{"response":{"docs":[{"system_create_dtsi":"2026-05-29T19:48:34Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2026-05-29T19:48:36Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"16b77322-9a43-4cd9-bf13-18cb7835ee68","accessControl_ssim":["fdbed72c-d48a-4601-b662-f48ea1e3d4f9"],"depositor_ssim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"title_tesim":["Where Do We Go From Here? Discovering How Denominational Leaders Understand the Issues and Solutions for Denominational Decline within the Synod of Lincoln Trails in the PC (USA)"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2026-05-29T19:48:33Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2026-05-29T19:48:33Z","isPartOf_ssim":["admin_set/default"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["83e540ac-5f4a-4940-ac74-6cef6be1ab9f"],"hasLease_ssim":["74b01630-b4f2-4f81-a1d1-2a4472b66943"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Doctor of Ministry"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Trinity International University"],"year_tesim":["2026"],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["David Carlton"],"subject_tesim":["Presbyterian/Reformed Churches","Evangelism - Strategy","Bible - Isaiah","Church (Ecclesiology)","Bible - Luke - Acts","Bible - Matthew","Mission of the Church"],"abstract_tesim":["The Presbyterian Church (USA) has experienced more than five decades of continuous membership decline, falling from approximately 4.25 million members in the early 1960s to fewer than one million in 2024. This convergent mixed-methods study examined how leaders at three levels within the Synod of Lincoln Trails understand and respond to this decline. The researcher conducted thirty-four semi-structured interviews with the Synod Executive, Executive Presbyters, and Teaching Elders across five Presbyteries in Illinois and Indiana, supplemented by a twenty-seven-question survey of seventy-nine Ruling Elders serving on local Sessions.\r\n\r\nThe research was organized around five questions addressing leadership awareness of decline, strategies for reversing it, definitions of congregational viability, approaches to disciple-making, and implementable outputs. Findings revealed that while leaders at all three levels are aware of the decline, the depth of understanding varies significantly, with Ruling Elders demonstrating the least capacity to articulate its causes. A persistent knowing-doing gap emerged as the study’s most significant finding: leaders can describe what a healthy church looks like but lack the practical tools and frameworks to move their congregations toward that vision. The research also documented a denomination-wide evangelism deficit, competing definitions of congregational viability across leadership levels, and significant disconnection between the three tiers of Presbyterian polity.\r\n\r\nTwo practical implementations were developed in response to these findings: a research findings webinar designed to share key insights with leaders across the Synod, and a six-session pastoral coaching curriculum designed to help Teaching Elders translate awareness into congregational action. Together, these outputs address the central finding that the gap between knowledge and praxis is the primary barrier to adaptive change within the PC(USA).\r\n"],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["admin_set/default-default-approving","admin_set/default-default-depositing","admin_set/default-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Default Admin Set"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["public","work_editor"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"_version_":1866553483384061952,"timestamp":"2026-05-29T19:48:37.302Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2026-01-20T20:11:41Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2026-01-20T20:11:42Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"1211b2f8-2e6d-4e4f-999d-9fa176b0b1d7","accessControl_ssim":["c12ba6c9-1807-4126-a490-fb877c087749"],"depositor_ssim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"title_tesim":[" The Missional Church: An Evaluation of How ECWA Members Understand and Participate in the Mission of God and Live Out Their Redemptive Lives "],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2026-01-20T20:11:40Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2026-01-20T20:11:41Z","isPartOf_ssim":["admin_set/default"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["5355e3e6-8075-4430-9702-3ec648f472f0"],"hasLease_ssim":["ba5ed3a1-a4ef-4dea-b189-3771de3fe038"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Doctor of Ministry"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Trinity International University"],"year_tesim":["2025"],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Bwanhot, Sunday"],"subject_tesim":["Bible--Gospels","Evangelism","Bible--Psalms","Evangelical Churches","Bible--Old Testament","Mission of the church","Witnessing","Bible--New Testament","Church (Ecclesiology)"],"abstract_tesim":[" \r\nThe most significant finding from this research is the clear difference between a church that is mission minded and one that is truly missional. Simply having hundreds of missionaries, being actively involved in witnessing, evangelism, and church planting, or maintaining a large mission’s budget does not necessarily make a church missional. In a missional church, every member understands God’s mission, recognizes their role as someone who is sent, and intentionally participates in God’s ongoing work by living out their faith with the purpose of reaching the lost.\r\n\r\nAnother important finding is the common belief that only ministers or those appointed by the church are responsible for missions. Many individuals who strive to live out their faith at home, at work, and in other settings still feel guilty for not fully obeying God’s command in the Great Commission because they have not gone to distant or remote places to preach the gospel. The New Testament concept of the priesthood of all believers is not well understood.\r\nThese challenges are likely present in many churches around the world, not just in Nigeria or Africa. God calls His Church to be missional, so teaching about God’s mission and how to actively participate in it should be a top priority for every church.\r\n"],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["admin_set/default-default-approving","admin_set/default-default-depositing","admin_set/default-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Default Admin Set"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["public","work_editor"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"_version_":1854867927884365824,"timestamp":"2026-01-20T20:11:43.148Z","score":1.0},{"system_create_dtsi":"2025-01-13T16:19:27Z","system_modified_dtsi":"2025-01-13T16:19:28Z","has_model_ssim":["Etd"],"id":"b6137f7e-7f50-4a6c-beb5-97c499be8f23","accessControl_ssim":["a9bf103b-f57e-4ad9-aaf0-17e6465dc548"],"depositor_ssim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"depositor_tesim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"title_tesim":["The Impact of Cultural Diversity Month Towards Equipping and Unleashing an Intercultural Congregation for Gospel Outreach"],"date_uploaded_dtsi":"2025-01-13T16:19:26Z","date_modified_dtsi":"2025-01-13T16:19:26Z","isPartOf_ssim":["admin_set/default"],"hasEmbargo_ssim":["ffed1725-c0b3-4527-9516-feb5d67a259e"],"hasLease_ssim":["23aabd85-41d1-4d49-bd78-c42bec9e89e4"],"show_pdf_viewer_tesim":["1"],"show_pdf_download_button_tesim":["1"],"institution_tesim":["Atla RIM"],"degree_tesim":["Doctor of Ministry"],"degree_granting_institution_tesim":["Trinity International University"],"year_tesim":["2024"],"resource_type_tesim":["D.Min. Project"],"types_tesim":["Text"],"creator_tesim":["Alexander Chu"],"subject_tesim":["Bible--Galatians","Bible--Revelation","Bible--Acts","Cross-cultural studies","Church (Ecclesiology)","Assimilation (Sociology)","Bible--New Testament--Relation to Old Testament","Bible--Genesis","Race relations and church","Worship"],"abstract_tesim":["This DMin major project examined the cultural, relational, and spiritual impact of a dedicated Cultural Diversity Month at Skokie Valley Baptist Church (SVBC), a diverse congregation welcoming over 40 ethnicities located in Wilmette, Illinois. The project corresponded with SVBC’s mission of “equipping and unleashing cultures and generations to authentically live out the Gospel everywhere” and addresses the importance of intercultural unity as a core biblical value.