Christian Church Research Articles

Творчество Максима Грека и проповедь Андрея Денисова: к постановке проблемы

<p>The literary school created by the Vyg Old Believers the early 18th century is a unique phenomenon of Russian culture. The Vygovtsy' desire to use the latest rhetorical strategies was organically combined with a reliance on national tradition, represented, in particular, by a system of book authorities. These included the 16th-century Greek-Russian theologian, philosopher, and philologist Maxim the Greek, deeply revered by the Old Believers. The defenders of the Old Rite not only used his writings in ecclesiastical polemics to defend their position. It was the Vyg Old Believers, led by their mentor Andrei Denisov (1676-1730), who continued the manuscript tradition of Maxim' writings, creating a new codex on the basis of his texts — the Pomorian Codex. The article emphasizes that Maxim the Greek influenced the literary work of Andrei Denisov, the leader of the Vyg Old Believers. He was not only the initiator of many years of work on the creation of the Pomorian Codex and not only one of the main compilers of the Pomorian Answers, where the arguments of Maxim the Greek were used. The name of Maxim and references to his writings can be found in Andrei Denisov's sermons, and one of Maxim the Greek's plots, borrowed from the work of Hieronymus Savonarola, formed the basis of Andrei Denisov's popular work in the Old Believer tradition — Slovo plachevno o zlostrafaniyah i skorbeh Tserkvi Christovoy [the Lamenting Tales for the afflictions and sorrows of the Church of Christ]. The author of the article makes assumptions about the influence of some artistic principles of the work of the famous Athonite on the poetics of Andrei Denisov's sermon.</p>

Drug-Related Violence, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Challenges in a Southeastern American Indian Tribe: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT Background Drug-related violence [DRV] and substance abuse impact the mental health of economically challenged minority community members. DRV challenges to mental health promotion are exacerbated in American Indian [AI] communities. Purpose To investigate psycho-social and environmental factors influencing DRV, substance abuse, and mental health challenges within the Lumbee, a southeastern American Indian Tribe. Methods In-depth, one-on-one interviews with 37 Lumbee Tribal Members and Key Leaders were conducted. Results Findings align with existing research, revealing the influence of poor socioeconomic conditions, poor coping strategies, broken family structures, and failed federal policy. The substantial influence of local Christian churches on beliefs, attitudes, and practices of the Lumbee community vis-à-vis DRV and mental health was recognized. Discussion Findings indicated that social-environmental factors, seemingly independent of drug use/violence prevention and treatment, play important roles in the Lumbee community’s ability to recover from mental health consequences of DRV. Identifying barriers to, and facilitators of, prevention and treatment are critical to improving the welfare of tribal communities. Translation to Health Education Practice Major competencies associated with this research apply to Areas I & II, Assessment of Needs/Capacity and Planning. Identification of DRV and mental health education, prevention and treatment barriers are critical to quality-of-life improvement in tribal communities.

A Missiological Analysis Of The Synergy Between The North Sulawesi Provincial Government And The Evangelical Church In Minahasa To Anticipate The Food Crisis Through Agriculture And Livestock Activities

From a review of previous research on global reactions to food crises, most studies have focused on economic aspects. This review identified the following gaps: (1) There is no study discussing the synergy between the church and the government in addressing food crises; (2) No research is available on the role and social anticipation of communities in the context of food crises. This research is urgently needed because synergy between the government and the church is crucial in the context of food security in North Sulawesi. The objective of this research is to fill this research gap through a holistic and comprehensive approach to the synergy between the Provincial Government of North Sulawesi and the Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa in anticipating the global food crisis by enhancing farming and livestock activities in North Sulawesi. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative design through content analysis combined with a missiology analysis approach of the church. Data collection was carried out using participatory observation, interviews, and literature studies. The novelty of this research includes: (1) The synergy between the Provincial Government of North Sulawesi and the Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa in responding to and anticipating the global food crisis; (2) The combination of content analysis methods with church missiology analysis as a new approach. The output of this research is a conceptual framework and a strong missiological approach strategy in building and optimizing relevant and effective synergy.

