Spiritual Nurture and Congregational Development

1985 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
James E. Dittes ◽  
Perry LeFevre ◽  
W. Widick Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Congregational Development ◽  
Spiritual Nurture

Martin Luther’s Pastoral Writings

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald K. Rittgers
Keyword(s):  
Christian Life ◽  
Late Medieval ◽  
Spiritual Nurture ◽  
Dominant Theme ◽  
Entire Career ◽  
Care Of Souls ◽  
Insight Into

Luther was first and foremost a pastor who was deeply concerned with the care of souls. While the study of his controversial writings provides important insight into various aspects of his theology, it was his pastoral writings that arguably made the greater impact on his contemporaries. These writings spanned his entire career, examined numerous topics, and appeared in various genres. Luther’s deep commitment to producing pastoral works aimed at edification and consolation, especially of the laity, may be seen as a continuation of a late medieval trend that was similarly concerned with spiritual nurture and guidance. Consolation was a dominant theme in Luther’s pastoral writings, but so was the call to a deeply earnest Christianity that embraced suffering and affliction for the sake of the gospel. Luther’s pastoral writings were intended to help pastors minister to the needs of their flocks, but in many cases these works were directed to the laity, both to console and exhort them in the Christian life and also to mobilize them for ministry to one another.

scholarly journals Discerning the essence and mission of the church in the midst of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Smith Francis Korbla Tettey ◽  
Malan Nel
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Practical Theology ◽  
Opinion Poll ◽  
Congregational Development ◽  
Congregational Life ◽  
New Creation ◽  
The People ◽  
The Future ◽  
God's Mission ◽  
The Church

This article reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic gives the church an opportunity to reconsider what the centre of God’s mission is for the congregation. It will engage on the implications of its reflections for public practical theology and congregational development. Spurred by an electronic opinion poll carried out by the author on six focus groups on WhatsApp platforms, averaging 200 participants each, during the lockdown days in Ghana, the question was put, “What one thing do you miss about church during the lock down period?” Majority of respondents mentioned communal fellowship (Konoinia) as the most missed aspect of congregational life. This article reflects on suggestions engendered by this observation and how it helps congregations to discern what makes them relevant to their members. Thus, helping congregations to envision the future, invoke dreams of a new creation where a return to normality will birth a world in which the church would take a new shape, presenting a fresh sense of missional community able to bring God to the people of our day.

scholarly journals Die implikasies van ’n nadere Skrifgefundeerde definisie van dissipel en dissipelmaking vir gemeentebou

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pretorius
Keyword(s):  
Practical Theology ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Congregational Development ◽  
Church Development ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Correct Understanding

The implications of a closer Scriptural definition of disciple and discipling for church development In the field of Practical Theology the term “discipling” is often used as a synonym for both spiritual growth and for teaching. To define the term as such can contribute to a dilution of the term “disciple” and to an inaccurate understanding of the process of discipling. In this article the concept of “disciple” is critically analysed. The following conclusion is arrived at: “Discipling” entails the lifelong process by which people are guided and encouraged to progressively become followers and pupils (disciples) of Jesus. The purpose of such a process implies that a person will become more and more like Jesus and will live according to the spirit of Jesus. A correct understanding of the concept of discipleship as a process has far-reaching implications for strategising congregational development.

Faith Communities Today:

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-211
Author(s):  
David Roozen
Keyword(s):  
Faith Communities ◽  
Research Association ◽  
Church Member ◽  
Congregational Development ◽  
Congregational Studies ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
Regular Cycle ◽  
Faith Traditions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Unique Experience

The Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership is the sponsor of the Faith Communities Today series of national surveys of American congregations. It started out as a conversation about “church” member surveys at the 1995 annual meeting of the Religious Research Association and by 2000 had grown into a multi-faith coalition of 27 denominations and faith traditions that, assisted with matching funds from the Lilly Endowment, conducted the largest national survey of American congregations ever undertaken, as a research-based resource for congregational development. In 2003 the partnership became a self-sustaining program of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, and established a regular cycle of decadal and mid-decadal such surveys, with an occasional qualitative study sprinkled in, which has continued to this day. This article tells the history of how this unique experience of practical ecclesiology came to be, how it evolved, and what it has produced.

scholarly journals Church discipline – semper reformanda in Reformation perspective

2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham A. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Pastoral Care ◽  
Christian Education ◽  
Kingdom Of God ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Church Discipline ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
Spiritual Nurture ◽  
Punitive Discipline ◽  
The Reformation

