{"response":{"docs":[{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:52Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:56Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"9dae6e68-5eb3-4ef4-afc7-38572460d032","accessControl_ssim":["7f6fab3a-79c2-4dcd-849d-94b0d28d570a"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Leadership in the urban church: an ethnographic study of pastoral ministry practices in West Philadelphia"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:52Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:52Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["9d454b36-5fbc-499c-8930-24a48aa566c8"],"hasLease_ssim":["62b801a0-7372-4532-8587-ac06c9631d90"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2016"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Carpenter, Douglas"],"subject_tesim":["City churches","Clergy--Training of","Church leadership"],"abstract_tesim":["This qualitative research project identified pastoral ministry context of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The researcher utilized the ethnographic semi-structured research model to interview eight pastors at their respective churches within their urban ministry context. The main focus of the research study was to identify common and/or unique pastoral leadership practices amongst the research participants in order to develop a resource called “Pointers for Pastors” to add to the existing literature and to enhance pastoral leadership training models."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860311975395328,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:57.103Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:46Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:49Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"8c6d5d0a-b837-478b-b9f6-aa2a18953ea2","accessControl_ssim":["b8ca87f2-71e5-4672-ad6e-5232a3fe1f9f"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["A ministry of presence: a handbook for mentors of teens in their searching stage of faith formation"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["db834800-e691-43c3-b39d-573e596ecbbc"],"hasLease_ssim":["445eabd7-0803-4679-8fd2-165dfff63e0b"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2014"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Young, Frederick"],"subject_tesim":["Church work with youth","Spiritual formation","Christian education of young people"],"abstract_tesim":["For decades churches across denominational lines have struggled with keeping youth and young adults involved in the life of their congregations post-confirmation. Churches have been asking if the process of confirmation education (learning about one’s faith) is outdated and some even suggest confirmation is no longer needed. A Ministry of Presence: A Handbook for Mentors of Teens in their Searching Stage of Faith Formation examines the process of confirmation preparation before the rite of the church. This project suggests ways in which churches may offer an intergenerational faith journey utilizing adult mentors working alongside teenagers as they explore the multifaceted layers of their faith together. A questionnaire, group sessions with confirmation workers and personal interviews were used in the initial data collection in determining how churches are offering confirmation and what additional resources could be used to enhance current programming. Preliminary results determined that those providing confirmation education were dissatisfied with the process. A pilot mentor/teen confirmation program was created and implemented at Christ Church UCC in Elizabethtown, PA, stemming from my own discontent for available curriculum. Research also revealed a lack of solid resources for preparing and guiding mentors in the confirmation process. The result is a handbook for mentors utilizing the theology of Maria Harris’ work, Fashion Me a People. This is a resource which suggests faith formation is not reserved for a select few within a church but the work of the entire congregation. The handbook also contains suggested curriculum sheets designed for mentors and teens to be working side by side in their faith formation. A Ministry of Presence is designed to be a useful tool to empower mentors in the faith practice of cultivating lasting reciprocal relationships between the generations."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860304943644672,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:50.397Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:46Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:49Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"4c1142db-5204-49ee-83bd-18013e450d68","accessControl_ssim":["58239254-3940-456b-85b2-74445e7f4d0c"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Revitalizing churches through Christian practices: communal discernment and social justice"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["f2298572-cafd-402f-a3f3-fb7bdfa5cdca"],"hasLease_ssim":["7574b0f2-d470-4ddb-80a7-595daa4aadf9"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2016"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Dawkins-Smith, Monica"],"subject_tesim":["Church growth","Church renewal","Social justice"],"abstract_tesim":["…it is part of my motivation for engaging this doctoral project to explore practices that can lead to the revitalization of more churches where people can find spiritual homes…The reality remains that many new pastors are being called to serve mainline churches that are in decline and at a point in their lifecycle where reversal may be improbable. Oftentimes the pastor and lay leadership are not equipped with the skills sets and gifts needed to effect needed change…For this project, I chose to focus on Christian practices, which are good, life giving and intrinsic to the life of faith…Christian practices contribute to growth and revitalization in churches when engaged as individuals and communally. Practices can help us to develop narratives that shape our identity, sense of purpose and mission. By weaving reflections from the practice of ministry, stories from parishioners, sermons and engaging other authors, I will focus primarily on the practices of Discernment and Social Justice, drawing attention to important overlap with other practices like hospitality and worship (preaching)."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860305134485504,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:50.578Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:46Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:49Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"52f060e3-ae3d-4595-9322-b3d36862760d","accessControl_ssim":["7e0c5d85-4c00-4ab2-98f8-5e0282f70355"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["The decline in church attendance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and what can be done to reverse the trend"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:46Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["3d651550-5e13-448d-8e39-ee1390e36073"],"hasLease_ssim":["ae8da930-d724-4663-aa54-f912b2856eae"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2015"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Butcher, Louis"],"subject_tesim":["Church growth","Church management","Church renewal"],"abstract_tesim":["Over the course of the last thirty years, there has been a steady decline in church worship service attendance in the United States. The decline has affected all church affiliations, including Catholic, Protestant mainline, evangelical, Pentecostal, Anabaptist and independent churches of all sizes and ethnicities. In particular, Millennials, those in the age range of eighteen to twenty-nine years, have left the church in significant numbers or have never affiliated at all. The fastest growing segments of the American population are agnostics and atheists. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with nearly eight hundred churches is considered a Bible belt with a long history of consistent attendance. This project will explore whether there is attendance decline in Lancaster County and, if so, what can be developed to reverse the trend. Reader responses to a series on the subject in the Lancaster Sunday News will be used to help determine the extent, if any. At the same time, pastors of fifty churches of varying sizes, ethnicities and doctrine will be interviewed to examine local patterns. Using research data on church growth and revitalization from around the country, suggestions and recommendations will be made to help reverse the trend in Lancaster County if decline is evident."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860305164894208,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:50.608Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:46Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:49Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"0cb7ab91-e546-4fc2-ad5c-8c608decec9c","accessControl_ssim":["d5740393-1d6b-4bca-baf5-5152c7208ed1"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["We are family: an exploration of biblical family models"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:46Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:46Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["c3c377ec-89f0-4411-bbc8-7de9452fc2b7"],"hasLease_ssim":["5b3fb79e-5e01-47d2-b505-cc91161f1a60"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2015"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Marchetto, Joanne"],"subject_tesim":["Bible--Study","Church work with families","Church work with adults"],"abstract_tesim":["The Bible offers many examples for living as a family. Family structures change and are shaped by many factors including economics, politics, ideology, culture, and philosophy of society through the different historical periods in the Bible. This project uses historical criticism to study the changing structures of family through the biblical text. This project developed the “Spheres of Influence” hermeneutic as a tool for historical criticism to study the multiple factors which influence family organization. This tool was used to develop an adult Bible study for lay members in local congregations to study changing family structures through the Bible."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860305312743424,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:50.749Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:48Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"b1488ace-0d24-4975-90a9-4608fa0fb015","accessControl_ssim":["d9ecc2ea-b239-4a60-9c9b-a4d1e1ee2251"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["The hurtful use of derogatory language by pastors about LGBTQ people in the Black Missionary Baptist churches in the central PA region"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:45Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["baeee389-d14d-4763-b993-e46c02dd79d8"],"hasLease_ssim":["346d0bb4-07ae-4fac-8223-c97bbd052567"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2015"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Baber, Melvin"],"subject_tesim":["Church work with gays","Queer theology","Church work with transgender people"],"abstract_tesim":["This project explores the question: Is the language used by pastors in Black Missionary Baptist churches in the central Pennsylvania region making those in the LGTBQ community feel isolated and/or hurt during corporate worship and other gatherings of the church? Are they unfairly singling out this group for ridicule, while other groups about whom they might have theological reservations are not being singled out? The findings of my research indicate that in the central PA region the pastors in the Black Missionary Baptist churches state they are not using language that makes those in the LGTBQ community feel isolated. However, the majority of those in the LGTBQ community stated that they have heard derogatory language from the pulpit that made them feel isolated. The pastors also stated that they would have no problem with those of the LGTBQ community joining the church; however, the pastors added that they wouldn’t be treated the same in regard to sickness, death, and certain celebratory moments in their lives. My research points to the need for a more loving way of speaking by the Black Missionary Baptist churches in relation to those in the LGTBQ community."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860304016703488,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:49.513Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:41Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"191131b5-ff84-4be1-b543-b38be77576c9","accessControl_ssim":["a8d62084-ef0b-4c83-ac7e-c06820cd052d"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Ursinus: the dangers and opportunities of latent theologies resident within established congregations"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:37Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:37Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["675f3790-1919-4239-85b0-deb312c092ba"],"hasLease_ssim":["4b83a7f1-e852-4072-b10f-4d6d31bac315"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2013"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Stillman, Matthew H."],"subject_tesim":["Church history","Theological seminaries","Christian education"],"abstract_tesim":["The German Reformed churches almost came to blows over the Romanizing influences of John Williamson Nevin and Philip Scaff who were the denomination’s seminary professors at Mercersburg, PA. John Bomberger and later James I. Goode had theological objections to the Evangelical Catholic reforms, so Bomberger and others opened a competing seminary called Ursinus (now Urinus College) to prepare low church clergy for the ministry in competition with Mercersburg (which later moved to Lancaster and became Lancaster Theological Seminary). My interest lies in the distinctive features of the Ursinus movement in order to determine how it had an impact on one congregation, Wolf’s Church. I hope to uncover the ways in which its theological principles encouraged certain ecclesial practices that lingered long after the controversy with the Mercersburg movement had faded from the congregation’s memory. My work answers the question, “What were the theological convictions and ecclesiastical practices of the Ursinus Movement as a response to the Mercersburg theology in its 19th century German Reformed Church context, including key figures, casual factors, salient features, features of the “Ursinus” piety/theology as distinct from Mercersburg, etc. Having identified the salient and distinctive characteristics of the Ursinus tradition, I then will explore the ways in which this heritage may have informed the ecclesial practices of Wolf’s Church and kept that legacy alive even when the congregants could not articulate the characteristics of the Ursinus tradition or even identify the theology embedded in their exposure in their corporate life as being in the Ursinus mold."