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Palmer, Langdon. "Re-encountering the Apostles' Creed in an emerging church context." Thesis, Drew University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3689439.

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For a variety of reasons, many churches in our cultural moment do not include creeds in their corporate worship. Some associate creeds with the disastrous hubris and overreach of the Modernist church as it attempted to nail down, and be the arbiter of, what is true. Others see them as simply boring and irrelevant relics of a bygone era and style.Yet in their right place, creeds have an important role to play today, framing the story of faith, and declaring the central core of what the local worshipping community holds in common with the church across the ages. Just as the lyrics of a song can seem lifeless without the music, so too, creeds can seem lifeless when extracted out of the life of faith.

In 2005 I led a team to design a new emerging church worship service for the First Presbyterian Church of Ambler which was called SouthRidge. As the service flourished and the liturgy began to settle into a familiar pattern, I noticed that the service was consistently devoid of creeds. There was a sense that something was missing, yet many in our new, young congregation had a distaste and distrust of prescribed corporate readings said by rote. We wondered if there were new ways of experiencing the Apostles Creed that might make it more accessible to a new generation.

In 2013 I led a team from our church to explore new ways of experiencing the Apostles' Creed. We developed eight different encounters with the Creed for both corporate worship and on-line resources. In particular, we found the encounter we called a "Creedal Testimony" to be a highly helpful way to experience the Apostles' Creed. This paper examines the history of the Apostles' Creed, the development and use of the eight encounters we created, and evaluates the impact these encounters had on our local community. The paper concludes with some tentative suggestions as to which of these encounters may be most helpful to other faith communities.

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Titus, Timothy James. "An evaluation of the homiletic of some emerging church pastors." Dallas, TX : Dallas Theological Seminary, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.2986/tren.001-1249.

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Orchard, Ben. "Growing old without dying how the existing church of today can become the emerging church of tomorrow /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2008. http://www.tren.com/search.cfm?p002-0834.

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Labanow, Cory E. "The challenges of reconstruction : a congregational study of an emerging church." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.430408.

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This thesis is an exercise in practical theology using the mutually critical correlation model of inquiry. It is performed through the vehicle of a congregational study utilizing the tools of ethnography in studying one local church, Jacobsfield Vineyard. It seeks to understand the complexities of this congregation as it attempts to reconstruct its identity in relation to evangelicalism, the Vineyard organization, a post-Christian cultural settings, and, most notably, the nascent movement known as “the emerging church”. Through participant observation, a demographic survey, and semi-structured interviews with congregants, the researcher identified the central themes of differentiation from evangelicalism, safety through honesty and openness, space for personal and spiritual growth and maturity, and experimentation in communicating with the surrounding culture as those motifs which best characterized Jacobsfield Vineyard’s situation. A central theology question related to the need for appropriate “reconstruction-criteria” which results in relevance to those inside and outside this church community is posed as a representation of these forces. Finally, the thesis steps back for practical theological reflection concerning how these themes and questions from the congregational study may be transformational for other ecclesial contexts and guide further inquiry for pertinent theological disciplines.

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Gatzke, Nicholas G. "Preaching in the emerging church and its relationship to the new homiletic." Thesis, Brunel University, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.488691.

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This thesis explores the relationship between preaching in the Emerging Church Movement and the family of preaching theories known as the New Homiletic. As the ideas of postmodernism have spread in the Western world, the Emerging Church has become the most prominent form of postmodern ministry. With pastors in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, many Emerging Church leaders approach the communication of God's message in a different fashion than their contemporaries in more traditional churches. Are these theories and methods new for ministry in a new postmodern climate?.

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Tolo, Arne. "Sidama and Ethiopian : the emergence [of] the Mekane Yesus Church in Sidama /." Oslo : Uppsala : Studiebiblioteket for bibel og misjon ; Uppsala universitet, 1998. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb369694964.

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Boswell, Charles E. "Developing a spiritual formation curriculum for maturing emerging leadership in the church." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) Access this title online, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.2986/tren.049-0481.

