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Spring 2006 · Vol. 35 No. 1 · pp. 196–203 

Current Research

Douglas B. Miller

Faculty Publications, 2005

Books

Baker, Mark D. ¡Basta de religión!: Comó construir comunidades de gracia y libertad. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ediciones Kairos, 2005. [MBBS]

Chapters in Books

Baker, Mark D. “Embracing a Wider Cross: Contextualizing the Atonement.” In Out of the Strange Silence: The Challenge of Being Christian in the Twenty-First Century. Ed. Brad Thiessen, 29-47. Winnipeg, MB, and Hillsboro, KS: Kindred, 2005. [MBBS]

Bartlett, Rick. “An Artistic Toolbox for Next Generation Leaders. In Out of the Strange Silence, 139-48. [MBBS]

Bystrom, Raymond O. “The Emotional Challenges of Pastoral Ministry.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 123-38. [MBBS]

Erdman, Chris. “Rescripting the Pastoral Vocation.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 111-22. [MBBS]

Friesen, Delores. “Islands of Hope in a Time of Despair.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 201-18. [MBBS]

Geddert, Tim. “Hearing God’s Word Together.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 19-28. [MBBS]

———. “Inviting Jesus into Our Midst: The Challenge of Reconciliation and Mutual Accountability.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 95-107.

———. “Wie die Bibel von Identität und Toleranz spricht.” In Mennonitisches Jahrbuch 2006, 64-72. Lahr: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Mennonitscher Gemeinden in Deutschland, 2005.

Gilbert, Pierre. “The Challenges of Dual-Citizenship in the 21st Century.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 169-83. [MBBS, CMU]

Guenther, Bruce L. “ ‘I Want to Become a More Efficient Worker for the Lord’: Mennonite Bible Schools in the Central Fraser Valley, 1930-1960.” In First Nations and First Settlers in the Central Fraser Valley: 1890-1960. Ed. Harvey Neufeldt, Ruth Derksen Siemens, and Robert Martens, 206-28. Kitchener, ON: Pandora, 2005. [MBBS]

———. “Rediscovering the Value of History and Tradition.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 187-202.

Holm, Jim. “Doing What Jesus Did.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 75-84. [MBBS]

Isaak, Jon. “God Talk and an Invitation to Biblical Imagination.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 49-71. [MBBS]

Martens, Elmer A. “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations.” In Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Vol. 8, 293-593. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 2005. [MBBS]

Rempel, Valerie. “Hearing God’s Call on Our Lives. In Out of the Strange Silence, 85-94. [MBBS]

Rogalsky, Tim. “Blaise Pascal: Mathematician, Mystic, and Disciple.” In Proceedings of the Fifteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences. Ed. F. Jones and W. Wetherbee, 137-44. June 1-4, 2005. [CMU]

Sorensen, Sue. “A Visual Approach to The Turn of the Screw.” In Approaches to Teaching Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw and Daisy Miller. Ed. Kimberly C. Reed and Peter G. Beidler, 195-201. New York: Modern Language Association, 2005. [CMU]

Westgate, Jim. “Being a Community Church in a Commuter Society.” In Out of the Strange Silence, 151-68. [MBBS]

Articles

Baker, Mark D. “Relating as Siblings.” Mennonite Brethren Herald, July 2005, 4-5. [MBBS]

Ediger, Gerald. “A Sketch of Early Mennonite Brethren Spirituality.” Direction 34, no.1 (2005): 15-28. [CMU]

Funk-Unrau, Neil. “Construction of Relationship Frames in the Aboriginal Rights Support Movement: The Articulation of Solidarity with the Lubicon Cree of Northern Canada.” Research in Social Movements, Conflict and Change 26 (2004): 239-64. [CMU]

Geddert, Tim. “Bible Gems.” A nine-part Bible series. Chinese M.B. Herald, December 2004–present (translation of “The Treasures of Luke” below). [MBBS]

———. “The Treasures of Luke.” A nine-part series. Mennonite Brethren Herald, 24 September 2004–11 March 2005.

———. “Verantwortlich Leben,” Mennonitsche Rundschau, starting April, 2005. Reprint of various chapters from the German book by the same title (Neufeld Verlag, 2004).

———. “Walk on By?” Christian Leader, January 2005, 14-15.

