Engage with your seminar professor and colleagues on the topic of kinds of research using the following prompt to begin the discussion:
Research Nirvana – Achieving a State of Focus Formulation
As you read in QRP this week, hopefully, you used the inspectional reading approach, which you learned in HTR, for most of the material. The goal of the QRP reading this week was to make you aware of the broad range of research and writing done within the realm of theological education. You have all used one or more of these types of research and writing in past studies. You will use many of them as you move through your Carroll DMin program. You will want to keep QRP as a reference resource as you tackle these types of research and writing in future assignments, especially the development of your final DMin project/thesis as described in QRP chapter 8.
However, I would suggest that you do analytical level reading of QRP chapter 6, “Class Research Papers.” Also, I would suggest analytical reading of the “Book Review” section of QRP chapter 9, “Writing for Publication.” Both of these portions of your reading are directly applicable to the work that you are doing in your DMin seminars this term. In chapter 6 of QRP, Vyhmeister and Robertson describe the Information Search Process (ISP) model for doing research. Over the past two weeks you have moved through the Initiation and Selection phases of the ISP model with the selection and refinement of your research paper topic. Last week you entered the Exploration and Formulation phases as you shared and received feedback on your topic from your peers in the forum and from your professor directly. Hopefully, you have already begun the Collection phase of gathering research resources as you have clarified and refined your topic by using the ETBU library, the Internet, and other library resources. You will continue for the rest of the term in this Collection phase and ultimately move to the Presentation phase as you prepare a draft of your paper for review in week 8 and a final draft at the conclusion of the course in week 15. Vyhmeister and Robertson note, “The affective thread in this model moves from uncertainty to confidence. The cognitive thread moves from vague to focus to increased interest. And the activity moves from exploring to documenting. The defining moment when those transitions occur is when a focus formulation is achieved, when it all comes together for you” (QRP, 91).
Our goal is to reach the nirvana of research, the state of focus formulation. Moving toward that goal, respond to the following three items in this forum.
- Provide the revised thesis statement for your research paper. Last week, in this seminar’s forum, you presented a proposed thesis for your research paper. Using feedback from your professors on that proposed thesis along with information gleaned from this week’s reading assignments, especially the U of T essay “Using Thesis Statements,” develop a final thesis statement for your research paper.
- Provide your assessment of where you are on the affective, cognitive, and activity threads of the ISP model regarding your topic research as you move toward focus formulation.
- State what you need to do or what support you need in order to achieve focus formulation as you move toward the confidence, increased interest, and documenting ends of the three threads of the ISP model.
By the end of Week 3, the goal is for you to have final approval of your research paper thesis statement from your seminar professors so that you can begin building your Annotated Bibliography and start writing the first draft of your research paper.
Back to: Week 3 Overview
Back to: Research and Writing in Ministry Home Page
Research topic: The health and vibrancy of the church through unity
1. Supporting evidence for the claim: based on Ephesians 4:3, a healthy church is a
church that is unified.
2. Supporting evidence for the claim: History gleans wisdom that prevents
downfalls from happening again.
3. Claim/ Thesis statement: Through research and surveys of churches that have
split in the United States, we will glean principles that will prevent church splits.
As far as the stage I am in Kuhlthau’s ISP Model, I would say I am starting stage 5. I definitively experienced apprehension on how to put into words the problem I see so I could fill the knowledge gap. And with the help of Dr. Bryan, I believe I passed through stage 2 and I did sense some optimism. But that opitimism quickly shifted to confusion as I tried to swim through inconsistent and incompatible information. This was the third stage of the ISP model. Next, with the help of Dr. Bryan I have regained confidence as a clear and focused thesis has been formulated. The next steps are stage 5 and 6 of the ISP model. These stages are called collection (stage 5) and presentation (stage 6).
According to the book, in the collection stage, I will find very important information about my subject and my interest in the subject will peak. By the time I come to the presentation stage the searching will be complete, and I will have a new understanding. According to the book the emotions I will feel are relief and satisfaction.
My next steps are to gather and sift through relevant information and see which information is most pertinent to the thesis statement, and then I must present the information in an orderly way vi a written (typed) document.
Johnny,
You are making great progress on your thesis. I have a suggestion. Please roll your claim, reason, and evidence into one research argument or thesis statement. The model for a good research argument (i.e., thesis) is given in chapter 5 of TCR. Booth et al write, “In a research argument, you make a claim, support it with reasons based on evidence, acknowledge and respond to other views, and sometimes explain your principles of reasoning” (TCR, 101). On page 105 of TCR, the authors give a graphic showing the make-up of a basic research claim as follows:
CLAIM because of REASON based on EVIDENCE
The CLAIM and REASON are connected by a WARRANT or principle, as needed, that connects the REASON to the CLAIM. The WARRANT for your thesis is clear to me. It is that preventing church splits is good for the body of Christ. This does not need to be directly stated in your research argument in my opinion.
