Proquest Dissertations

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Proquest Dissertations The effects of faith, theology and denominational governance on decision making by senior- level administrators at Christian universities Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Watkins, Joseph Ezra Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 03/10/2021 20:41:30 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/289154 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has t)een reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in tyfiewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely afTM reproduction. in the unlikely event that the author dkl not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, begirming at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overiaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6' x 9" t)iack and white photographic prints are availat>le for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directty to order. Bell & Howell Information arxl Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 THE EFFECTS OF FAITH, THEOLOGY AND DENOMINATIONAL GOVERNANCE ON DECISION MAKING BY SENIOR LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS AT CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITIES by Joseph Ezra Watkins III Copyright © Joseph Ezra Watkins III 2000 A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF HIGHER EDUCATION In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2000 UMI Number 9972133 Copyright 2000 by Watkins, Joseph Ezra, III All rights reserved. iS UMI UMI Microform9972133 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Infonmation and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. 00x1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ® GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared bv-^Q^^P^ Ezra Watkins III entitled The Effects of Faith, Theology and Denominational Gnvernanre On Decision Making By Senior Level Admini grra mrg At Christian Universities and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Gary Rhoades Doug Wooda Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ^ Dissert^t^n Director Gary Rhoades Date J STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations fi-om this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation firom or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Every person who leams something stands on the shoulders of someone who has learned before them and shared their knowledge with those who come later. The following persons have been significant in this dissertation project, and I extend to them my deepest appreciation for letting me stand on their shoulders. The faculty members at the Center for the Study of Higher Education have been exceptional in their interest, encouragement and insight: Dr. Gary Rhoades. adviser, dissertation chair, and non-mentor. Thank You. Gary. Dr. Doug Woodard and Dr. John Levin, committee members, friendly inquisitors and advisors. This research was made possible by the presidents of the two universities in this study and the individuals who agreed to be interviewed not once but three times. Thank you for opening your lives in very special ways during our hours together. I applaud your willingness to live and work in small, private. Christian liberal arts institutions that demonstrate the vitality and viability of religious colleges and universities. This dissertation would not have been possible without the willing support and encouragement of the people who are the First Church of the Nazarene in Sierra Vista. Arizona. They were patient with me during my absences for research and always encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream. Many of them patiently typed the interview transcripts that were central to this research. Special thanks to Michelle Schaeffer-Powell and Danella Davis. Finally, thank you Patrick Allen. 5 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated foremost to my wife, Joan, who said, "If you're going to get your doctorate you'd better get busy. You're getting too old." Joan laid her own educational aspirations on hold so there would be some sanity in our home. Now it's her turn. Our children Jennifer, Sarah and Andrew always encouraged and supported their dad in this thirty-three month adventure. To all of them I say. "If you want to. you can." My father and mother, Joseph Jr. and Joanne, who have lived lives of faithful perseverance regardless of the obstacles they faced, are my heroes. Thank you for imparting to me the "stuff" of dogged determination. Finally to Tom and Jane Bilby, thank you for making the first year less stressful. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES 8 ABSTRACT 9 CHAPTER ONE 10 INTRODUCTION 10 The Research Problem 12 The Research Purpose 15 The Significance of the Research 23 Conceptual Framework 25 Research Questions 26 The Researcher 29 The Organization of the Dissertation 31 CHAPTER TWO 32 SURVEY OF RELATED LITERATURE 32 Religious Institutions 32 Denominational Theology 34 Lutheran Theology and Higher Education 35 Assemblies of God Theology and Higher Education 40 Decision Making Literature 47 Governance Literature 51 The Literature On Presidents 59 The Literature on Goveming Boards 61 Critical Literature Review and Conceptual Framework 64 CHAPTER THREE 72 METHODOLOGY 72 Research Design 72 Data Sources 76 Documents 77 Interviews 80 Field Notes 82 Data Collection 83 Document Types 93 Field Notes 94 Data Analysis 95 Research Question 1 96 Research Question II 97 Research Question III 98 Research Question IV 98 Trustworthiness and Limitations of the Analysis 99 Summary 100 CHAPTER FOUR 102 7 FINDINGS - TWO KINGDOMS UNIVERSITY 102 Two Decision Making Events 103 Missed Enrollment Targets 104 Masterplanning 108 Analysis 111 Theology 1' I Identity 114 Tolerance and Diversity 122 Conflict 128 Denominational Governance 133 Status Seeking and Academic Capitalism 142 Status Seeking 142 Academic Capitalism 144 An Emergent Theme - Globalization 148 Summary 151 CHAPTER FIVE 153 FINDINGS - PNEUMA UNIVERSITY 153 Two Decision Making Events 154 Presidential Selection and Financial Crisis 155 Decision Making Structure and Context 163 Theology 165 Identity 168 Denominational Governance 176 Control and Power 177 Status Seeking 185 Academic Capitalism 188 Summary 191 CHAPTER SIX 193 CONCLUSIONS 193 Conceptual Framework 195 Theology 198 Denominational Governance 203 Status Seeking and Academic Capitalism 210 Limitations of the Research 2 i 3 Implications of the Research 213 The Lesson 215 REFERENCES 217 8 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 3.1 - First Interview Question Guide: Life Experience Questions 87 Table 3.2 - Second Interview Question Guide; Contemporary Experience Questions 89 Table 3.3 - Third Interview Question Guide: The Meaning of Decision Making 91 Figure 4.1 - Governing Structure of Two Kingdoms University 135 Table 4.1 - Lutheran Experience of the Informants at Two Kingdoms University 117 Table 4.2 - Affiliations of Regents 147 Table 5.1 - Pentecostal Experience of the Informants at Pneuma University 173 Figure 5.1 - Governing Structure of Two Kingdoms University 180 Table 5.2 - Allocation of Trustee Positions 181 9 ABSTRACT The Effects of Faith, Theology and Denominational Governance on Decision Making by Senior Level Administrators at Christian Universities uses two case studies to explore what effects, if any, powerful systems of belief have upon decisions made at two denominationally affiliated Christian liberal arts universities. This study grows out of the framework of Lukes' (1973) work on power and decision making that describes how belief systems form an organizational bias for power and decision making that is often unrecognized
Recommended publications
  • Towards an Understanding of Lived Methodism
    Telling Our Stories: Towards an Understanding of Lived Methodism Item Type Thesis or dissertation Authors Edwards, Graham M. Citation Edwards, G. M. (2018). Telling Our Stories: Towards an Understanding of Lived Methodism. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Chester, United Kingdom. Publisher University of Chester Rights Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Download date 28/09/2021 05:58:45 Item License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10034/621795 Telling Our Stories: Towards an Understanding of Lived Methodism Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Chester for the degree of Doctor of Professional Studies in Practical Theology By Graham Michael Edwards May 2018 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The work is my own, but I am indebted to the encouragement, wisdom and support of others, especially: The Methodist Church of Great Britain who contributed funding towards my research. The members of my group interviews for generously giving their time and energy to engage in conversation about the life of their churches. My supervisors, Professor Elaine Graham and Dr Dawn Llewellyn, for their endless patience, advice and support. The community of the Dprof programme, who challenged, critiqued, and questioned me along the way. Most of all, my family and friends, Sue, Helen, Simon, and Richard who listened to me over the years, read my work, and encouraged me to complete it. Thank you. 2 CONTENTS Abstract 5 Summary of Portfolio 6 Chapter One. Introduction: Methodism, a New Narrative? 7 1.1 Experiencing Methodism 7 1.2 Narrative and Identity 10 1.3 A Local Focus 16 1.4 Overview of Thesis 17 Chapter Two.
