{"response":{"docs":[{"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. This is not a “how to” program that can be completed step by step, but a philosophy of playful and lighthearted approach to all aspects of ministry that can be learned by pastors, church leaders and pew sitters and will aid congregations in their futuring together."],"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_":1851860296636825600,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:42.475Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:42Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"6591d4d0-1311-4190-b31c-2365e2a6c247","accessControl_ssim":["19a8d6ab-6d2a-4ff5-969e-ebad8a567b1b"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Holy darkness, blessed night: a phenomenological study of spiritual journey in the lived experience of Protestant clergy"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["4121e5d8-08c2-4aa6-9dfe-d1c6b362684e"],"hasLease_ssim":["51112e32-0e42-4bd0-b631-1700628cc506"],"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":["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. Implications from the research findings are discussed as it is relative to the support of clergy in active ministry."],"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_":1851860297195716608,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:43.008Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:42Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"0e44e024-cdb0-4b93-b89a-dcb32297df62","accessControl_ssim":["cb890245-e0e4-423d-9325-0af2e14f2f4c"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Revitalizing the church for a new day: identity, purpose, and theology"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:37Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:38Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["6eeb0b07-80b5-4ec3-bf9c-d95248ee3882"],"hasLease_ssim":["47a211f6-6564-47dc-8c7a-03cf10d953f5"],"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":["Rankin, Christopher"],"subject_tesim":["Church growth","Church renewal","Church management"],"abstract_tesim":["Since the early 1960s, the mainline church has experienced a decline in membership and financial resources, which have forced churches to make significant decisions concerning their future. Some congregations want to maintain the status quo and dwell in survival mode, while other churches are imagining new possibilities for their ministry. Denominations are faced with these same issues and now must make some decisions regarding their future. Revitalizing the Church for a New Day: Identity, Purpose, and Theology provides hope for the local church and denominations as we discern the new thing that God is doing in our midst. After reading books and visiting churches during a three-month sabbatical, a survey was designed for churches to use as they wrestle with these issues. I administered this survey with about a dozen congregations and then met with them in a follow-up discussion. Following my interviews with these congregations and going through my own transition in ministry, I discovered that denominations and local churches must focus on three aspects of vitality. Mainline denominations do not have a clear identity, which has trickled down to the local church. Furthermore, we have traded theology for marketing and advertising. The research revealed that our denominations are in decline because congregational leaders are not equipped to discern their identity, purpose, and theology of ministry. The survey used in this research will help the basic unit of witness, the local church, revitalize and prepare for the congregation’s bright and hopeful future."],"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_":1851860297365585920,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:43.170Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:31Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:34Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"4d23dfd4-a161-4f0f-b4b9-7ead15672844","accessControl_ssim":["48c8cf7a-6231-42f6-bc16-da531f7248df"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Talk about change. A practical investigation of the potential of Christian education of enabling the self care of parishioners"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:30Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:30Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["027f1147-5b9c-4e02-af78-2acfa595166f"],"hasLease_ssim":["d3e972fb-c8ed-44c1-8323-c9925a6b2f6d"],"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":["1993"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Barlow, John"],"subject_tesim":["Burn out (Psychology)","Spiritual retreats","Christian education of adults"],"abstract_tesim":["The goal of this project was to provide for the church a tested resource for an adult Christian Education experience which would enable persons to increase their self-care. Instrumental to this goal would be to develop, design, implement, and evaluate this resource. The project began with the research and construction of a biblical-theological rationale and suggested means of self-care. Primary resources for this research included Holy Scripture and the writings of Paul Tournier, especially The Adventure of Living, The Strong and the Weak, and The Whole Person in a Broken World. The biblical-theological rationale and suggested means of self care form the content of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 contains the design of the Christian Education experience (a one-day retreat and follow-up meeting) and