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860296763703296,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:42.596Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:41Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"99d31c8f-0f5f-4398-b9f6-5fc9a7d993fa","accessControl_ssim":["cc0f39dc-1dc1-44fb-b2e3-2eadc928e061"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Bivocational pastoral ministry: an emerging leadership paradigm for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:37Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:37Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["6e63178a-0c4b-4c68-8b83-16685f259ee3"],"hasLease_ssim":["89616e42-c862-431e-bc0d-94b0ada4ab7d"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2014"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Mentzer, Constance L."],"subject_tesim":["Clergy--Training of","Clergy--Appointment, call, and election","Spiritual formation"],"abstract_tesim":["The following chapters will expand upon an understanding of bivocational pastoral ministry first through the broader definition of Christian vocation. In Chapter One, I will emphasize vocation as a manifestation of God’s eschatological shalom, a sign of God’s intention to reclaim the whole creation and set into motion a way of living and being which yields to the latter days ushered in by Christ’s death and resurrection…Chapter Two will examine the bivocational pastoral model against the present-day realities of mainline Christian congregational life as it has evolved through the cultural framework of American civil religion. In doing so, the ready will hopefully gain greater insight into how old ministry leadership paradigms have restricted a broader, more inclusive and baptismally faithful rendering of vocation, thereby opening up the possibility of engaging in new paradigms of church leadership. In Chapter Three, you will read the vocational narratives of two bivocational pastors and one licensed lay minister followed by reflection on themes common to each person’s vocational narrative…Finally, in Chapter Four, the topic of how bivocational pastors can be trained in specific ways so that the integrity of office and function for both clergy and laity is enhanced will be taken up, including discussion of vocational formation and educational initiatives within the church to assist in vocational discernment."],"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"],"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","martins02@moravian.edu"],"_version_":1851860296815083520,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:42.644Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:41Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"43825390-f3da-442d-b82b-7734037592a3","accessControl_ssim":["91888680-792b-41c6-9359-6d0afff55add"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Holy fun: a path to church consolidation"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:37Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:37Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["035b76a9-3948-4bed-8182-e02a82642534"],"hasLease_ssim":["2e2399e9-7747-48be-b7df-f48dcb0563de"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["DMin"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Lancaster Theological Seminary"],"year_tesim":["2012"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Hess, Jane M."],"subject_tesim":["United Church of Christ","Philosophy of religion","Spiritual life"],"abstract_tesim":["Holy Fun is a playful, lighthearted, not-take-yourself-too-seriously approach to ministry that expresses itself in a rainbow of experiences which bring people together and closer to God. Drawing from Johan Huizinga, James Evans, Henri Nouwen, and Harvey Cox, the element of play is defined and placed firmly within the soul of the church and its people. Hugo Rahner, Edwin Friedman, Martin Marty, and Michael Koppel laid the groundwork for the element, to “not-take-yourself-too-seriously.” This embodied theology is further elucidated by Plato, Jurgen Moltman, Julia Cameron and Mary Hess. The term Holy Fun seems oxymoronic. How can one have fun in the pursuit of the Holy or conversely, how can one be holy while having fun? But the idea of Holy Fun is counterintuitive for most folks. Holy Fun does include a Theology of Fun. Although Holy Fun can be applied to all aspects of ministry, including conflict management, educational approaches, outreach ministry, staffing, leadership training, mission life, and worship, its potential employment is only limited by the imagination. I have helped to consolidate four United Church of Christ congregations with Holy Fun as the vehicle of change. This path to church consolidation is presented as a case study in Holy Fun. 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Project"],"creator_tesim":["Grabowski, Marianne"],"subject_tesim":["Spiritual direction","Clergy--Appointment, call, and election","Spiritual formation"],"abstract_tesim":["What is the meaning of this life to which we are called as ordained ministers in the Church of Jesus Christ? What, indeed, is God doing with us, day by day, and year by year? And how can we more fully cooperate? These questions are offered as a means of introduction to a study which at its core is lifting up the stories of clergy. The passion the co-researchers bring to their ministries, and their growth in love of self, others and God across the twists and turns of their spiritual journeys, is inspiring, and has much for the reader to consider and reflect upon for one’s own life. Chapter 2 and 3 explore the conceptual framework surrounding this study. Attention is given to both theological and theoretical ways of thinking about what can be learned from the clergypersons’ stories. Chapter 4 outlines the core procedures used in phenomenological analysis and gives specific information regarding such matters as recruitment of co-researchers, documentation provided and the structure of the interview process. In Chapter 5 the co-researchers are introduced and resultant themes and structures of the experience of spiritual journey are discussed. Examples from the co-researcher’s stories are provided. In Chapter 6 a summary of the research findings is provided, and hypotheses are reviewed. 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