    [Show full text]
  • Enriching Families in the Parish Through the Use of Musical Drama
    Concordia Seminary - Saint Louis Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project Concordia Seminary Scholarship 2-1-2001 Enriching Families in the Parish Through the Use of Musical Drama Wallace Becker Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, BeckerW@csl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.csl.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Becker, Wallace, "Enriching Families in the Parish Through the Use of Musical Drama" (2001). Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project. 109. https://scholar.csl.edu/dmin/109 This Major Applied Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Concordia Seminary Scholarship at Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. For more information, please contact seitzw@csl.edu. CONCORDIA SEMINARY SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI ENRICHING FAMILIES IN THE PARISH THROUGH THE USE OF MUSICAL DRAMA A MAJOR APPLIED PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY REV. WALLACE M. BECKER SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI FEBRUARY, 2001 To Alvina, my wife, To Jeremy and Andy, my sons. Our family has been a blessing from God. The musical dramas that we have shared have been wonderful family experiences. They have given me great joy. CONTENTS ABSTRACT x INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER ONE: FAMILY CENTERED MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH 4 Introduction 4 The Family is God's Design 8 The Church Was Established By God 22 The Church Is the Family of God 24 Church and Family Working Together 28 The Attitude of the Leaders 32 Church Programs 34 Church Programs That Oppose the Family 40 Adding Family-Friendly Programs 41 Christian Family, The Church in That Place 45 TWO: MUSICAL DRAMA IN THE CHURCH 48 Introduction 48 The Roots of Musical Drama in the Early Christian Church .
    [Show full text]
  • Becoming Lutheran: Exploring the Journey of American Evangelicals Into Confessional Lutheran Thought
    Concordia Seminary - Saint Louis Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project Concordia Seminary Scholarship 9-23-2013 Becoming Lutheran: Exploring the Journey of American Evangelicals into Confessional Lutheran Thought Matthew Richard Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, pastormattrichard@gmail.com Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.csl.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Richard, Matthew, "Becoming Lutheran: Exploring the Journey of American Evangelicals into Confessional Lutheran Thought" (2013). Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project. 138. https://scholar.csl.edu/dmin/138 This Major Applied Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Concordia Seminary Scholarship at Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. For more information, please contact seitzw@csl.edu. CONCORDIA SEMINARY SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI BECOMING LUTHERAN: EXPLORING THE JOURNEY OF AMERICAN EVANGELICALS INTO CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN THOUGHT A MAJOR APPLIED PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY STUDIES IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY REV. MATTHEW R. RICHARD SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI BECOMING LUTHERAN: EXPLORING THE JOURNEY OF AMERICAN EVANGELICALS INTO CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN THOUGHT REV. MATTHEW R. RICHARD SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 Concordia Seminary Saint Louis, Missouri Advisor DR. ROBERT
    [Show full text]
  • A Theology of Creation Lived out in Christian Hymnody
    Concordia Seminary - Saint Louis Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Concordia Seminary Scholarship 5-1-2014 A Theology of Creation Lived Out in Christian Hymnody Beth Hoeltke Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, hoeltkeb@csl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.csl.edu/phd Part of the Christianity Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Hoeltke, Beth, "A Theology of Creation Lived Out in Christian Hymnody" (2014). Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation. 58. https://scholar.csl.edu/phd/58 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Concordia Seminary Scholarship at Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. For more information, please contact seitzw@csl.edu. A THEOLOGY OF CREATION LIVED OUT IN CHRISTIAN HYMNODY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Department of Doctrinal Theology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Beth June Hoeltke May 2014 Approved by Dr. Charles Arand Advisor Dr. Kent Burreson Reader Dr. Erik Herrmann Reader © 2014 by Beth June Hoeltke. All rights reserved. Dedicated in loving memory of my parents William and June Hoeltke Life is Precious. Give it over to God, our Creator, and trust in Him alone. CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
    [Show full text]
  • Defending the Gospel in Legal Style Legal in Gospel the Defending John Warwick Montgomery Warwick John
    Defending the Gospel in Legal Style Montgomery John Warwick Traditional apologetics is either focused on obscure, quasi-Thomist philosophi- cal arguments for God’s existence or on 18th-century-style answers to alleged biblical contradictions. But a new approach has recently entered the picture: the juridical defence of historic Christian faith, with its particular concern for demons- trating Jesus’s deity and saving work for mankind. The undisputed leader of this movement is John Warwick Montgomery, emeritus professor of law and humani- ties, University of Bedfordshire, England, and director, International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights, Strasbourg, France. His latest book (of more than sixty published during his career) shows the strength of legal apo- logetics: its arguments, drawn from secular legal reasoning, can be rejected only at the cost of jettisoning the legal system itself, on which every civilised society depends for its very existence. The present work also includes theological essays on vital topics of the day, characterised by the author’s well-known humour and skill for lucid communication. John Warwick Montgomery is the leading advoca- te of a legal apologetic for historic Christian faith. He is trained as a historian (Ph.D., University of Chicago), an English barrister, French avocat, and American lawyer (LL.D., Cardiff University, Wales, U.K.), and theologian (D.Théol., Faculty of Protes- tant Theology, University of Strasbourg, France). He has debated major representatives of secula- rism (atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, death-of-God advocate Thomas Altizer, liberal theologian Bishop James Pike, atheistic cosmologist Sean M. Carroll, et al.). He is the author or editor of more than 60 books and 150 journal articles, and has appeared on innumerable international television and radio broadcasts.