the design of the evaluation of the effectiveness of the retreat. Chapter 3 provides a description of the pilot-test retreat and follow-up meeting held in the spring of 1990 including the participants’ contributions. Chapter 4 contains data for evaluation of the retreat design and experience. Chapter 5 provides evaluation of the achievement of objectives, evaluation of the retreat design and conduct, evaluation of the evaluation design and instruments, and a revised design for the retreat and follow-up meeting. Chapter 6 finishes with a summary of findings and conclusions and recommendations for further study of this topic."],"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_":1851860289369145344,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:35.544Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:31Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:34Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"8c5033b9-9b48-4725-b10b-a41e90ea3946","accessControl_ssim":["2a95ff24-30f6-4d1e-9c78-cfbdfde1343e"],"depositor_ssim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["martins02@moravian.edu"],"title_tesim":["Typological preaching: Preaching to the dominant Myers-Briggs function in church members"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:30Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-12-18T15:26:30Z","isPartOf_ssim":["f6c99b2a-5c91-4444-8946-01a1837f1fd8"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["d14b1b8c-ab57-4268-a2dc-1c80420d0d09"],"hasLease_ssim":["39027558-f489-4537-a488-dd276fc3d822"],"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":["1993"],"video_embed_tesim":[""],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"creator_tesim":["Manzo, Edward"],"subject_tesim":["Psychology and religion","Communication--Religious aspects","Preaching"],"abstract_tesim":["This study will examine two research questions with implicit hypotheses: (1) Do listeners with the same dominant function generally rate as “speaking most specifically” to them the segments of sermons which were written with them as a target audience? Correspondingly, do they rate the segments of sermons which were written to their inferior function as “speaking least specifically” to them? If the preliminary evidence suggests an affirmative answer to this question, then: (2) How successful can one preacher, who has one dominant function, be in crafting four different segments of the same sermon to speak to groups with each of the four dominant functions…Two converging arenas, that of a professional pastor, and that of an MBTI professional, intersect with this project…People who come to church are different in the ways they perceive and make judgments. As a result of this, communication becomes an issue. By making the basic assumption that the MBTI is an effective instrument in typing how people perceive and make judgments, it would seem also that communications can be designed to communicate to people more effectively by type. A minister who crafts his or her sermon according to type will have the ability to communicate more effectively than one who does not–that is the underlying presupposition in this project."],"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_":1851860289444642816,"timestamp":"2025-12-18T15:26:35.616Z","score":1.0}],"facets":[{"name":"resource_type_sim","items":[{"value":"Unknown","hits":13089,"label":"Unknown"},{"value":"D.Min. Project","hits":2276,"label":"D.Min. Project"},{"value":"Dissertation","hits":281,"label":"Dissertation"},{"value":"Thesis","hits":46,"label":"Thesis"},{"value":"D.Ed.Min. Project","hits":44,"label":"D.Ed.Min. Project"},{"value":"Abstract","hits":27,"label":"Abstract"}],"label":"Resource Type"},{"name":"creator_sim","items":[{"value":"David Martin","hits":3,"label":"David Martin"},{"value":"Lewis A Parks","hits":3,"label":"Lewis A Parks"},{"value":"Thom S Rainer","hits":3,"label":"Thom S Rainer"},{"value":"Aaron, Kristopher Daniel","hits":2,"label":"Aaron, Kristopher Daniel"},{"value":"Albert DeVoogd","hits":2,"label":"Albert DeVoogd"},{"value":"Alesia M Johnson","hits":2,"label":"Alesia M Johnson"}],"label":"Creator Sim"},{"name":"contributor_sim","items":[{"value":"Christian Temple Church (Disciples of Christ)","hits":1,"label":"Christian Temple Church (Disciples of Christ)"},{"value":"N/A","hits":1,"label":"N/A"}],"label":"Contributor"},{"name":"keyword_sim","items":[{"value":"Church and community","hits":260,"label":"Church and community"},{"value":"Religious surveys","hits":221,"label":"Religious surveys"},{"value":"Tests and measurements in religion","hits":156,"label":"Tests and measurements in religion"},{"value":"Relation (Theology)","hits":134,"label":"Relation (Theology)"},{"value":"Campus ministry","hits":87,"label":"Campus ministry"},{"value":"Clergy--Performance standards","hits":85,"label":"Clergy--Performance standards"}],"label":"Keyword"},{"name":"subject_sim","items":[{"value":"Church work","hits":849,"label":"Church work"},{"value":"Leadership--Religious aspects--Christianity","hits":848,"label":"Leadership--Religious aspects--Christianity"},{"value":"Evangelistic work","hits":722,"label":"Evangelistic work"},{"value":"Preaching","hits":649,"label":"Preaching"},{"value":"Spiritual formation","hits":630,"label":"Spiritual formation"},{"value":"Christian life","hits":616,"label":"Christian life"}],"label":"Subject"},{"name":"location_sim","items":[{"value":"United States","hits":553,"label":"United