Požehnání v biblické a prakticko-teologické perspektivě: Příspěvek k diskuzi o žehnání párů stejného pohlaví

The study examines the concept and practice of blessing in contemporary Christian churches and reflects on the possibilities of blessing same-sex couples. It emphasises the need to distinguish the blessing of a same-sex couple from the legal act of entering into a civil partnership. The purpose of the blessing is not to affirm or sanctify a particular life form but to bring a couple committed to an enduring relationship of love, respect and fidelity before God, promising his favour, grace and gifts. The study consists of three parts. First, it introduces the concept of blessing in the Old and New Testament. The second part discusses blessing from a contemporary practical theological perspective. It presents blessing as a gift and a task of the church community and as a key motif of casual services. It points to the specific linguistic form of blessing as opposed to prayer, wish and proclamation, presents blessing as an act of communication and reflects on the question of its content and effects. The third part deals with the question of who or what can be blessed and whether it is theologically legitimate to bless same-sex couples. It reflects on the possibility of blessing in the pastoral practice of the Roman Catholic Church, anchored in the declaration Fiducia supplicans, and in the liturgical practice of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren. It concludes with a summary of the findings.

Changes in Religiosity as a Challenge to Family Catechesis: the Situation in Poland

The concept ‘catechesis’ has always been vital to pastoral mission in Roman Catholic Church and has been used officially with a basic fidelity to its etymological roots (an echoing of faith between believers and with fidelity to its context in the early Christian Church (systematic formation and participation in experiences within a faith community). However today, when official Roman Catholic Church documents recall family catechesis, at the practical level, family catechesis is still ambiguous. This article opens a new window on a very topical issue in contemporary catechesis: strengthening the family as an important agent of catechesis. The author (taking into consideration the changes of religiosity of Catholics) proposes different models in which the family can be supported to assume its primary function as an educator for the faith using the example of Poland.

Catechesis and Christian Recitation: Teaching the Old Testament in a Digital Age

Old Testament catechesis is too varied and too dependent on the story of the Old Testament (as we remember it) to be spiritually formative. Especially given the way the current secularized, “modern moral order” (Taylor) pressures Christians toward neo-Marcionism, the Christian church ought to take more seriously the way the Old Testament has been shaped by the Holy Spirit and the way it encourages catechesis to be done, that is, through memorization and recitation of the very words of the Old Testament, recovering Old Testament as Miqra. Such a practice is not only more in keeping with the Spirit's work in forming the Old Testament, but reciters will be able (a) to appreciate better its non-narrative sections (incl. law and poetry), (b) to pay attention to self-correcting features in its most difficult and violent passages, and (c) to have their imaginations and metaphors reshaped by its poetry. Such catechesis by recitation is not antithetical to classic “question-and-answer” catechisms, and it is easily recovered by beginning with reciting in households and/or reciting the Ten Commandments (as in the catechism of the Book of Common Prayer). In the end, this ancient, religious reading of the Old Testament is not too antiquated but timely and needed, given the postliterate nature of our current digital culture.

“I need to be strong”: Refugee women embody resilience within personal, host, and faith communities

This basic qualitative study sought to understand resilience from the perspective of women refugees. In June 2023, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 women refugees from Ukraine living in Teplice, Czech Republic. Findings demonstrated that participants embodied resilience within the context of their personal, host, and faith communities. First, family members were motivation to make the journey out of Ukraine and friends were helpful resources of information and meeting practical needs. Host communities included volunteers at international borders, churches on the journey, the Czech government, and various strangers as factors in their resilience. Finally, within faith communities, participants described their own personal Christian faith, “miracles,” and churches that were place to belong. This study is situated in the broad academic literature about resilience and refugees studies. Yet, the research findings add empirical data to corroborate conceptual and theoretical literature. Additionally, this research relies on data from refugee women themselves.

Psychological Well-Being of female pastors: The Role of Self-Compassion and Social Support

This research is a quantitative study which aims to determine self-compassion and social support simultaneously as predictors of psychological well-being in female pastors at the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT). Data collection used Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (RPWB), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and Revised Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (RMSPSS) which were distributed by sending questionnaires via Google form to the WhatsApp group and print outs were delivered directly to respondents. The respondents involved in this research were 105 female GMIT priests around Kupang City. The data obtained were analyzed using multiple linear regression techniques with the help of the SPSS 29 program. The results showed that the calculated F value (simultaneous) was 211.423 with p < 0.05, which means self-compassion and social support simultaneously as predictor of psychological well-being of GMIT female priests around Kupang City with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.806, meaning the contribution of the influence of self-compassion and social support to psychological well-being is 80.6%.

Sacred journeys and pilgrimages: health risks associated with travels for religious purposes.