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Boswell, Charles. "Developing a spiritual formation curriculum for maturing emerging leadership in the church." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2006. http://www.tren.com/search.cfm?p049-0481.

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Lee, Young Hee. "Patterns of emerging leadership in the missionary movements of the Korean church." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1999. http://www.tren.com.

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Ballard, Christa. "Experience, story, and mission exploring the emerging church conversation in the United States /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2006. http://www.tren.com/search.cfm?p006-1498.

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Ireland, Marlinda K. "Evaluating a spiritual formation course for emerging adult worship artists at Christ Church." Thesis, Nyack College, Alliance Theological Seminary, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10189151.

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The harried nature of our society and contemporary church culture tends to prescribe that, for Christian artists, preparation for worship ministry occurs mostly during the hours immediately before Sunday service. While this practice demands a measure of technical, artistic or musical proficiency, it does not adequately prepare local church worship leaders and arts ministers to touch the deeper spiritual needs of the congregation. In addition, such short-termed preparation fails to promote spiritual growth towards Christian maturity. Neither does last minute preparation create spiritual stability within the life of the artist and arts ministries. A survey of Jesus’ ministry preparation habits indicates that he spent a significant amount of time preparing for ministry. However, his preparation was a patterned lifestyle. The opposite is true for most people in ministry today—including church musicians, worship leaders, worship team members and media volunteers.

The aforementioned challenge is particularly potent for emerging adults—people between the ages of 18 and 34. Cultural shifts impacting their definition of Christian spirituality threaten to distort the purpose and meaning of worship ministry in the church. Emerging adults are tomorrow’s leaders. Consequently, forward-looking pastors, worship pastors and worship directors are hungry for answers to the question, “How can we prepare the next generation of spiritual front-runners to lead transformational worship in the church?”

The purpose of this applied research project is the evaluation of a 28-day course designed to spiritually prepare emerging adult worship artists for transformational ministry. Drawing on existing research regarding emerging adult spiritual formation, this study hypothesized that as a result of this intervention, the participants would experience four types of enhancement: In awareness of God and daily spiritual experiences with God; In the knowledge of how God uses the disciplines in one’s ministry preparation; In effectively using spiritual disciplines in personal worship ministry preparation; In contextual understanding of how one’s spiritual preparation interacts with and impacts the community (the congregation).

Participants met with the researcher for group coaching, once a week. These ninety-minute sessions were held during weekly worship rehearsals. The participants practiced spiritual formation homework assignments, incorporating fasting and prayer, silence and solitude and study and worship with a focus on ministry preparation during the other six days. The methodology for this course was a mixed approach since neither quantitative nor qualitative methods alone could adequately test the participants and the spiritual impact of the course. Self-reporting forms were created so that the participants could record their thoughts and use of the disciplines. These documents were emailed or handed in to the researcher at weekly meetings. Pretesting, homework, focus group data and post testing documents were statically analyzed or content analyzed. The findings were used to evaluate the course and its hypotheses.

The results of the analyses answered this research project’s primary question in the affirmative. However, the degree of enhancement and kinds of enhancement varied based upon the participants’ individual role in ministry and application of the teachings. Twelve of the fourteen participants experienced some degree of an enhanced awareness of God’s presence, enhanced knowledge of the spiritual disciplines as tools for worship ministry preparation, the effective use of the spiritual disciplines for transformational ministry preparation and an enhanced appreciation for the role artists play in meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation through worship.

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Clark, J. Michael. "Canonical issues emerging in the Southern Baptist - Roman Catholic dialogue." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2002. http://www.tren.com.

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Reynolds, Matthew Ray. "Puritanism and the emergence of Laudianism in city politics in Norwich, c.1570-1643." Thesis, University of Kent, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.269127.

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Fletcher, David H. "Estate maps of Christ Church, Oxford : the emergence of map-consciousness c1600 to 1840." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.253063.