    [Show full text]
  • Core Like a Rock: Luther’S Theological Center
    OCTOBER 2, 2017 CORE LIKE A ROCK: LUTHER’S THEOLOGICAL CENTER Kenneth A. Cherney, Jr., PhD WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY CORE LIKE A ROCK: LUTHER’S THEOLOGICAL CENTER You have asked me in this essay to “review the central core of Luther’s confession of divine revelation.” That is interestingly put. Lots of things have cores, and they function in different ways. Apples have cores that you throw away. When I was growing up, Milwaukee had its “inner core,” defined in 1960 by a special mayoral commission as the area between Juneau Avenue on the south, 20th Street on the west, Holton Street on the east, and Keefe Avenue on the north—a blighted part of town, so they said, where people from my tribe didn’t go.1 The earth’s “core” is a glob of molten nickel/iron wrapped around a solid iron ball, and those who claim to know these things say our core generated the heat that caused Florida to break off from Africa and remain stuck on Georgia and Alabama,2 for which many persons are grateful. The “core” of a nuclear reactor is like that; it’s where the fissionable material is found and where the reaction happens that is the whole point. So is the cylinder of “core” muscles around your abdomen, without which you can have biceps the size of Dwayne Johnson’s and when the bad guys show up you’re still basically George McFly, only in a tighter shirt. That is how I understand my assignment. You want to hear about Luther’s spiritual fulcrum, the point around which everything turned.
    [Show full text]
  • The First Great Awakening
    1730-1755, both in Protestant Europe and the American colonies Powerful, dynamic preachers Focuses on personal, spiritual conviction and redemption, and a commitment to a new standard of morality. Downplayed ritual, ceremony, doctrine, sacraments, and church hierarchy. Reshaped denominations: Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, Baptist, Methodist. Spawned a movement known as “revivalism.” 18th and 19th Century American Protestant movement Charles Finney In short, Christian life begins with the personal decision to accept Jesus We can increase the number of conversions to Christ if we learn how to intentionally manipulate unsuspecting religious consumers. Harness human motivations to drive individuals to commit themselves to Jesus Once they do, the process of discipleship will fix these false motivations. We just have to get them there. This led to the “new measures:” catchier music, more entertaining, practical, and dynamic preaching Emphasis on the blessings received from the Christian life. “The object is to get up an excitement, and bring the people out…I do not mean to say that [these] measures are pious, or right, but only that they are wise, in the sense that they are the…means to the end…The object of our measures is to gain attention, and you must have something new [to do that].” “Religion is the work of man. It is something for man to do. [But] there are so many things to lead their minds off from religion…that it is necessary to raise an excitement among them.” Charles Grandison Finney, Lectures on Revivals of Religion, 1835 “I could not but regard and treat this whole question of imputation as a theological fiction, somewhat related to our legal fiction of John Doe and Richard Roe.” Charles Grandison Finney, Memoirs of Charles Grandison Finney, published post-humously 1876 “But according to the actual history books, the Second Great Awakening was no real awakening at all.