Pilgrimages and travel to religious Mass Gatherings (MGs) are part of all major religions. This narrative review aims to describe some characteristics, including health risks, of the more well known and frequently undertaken ones. A literature search was conducted using keywords related to the characteristics (frequency of occurrence, duration, calendar period, reasons behind their undertaking and the common health risks) of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish religious MGs. About 600 million trips are undertaken to religious sites annually. The characteristics varies between religions and between pilgrimages. However, religious MGs share common health risks, but these are reported in a heterogenous manner. European Christian pilgrimages reported both communicable diseases, such as norovirus outbreaks linked to the Marian Shrine of Lourdes in France, and noncommunicable diseases (NCD). NCD predominated at the Catholic pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, which documented 11 million attendees in one week. The Zion Christian Church Easter gathering in South Africa, attended by about 10 million pilgrims, reported mostly motor vehicles accidents. Muslim pilgrimages, such as the Arbaeen (20 million pilgrims) and Hajj documented a high incidence of respiratory tract infections, up to 80% during Hajj. Heat injuries and stampedes have been associated with Hajj. The Hindu Kumbh Mela pilgrimage, which attracted 100 million pilgrims in 2013, documented respiratory conditions in 70% of consultations. A deadly stampede occurred at the 2021 Jewish Lag BaOmer MG. Communicable and NCD differ among the different religious MGs. Gaps exists in the surveillance, reporting, and data accessibility of health risks associated with religious MGs. A need exists for the uniform implementation of a system of real-time monitoring of diseases and morbidity patterns, utilising standardised modern information-sharing platforms. The health needs of pilgrims can then be prioritised by developing specific and appropriate guidelines.

Федеративная модель Церкви в православном богословии

The author continues his study of the ways in which the political concept of federation is used to describe church organisation, this time taking as a basis the texts of Orthodox authors. These writers borrowed the idea of a federative structure of early Christian communities from Protestant historians of the 18th century and from subsequent works of Protestant scholars, for whom such notions became a component of the prevailing doctrine. In the writings of Russian theologians the concept of federation seems to have travelled the same path as in the West, having come into use against the background of a general fascination with political projections in theology and having lost its relevance under the influence of various criticisms. In Greek theology the picture turns out to be much more complex. In the course of the development of Greek historiography in the nineteenth century, federalism and democracy were declared to be the characteristic features of the model of organisation of the Eastern Christian Church, developed through the synthesis of the new religion and Hellenistic culture. In the twentieth century these ideas were revised. In modern Orthodox theology there is an agreement on the incorrectness of describing the Church using the concept of federation. Nevertheless, this image has come to be used as a polemical cliché in intra-Orthodox discussion, which is used to denote any form of rejection of the monocentric model of Church unity.

An Assessment of the Recent Change to the Doctrine of Baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Australian Christian Churches

This article explores the revisions to the doctrinal statements of the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) completed in 2021. It will first briefly explore the development of the ACC from its inception to the current context, highlighting some of the historical developments in their theology that precipitated the recent review of their doctrinal statements. Second, the process undertaken by the ACC to review its doctrine will be described. Third, the outcome of the doctrinal review will be evaluated through the lens of Simon Chan’s ‘traditioning process’, focusing on the statement regarding the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Chan’s approach requires both retrieval (resourcement) of a community’s early ethos while updating (aggiornamento) their doctrinal statements to meet the needs of the current context. It will be observed that the changes to the ACC’s doctrine of Spirit baptism reflect a weak traditioning process.

The importance of Jazeera Rigin in syriac sources

This study is concerned with the position and the importance of Jazeera region in Syriac texts by shedding light on the geographic border in Islamic sources and making a comparison with Syriac sources. The different names by Syriacs historians was according to their mind, the weight of the region has reflection in the Syriac sources and records. Undoubtedly, most of the Syriacs historians had lived in that region, and they were witnesses of the most events, which consists of political and religious events. All the changes which have been brought about in the region have had direct impact on representing the social condition. Most of the population of the region are Syriacs in the Syriac records and writings, that is why the Syriacs are considered as the original people of the region. In addition, the region has been pictured as a main center of Christian religion, Syriac language and culture, as most of the Syriacs historians were religious men, all of their writings were composed with religion. They show more religious conditions of the region in the Islamic authority framework, they refer to many names of the Christian Churches in the region.