———. “Was macht eine biblische Ethik aus?” Perspectives. Fall, 2005. (Switzerland)

______ and Ryan Schellenberg. “Phinehas and the Pharisees: Identity and Tolerance.” Direction 34, no. 2 (2005): 170-180. [MBBS]

Gilbert, Pierre. “Real Christianity.” The Voice, October 2005, 1-2. [MBBS, CMU]

———. “The Violence of God: Investigations in the Book of Isaiah.” A six-part series. Mennonite Brethren Herald, 2 September–16 December 2005.

Guenther, Allen. “A Typology of Israelite Marriage: Kinship, Socioeconomic, and Religious Factors. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 29, no. 4 (2005): 387-407. [MBBS]

Guenther, Bruce L. “Bible Schools in Saskatchewan,” “Briercrest Schools,” “Bethany College,” Central Pentecostal College,” “Mennonite Brethren,” “Evangelical Mennonite Conference,” “Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference,” and “Old Colony Mennonites.” In Encyclopaedia of Saskatchewan: A Living Legacy. Ed. David A. Gauthier. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center, 2005. [MBBS]

———. “The ‘Enduring Problem’ of Christ and Culture.” Direction 34, no. 2 (Fall 2005): 215-27.

Guenther, Titus. “Ältester Martin C. Friesen (1889-1968): A Man of Vision for Paraguay’s Mennogemeinde.” Journal of Mennonite Studies 23 (2005): 185-211. [CMU]

Harder, Judy. “Theatre: A Seeing Place.” Direction 34, no. 1 (2005): 93-97. [TC]

Heidebrecht, Doug. “Distinction and Function in the Church: Reading Galatians 3:28 in Context.” Direction 34, no. 2 (2005): 181-93. [BC]

Huebner, Chris K. “Between Victory and Victimhood: Reflections on Martyrdom and Culture.” Direction 34, no. 2 (2005): 228-40. [CMU]

———. “What Should Mennonites and Milbank Learn from Each Other?” Conrad Grebel Review 23, no. 2 (2005): 9-18.

Isaak, Jon. “Bible Study Tools Go On-Line.” In Touch, spring/summer 2005, 10. [MBBS]

———. “The Case for Seminary.” Christian Leader, September 2005, 10-12.

———. “The Case for Seminary.” Mennonite Brethren Herald, 2 September 2005, 7-8.

Klassen, Erwin. “Grave Robber: Spirituality and the Art of Theft.” Direction 34, no. 1 (2005): 54-63. [CBC]

Koop, Karl. “Scripture and Tradition: A Dilemma for Protestants.” Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology 6/1 (Spring 2005): 14-21. [CMU]

Kyle, Richard. “Mennonite Brethren and the Next Church,” Direction 34, no. 2 (2005): 133-44. [TC]

Martens, Elmer A. “Moving from Scripture to Doctrine.” Bulletin for Biblical Research 15, no. 1 (2005): 77-103. [MBBS]

Matties, Gordon. “On Movies as Spiritual Discipline.” Direction 34, no. 2 (2005): 270-86. [CMU]

Penner, Deborah R. “Blending Voices from Past and Present: Ann Hostetler’s A Capella: Mennonite Voices in Poetry.” Mennonite Life 59 (June 2004). [TC]

Snyder, Anna. “Transnational Dialogue: Building the Social Infrastructure for Transnational Feminist Networks.” International Journal of Peace Studies 10, no. 2 (2005). [CMU]

Sorensen, Sue. “A. S. Byatt and the Life of the Mind: A Response to June Sturrock.” Connotations: A Journal for Critical Debate 13/1-2 (2003/2004): 180-190. [CMU]

———. “Guy Vanderhaeghe.” The Literary Encyclopedia and Literary Dictionary. Edited by Robert Clark, Emory Elliott and Janet Todd. The Literary Dictionary Company Limited. LiteraryEncyclopedia.com. January 2005.

———. “Possession.” The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film. Revised ed. Edited by John C. Tibbetts and James M. Welsh. New York: Facts On File, 2005.

_____. “Rose Tremain.” The Literary Encyclopedia and Literary Dictionary. Edited by Robert Clark, Emory Elliott and Janet Todd. The Literary Dictionary Company Limited. A href="http://www.literaryencyclopedia.com/">LiteraryEncyclopedia.com

Previous

. January 2005.

