Reformissional Discipleship: A Strategy for Renewing the Discipleship Effort in an Orthodox Presbyterian Congregation

David Cornette

Etd

Reformissional Discipleship: A Strategy for Renewing the Discipleship Effort in an Orthodox Presbyterian Congregation

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

David Cornette. Reformissional Discipleship: A Strategy for Renewing the Discipleship Effort In an Orthodox Presbyterian Congregation. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/107f0ac4-c393-4823-b371-873b19750710.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

D. Cornette. Reformissional Discipleship: A Strategy for Renewing the Discipleship Effort in an Orthodox Presbyterian Congregation. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/107f0ac4-c393-4823-b371-873b19750710

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

David Cornette. Reformissional Discipleship: A Strategy for Renewing the Discipleship Effort In an Orthodox Presbyterian Congregation. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/107f0ac4-c393-4823-b371-873b19750710.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

David Cornette

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In Copyright

Abstract

This major project examines the erosion of confessionally grounded discipleship within the Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church and proposes a strategy for renewing Presbyterian and Reformed convictions in congregational life for faithful participation in Christ’s mission. Although the congregation verbally affirms Reformed preaching, worship, and government, the study found that discipleship is often understood and practiced in broadly evangelical rather than distinctly Presbyterian and Reformed categories, and many participants demonstrated limited ability to articulate core Presbyterian and Reformed convictions. As a result, confessional identity, theological continuity, and intentionally Reformed disciple formation have become less clearly articulated and consistently practiced in the congregation. The project develops a theological and theoretical framework through an examination of Reformed discipleship, missional discipleship, and their integration into a proposed model termed Reformissional Discipleship. Reformissional Discipleship is defined as a confessionally grounded approach to disciple-making that maintains the primacy of covenant theology, worship, ecclesiology, and the ordinary means of grace while fostering faithful participation in the missio Dei through the life and ministry of covenant community. Using a mixed-method action research design, the study employed a congregational survey, a focus group with the Committee on Edification, and semi-structured interviews with members and church leaders. Findings revealed strong appreciation for preaching, worship, and relational fellowship, but also limited shared understanding of discipleship and a lack of intentional structures for disciple-making. In response, this project proposes a strategic plan for discipleship renewal centered on confessional formation, relational discipling structures, leadership development, and greater integration of discipleship into the ordinary life of the church.

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