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Fletcher, David Howard. "Estate maps of Christ Church, Oxford the emergence of map-consciousness c1600 to 1840 /." Online version, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?did=1&uin=uk.bl.ethos.253063.

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Wigner, Daniel Everett. "Spiritual borrowing : appropriation and reinterpretation of Christian mystic practices in three emergent churches." Thesis, Durham University, 2015. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/10936/.

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This thesis investigates the process of spiritual borrowing between the emergent church (EC) and the Christian mystical tradition. From its inception, the EC has displayed interest in mystic practices, but the exact nature of this interest or how these practices are appropriated and reinterpreted in the EC context has not been researched. My research shows that the emergent church is appropriating Christian mystic practices by investing these practices with their own theological content. After introduction to areas of inquiry and the historical development of the EC in the USA, I proceed to prove my point through literary and empirical strategies. Close scrutiny of EC literature shows a lack of connection with historical provenance of mystic practices. Rather than a historical connection, mystic practices are viewed as neutral containers which can be invested with a great range of theological content. Consequently, EC authors tie the appropriation of practices to the theological content which they are also investing into the practices. Several theological values, or ‘anchors’, are evident as primary investments in EC literature. Empirical research through phenomenological case studies displays less of a tidy relationship than the literature portrays. Principally, spiritual borrowing of mystic practices is tied to a high theological value on experimentation with lesser value tied to other anchors. The practices themselves are changed to fit in their new context with new theology, showing that EC belief shapes EC behavior. My study contributes notably to the sociological examination of the process of spiritual borrowing, especially through close inspection of how a spiritual practice changes to fit a new theological context. Additionally, my thesis contributes to the study of the complex relationship between belief and behavior.

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Oswald, Murray. "The emergence of new low-fee Protestant independent schools in South Australia since 1972 /." Title page, summary and contents pages only, 1990. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ED.M/09ed.mo86.pdf.

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Mahan, Kevin Paul. "It was and It isn't a rhetorical exploration of simulacra in emerging church vintage worship /." Lynchburg, Va. : Liberty University, 2008. http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu.

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Konkle, Amy S. "Biblical compassion and the emergency housing of single pregnant women." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1985. http://www.tren.com.

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O'Reilly, Colleen Frances. "The emergence of a World Church, Karl Rahner's basic theological interpretation of the Second Vatican Council." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape11/PQDD_0017/NQ46674.pdf.

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Allen, Danny Eugene. "Developing a strategy for ministry to emerging senior adults at McGregor Baptist Church, Fort Myers, Florida." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2008. http://www.tren.com/search.cfm?p053-0340.

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Smith, Neil Cudmore. "Moving towards relevant church services in the postmodern era." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24408.

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This thesis is concerned with the recent trends within church gatherings where it is reported that there are growing numbers of 15-35 year olds missing from many evangelical churches. This is the generation commonly labelled as postmodern, and is even associated with the most up to date reaction of post-post modernism. The startling facts around this missing generation are explored in this thesis. This investigation looks at the present status of church services (Chapter 2) where the research identifies this problem of attendance of the younger generation at church gatherings, as well as the danger of the irrelevance of the church in its postmodern context. From here the study moves to suggest the basis of authority (Chapter 3), which is the biblical model for church gatherings. Once this foundation is established we move to detect the specific gaps between the current status (Chapter 4) and the biblical model. This leaves the application (Chapter 5) of what the church needs to do to get back to the original scriptural shape, and to be relevant to the postmodern era in which it finds itself. Due to the nature of the topic, the thesis discusses the characteristics of emerging generations, and what it means to be relevant to postmodern society in the way that a church gathering worships, preaches and styles itself. Other elements of liturgy are examined, such as the Lord’s Supper. In this manner, this thesis moves the reader to a point where they are able to see that the church at large needs to make some drastic changes to the way that it designs its gatherings. The author is careful to show that being relevant to culture is an endless quest, and that church leaders are wise to understand that this pursuit must be secondary to the main issue of seeking Jesus Christ and sticking to the power of the unchanging gospel. This must come before trendy worship music, flashy lights, big loud sound systems and professionally designed web pages. All these are simply smoke and no flames if the church is simply passionate about the superficial surface stylistic features of its gatherings. Therefore, in moving towards relevant church services for the postmodern era, the author takes the reader on a journey where he encourages the church to take some bold steps into adapting and “redesigning the packaging” of Christian ministry in church gatherings. Church meetings cannot just be about being social, creative and communal. They must be defined by the biblical framework that calls for a spiritual gathering of believers that come to worship together as God ordained, to participate in a reverent, powerful, experiential, participative, creative, multi-sensory meeting where they meet with God.
Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Practical Theology
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37

