Projects That Matter introduces project leaders and teams to the five basic elements of project design and describes in detail a six-step process for designing and implementing a project evaluation and disseminating evaluation findings. Written for the nonexpert, leaders in religious settings will find Cahalan's guidance clear and invaluable. Presenting evaluation as a form of collaborative inquiry, Cahalan show how leaders can use evaluation design to develop effective project plans and prepare case statements for donors or grant proposals for foundations. She introduces project planning and evaluation as mission-related practices and invites leaders to consider how their tradition's particular mission and beliefs influence the way they plan and evaluate. Cahalan concludes the book by making explicit her own theological presuppositions that the virtues of discernment, stewardship, and prudence are essential for good project planning and evaluation"

Staat und Kirchen in der DDR - dieses Thema hat besonders in den neunziger Jahren heftige kontroverse Diskussionen ausgeloest. Dabei wurde besonders die Frage nach der Rolle der Kirchen und der Haltung einiger namhafter Kirchenvertreter in den Mittelpunkt gestellt. Die im vorliegenden Band versammelten Autoren verschiedener Provenienz analysieren den Erkenntnisstand und machen in ihren Beitragen deutlich, dass es Forschung zum Verhaltnis von Staat und Kirchen in der DDR schon weit vor der Wende und nicht nur beschrankt auf den deutschen Raum gab. Insgesamt liegt hier ein in seiner Konzentration und Vielfalt einmaliger UEberblick vor, der gestandenen und jungen Wissenschaftlern ebenso wie Interessierten aus Politik, Bildung und Medienoeffentlichkeit hilft, sich auf einem wichtigen Feld der Aufarbeitung der Geschichte der DDR zu informieren und zu orientieren.

Of Charts Ancient and Medieval Church History provides a powerful visual tool for understanding the historical foundations on which contemporary Christianity rests. From geography, to theology, to doctrines both orthodox and heretical, to key figures and movements across the centuries, the broad, comprehensive scope of early church history comes across simply, clearly, and with impact. Divided into two sections---Ancient and Medieval---this book covers the first 1,500 years of church history with nearly 160 charts, diagrams, and maps grouped under numerous subdivisions. A sampler of subdivisions and specific charts includes: * Introductions: Church History in a Nutshell * Prominent Cities * The Setting of the Church * The Life of Jesus Christ * The Age of the Earliest Church Fathers * The Age of the Apologists * Essential Components of Gnosticism * The Creed of Chalcedon * Pelagius and Augustine Compared * The Rise of Episcopacy and Papacy in the Church * The Emergence of the Roman Catholic Church * The Rise of the Islamic Faith * The Division of the Church: West and East * The Crusades * Scholasticism * The Church of the Eve of the Reformation The PowerPoint CD-ROM supplied with this book gives instructors an ideal tool for classroom and group presentations. Charts of Ancient and Medieval Church History will help Christians not only develop a firm grasp on the rich legacy of their faith but understand how it influences the church today and their own lives as believers.

You pray it. But do you understand it? The Lord's Prayer has become so familiar to us that we don't think about what we're praying. It's a portrait of Jesus' heart. And in it Christians from different times, places, and traditions have been united. We pray it, but do we actually believe it? When Jesus taught his followers how to pray, he emphasized how uncomplicated it should be. There's no need for pretense or theatrics. Instead, simply ask for what you need as though you were speaking with your earthly father. This opens a window into Jesus' prayer life and presents us with a portrait of his heart for his followers. Wesley Hill re-introduces the Lord's Prayer. He shows us a God who is delighted to hear prayer. Petition by petition, in conversation with the Christian tradition, he draws out the significance of Jesus' words for prayer today.

This sourcebook of primary texts illustrates the history of Christianity from the first century to the death of Constantine. It covers all major persons and topics in early Christian life and thought and includes Gnostic texts and anti-Christian polemic. Now available to a wider North American audience, it remains a standard after fifty years in print.

Composed in 1809 in order to organize and direct a loosely assembled network of Scots-Irish Presbyterians on the Western Pennsylvania frontier, the Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington never quite achieved the immediate objectives that compelled its composition. Yet the document's lofty vision of a unified Christian Church, restored to the peace and purity that the New Testament had preached and promised, has for generations fueled the imagination and fired the commitment of millions of Christians worldwide with, often, quite contradictory results. Emerging from the work of an international online seminar, this truly monumental volume presents a definitive text with critical apparatus for a landmark document in the history of American religion and worldwide Christian ecumenism, along with eighteen insightful, incisive studies of the document's historical provenance, its theological and ecclesiological significance, and its continuing influence.