Church discipline – is semper reformanda in a time and space warp? Church discipline has become an anachronism in the life of the Christian faith community. In part, this results from a misunderstanding of the fundamental meaning of the term. Its early emphasis was on spiritual nurture, discipling people into the faith and into a relationship with one another and God. By the time of the Reformation, it took on a legalistic and rigid form that militated against its earlier approach. This resulted from a misunderstanding of key reformers from the Reforming tradition such as John Calvin and John Knox, who were concerned to build up individuals within the Christian community to become responsible members of society. In this way, discipline is transformative of individuals and society. The work of discipline was closely related both to pastoral care and Christian education and offered a corrective to Medieval discipline, where the concept of discipline was distorted when the use of punitive discipline as a last resort was elevated to become the norm. This situation was replicated in the post-Reformation period. Consequently, it now needs to be rehabilitated in the form of discipling or mentorship in order to restore its usefulness as an educative tool in the process of the pilgrimage towards the kingdom of God.

The House of God in Exile

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 222-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Woo
Keyword(s):  
Political Situation ◽  
Spiritual Nurture ◽  
Previous Argument ◽  
Political Exile

John Calvin’s unrelenting literary assault on French Nicodemism over three decades has long been recognized for its deep consistency and harsh negativity. Yet scholars have tended to neglect the ways in which Calvin’s polemic against religious dissimulation could exhibit significant flexibility according to the needs of his context. An outstanding example is 1552’s Quatre sermons … traictans des matières fort utiles pour nostre temps, a work containing the only sermons Calvin himself selected, revised, and prepared for publication. Whereas the reformer’s preface promises simply to revisit his previous argument that any participation in the Mass is idolatry, the present study argues that Calvin’s approach to Nicodemism in Quatre sermons was actually adapted to accomplish goals beyond decrying false worship, offering a carefully crafted apology for Calvin’s pastoral authority directed at his political situation. By repeatedly emphasizing God’s intent to bless his children through the ministry of a rightly ordered church, Quatre sermons marks a clear rhetorical shift in Calvin’s approach to Nicodemism away from a uniformly negative polemic against idolatry, stressing instead God’s provision of spiritual nurture via political exile. Unfolding its argument over four sermons, the publication ostensibly directs its plea for exile toward French Nicodemites, but in a manner that seems designed especially to silence Calvin’s foes in Geneva.

scholarly journals Called and sent to make a difference: Radical missionality

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malan Nel
Keyword(s):  
Practical Theology ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Systematic Theology ◽  
Congregational Development ◽  
Congregational Life ◽  
Radical Nature ◽  
Recent Developments

The concept ‘missional’ is well established within the so-called missional conversation. It is however often ‘questioned’ by scholars and pastors for different reasons. Sometimes it is almost dissected from the rest of theology, especially systematic theology. Recent developments in this field are given an account of in this article. The main purpose of the article is not to argue a case for the concept again. The purpose is to focus on whether theology and ministry in any way understand the radical implications if and when we are missional in being and doing. My assumption within the field of research on rediscovering discipleship in the development of missional congregations is that none of us have thought through how radical missionality is, especially over and against a ‘volkskirchliche’ understanding and practice of church. The article will also touch on some radical changes in philosophy of ministry and doing ministry within a missional paradigm.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article focuses mainly on Practical Theology and specifically Congregational Development (‘Missionarische Gemeindeaufbau’). This field stands in a direct relationship with Missiology. The article contributes to a growing understanding of the radical nature of missional thinking and practice in congregational life and ministry.

scholarly journals Darkness and Light in Evelyn Underhill

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-151
Author(s):  
Robyn Wrigley-Carr
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Spiritual Journey ◽  
Soul Care ◽  
Spiritual Nurture

Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941) was one of the most widely read writers in spirituality in the first half of the twentieth century. In addition to her nearly 40 books and hundreds of articles and reviews, Underhill wrote a significant number of letters of spiritual direction and led spiritual retreats in England in the 1920s and 1930s. Darkness and light are recurring themes in both Underhill’s letters of spiritual nurture and in the prayers that she wrote and selected for use when leading retreats. These two themes also operate as a lens for exploring Underhill’s own personal, spiritual journey. In this article, the themes of darkness and light are explored in Underhill’s spiritual journey, in her soul care of others, as revealed through her letters, and in her prayers for retreat leading. Underhill provides us with wisdom concerning soul care for people experiencing darkness. She shows us how to help them endure and trust God when the light is gone.

scholarly journals Dakwah bi al-Irsyãd untuk Memelihara Kesehatan Mental Spiritual Pasien di Rumah Sakit