Dotterweich, Martin Holt. "The emergence of evangelical theology in Scotland to 1550." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/9423.

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Religious dissent in Scotland in the years before 1550 is best categorised as evangelical: the two characteristics which mark dissenting activity are the doct[r]ine of justification by faith alone, and the reading of the Bible in the vernacular. Dissent can be found in the southwest from lay preacher Quintin Folkhyrde in 1410 to a small but identifiable group of Lollards in Ayrshire who were tried in 1494 for group Bible reading, eschewing rituals, and challenging the authority of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. These 'Lollards of Kyle' were associated with the notary public Murdoch Nisbet, whose transcription of a Lollard New Testament into Scots was augmented in 1538 by the further transcription of textual aids from Miles Coverdale's edition. The Lollard group seems to have adopted the solafideism in this material, apart from their continued aversion to swearing. In the east, Luther's ideas were debated at St Andrews University in the 1520s, where Patrick Hamilton adhered to them and was burned in 1528; however, the same message of solafideist theology, Scripture reading, and perseverance in persecution was reiterated by his fellow-students John Gau and John Johnsone, in printed works which they sent home from exile. One of the primary concerns of ecclesiastical and state authorities was the availability of the New Testament in English, or other works reflecting Lutheran theology; they legislated against both owning and discussing such works. Sporadic heresy trials in the 1530s and 1540s reveal heretical belief and practice which is connected to the doctrine of justification by faith alone. In the late 1530s, a group of known evangelicals were at the court of James V: Captain John Borthwick tried to convince the king to follow the lead of Henry VIII and lay claim to church lands; Sir David Lindsay of the Mount probably wrote a play exhorting the king to enact reforms; Henry Balnaves was active after James's death in trying to forge a marriage treaty with England, which might have resulted in Henrician reforms. The governor Arran initially supported the court evangelicals, even backing a parliamentary Act allowing the reading, but not discussion, of the Bible in the vernacular. However, he reversed his policy and Balnaves, along with others, was imprisoned in Rouen, where he wrote a lengthy treatise about justification by faith alone, its effects on Christian society, and its help in times of persecution. George Wishart returned to his homeland in 1543, and began a preaching tour which took him from Angus to Kyle to East Lothian. Probably not having been guilty of the Radical beliefs laid to his charge in Bristol, Wishart held a developed Reformed theology, in addition to traditional evangelical concerns calling for a purified church guided by the Scripture principle, and drawing a sharp distinction between true and false churches. After Wishart was executed, John Knox proclaimed the Mass to be idolatrous before being imprisoned. The first Scot who appears to have moved from his basic evangelical beliefs to a functional Protestantism is Adam Wallace, a thorough sacramentarian who had baptised his own child. Upon his return in 1555, Knox took it upon him to convince the evangelicals that attendance at Mass was idolatrous, and he began administering Protestant communions. The central tenets of evangelical faith, however, continued to shape the incipient Protestant kirk.

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38

Mueller, Walt. "Mars Hill ministry understanding and using culture to impact the emerging generations /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) Access this title online, 2005. http://www.tren.com.

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39

O'Mahony, Joan. "The emergence of civil society in eastern Europe : Church and state in the Czech Republic, 1992-1998." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2003. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/1712/.