The Copts of Egypt, who consist of 10-15 per cent of the population, have traditionally been viewed as a 'beleaguered and persecuted minority'. Using newly discovered Coptic archival sources Vivian Ibrahim presents a fresh and vivid alternative reading of the community during the twentieth century. Avoiding the established portrayal of a monolithic entity headed by the Coptic Pope, Ibrahim examines the multifaceted dimensions of the Coptic community, assessing Coptic-State relations on one hand and Coptic intra-communal dimensions on the other. Examining the impact of the British Occupation of Egypt on the making of new national identities, she explores the emergence of a new politically active Coptic class; highlighting popular Coptic grassroots mobilisation during the 1919 revolution through the case-study of the Coptic priest Qommus Sergius. She discusses the centrality of the Copt and Wafdist, Makram Ebeid, on constitutional politics, and his role as a whistleblower during the 'Black Book Affair'. Breaking with the portrayal of a defenceless community, Ibrahim also reveals a strong Coptic response to the emergence and threats of Political Islam through the press. She presents and analyses for the first time, the unique satirical 'Ode to the Fezzed Shaykh', aimed at Muslim Brotherhood leader Hassan al-Banna. In 'The Copts of Egypt', Ibrahim also reveals fierce factionalism within the Coptic community in its struggle for modernisation. Examining mass corruption in monasteries and in the run-up to papal election campaigns, she analyses the ways in which the Church used the Egyptian State to bolster its claim to political as well as religious representation over the community. Through the establishment of benevolent and philanthropic societies, Ibrahim argues that Coptic youths were amongst the first to negotiate a role for themselves in post-revolutionary Egypt. Adopting President Nasser's revolutionary rhetoric of tathir, or cleansing, Ibrahim examines how a group of Coptic youths abducted their Pope and forced through their own agenda of religious and political reform. This book will be essential reading for scholars of the Coptic community and Middle East Studies.

Die Diskussion uber die Rolle von Staat und Kirche im Schulwesen ist von zentraler Bedeutung und wirft bis in die heutige Zeit politische und gesellschaftliche Fragen auf. Die Arbeit beschreibt die Sakularisierung des Schulwesens als einen Teil der grundlegenden Loesung von Bildung und Bildungstragern aus der uber Jahrhunderte tradierten Verknupfung weltlicher und geistlicher Angelegenheiten. Sie soll die Vorgange bei der Trennung von Staat und Kirche als einer Forderung des Burgertums aufhellen. Die fur Niederhessen als Teil des Kurfurstentums Kassel aufgezeigte Entwicklung kann dabei beispielhaft fur das Volksschulwesen in ganz Deutschland stehen.

Mit dieser Arbeit liefert der Verfasser - unter vollstandiger Verarbeitung der englischsprachigen Literatur - die erste Darstellung der Rechts- und Ordnungsgestalt der Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage (Mormonen) in deutscher Sprache. Dabei wird nach einer Einfuhrung in die Geschichte und Doktrin der Kirche ein besonderer Schwerpunkt auf das Kirchenverfassungsrecht und die innere Ordnung der Kirche gelegt. Schliesslich folgt eine Darstellung uber die Doktrin und die Praxis des staatskirchenrechtlichen Verstandnisses. Das Ziel des Buches ist es, in ubersichtlicher Systematisierung eine nutzliche Aufbereitung der Normen und Ordnungsstrukturen der Kirche Jesu Christi zu bieten. Gleichzeitig soll durch den gewahrten Einblick ein sachlicher Beitrag zur Entwicklung eines Klimas religioeser und weltanschaulicher Toleranz geleistet werden.

"Kirchenasyl" steht fur die sich seit etwa 15 Jahren haufenden Falle einer kirchlichen Unterbringung von Fluchtlingen zum Schutz vor staatlicher Abschiebung. Die Untersuchung beschaftigt sich im ersten, empirischen Teil mit der Entwicklung dieses Phanomens. Die Motive der Beteiligten, kirchlicherseits und staatlicherseits, werden ebenso untersucht wie ihre gegenseitigen Reaktionen bei der Gewahrung eines Kirchenasyls. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird der vielschichtigen innerkirchlichen Diskussion gewidmet. Der zweite, juristische Teil fragt nach den einfachrechtlichen und verfassungsrechtlichen Implikationen des Kirchenasyls. Der Autor sucht die rechtliche Loesung dabei vor allem im Grundrecht der Glaubens- und Gewissensfreiheit. Sein Ergebnis koennte dem Staat und der Kirche einen Ansatz fur die Beilegung dieses gesellschaftlichen und politischen Konflikts weisen.