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Hospital ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Spiritual Guidance ◽  
Ibn Sina ◽  
Spiritual Nurture ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Primary Nurse ◽  
Descriptive Method

This research was conducted on the basis of the fact the field that the maintenance of mental health inpatients spiritual through the spiritual guidance of Islam in the hospital neglected and not considered part of Islam (da’wa). It has violated the professional code of ethics, the rights of patients, and can cause a psychological impact to the theological to the patient. Research conducted at five hospitals namely Yarsi Pontianak General Hospital, Islamic Hospital Ibn Sina Yarsi Padang, Regional General Hospital R.Syamsudin, SH of Sukabumi, Regional General Hospital Al-Ihsan Baleendah, and Regional General Hospital Ujungberung Bandung . The purpose of this research is to find a model of preaching bi al-Irsyad  for spiritual nurture mental health inpatients in hospitals which until now has not existed. The method used in this research is descriptive method with qualitative approaches and reseach and development. The source of the data in this study obtained from hospitalized patients, the patient's family, spiritual adviser, the primary nurse who had attended training, head of nursing, and head of spirituality. The data in this study were collected through observation, interview, and use documents. From the results of this study out that the construction of the model da’wa bi al-Irsyad can be conveyed through Spiritual Guidance Islam to maintain the mental health of spiritual in the hospital and consist of the seven components of the model, they  are : rationale, vision, mission, goals and benefits, functionality, form of service and program guidelines, methods and techniques, guide services. The results of this study is important to be a source of da'wah guidance in hospitals and become an important study for the world of da'wah both academically and practically. This study also proposes two important recommendation. First, the next phase of research should be done to develop this model towards a model that is feasible and tested through further research. The second, collaboration of the parties ie UIN Sunan Gunung Djati in particular the Faculty of Da'wa and Communication, Majlis Ulama Indonesia, Institute of Health Sciences, and the hospitals  to formulate policies in the maintenance of mental health spiritual patient and to quickly produce human resources that can fill the needs of aspects this.   Penelitian  ini dilakukan atas dasar kenyataan dilapangan bahwa pemeliharaan kesehatan mental spiritual pasien rawat inap melalui bimbingan rohani Islam di rumah sakit terabaikan dan dianggap bukan bagian dari dakwah Islam. Hal ini telah melanggar kode etik profesi, hak pasien, dan dapat menimbulkan dampak psikologis hingga teologis terhadap pasien.  Penelitian diadakan di lima rumah sakit yaitu Rumah Sakit Umum Yarsi Pontianak, Rumah Sakit Islam Yarsi Ibnu Sina Padang, Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah  R.Syamsudin, SH Kota Sukabumi, Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Al-Ihsan Baleendah, dan Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah  Ujungberung Kota Bandung. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah  menemukan konstruk atau model dakwah bi al-Irsyãd  untuk memelihara kesehatan mental  spiritual pasien  di rumah sakit  yang sampai saat ini belum ada. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif dengan pendekatan kualitatif dan reseach and development. Adapun sumber data  dalam penelitian ini  didapat dari para pasien rawat inap yang beragama Islam, keluarga pasien,  pembina ruhani, para perawat primer yang telah mengikuti pelatihan, Kabag Keperawatan, dan Kasubsi Kerohanian. Data dalam penelitian ini dihimpun melalui teknik observasi, wawancara, dan penggunaan dokumen.  Dari hasil penelitian ini ditemukan bahwa konstruk model dakwah bi al-Irsyãd dapat disampaikan melalui Bimbingan Rohani Islam untuk memelihara kesehatan mental  spiritual pasien di sakit dan terdiri dari tujuh komponen model yaitu : dasar pemikiran, visi misi, tujuan dan manfaat, fungsi, bentuk layanan dan panduan program,  metode dan teknik, panduan layanan. Hasil penelitian ini penting untuk menjadi sumber panduan dakwah di rumah sakit dan menjadi kajian penting bagi dunia dakwah baik secara akademis amupun praktis. Penelitian ini juga mengajukan  dua rekomendasi  penting.  Pertama, seyogyanya dilakukan penelitian tahap berikutnya untuk mengembangkan model ini kearah model yang feasible dan teruji melalui penelitian lanjutan. Kedua melakukan kerjasama antar pihak terkait yaitu UIN Sunan Gunung Djati khususnya Fakultas Dakwah dan Komunikasi, Majlis Ulama Indonesia, Akper/Stikes, dan pihak rumah sakit  untuk merumuskan kebijakan dalam pemeliharaan kesehatan mental spiritual pasien dan untuk segera menghasilkan sumber daya manusia yang dapat mengisi kebutuhan aspek ini.

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