Voth, Gay Lynn. “Anabaptist Liturgical Spirituality and the Supper of Christ.” Direction 34, no. 1 (2005): 3-14. [CBC]

Zerbe, Gordon. “Constructions of Paul in Filipino Theology of Struggle.” Asia Journal of Theology 19/1 (April 2005): 188-220. [CMU]

Doctoral Dissertations

Cantwell, Linda. “A Comparative Analysis of Strengths-Based versus Traditional Teaching Methods in a Freshman Public Speaking Course: Impacts on Student Learning and Academic Engagement.” Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership, Higher Education. Azusa, Calif.: Azusa Pacific University, 2005. Advisor: Edward “Chip” Anderson. Current Position: Associate Professor of Communication/Business, Tabor College.

Because the ultimate goal of higher education is for students to learn, this dissertation study used a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design to compare two methods of facilitating student learning: a traditional method (control) versus a strengths-based method (experimental) to teaching in two sections of an Introduction to Public Speaking course. The sample included 55 first-time college freshmen (31 males and 24 females) who were full-time, traditional, residential students between the ages of 18 and 25, the majority Caucasian (89%) and admitted in good standing (86%).

The independent variable was the strengths-based teaching methodology. Both sections met three days each week for a 50-minute session across one 14-week semester for a total of 42 class periods and were taught by the same instructor using the same textbook, class presentations, requirements, and tests. Four sessions were devoted to the strengths-based treatment (intervention) and integration of Gallup’s StrengthsFinder. There were three dependent variables: average exam scores as measured by objective in-class examinations, blind ratings of videotaped speeches as measured by The Competent Speaker Speech Evaluation Form (Morreale, Moore, Taylor, Surges-Tatum, Hulbert-Johnson, 1993), and levels of academic engagement as measured by the Academic Engagement Index (Schreiner, 2004).

A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. The null hypotheses were rejected for all research questions; significant differences between groups were found in engagement (Pillai’s Trace=.826, F(19,31)=7.736, p<.001, multivariate h2=.826), videotaped speeches (Pillai’s Trace=.363, F(8,45)=3.209, p<.010, multivariate h2=.363), and average exam scores (Wilks’L=.806, F(2,50)=6.019, p<.005, multivariate h2=.194), after controlling for pre-existing level of engagement, course-specific skills, and knowledge. Students in the experimental group also experienced significantly higher levels of overall satisfaction with the college (F (1,52) =8.578, p<. 005, partial h2=.142). Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that academic engagement significantly predicted student learning (R2 =. 092, F= (1, 53) =5.346, p<.025).

Loewen, Wendell J. “The Reign of God as a Guiding Theological Paradigm for Ministry with Contemporary Adolescents.” Doctor of Ministry, Youth and Family Ministries. Pasadena, Calif.: Fuller Theological Seminary, 2005. Advisor: Chapman R. Clark. Current Position: Associate Professor of Youth, Church and Culture, Tabor College.

The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze current North American adolescent culture, in order to present the reign of God as a biblical paradigm that effectively addresses the unique needs of today’s teenagers. It argues that God’s reign provides a dynamic theological compass for youth ministry that is contextually and developmentally relevant to contemporary adolescents.

This study asserts that contemporary youth ministry is becoming less effective because it does not take seriously current adolescent culture and lacks adequate theological direction. The dissertation then explores Postmodernism, popular culture and its consumerist narrative, and systemic abandonment as three significant influences on contemporary adolescent culture. Arguing for a more communal ecclesiology, the study then examines the nature and dimensions of God’s reign as revealed in the Scripture, proposing the kingdom of God as a paradigm that embodies the essence of effective youth ministry praxis with contemporary adolescents.

The dissertation demonstrates ways in which a kingdom-driven theology engages the narratives and needs of today’s teens. It concludes by offering a Kingdom Driven Youth Ministry Template that can serve as a grid for evaluating youth ministry praxis through the filter of God’s reign.

Mukawa, Nzuzi. “Relationships Between Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International and the Mennonite Brethren Churches of the Congo (1943-2002).” Doctor of Philosophy, Intercultural Studies. Deerfield, Ill.: Trinity International University, 2003. Current Position: Academic Dean of the Kinshasa School of Missiology, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This dissertation examines the relationship between the Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International (MBMSI), which is located in the United States of America and Canada, and the Mennonite Brethren churches of the Congo from 1943-2002. It focuses on three main issues: structure, personnel, and finance. The research project investigates and analyzes how MBMSI handled these issues as well as how it influenced the relationship between the two organizations: MBMSI and the Mennonite Brethren churches of the Congo.