In 1643 when the Long Parliament of England called the Westminster Assembly to produce the Westminster Confession, it also asked for a directory of "catechising." The Assembly asked Herbert Palmer to produce a draft of the Larger Catechism. Robert Baillie and other Scottish delegates found the work disappointing. In December 1643 a committee was formed to write the Catechism. In January 1647 the Assembly gave up writing one catechism and split it into two. The Westminster Shorter Catechism was to be "easier to read and concise for beginners" and the Larger Catechism was to be "more exact and comprehensive." The Catechism was completed by the Westminster Assembly in 1647. It was then adopted by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1648 and by the Presbyterian Synod of New York and Philadelphia in 1788.

Zum ersten Mal wird anhand der Originalakten aus den Archiven des Malteserordens und preussischer Behoerden die Grundung der Rheinisch-Westfalischen Malteser-Genossenschaft erzahlt. Zusammen mit einer Vereinigung in Schlesien bildete sie von der Mitte des vorherigen Jahrhunderts an die offizielle Vertretung des neunhundert Jahre alten Ordens vom Hl. Johannes in Deutschland, bis beide 1993 in der Deutschen Assoziation des Ordens zusammenfanden. Nach dem Ende des alten Grosspriorats Deutschland des Ordens in der Sakularisation suchten die Malteser aus den preussischen Westprovinzen in einem muhseligen und jahrelangen Ringen ihren Platz im nach wie vor altem Denken verhafteten Orden und der liberal gepragten preussischen Gesellschaft. Beobachtungen zur Stellung der Genossenschaft im politischen Katholizismus der Zeit und vor dem Hintergrund der Lage des Adels im Rheinland und in Westfalen werden hier zum ersten Mal getroffen. Fur den Malteserorden ist die Genossenschaft bei der Entwicklung neuer Mitgliederstrukturen hoch bedeutsam.

La question de l'obligation pour les femmes de porter un voile ou de se couvrir la chevelure a ete traitee par les sociologues dans son contexte social et politique. Mais l'histoire de ce voile, ses origines, sa tradition et donc sa signification meme, ont ete largement delaisses par la recherche. D'ou vient donc l'obligation pour les femmes de porter le voile? Est-elle veritablement religieuse? Est-elle, dans son essence, paienne, juive, chretienne, musulmane? Ou bien est-elle, en realite, issue de conflits psychologiques et sociaux vieux comme le monde? Les arguments utilises par les integristes pour voiler les femmes, ne seraient-ils pas eux-memes un voile, dissimulant la portee reelle de cette piece de vetement particuliere? La recherche historique permet de mieux saisir les enjeux du port obligatoire du voile par les femmes a une epoque ou les fanatismes religieux se developpent.

Contrary to charges of religious "dogma," Christian actors in international politics often wrestle with the lack of a clear path in determining what to do and how to act, especially in situations of violence and when encountering otherness. Lynch argues that it is crucial to recognise the ethical precarity of decision-making and acting. This book contextualizes and examines ethical struggles and justifications that key figures and movements gave during the early modern period of missionary activity in the Americas; in the interwar debates about how to act vis-a-vis fascism, economic oppression and colonialism in a "secular" world; in liberation theology's debates about the use of violence against oppression and bloodshed; and in contemporary Christian humanitarian negotiations of religious pluralism and challenges to the assumptions of western Christianity. Lynch explores how the wrestling with God that took place in each of these periods reveals ethical tensions that continue to impact both Christianity and international relations.

Das die Ungultigkeit der Ehe bewirkende Fehlen des Konsenses wird im Anschluss an eine in der Kanonistik vorherrschende Interpretation seit dem CIC/1917 nur anerkannt, wenn es sich darstellt als ein vorsatzlicher Ausschluss der Ehe. Dabei handelt es sich angesichts des personalistischen Eheverstandnisses im CIC/1983 um eine Engfuhrung, die ein Relikt des CIC/1917 ist und aus seiner Sicht der Ehe resultiert. Ausgehend von Urteilen dioezesaner Gerichte und der Diskussion um den fehlenden Ehewillen in der angelsachsischen Kanonistik sowie anhand ausgewahlter Urteile der Roemischen Rota weist die Studie nach, dass im Unterschied zu den Partialsimulationen nicht erst ein "positiver Willensakt", sondern bereits das Fehlen des Mindestwillens als mangelndes intentionales Erfassen der Lebensgemeinschaft Ehe deren Ungultigkeit bewirkt.

