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It focused on the pastors' personal, professional, and spiritual formation. This research was an evaluative study in a descriptive mode utilizing a pre-, mid-, and post-test design with no comparison. Major findings showed that (1) important, positive, and measurable changes can occur with mentoring; (2) mentorees experience definite benefits in their personal, spiritual, and professional lives; (3) the majority of the churches recorded overall improvement in the performance of the pastors; and, (4) church members were able to point out strengths and weaknesses of their pastors."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-approving","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-depositing","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"member_of_collections_ssim":["Asbury Theological Seminary"],"member_of_collection_ids_ssim":["6c1e11e8-b66e-47b6-8fe9-6c546c20935c"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Metadata Only"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["public","work_editor"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"_version_":1791133914343931904,"timestamp":"2024-02-17T08:26:51.354Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:26:05Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T08:29:32Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"3c8ac3d5-a395-46e1-9fc1-b72126776adb","accessControl_ssim":["8fce7320-6d60-410c-b1e4-7954acf511b7"],"depositor_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"depositor_tesim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"title_tesim":["Leadership formation for building healthier congregations in Brazil"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:26:04Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-16T23:53:09Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["6aa26797-3c85-49a3-84bf-9d7f0a9ceba4"],"hasLease_ssim":["27b2b338-39be-42b4-9b26-26a091db253b"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Unknown"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Asbury Theological Seminary"],"advisor_tesim":["Burrell D Dinkins"],"year_tesim":["2003"],"location_tesim":["Brazil"],"resource_type_tesim":["Unknown"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Helio C Alves"],"publisher_tesim":["Asbury Theological Seminary"],"subject_tesim":["Leadership--Religious aspects--Christianity","Methodist Church","Church growth"],"language_tesim":["English"],"abstract_tesim":["The purpose of this study was to discover the importance of leadership formation for building healthier congregations in Brazil. Its context was the sixth conference of the Methodist Church. Some churches are declining, some plateaued, and some are growing. This project intended to identify principles for leadership formation analyzing their importance in churches' well-being. It also included a summary of health characteristics of a growing congregation."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-approving","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-depositing","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"member_of_collections_ssim":["Asbury Theological Seminary"],"member_of_collection_ids_ssim":["6c1e11e8-b66e-47b6-8fe9-6c546c20935c"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Metadata Only"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["public","work_editor"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"_version_":1791134085903548416,"timestamp":"2024-02-17T08:29:34.966Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:23:48Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T08:35:57Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"a4069ca8-0a3b-4525-8a7d-371333682a9d","accessControl_ssim":["b21ad9f7-f128-4afd-8ce5-6de4f47c923a"],"depositor_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"depositor_tesim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"title_tesim":["A study of church health among Lutheran congregations transitioning to a discipleship model for ministry"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:23:47Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T02:54:08Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["5720da6b-68ff-40d8-9b11-fe2e867bae9a"],"hasLease_ssim":["77f6688b-dffd-4b69-a1ab-111aa5763ef6"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Unknown"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Asbury Theological Seminary"],"advisor_tesim":["Thomas Tumblin"],"year_tesim":["2004"],"resource_type_tesim":["Unknown"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Ronald C Miller"],"publisher_tesim":["Asbury Theological Seminary"],"subject_tesim":["Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Burnsville, Minn)","Evangelical Lutheran Church in America","Church growth"],"language_tesim":["English"],"abstract_tesim":["This project explored the relationship between church health and church growth focusing on the specific characteristics of empowering leadership and transforming discipleship. 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The findings demonstrated a positive relationship between a learning event and church heath reflected in numerical growth."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-approving","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-depositing","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"member_of_collections_ssim":["Asbury Theological Seminary"],"member_of_collection_ids_ssim":["6c1e11e8-b66e-47b6-8fe9-6c546c20935c"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Metadata Only"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["public","work_editor"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"_version_":1791134490582581248,"timestamp":"2024-02-17T08:36:00.898Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:19:45Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T06:38:09Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"f90eb88b-8294-4869-9d38-0c11f3223cb3","accessControl_ssim":["20a7c2ed-2f0e-4b92-b04e-b7693dce94e5"],"depositor_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"depositor_tesim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"title_tesim":["Revive us again: stewards of Christ's church: a Wesleyan model for revitalized clergy"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:19:44Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T05:14:30Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["0ddeb431-9ace-4c97-8b3c-6763c783e7d0"],"hasLease_ssim":["847fe6b6-f6b5-409d-82c6-f0b5a3782244"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Doctor of Ministry"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"advisor_tesim":["Lewis A Parks"],"year_tesim":["2004"],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. 