States"},{"value":"Canada","hits":115,"label":"Canada"},{"value":"Korea","hits":112,"label":"Korea"},{"value":"Alabama","hits":57,"label":"Alabama"},{"value":"Africa","hits":55,"label":"Africa"},{"value":"Florida","hits":52,"label":"Florida"}],"label":"Location"},{"name":"language_sim","items":[{"value":"English","hits":15406,"label":"English"},{"value":"Spanish","hits":22,"label":"Spanish"},{"value":"Chinese","hits":9,"label":"Chinese"},{"value":"Korean","hits":8,"label":"Korean"},{"value":"Portuguese","hits":1,"label":"Portuguese"}],"label":"Language"},{"name":"publisher_sim","items":[{"value":"Wesley Theological Seminary","hits":1067,"label":"Wesley Theological Seminary"},{"value":"Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary","hits":764,"label":"Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary"},{"value":"New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary","hits":718,"label":"New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary"},{"value":"Trinity Evangelical Divinity School of Trinity International University","hits":610,"label":"Trinity Evangelical Divinity School of Trinity International University"},{"value":"Columbia Theological Seminary","hits":584,"label":"Columbia Theological Seminary"},{"value":"United Theological Seminary (OH)","hits":480,"label":"United Theological Seminary (OH)"}],"label":"Publisher"},{"name":"date_created_sim","items":[],"label":"Date Created"},{"name":"types_sim","items":[{"value":"Text","hits":15684,"label":"Text"},{"value":"Collection","hits":7,"label":"Collection"},{"value":"Dataset","hits":5,"label":"Dataset"},{"value":"Image","hits":4,"label":"Image"},{"value":"Physical Object","hits":4,"label":"Physical Object"},{"value":"Event","hits":1,"label":"Event"}],"label":"Type"},{"name":"year_sim","items":[{"value":"1997","hits":518,"label":"1997"},{"value":"2003","hits":517,"label":"2003"},{"value":"1999","hits":499,"label":"1999"},{"value":"1996","hits":495,"label":"1996"},{"value":"1994","hits":471,"label":"1994"},{"value":"2007","hits":468,"label":"2007"}],"label":"Year"},{"name":"format_sim","items":[{"value":"PDF","hits":13,"label":"PDF"}],"label":"Format"},{"name":"member_of_collections_ssim","items":[{"value":"Miscellaneous","hits":1885,"label":"Miscellaneous"},{"value":"Wesley Theological Seminary","hits":1066,"label":"Wesley Theological Seminary"},{"value":"Trinity Evangelical Divinity School","hits":919,"label":"Trinity Evangelical Divinity School"},{"value":"New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary","hits":916,"label":"New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary"},{"value":"Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary","hits":774,"label":"Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary"},{"value":"United Theological Seminary","hits":647,"label":"United Theological Seminary"}],"label":"Collections"},{"name":"degree_sim","items":[{"value":"Unknown","hits":13140,"label":"Unknown"},{"value":"Doctor of Ministry","hits":2141,"label":"Doctor of Ministry"},{"value":"DMin","hits":327,"label":"DMin"},{"value":"Doctor of Educational Ministry","hits":56,"label":"Doctor of Educational Ministry"},{"value":"D.Min.","hits":25,"label":"D.Min."},{"value":"DEdMin","hits":10,"label":"DEdMin"}],"label":"Degree"},{"name":"discipline_sim","items":[{"value":"Preaching","hits":45,"label":"Preaching"},{"value":"Pastoral ministry","hits":43,"label":"Pastoral ministry"},{"value":"Leadership","hits":36,"label":"Leadership"},{"value":"Spiritual Formation","hits":24,"label":"Spiritual Formation"},{"value":"Missions and evangelism","hits":15,"label":"Missions and evangelism"},{"value":"Pastoral Leadership","hits":12,"label":"Pastoral Leadership"}],"label":"Discipline"},{"name":"degree_granting_institution_sim","items":[{"value":"Wesley Theological Seminary","hits":1066,"label":"Wesley Theological Seminary"},{"value":"New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary","hits":986,"label":"New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary"},{"value":"Trinity Evangelical Divinity School","hits":919,"label":"Trinity Evangelical Divinity School"},{"value":"Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary","hits":774,"label":"Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary"},{"value":"United Theological Seminary","hits":647,"label":"United Theological Seminary"},{"value":"Columbia Theological Seminary","hits":584,"label":"Columbia Theological Seminary"}],"label":"Degree Granting Institution"},{"name":"department_sim","items":[{"value":"Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, Missouri","hits":1,"label":"Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, Missouri"},{"value":"Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, Missouri ","hits":1,"label":"Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, Missouri "},{"value":"Doctor of Ministry","hits":1,"label":"Doctor of Ministry"},{"value":"Doctor of Ministry Degree Program","hits":1,"label":"Doctor of Ministry Degree Program"},{"value":"Doctorate in Ministry","hits":1,"label":"Doctorate in Ministry"},{"value":"Theology","hits":1,"label":"Theology"}],"label":"Department"},{"name":"funder_name_sim","items":[],"label":"Funder Name"},{"name":"event_title_sim","items":[],"label":"Event Title"},{"name":"event_date_sim","items":[],"label":"Event Date"},{"name":"institution_sim","items":[{"value":"Atla RIM","hits":15763,"label":"Atla RIM"},{"value":"Chicago Theological Seminary","hits":4,"label":"Chicago Theological Seminary"},{"value":"Atla Commons","hits":1,"label":"Atla Commons"}],"label":"Host Institution"}],"pages":{"current_page":7,"next_page":8,"prev_page":6,"total_pages":1577,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":60,"total_count":15768,"first_page?":false,"last_page?":false}}}