\r\n\r\nThe project’s approach integrates theological foundations, such as the imago Dei and imago Christi, biblical reconciliation, and the redemptive mission of God for all peoples, explored through a sermon series with themes of Identity, Lament, Reconciliation, and Mission. This theological framework sets the stage for qualitative research conducted through focus group interviews to analyze the perspectives of SVBC members on the impact of Cultural Diversity Month. Key findings include enhanced cultural awareness, new relational connections across cultural lines, and a deeper engagement with biblical themes of unity and diversity. Participants expressed a sense of shared identity in Christ, an appreciation for diverse expressions of worship, and a strengthened commitment to living out SVBC’s mission in their daily lives.\r\n\r\nThe project concludes with practical recommendations for SVBC, including steps for ongoing intercultural integration, the development of culturally sensitive outreach strategies, and strengthening SVBC’s mission through regular worship that reflects the congregation’s cultural diversity. The insights gained from this project offer potential insights for other churches aiming to establish an intercultural community that reflects the global body of Christ, supporting a\r\ncongregation that worships, serves, and grows together across cultural boundaries."],"rights_statement_tesim":["https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"thumbnail_path_ss":"/assets/work-a3b75da7abded620ab321410c80d102e5e2417b71c54de7ba7d4b0363da904f7.png","suppressed_bsi":false,"actionable_workflow_roles_ssim":["admin_set/default-default-approving","admin_set/default-default-depositing","admin_set/default-default-managing"],"workflow_state_name_ssim":["deposited"],"visibility_ssi":"open","admin_set_tesim":["Default Admin Set"],"account_cname_tesim":["rim.ir.atla.com"],"human_readable_type_tesim":["Etd"],"read_access_group_ssim":["public","work_editor"],"edit_access_group_ssim":["admin"],"edit_access_person_ssim":["dminadmin@tiu.edu"],"_version_":1821151245933477888,"timestamp":"2025-01-13T16:19:29.537Z","score":1.0}],"facets":[{"name":"resource_type_sim","items":[{"value":"D.Min. Project","hits":3,"label":"D.Min. Project"}],"label":"Resource Type"},{"name":"creator_sim","items":[{"value":"Alexander Chu","hits":1,"label":"Alexander Chu"},{"value":"Bwanhot, Sunday","hits":1,"label":"Bwanhot, Sunday"},{"value":"David Carlton","hits":1,"label":"David Carlton"}],"label":"Creator Sim"},{"name":"contributor_sim","items":[],"label":"Contributor"},{"name":"keyword_sim","items":[],"label":"Keyword"},{"name":"subject_sim","items":[{"value":"Church (Ecclesiology)","hits":3,"label":"Church (Ecclesiology)"},{"value":"Assimilation (Sociology)","hits":1,"label":"Assimilation (Sociology)"},{"value":"Bible - Isaiah","hits":1,"label":"Bible - Isaiah"},{"value":"Bible - Luke - Acts","hits":1,"label":"Bible - Luke - Acts"},{"value":"Bible - Matthew","hits":1,"label":"Bible - Matthew"},{"value":"Bible--Acts","hits":1,"label":"Bible--Acts"}],"label":"Subject"},{"name":"location_sim","items":[],"label":"Location"},{"name":"language_sim","items":[],"label":"Language"},{"name":"publisher_sim","items":[],"label":"Publisher"},{"name":"date_created_sim","items":[],"label":"Date Created"},{"name":"types_sim","items":[{"value":"Text","hits":3,"label":"Text"}],"label":"Type"},{"name":"year_sim","items":[{"value":"2024","hits":1,"label":"2024"},{"value":"2025","hits":1,"label":"2025"},{"value":"2026","hits":1,"label":"2026"}],"label":"Year"},{"name":"format_sim","items":[],"label":"Format"},{"name":"member_of_collections_ssim","items":[],"label":"Collections"},{"name":"degree_sim","items":[{"value":"Doctor of Ministry","hits":3,"label":"Doctor of Ministry"}],"label":"Degree"},{"name":"discipline_sim","items":[],"label":"Discipline"},{"name":"degree_granting_institution_sim","items":[{"value":"Trinity International University","hits":3,"label":"Trinity International University"}],"label":"Degree Granting Institution"},{"name":"department_sim","items":[],"label":"Department"},{"name":"funder_name_sim","items":[],"label":"Funder Name"},{"name":"event_title_sim","items":[],"label":"Event Title"},{"name":"event_date_sim","items":[],"label":"Event Date"},{"name":"institution_sim","items":[{"value":"Atla RIM","hits":3,"label":"Atla RIM"}],"label":"Host Institution"}],"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":3,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}}}