Lancaster Theological Seminary

Richard J Rimert

There are several issues that impact the experience of women who are widows. This dissertation provides a theoretical examination of these issues, including the biblical treatment of widows, sexuality and intimacy, age, and the place of widows in the church. A group of women, most of whom are widows, examined these issues. Following their consideration of these issues, this group designed and developed an ongoing ministry program with widows. The process used to examine these issues and develop the ministry program is described in this dissertation. The final section discusses the learnings, conclusions, and suggestions for future consideration that resulted from this study.

Lloyd F Speer

The thesis of this project was that churches which follow the guidance of the classical marks of the Church (unity, holiness, catholicity, apostolicity) in making decisions, especially building and space decisions, are more successful than those that did not. The results of the study supported this thesis and lead to the implication that churches need to understand that the manner in which decisions are made is as important as what is decided. Churches can get by without adequate facilities but they cannot prosper without the marks being operative.

Martha H Boyer

This project identifies characteristics of urban, culturally inclusive, growing congregations that can be adopted by urban, culturally exclusive, declining congregations. Included are stories of formerly declining mid-sized congregations that have increased in worship attendance in the 1990's, and in which a contributing factor is the adoption of cultural inclusivity. Case studies were formulated from on-site interviews and demographic data in order to identify similar tactics used in the revitalization processes. Observation about the essence of the churches' vitality emerged. The dissertation concludes with a Pauline-style letter, a message of challenge and hope from inclusive churches to churches in decline.

Alice Z Anderman

Confirmation education in the post modern church must meet the diverse needs of learners in a multifaceted church and society. Through an ethnographic study of church members, colleagues, and youth, I study how confirmation classes were taught. I trace changes from a modern to a post modern church and show why ways of teaching confirmation using limited methods no longer work in our post modern church. I examine Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, apply his theory both to classroom teaching and to theological methods and metaphors, and begin to develop- a confirmation program using multiple intelligence theory and multiple theologies. Through the witness of young people taught in confirmation classes using multiple intelligence theory and multiple theologies, I show that this method makes confirmation class a significant time in their faith journeys, that relationships with others and God are developed, and that young people are incorporated into the church.

Martha B Sheaffer

"Do we die alone?" This question was the impetus for the development of a training program for volunteers to provide companionship for the dying in a church-related, long-term care setting. The curriculum is spiritually-based and includes topics such as: an understanding of companionship, introducing Luther's theology of the resurrection of the dead, recognizing the physical signs and symptoms of dying, developing the participant's understanding of ministry of presence including active listening and silence, using the Lectio Divina as a method for prayer and developing the gift of silence. The companions function under the supervision of the chaplain, who is a member of the long-term care team.

Charles William Salisbury

The use of the unity candle is widespread in United Methodist churches. Clergy use it even when they have misgivings. They do this because the unity candle is becoming an effective symbol of marital unity. Although the marriage ceremony has developed over the centuries in an effort to express a needed theological message for marriage, it by no means is complete or final. The marriage ceremony contains many practices that were originally secular in nature and subsequently sacralized. The unity candle is another such practice undergoing this same sacralization process. Laity-influenced popular religion has supported this process over the last thirty years. This effort will lead to the eventual acceptance and assimilation of the unity candle as a legitimate part of the liturgy of the United Methodist marriage ceremony.

Beryl Marvin Jantzi

ENRICH, a marital inventory, was administered as an instructional tool to assist in developing a marriage enrichment curriculum for an adult Christian education class. The tool served as a catalyst for building awareness and encouraging change. It provided a means by which couples could listen to each other concerning their shared needs and aspirations for marriage. At the outset of the project it was anticipated that couples would experience an increase in their level of marriage satisfaction. This proved not to be true in the manner expected. ENRICH assisted in helping me better understand that marriage enrichment may actually heighten a couple's expectation for marriage thus creating a constructive discontent which can prompt couples to explore new areas of growth in marriage never before explored.

Kenneth Edward Brandt

The project seeks to propose a strategy for how the local church may discuss public policy issues in a constructive way that informs people of the church's heritage, identity, and ethos. The project makes recommendations to local churches, ministers of word and sacrament, the General Assembly and synods. Using a survey the project outlines implementation of a forum and roundtable model to discuss public policy issues within the local Presbyterian church.