    [Show full text]
  • Church Growth Movement: a Lutheran Analysis
    THE CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENT: A LUTHERAN ANALYSIS by: Steve O. Scheiderer, M-Div. A Research Report Submitted in Partial Fulfill~ent of the Requirements £or the Sacred Theology Master Degree RES 799, Research Hours Professor Kurt Marquart, Advisor 11{}150 Concordia Theological, Seminary Fort Wayne, Indiana January, 1985 CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY . LIBRARY FORT WAYNE, INDIANA DEDICATION This paper is dedicated to Lynn, my "thesis widow," and to The Rev. Paul O. Rosnau and Mr. Robert E. Smith Jr. who gave much of their time in helping to improve several key aspects of the paper. COPYRIGHT 1985 STEVE O. SCHEIDERER TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS • • . • • . • • • • • p. viii. INTRODUCTION ••••• • • • • p. 1 PART I: THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS CHAPTER ONE: CHURCH GROWTH'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONVERSION OF MAN Discussion Points p. 17 The Doctrine 0£ Man ••••• p. 17 The Harvest Principle •••. p. 18 The Great Commission ••. p. 20 The "Means" and "End" Distinction •••• p. 21 Diagnosing the Receptivity 0£ Man • p. 22 The Quest for a Relevant Gospel •••••• p. 23 The Hoaogeneous Unit Principle •••••• p. 26 The Analysis •••.•••••.•••••• p. 29 The Doctrine 0£ Man •••••••••• p. 29 The Harvest Principle ••••••••• p. 32 The Great Commission •••••••• p. 38 The "Means" and "End" Distinction p. 40 Diagnosing the Receptivity 0£ Man ••••• p. 44 The Quest for a Relevant Gospel . p. 48 The Homogeneous Unit Principle ••.••• p. 59 Endnotes p. 68 CHAPTER TWO: CHURCH GROWTH'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH'S MINISTRY Discussion Points. p. 79 The Church Growth Understanding 0£ the Nature and Purpose 0£ the Church ••••••••••••• p. 80 The Nature of the Church •••••• p. 80 The "Celebration ..
    [Show full text]
  • Law and Gospel in the Church Growth Movement By: Robert Koester
    Law and Gospel in the Church Growth Movement By: Robert Koester [Dakota-Montana Pastoral Conference - September 18,19, 1984] Preface They are sharp. They have a certain charisma, a certain persuasiveness. They have done their homework. And anyone engaged in mission work in the 1980’s will sooner or later deal with their ideas. Their movement has been called the most important mission development of the century. Some call it a fad. I doubt that it is. It is an attempt to get a handle on basic missiological questions. It is the first really unified attempt to wrestle with questions individual churches have been wrestling with on their own. Whether under its present name, or another, it will be around for a long time. The Church Growth movement, and its founder Donald McGavran, need to be understood and understood well. They are knocking on the door of any church that takes mission work seriously. They claim to have much to of offer any church that will I take the time to listen. Should we take them up on their offer? It is my hope that this paper will I give you some insights into the Church Growth movement and that it might help us make what I believe to be an inevitable decision. A Basic Definition Just what is the Church Growth movement? The phrase “Church Growth Movement” would seem to denote something specific. Yet at the same time, taking away the capital letters, “church growth movement” might seem to denote something rather nebulous, something that probably wouldn’t be associated with any specific person or principle.