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This thesis examines the relationship between civil society and democracy through a case study of the revival of the Catholic Church in the post-communist Czech Republic. I use an ideal typical conception of civic organisations that emphasises three characteristics: civility, independence, and autonomy. I ask how each of these characteristics is related to democracy and how the degree to which the Czech Catholic Church approximates each characteristic can be explained. Civility - my research challenges the contemporary consensus around the work of Robert Putnam that there is an inverse relationship between civility and associational hierarchy. I show how the organisations and networks in which the Bishops were involved during Communism functioned as schools of democracy, producing the strong civil values of Czech Bishops still in evidence today. The argument indicates that Putnam and other social capital theorists should move beyond the formal level of associations in their search for the causes of civic virtue. Independence - The failure of the church to restitute its property and its continued dependence on the Czech state is conventionally explained by reference to either an historic anti-Catholicism or the contemporary exigencies of justice. I reject these arguments, and show how Church restitution is artificially created as an issue by politicians seeking to build distinct party identities in the difficult circumstances of a society still awaiting the consolidation of new social cleavages. Autonomy - the Church's weak links to the public sphere are generally explained by reference to a communist legacy of anti-political attitudes, or to poor political skills on the part of civic associations. Instead, I argue that the strongest explanatory factor lies with the political programme of the Klaus administration and its post-communist inspired concerns to limit power to the Parliament, and more particularly to the executive, where Klaus' party was dominant. 1 show how Klaus' success was greatly facilitated by the speed of the 'transition', which allowed the easy implementation of a radical ideology by a political entrepreneur who faced little opposition from parliamentary colleagues unable to find 'partners' in a post-Communist atomised society.

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40

Reddy, Mike Megrove. "Communication for maintenance and propagation : the forms of communication used by the cell church as an emerging organisation." Thesis, University of Zululand, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10530/642.

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A thesis submitted in fulfillment ofthe requirements for the degree of MA cum bude in Communication Science University of Zululand, 2002.
In this thesis I describe the development of the Cell Church from a movement to an organisation, based on empirical data analysis, in comparison with three similar religious movements that developed from movements to church organisations, namely the early Christian church, the Protestant Reformation and the Millerite Advent movement. My conclusion is that the Cell Church is at the early stage of changing from a movement to an organisation.

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41

Cheung, David. "Ecclesiastical devolution and union in China : the emergence of the first native Protestant church in South Fujian, 1842-1863." Thesis, SOAS, University of London, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.268357.

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42

Taylor, Priscilla Wilson. "The sister factor, the role of women in the emerging Assembly of God." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) Access this title online. Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2004. http://www.tren.com.

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43

Monet, Gabriel. "L'Église émergente : être et faire Église en postchrétienté." Thesis, Strasbourg, 2013. http://www.theses.fr/2013STRAK003.

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L’Eglise est en continuelle émergence. Parce qu’elle a vocation à naître à nouveau dans chaque nouveau contexte, là où elle se retrouve en situation de postchrétienté, l’Eglise doit relever à frais nouveaux le double défi de la fidélité à l’Evangile et de la pertinence culturelle. Dans un premier temps, cette thèse explore les nouvelles formes d’Eglises qui cherchent à relever ce défi et qui voient le jour depuis quelques années et ont été identifiées sous l’appellation d’Eglises émergentes. Se développant dans les pays occidentaux, au sein ou en marge de tout le spectre des champs confessionnels, ces communautés s’essayent à pratiquer la voie de Jésus au sein des cultures postmodernes. Elles cherchent donc à être fidèles à leurs lieux et à leur temps. Centrées sur la mission, sur le développement communautaire ou sur l’innovation liturgique, ces Eglises proposent des approches variées mais ont néanmoins des lignes de force communes. Elles ouvrent la voie à une réflexion plus large sur certains enjeux ecclésiologiques contemporains, qui constitue la deuxième partie de cette étude. Faisant notamment dialoguer les auteurs du mouvement des Eglises émergentes avec le théologien missionnaire anglais Lesslie Newbigin, se dessine une Eglise missionnelle, incarnationnelle et expérientielle
The Church is constantly emerging. With a calling to be reborn in each new context, the Church in post-Christendom must rise to the dual challenge of remaining faithful to the Gospel while being fresh and culturally relevant. In the first section, this thesis examines new types of Churches, identified as “Emerging Churches” which, in recent years, have been trying to meet this challenge. These communities, developing in western countries either within or on the fringes of the entire denominational spectrum, are trying to practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures. They are, thus, seeking to be faithful to their place and time. These Churches, by focusing on mission, community development or innovative worship, offer various approaches while nevertheless sharing a common driving force. They pave the way for a more open consideration of certain contemporary ecclesiological issues which make up the second part of this study. Bringing together the writings and ideas of the authors and leaders of the Emerging Church movement with those of British missionary theologian Lesslie Newbigin creates a vision of a missional, incarnational and experiential Church