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In a search to discern God's new pathways for congregations, clergy need to offer each other emotional and spiritual support while holding each other to biblical and theological accountability."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-approving","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-depositing","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"member_of_collections_ssim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"member_of_collection_ids_ssim":["5a6e4a36-5801-4bff-8e61-86d7489efb4a"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Metadata Only"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["work_editor","public"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"_version_":1791127078650773504,"timestamp":"2024-02-17T06:38:12.329Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:19:15Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2024-05-22T02:10:26Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"76f1cc20-5e3d-424c-a440-28292fd0c44c","accessControl_ssim":["c13076b2-b02f-419b-9441-15fc674e573e"],"depositor_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"depositor_tesim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"title_tesim":["Stump holes in the churchyard: a consideration of integrity issues for growing churches"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:19:15Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T01:37:46Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["95ce5352-8182-4857-8944-18da53308de1"],"hasLease_ssim":["b154d7c2-6fb6-4bc4-9f3e-9db8d3ad27c2"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Doctor of Ministry"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"advisor_tesim":["Lewis A Parks"],"year_tesim":["2004"],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Garland K Hines"],"publisher_tesim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"subject_tesim":["Rural churches","United Methodist Church","Congregations","Church growth","Methodist Church"],"language_tesim":["English"],"abstract_tesim":["Can United Methodist ministers, whose churches find themselves on the cusp of rapid growth, accommodate change while maintaining congregational integrity in the areas of worship and hospitality? The author attempts to answer this question through a case study of his congregation, which offers a perfect example of a small rural church that suddenly finds itself surrounded by unprecedented growth and needing to make decisions that call for major changes. The metaphor 'church yard' represents the entire area of a local church's life. The 'stump holes' found throughout the entire church yard represent any number of threats to a congregation's integrity."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-approving","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-depositing","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"member_of_collections_ssim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"member_of_collection_ids_ssim":["5a6e4a36-5801-4bff-8e61-86d7489efb4a"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Metadata Only"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["work_editor","public"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"_version_":1799716944395370496,"timestamp":"2024-05-22T02:10:26.670Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:18:44Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T06:42:57Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"aca0b5c8-99d8-4805-a521-5ebba9f0281b","accessControl_ssim":["5b0250bf-e6e5-4281-a48c-02caf0eb8b3a"],"depositor_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"depositor_tesim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"title_tesim":["The development of the mid-sized church through a Wesleyan understanding of the Holy Spirit"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:18:43Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T03:07:07Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["9b672676-6f94-4fe6-bcd3-619475a6cdd0"],"hasLease_ssim":["083afdb6-6ec4-44b1-b5fc-070e8e893e03"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Unknown"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Pittsburgh Theological Seminary"],"advisor_tesim":["George Tutwiler"],"year_tesim":["2004"],"resource_type_tesim":["Unknown"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Stephen J Ray"],"publisher_tesim":["Pittsburgh Theological Seminary"],"subject_tesim":["Wesley, John, 1703-1791","Theology--Church work","Church growth","Holy Spirit--History of doctrines"],"language_tesim":["English"],"abstract_tesim":["Church growth is most difficult for the church moving from a pastoral-leadership to a program-driven model.  John Wesley and his theology of the Holy Spirit was instrumental in developing the Methodist movement and offers assistance to churches today.  By emulating Wesley's use of sermons, leadership training and study groups, the author has applied Wesley's lessons and theology to a small church preparing to adapt to ministry as a mid-size church.  The project church has achieved many characteristics of a mid-size church and has come to understand the power of the Holy Spirit in congregational and individual life."