    [Show full text]
  • Theological Reflection
    Theological Reflection Perry Chang, PhD and Joelle Kopacz, MA In partnership with: PC(USA ) Research Services Charles Wiley and 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville KY 40202 David Gambrell ( 5 0 2 ) 5 6 9 - 5139 Theological Reflection 10/22/2016 2016 Panel, Volume #3 Executive Summary Five main findings emerged from responses to the August 2016 Presbyterian Panel survey on Theological Reflection: Although Presbyterians are involved in a limited number of interfaith activities, the number of types of interfaith activities in which members are involved increased somewhat between 2013 and 2016. For teaching elders, the number stayed the same. Learning about other faiths is something many Presbyterians see as important, and their responses to “quiz” questions about world religions suggest Presbyterians already know a fair amount. Fewer Presbyterians (though still majorities) regard interfaith bridge-building as a crucial task for the Presbyterian Church. Grace is a crucial tenet of Reformed Christianity, for most Presbyterians. Also considered important by many Presbyterians are: the sovereignty of God, ministers and elders lead the church together, stewardship, and priesthood of all believers. Most Presbyterians believe Jesus is central to salvation, but members and teaching elders disagree about how this works: The largest number of teaching elders believe that God selects certain people for salvation through Jesus, while the largest number of members believe people who commit themselves to Jesus thereby choose salvation themselves. More Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) teaching elders than members feel that God is involved in most aspects of their life and on a daily basis. When asked whether they regard all of nine listed aspects of their life as a calling from God and whether they feel God’s guidance at least daily, more teaching elders than members say ”yes.” More PC(USA) teaching elders than U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • 37. the Gift of Connexionalism in the 21St Century
    37. The Gift of Connexionalism in the 21st Century Contact name and details The Revd Dr Nicola V Price-Tebbutt Secretary of the Faith and Order Committee price-tebbuttn@methodistchurch.org.uk Resolutions 37/1. The Conference adopts the Report and commends it for study and reflection throughout the Connexion. 1. Whether or not Methodism was ‘born in song’ is open to some debate, but it was certainly born as a Connexion. The Wesleys’ strand of the wider eighteenth-century Evangelical Revival comprised those individuals, societies and preachers who were ‘in connexion with’ John Wesley. In its eighteenth-century usage, ‘connexion’ referred both to the circle of those connected to some person or group and to the relationship itself. It was used of politicians as well as religious bodies, and within the Revival, George Whitefield, Howell Harris and the Countess of Huntingdon, as well as John Wesley, had their ‘connexions’. This description of the Wesleys’ movement, retaining its distinctive eighteenth-century spelling, has endured for nearly three hundred years. ‘Connexionalism’ has been elaborated theologically, expressed in hymns and liturgies, justified in debate with advocates of other models of church order, and articulated in the constitution and polity of the Methodist Church. Implicitly and explicitly, it has also shaped, and been lived out in, the faith, practice and assumptions of generations of Methodist people. It is a way of being Christian which British Methodism shares with Methodist Churches in other parts of the world. 2. The present report was prompted by a sense that the connexional understanding of the Church was facing challenges in the first decades of the twenty-first century.
    [Show full text]
  • Theological Observer
    Volume 62: Number 1 January 1998 Table of Contents Donald L. Deffner (1924-1997) .................... 3 Two Resolutions from the Faculty of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana ....... 5 Adiaphora: Marriage and Funeral Liturgies Bryan D. Spinks ........................... 7 Come Sing of Christ the Lamb James P. Winsor .......................... 24 Religion, Culture, and Our Worship Gene E. Veith ............................ 25 The Church Growth Movement and Lutheran Worship Ernie V. Lassman. ........................ 39 Theological Observer .......................... 63 Charles Finney on Theology and Worship .......................... Lawrence R. Rast Jr. Books Received. ............................... 68 Book Reviews ................................. 69 Christian Plain Style: 7Ae Evolution of a Spiritual Ideal. By Peter Auski ................ James M. Tallmon Reformed Confessionalism in Nineteenth-Centu~y America: Essays on the Thought ofJohn Williamson Nevi. Edited by Sam Hamstra Jr. and Arie Griffioen ........................... Lawrence R. Rast Jr. Indices for Volume 61 (1997) .................... 77 Theological Observer Charles Finney on Theology and Worship "Without new measures it is impossible that the Church should succeed in gaining the attention of the world to religion. There are so many exciting subjects constantly brought before the public mind, such a running to and fro, so many that cry 'Lo here!' and 'Lo there!' that the Church cannot maintain her ground without sufficient novelty in measures, to get the public ear."' If one knew no better, one might conclude that this quote dates from 1998. Everywhere we turn it seems that we hear one call after another for the church to "get up to date," "get in line with the times," or to "go contemporary." Actually, though, the quote dates from the 1830s when Charles Finney first published his noted Revival Lecfures.
    [Show full text]