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44

Frost, Donald Charles. "Global partnership mission the re-emerging role of the local church in world mission in the 21st century /." Charlotte, NC : Reformed Theological Seminary, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.2986/tren.083-0060.

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45

Todjeras, Patrick [Verfasser], Michael [Herausgeber] Herbst, Jörg [Herausgeber] Ohlemacher, and Johannes [Herausgeber] Zimmermann. "„Emerging Church“ – ein dekonversiver Konversationsraum : Eine praktisch-theologische Untersuchung über ein anglo-amerikanisches Phänomen gelebter Religiosität / Patrick Todjeras." Göttingen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2020. http://www.v-r.de/.

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46

Horton, G. David. "A perspective to identify and train emerging leaders at Greater New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Dade County, Florida." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), access this title online, 1989. http://dx.doi.org/10.2986/tren.108-0024.

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47

Morris, David Michael. "The emergence and development of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Staffordshire, 1839-1870." Thesis, University of Chichester, 2010. http://eprints.chi.ac.uk/3903/.

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This thesis analyses the emergence, development and subsequent decline of the LDS Church in Staffordshire between 1839 and 1870 as an original contribution to nineteenth–century British regional and religious history. I begin by examining the origins of the US Mormon Mission to Britain and a social historical study of the Staffordshire religious and industrial landscape. In order to recover the hidden voices of Staffordshire Mormon converts, I have constructed a unique Staffordshire Mormon Database for the purposes of this thesis containing over 1,900 records. This is drawn upon throughout, providing the primary quantitative evidence for this fascinating yet neglected new religious movement. From the data I explore the demographic composition of Staffordshire Mormonism using a more precise definition of class than has been the case previously, whilst also considering gender and age variables of Mormon converts. Subsequent chapters explore the qualitative dimensions of the conversion experience as a dynamic rather than event–based process, the demands of Church membership and commitment, the formal and informal institutional structure of the LDS Church and the hazards of emigration to the US in order to illuminate a number of key questions around which the thesis has been structured: Who were the Staffordshire Mormons? What was it about the Mormon message that appealed to the impoverished men and women of the newly industrialised Midlands? What was the nature of religious authority in the Mormon faith and in what ways did the formal Church administration adapt and respond to shifting urban contexts? Mormonism declined as rapidly as it had grown; this thesis investigates this little–known working–class religious movement and the lives of those Mormon men and women of Staffordshire who, against much personal, social and physical opposition, strived for what they regarded as a better future for themselves and their families.

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48

Belschner, Wayne Louis. "Gregorio Magno: Spiritual Care and Political Praxis. A New Look at the Emerging Patterns of Church-State Relations in the Early Medieval West." Thesis, Boston College, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:107327.