The method used in doing this was content analysis. A range of materials written by various participants in MBMSI was examined, including board policies, recommendations, resolutions, field reports, exhibits, and missionary correspondences located in the Mennonite Brethren archives in Fresno, California. In addition, four periods were chosen as a framework for this analysis: beginning and expansion (1943 to 1960), a period of transition (1960 to 1965), a period of independence (1965 to 1989), and a period of interdependence (1990 to 2002).

The outcome of my research was as follows. I saw a commitment from both parties to work together despite some pressures that arose as the church moved into the fourth stage of the relationship. In addition, we learned that this relationship has been troubled by inequality due to the unilateral structures that have been put in place, as well as to the one-way flow of resources.

My research suggests some recommendations for the future of the relationship which aim to reverse these negative situations. First, MBMSI and the churches should come up with structures of interdependence that would bring the power to the middle, allow the process of decision-making to be shared, and foster a two-way flow of financial and personnel resources. Second, this research suggests that a biblical model of working together be incorporated, one which is based on the economic Trinity and the Pauline principles of relationship with the church at Philippi.

This study also suggests some ingredients for successful relationships. They include understanding, sharing, interdependence, and trust, In addition, some suggestions for avoiding pitfalls are proposed, such as not underestimating cultural differences, avoiding taking short cuts, and refusing to keep going where there is no end in sight.

Lastly, this research expresses hope for the future of relationships between the two bodies. Since they are committed to working together and to serving one another in order to accomplish the goal of extending the kingdom of God in the world, this relationship will grow and become a testimony to the Anabaptist world as well as to the whole community of the body of Christ.

Wiens, Victor Harold. “From Refugees to Ambassadors: Mennonite Missions in Brazil, 1930-2000.” Doctor of Philosophy, Intercultural Studies. Pasadena, Calif.: Fuller Theological Seminary, School of World Mission, 2002. Advisor: Wilbert R. Shenk. Current Position: Missionary with Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International, São Paulo, Brazil.

The central issue that is addressed in this study is a description and evaluation of the contributions to world mission in and from Brazil by Mennonite churches and agencies during the period from 1930-2000. The purpose is to assist Brazilian Mennonites to understand what God has done through Mennonite missions in the past in order to enhance their faith, motivation and missiological understanding as they heed God’s call for their missionary role in the future.

Research has included a review of the historical background and contemporary context as well as an examination of secondary historical sources. Primary research was conducted utilizing archival records, personal interviews and correspondence, a theological questionnaire, and reflection on nearly twenty years of participant observation. Four perspectives were researched and analyzed: 1) evangelism and church planting, 2) holistic ministries, 3) training for mission, and 4) missiological reflection.

The findings describe the diversity of the presence of seven Mennonite missions in Brazil. Specifically, their identities, their histories, and their locations of service emerge in this study. A second set of findings describes the diversity of mission understanding currently operative among Mennonite workers in Brazil. Finally, actual mission practice is described and evaluated utilizing internal and external comparisons. Areas of evaluation include church growth, leadership training, holistic ministries, and ethnicity.

The author concludes that Mennonites in Brazil, while arriving in 1930 as discouraged refugees, with few exceptions have ended the twentieth century as missionary ambassadors. Mennonite mission work has been conducted in at least nineteen of Brazil’s twenty-seven states. This proliferation would not have been possible without significant assistance from foreign mission agencies (primarily North American) in providing both personnel and funding. Furthermore, Mennonites in Brazil are more heterogeneous than homogeneous as seen in their ethnicities, theologies, ethics, mission practices, and mission contributions. Missional contributions have been mostly in evangelism and church planting, followed by holistic ministries, training for mission, and missiological reflection.

Master’s Theses: Students at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, 2005

Kroeker, Susan. “Relational Empowerment: Factors Empowering Female Ex-Inmates.”

Schellenberg, Ryan. “Making New Friends: The Parable of the Prudent Steward in Lukan Context (Luke 16:1-13).”

Wiebe, Rodney. “Monotheism in the Old Testament: Towards an Understanding of the Strategies Implemented by Israel’s Yahweh Theologians and Spiritual Elite.”