Out of print in recent years, this newly revised edition of Charles Ryrie's "The Role of Women in the Church," featuring a new foreword by Dorothy Kelley Patterson, proves its ongoing relevance in addressing what is still a divisive issue at the forefront of Christendom: What can a woman do in the church of God?
With clarity and depth, Ryrie recounts the status of women in ancient Greece and Rome. He looks at the significance of Mary as Christ's mother, the attitude of Jesus toward women, and at women as ministers to Jesus. There are Scripture based chapters on marriage, celibacy, and divorce as well as a woman's place in church life. The book's final section examines the status of women in the church during the second and third centuries.
In sum, Patterson views Ryrie's work as "a masterpiece of blending both historical records with biblical exegesis to present a well-reasoned biblical answer to the burning question from this generation and those to come."

A call to reclaim regenerate church membership and an examination of the responsibilities and privileges of membership in the local church.

"Fires of Rome" is the companion work to "Year of the Passover" and covers the early Christian era from the crucifixion of Jesus in A.D. 36 to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and beyond to the end of the revolt in A.D. 73. New Testament accounts of the crucifixion and early Christian events are examined against secular history written by accepted ancient Roman historians. "Fires of Rome" makes the case for a conspiracy against the Christians by the Jerusalem Second Temple High Priesthood which ultimately led to the persecutions in Rome, outwardly incited by Emperor Nero in A.D. 64. Earlier, in A.D. 62, the Jewish priests were responsible for the elimination of the Jerusalem Christian leadership, including James the Just, the brother of Jesus. Of necessity, "Fires of Rome" delves deeply into Roman history, with chapters on Roman Emperors Caius (Caligula), Claudius, and Nero, as well as chapters on the Jewish revolt of A.D. 66-73. "Fires of Rome" also profiles the powerful women of the early Christian era, including the infamous Herodias, Jewish Queen Bernice and her sister Drusilla, Agrippina the Younger, and others. Empress Poppea Sabina, the wife of Nero, is especially interesting, with her eclectic and semi-secret court of mystics, philosophers, and religious figures-which included historian Flavius Josephus and former Jerusalem Second Temple High Priest Ismael. Fires of Rome is a must read for every serious student of Christian history. Soft revision March 2013.

Clergy, worship or music committees, organists, and choir or music directors will find this a practical and invaluable guide to the role and power of music to express and form faith. Clark researched twenty-four Episcopal and United Methodist congregations to discover how churchgoers express their faith through music. Discover how music can either enhance or detract from tradition and faith experience. Explore how it can shape your congregation's character.

How do you feel about doctrine?

Whatever answer comes to mind, this book will not only convince you that sound doctrine is vital for living a godly life, it will also explain the essential role of theology in the life of a healthy church.

After all, thinking rightly about God affects everything, from guiding us in practical issues to growing a church's unity and witness.

This short, readable book shows how good theology leads to transformation, life, and joy.

In today's world, when the pressures of life seem to wipe out any sense of hope or happiness, why even talk about church? Begging for Real Church offers powerful and relevant answers for how an authentic, meaningful and radical church experience helps us with our challenges. Through personal examples and scripture-based stories, Pastor Daniels speaks to the essence of spiritual victory,lasting love and unspeakable joy that can lead us to an abundant life.

Juan Calvino, de pie frente a la magna autoridad de Carlos V., rodeado de los ms ilustres prncipes, obispos romanos, detractores, enemigos personales y algunos de sus partidarios. Son mil quinientos aos de Iglesia Cristiana, mil quinientos aos de costumbres, de ritos y ceremonias. Son quince siglos de tratados, de acuerdos teolgicos, de concilios. Todo parece estar en contra del insigne reformador. Pero l sabe, pues Dios se lo ha mostrado, que no puede callar. En medio de todo este oscuro panorama Calvino expone brillantemente una a una las razones por las cuales la Iglesia necesita ser Reformada. Su enfoque consistira en traer la adoracin, la doctrina, el gobierno y la disciplina eclesistica bajo el rgimen y autoridad de las Escrituras. Ms tarde estos principios de reforma John Knox los aplicara a la iglesia de Escocia uno de los pases que alcanz la reforma ms pura en estas reas. Y finalmente, tales principios seran engastados como perlas en los estndares de Westminster. Hoy han transcurrido casi quinientos aos de ese encuentro entre Calvino y el emperador. Y la pregunta que debemos hacernos hoy da es: Sigue fiel la Iglesia a los enunciados propuestos en esa asamblea? Una rpida mirada a nuestro entorno religioso nos dice con pena que muchos de los postulados sustentados por el reformador, hoy no tienen validez en muchas congregaciones; incluso aquellas que se llaman a si mismas Calvinistas.