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Thesis advisor: Richard Lennan
By the time Gregory the Great (590-604) began his ministry as bishop of Rome, the political, economic, and social circumstances in Italy were dire, as evidenced by ongoing barbarian threats, Rome’s failing infrastructure, monuments and aqueducts in need of repair, abandoned farms, and decimated populations. As a result, demands were made on Gregory to tend to both the spiritual and physical needs of the people in Rome and in Italy. I argue that through his actions and writings, Gregory took control of the situation, and transcended pre-established ecclesiastical policies and procedures that permitted religious authorities to enter into political affairs. An examination of the fourth-century paradigm of Ambrose, bishop of Milan, and the fifth-century paradigm of Leo the Great, bishop of Rome, introduces earlier examples in which pastoral leaders became active in state matters. Gregory, while not explicitly stating their influence on him, goes beyond them both and develops a paradigm uniquely his own. Gregory’s eschatology significantly shaped his understanding of the need to be involved in both religious and political matters. In analyzing his Pastoral Rule, Moralia, and homilies on the Gospels and the Prophet Ezekiel, I have identified the virtues and qualities that Gregory felt all pastoral leaders must possess. The resulting profile of leadership emphasizes the moral conduct and the intentionality that those in authority need to operate. Through examining a large selection of his letters, I have been able to present a political theology that was key to Gregory’s entrance into political affairs and his development of social programs that tended to the physical needs of the people. I conclude that Gregory’s profile of leadership and political theology reveal a new paradigm which is his contribution to the ongoing development of the relationship between the Church and the state as both emerge from the age of late antiquity

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49

Sharpe, Jonathan. "Faithful Reformation : the Importance of Apostolicity and Consensual Orthodoxy for Emerging Christian Expressions." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/66335.

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In this study, we have considered if, how, or to what extent emerging Christian expressions within the context of the Emerging Church (EC) movement, and related Emerging Missional partners and postcedents, might reform, contextualize, innovate, or revise Christian forms, language, practices, or doctrines to reform the church and inculturate the gospel in postmodern contexts, while retaining continuity and congruence with apostolicity and orthodoxy. We also wished to see if, how, or to what extent EC voices considered accountability to apostolicity and orthodoxy and, if not, to what they were accountable and also to what extent they remain authentically Christian. We have done so by examining the perspectives of leading EC authors, practitioners, and current and historical conversation partners including Vincent of Lérins and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, using historical, theological, ethnographic and narrative inquiry and analysis methods. Our review of literature from EC authors provides insights into debates that led to fracturing of the EC movement and that offer challenges to orthodoxy. Our analysis also reveals methods EC authors appealed to in order to justify their views, or defense or revisions of core historic doctrines. When they rarely appealed to orthodoxy, there were two common but divergent approaches in which orthodoxy was either viewed as a system of beliefs, in which one could treat orthodox doctrines trans-subjectively, or else as being subjectively grounded in the incarnate Christ, in which accountability to Christ was primarily evidenced in materialist acts. We also placed our analysis of key EC sources and their approaches to apostolicity and orthodoxy in conversation with the historical perspectives of Vincent of Lérins and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as well as with current EC practitioners, via an ethnographic questionnaire. We found that Vincent’s method of consensual orthodoxy, instead of seeing orthodoxy as a system of universal beliefs, or as entirely subjective, appeared to center orthodoxy in the unified life of the Body of Christ in which doctrine may grow and, yet, its apostolic meaning is safeguarded by requiring Christians to surrender current interpretations of Scripture to the universal ecumenical consensus of the Body of Christ through history. Then too, our review of Bonhoeffer’s works reveals the ways that he provides room for questioning and flexibility, while holding that the creedal beliefs and sacred practices of the apostolic faith must be surrendered to as-is, as agents of revelation. In further analysis of primary sources and ethnographic responses, the study also reveals a third EC approach to apostolicity and orthodoxy, in which, in synergy with Vincent and Bonhoeffer, orthodox doctrine is seen as the unified faith, obedience, worship, and witness of the Body of Christ, and in which body doctrine may contextually grow in faithful alignment with apostolicity. Additionally, we considered Vincent’s method as providing orthodox EC voices a rule to guide contextual listening, inculturation and growth of doctrine while ensuring continuity and congruity with apostolicity.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018.
Church History and Church Policy
PhD
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50

Darby, Michael. "The emergence of the Hebrew Christian movement in nineteenth-century Britain." Thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.683333.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Emergent church'

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