Health Risks Associated with Microphone Sharing: A Survey of Awareness, Perception and Preventative Actions among Christian Church Choir Members in Taraba State, North-East, Nigeria

The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness and health actions related to the risks of microphone sharing among Christian choir members in Taraba State, Nigeria. Grounded in the Health Belief Model, the study utilised a descriptive survey design, sampling 225 choir members from 10 randomly selected churches across Taraba State, Northeast Nigeria. Data were collected via online questionnaires and analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The findings reveal a low level of awareness about the health risks associated with sharing microphones. The respondents generally demonstrated a negative perception towards these risks, with many expressing disbelief in the potential for disease transmission through shared microphones. Additionally, there was a notable lack of adherence to precautionary measures. The study found that microphones were infrequently cleaned, microphone foams were rarely replaced, and hand hygiene practices—such as hand washing and the use of sanitiser—were not routinely observed. The use of face masks and shields among choir members was also reported as rare. These findings have significant implications for public health practices within religious communities. They underscore the urgent need for increased awareness and education about the potential health risks of microphone sharing. Thus, the study recommends implementing regular cleaning protocols, ensuring the replacement of microphone foams, and promoting personal hygiene measures, including hand sanitisation and the use of face masks or shields during group singing activities. These measures are essential for mitigating health risks and ensuring the well-being of choir members.

Have You Eaten?

Abstract Throughout history, empires have promised perpetual peace and justice for all; however, they have constantly bathed in blood while expanding their colonies and control. This paper intends to explore the theological concept of peacemaking from the experiences of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (uccp) and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (prok), both of which suffered from U.S. (neo)colonialism. It also aims to study how we can live faithfully amidst the empire by decolonizing theology and the church. To achieve this, I will begin by reviewing the concept of peace as proclaimed by empires, from the Roman to the American, and contrast it with the biblical concept of peace. This will be followed by analyzing and evaluating the impact of the received colonial American Protestant cultures and the churches’ responses to the colonial gospel. The final part will propose peace as a way of peacemaking amid the empire. This paper suggests that the concept of peacemaking is essential to decolonizing theology, particularly the theology of sallim (life-giving).

Molimbu as Civil Sphere in Developing a Harmonious Congregation: A Case Study from Poso, Central Celebes, Indonesia

Abstract This article provides a socio-theological study of Molimbu, a local tradition of collective feasting found among the Pamona people in the province of Central Sulawesi in Indonesia. It specifically explores the impact of Molimbu on the Zaitun Dulumai congregation, which is part of the Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi Christian Church, GKST), located in Poso, a city in Central Sulawesi (also known as Celebes), Indonesia. This article explores the manner in which Molimbu contributes to the civil sphere by building harmony within the church. Congregations in this part of Indonesia have been deeply impacted by external Christian values, leadership, and forces that are associated with European missions. But this is not the full story. In the Dulumai congregation, the church is also regulated by the agency of the local tradition called Molimbu. As an ethnic tradition and part of the congregation’s community life, Molimbu becomes a solidarity space connecting every participating individual. The research objective of this article is to describe and analyze Molimbu as a cultural practice that contributes to the civil sphere by building a harmonious congregation at GKST Zaitun Dulumai. The research method used is qualitative and descriptive. The results show that Molimbu contributes significantly to the civil sphere in constructing harmonious Christian congregations by activating sublime values such as equality and respect. Those values foster and nurture harmony within the congregation and are indicated through the traditional Christian concepts of koinonia (fellowship), diakonia (ministry), and maturia (witness).

Reviving Faith: The Dynamic Legacy of HKBP Resort Balige Church

HKBP is one of the largest congregations in the world and has even spread to America and Europe. HKBP in Indonesia is a Christian Church based in Tanah Batak, namely in Tarutung City, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra Province. The main focus of this research is the history of the HKBP Resort Balige church. This research uses a historical research method which has four stages, namely stages heuristics, criticism, interpretation and historiography. The research results show that the history and development of the HKBP Ressort Balige Church began with the arrival of Christian missionaries to Batak Land, then built the HKBP church, which was consecrated as the HKBP Balige church by Ompu Ephorus Pdt. I.L. Nommensen. In its development, the HKBP Balige church developed well; this was marked by the social charities around the church, such as hospitals, Schools, universities and a Multi-Purpose Building which functioned as a public service to the surrounding community. The role of the HKBP Church in the social life of the Balige community as a fellowship of believers always requires order and order in the implementation of services. This can be proven by your willingness to be selected as an Elder, Deacon, or Servant on the Development Commission or on the Committee of an activity.