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-approving","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-depositing","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"member_of_collections_ssim":["Pittsburgh Theological Seminary"],"member_of_collection_ids_ssim":["31bd5819-b5a3-4928-96d5-b581f38b637b"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Metadata Only"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["work_editor","public"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"_version_":1791127380878688256,"timestamp":"2024-02-17T06:43:00.556Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:16:08Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2024-05-22T02:24:46Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"61f53628-c123-462c-9907-cb48b0366f81","accessControl_ssim":["82dc16c7-277b-4db3-ba95-edcc2563fbee"],"depositor_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"depositor_tesim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"title_tesim":["The 'Themengottesdienst' of the Wetzlar Cathedral Lutheran Congregation as a contribution to the renewal of worship life within the Ev. Kirche in Deutschland"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:16:07Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T00:59:55Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["a54a1178-ed52-4f36-bcf8-c7206f2ab91c"],"hasLease_ssim":["cf7e3c58-003b-48d5-9d18-1e471119266a"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Doctor of Ministry"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"advisor_tesim":["James C Logan"],"year_tesim":["2004"],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Michael Stollwell"],"publisher_tesim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"subject_tesim":["Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland","Worship","Liturgics","Church growth"],"language_tesim":["English"],"abstract_tesim":["For decades German mainline churches have been facing a threatening crisis of their worship life. In most congregations less than 3% of their membership attend the Sunday services. Many attempts to establish new forms of contemporary worship have failed, either because the approaches were too demanding and time consuming or because they were focused on limited target groups and therefore could not have an impact on the congregation as a whole. Based on a creative adaptation of the biblical and Lutheran liturgical heritage the author has developed and implemented a new form of worship that has proved to be effective, appealing and visionary. In fact the so called 'Themengottesdienst' has become the most prominent spiritual tool for Evangelism and church growth in the Wetzlar Cathedral Lutheran Congregation and beyond."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-approving","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-depositing","f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"member_of_collections_ssim":["Wesley Theological Seminary"],"member_of_collection_ids_ssim":["5a6e4a36-5801-4bff-8e61-86d7489efb4a"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Metadata Only"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["work_editor","public"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"_version_":1799717846331162624,"timestamp":"2024-05-22T02:24:46.824Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:15:01Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T07:00:00Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"a5d7018a-0382-4b01-bef8-9b0d70083273","accessControl_ssim":["1e628a35-2a04-4ab0-89c6-d1cda59bcc33"],"depositor_ssim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"depositor_tesim":["ckarpinski@atla.com"],"title_tesim":["'Complete standing': Jonathan Edwards' pastoral model of church membership adapted to First Bible Church of Decatur, Alabama"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2023-10-12T09:15:00Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2024-02-17T02:56:57Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["bbf3e352-8037-4a61-9e93-398cf5f60ee0"],"hasLease_ssim":["193666b7-a96b-4357-b601-d19a903c3b16"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Unknown"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Reformed Theological Seminary"],"advisor_tesim":["S Donald Fortson"],"year_tesim":["2004"],"resource_type_tesim":["Unknown"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Steven Bateman"],"publisher_tesim":["Reformed Theological Seminary"],"subject_tesim":["Holiness","Communities--Religious aspects","First Bible Church (Decatur, Ala)","Edwards, Jonathan, 1703-1758","Church growth"],"language_tesim":["English"],"abstract_tesim":["Is the holiness of the church, guarded by a practical theology of assimilation, an essential ingredient in God's church-growth strategy?  The foundation for the answer is found in the Biblical teaching that holds the purity of God's church in tension with the growth of God's church.  The Bible consistently exhorts leaders to be attentive to both purity and growth, not emphasizing one to the neglect of the other. Only a comprehensive understanding of Biblical teaching can produce a theology of assimilation that guards the church from both extremes. A survey of church history demonstrates the difficulty of maintaining this balance, as the church at times has been too exclusive and at other times too inclusive. An examination of the confessions and creeds of all major denominations reveals a consistent recognition of three criterion that must be met in order for one to be admitted into the full privileges and responsibilities of church life, mainly through the time-honored traditions of church membership and church discipline.  These high standards are largely neglected in the North American church today, resulting in a spiritually weak, theologically illiterate, and largely unregenerate church. This dissertation examines the pastoral ministry of Jonathan Edwards as a case study for developing a theology of assimilation. Special attention is paid to the process, rationale, circumstances, and missteps leading up to his dismissal from the Northhampton Church. 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This project produced seventeen initiatives to lead people through five stages in the continuum: from seeker to attender to member to learner to leader.  A plan was adopted by the church.  The plan puts in place an on-going strategy to accomplish the task of assimilation.  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