Congregation members’ response to worship and fellowship in the digital space during the COVID-19 pandemic

This article investigates the congregation members to the transition from face-to-face worship and fellowship to digital spaces amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with a sample of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP – Batak Protestant Christian Church), specifically in District Daerah Khusus Ibukota (DKI) Jakarta province, Indonesia. This study uses an empirical questionnaire method to assess the level of satisfaction, engagement and future preferences of the congregation regarding digital versus face-to-face worship practices. The questionnaire was built on current theories of encounter and fellowship and what the congregation members need in digital worship services. Data from 421 congregations with a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error showed a dominant 62.7% preference for returning to face-to-face worship services and a participation decline during the pandemic. Respondents also felt a 60%–90% difference in digital services from church services, especially related to the need for communal fellowship. Participation in digital services correlates with higher education levels, while older congregations preferred face-to-face worship.Contribution: This study highlights the importance of incorporating Batak cultural values into digital ministry strategies to increase community connectivity and engagement. This article suggests further research on integrating cultural elements into digital religious practices, aiming to provide insights for churches navigating the digital transformation of religious services.

The Ecclesiastical Impact: Exploring the Role of Christian Church in Democracy Development in Nigeria

This research investigates the multifaceted role of Christian church in the development and consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. Through a comprehensive analysis of scholarly literature, empirical data, and case studies, the study aims to elucidate the various dimensions of the church's influence on democratic processes, institutions, and norms in the Nigerian context. Specifically, the research will examine how Christian churches contribute to promoting democratic values, civic education, moral leadership, peace-building, social welfare initiatives, and political engagement. By employing a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative interviews, surveys, and content analysis of church statements and activities, the study seeks to provide empirical evidence and theoretical insights into the mechanisms through which the church impacts democracy development in Nigeria. The findings of this research will have implications for understanding the complex dynamics of religion and politics in Nigeria and inform policy and practices aimed at strengthening democratic governance and pluralism in the country.

Fostering the use of reflective learning strategies in teaching big data analytics and data science: Enhancing the quality of epidemiological evidence and decision-making

PURPOSEThis study investigated the frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of reflective learning strategies among university educators and practitioners in big data analytics and data science, including epidemiologists. Reflective learning fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for navigating the complexities of big data. It encourages systematic evaluation of methodologies and the identification and mitigation of biases. These skills are particularly relevant in epidemiology, where the prediction and management of disease outbreaks, as well as public health decisions, increasingly depend on big data analytics. METHODOLOGYA cross-sectional design was employed with a diverse sample of 93 participants from multiple countries, averaging 15 years of teaching and practice experience. Informed by the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior, data were collected in Fall 2023 using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on personal disposition, contextual favorability, and characteristics of reflective learning as predictors of the frequency and perceived effectiveness of reflective learning, analyzed using multiple regression modeling. Acceptable levels of reliability and criterion validity were achieved. This study was approved by the Ethics Panel of Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. RESULTSIn general, reflective learning strategies were perceived as effective for enhancing cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, but less so for technical skills like algorithm and model selection. Preferred methods included real-world applications, problem-based learning, and collaborative projects. Frequency of use was positively correlated with perceived effectiveness. Personal disposition and characteristics of reflective learning scores were significant predictors of frequency of use (R-squared = 0.32), with older participants being less engaged. The characteristics of reflective learning score was the sole significant predictor of perceived effectiveness, though with a modest predictive value (R-squared = 0.09). Contextual favorability did not significantly predict either frequency of use or perceived effectiveness of reflective learning strategies, implying a lesser role for external factors as drivers of engagement. CONCLUSIONSThis study underscores the importance of reflective learning in enhancing analytical and problem-solving skills, and suggests that intrinsic motivation may be a key factor underpinning the use of reflective learning strategies by educators and practitioners in big data analytics and data science. These findings have major implications for curriculum and professional development, particularly for epidemiologists who must continuously adapt to new data and methodologies to effectively address public health challenges.

A Preliminary National Survey of Accessible Features of Churches in the United States

Religious congregations have been inconsistent in their accessibility to and support of people with disabilities. Limited research has addressed the practices of churches in this area of inclusion. The purpose of this preliminary study was to better understand the landscape of congregational accessibility and explore the accessibility features presently offered in congregations. We randomly surveyed Christian churches in the United States. We analyzed responses from 127 churches using descriptive, correlational, and inferential statistics to determine which accessible features were reported more or less often and how congregational demographics mediated the number and type of accessibility features. Although most congregations offered multiple accessibility features, offerings varied widely. Streaming services, accessible seating, adequate lighting for people with low vision, and gluten-free eucharist elements were the features most commonly offered. Few congregations offered features that conveyed broader efforts to address accessibility. Most respondents indicated that multiple people with varied disabilities participated in their church, though frequency varied widely across types of disabilities. This study provides an initial glimpse into the accessibility practices of Christian churches in the United States. These findings highlight areas of potential reflection and response for churches aiming to support the full participation of people with disabilities.