Also, the overall research argument should acknowledge and respond to questions about your thesis that may be raised by readers as needed. I will leave any such questions to your peers as they read your thesis. They may or may not have any questions for you. See TCR page 107 for a graphic of the full research argument model that puts all of these pieces together.
Your CLAIM is “Through research and surveys of churches that have split in the United States, we will glean principles that will prevent church splits.”
Your REASON for this CLAIM is that “principles that will prevent church splits” exist.
Your EVIDENCE is twofold: 1) Paul’s call for “unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” in Eph 4:3 reveals that “a healthy church is a church that is unified” and 2) “History gleans wisdom that prevents downfalls from happening again.”
I also suggest that you include the entire pericope of Eph 4:1-6 as part of your first point of evidence. You will do some exegesis of this passage as you begin your research to understand this biblical evidence/mandate related to the call for unity in the body as good and necessary.
Now, putting all of this together into a research argument using the TCR basic model might look something like this:
“Research and surveys of churches that have split in the US will yield principles that can help prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6) and historical wisdom to prevent church splits exists.”
Your research paper will move through three basic phases to unpack this research argument. First, you will explore the biblical call for unity in Eph 4:1-6 and other supporting Scriptures as a mandate for healthy churches. Second, you will uncover reasons for church splits/disunity based on your practical survey of US churches that have split. Third, you will distill principles from your biblical and practical research that can be applied to prevent church splits.
What do you think?
Dr. Bryan
Great insight! Thank you Dr. Bryan. So is this an approved thesis statement, “Research and surveys of churches that have split in the U.S. will yield principles that can help churches sustain their unity and prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6) and historical wisdom prevents church splits”, or would you like me to do more work to concise my thesis?
After rereading your suggested text, this is what I came up with =
Research topic = The health and vibrancy of the church through unity
Thesis statement = It is pertinent to research and survey churches that have split in the United states to glean principles that will reduce church splits (claim) so that a church is proactive in implementing principles that will prevent splits (reason). Ephesians 4:1-6 supports the working for a healthy church through its unification (1st evidence), and the knowledge of history reduces splits (2nd evidence).
Johnny,
Approved. Continue your research. You may find refinements necessary later. That is part of the process.
Dr. Bryan
Woo Whoo!
I really like your thesis statement, Johhny. I like the fact that you used scripture. With the research you obtain, are you hoping to share this with other local churches, Texas churches, nationwide, etc.? I will be interested to see the church split patterns of different parts of the United States. Also, if they are similar regardless of what part of the US they are in. Have you found any surveys or research in this area that prompted you to want to study this? Or possibly something you have experienced personally?
Johnny,
After reading everyone’s thesis statements, I’ve wondered what led each of you to your topics. Have there been any specific instances in your ministry that led you to focus on unity? I definitely agree with your statement, but I’m curious about the ups and downs your 15-year tenure has brought.
Hey Johnny! I bet Rainer has some data on this. Or maybe Replant guys like Clifton. One of the questions I have is if you need to narrow down a specific type of church split. Church splits are unfortunately numerous, and the reasons, I imagine, are varied. Splits happen over moral failures, finances, carpet color, music style, leadership transition, etc. I wonder if the diversity of reasons for church splits helps the research or creates difficulty. I’m not sure, so thought I’d throw it out there. Sounds like a great topic!
Great insight! Thank you Dr. Bryan. So is this an approved thesis statement, “Research and surveys of churches that have split in the U.S. will yield principles that can help churches sustain their unity and prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6) and historical wisdom prevents church splits”, or would you like me to do more work to concise my thesis?
Johnny,
You have made two small changes to my proposed thesis statement.
You said, “Research and surveys of churches that have split in the U.S. will yield principles that can help churches sustain their unity and prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6) and historical wisdom prevents church splits.”
I said, “Research and surveys of churches that have split in the US will yield principles that can help prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6) and historical wisdom to prevent church splits exists.”
You inserted “sustain their unity” into the claim-reason. I have no problem with this change.
You also modified the second piece of evidence from “and historical wisdom to prevent church splits exists” to “and historical wisdom prevents church splits”. I do have an issue with this rephrasing. This part of your thesis is evidence. I proposed that this evidence exists. Your rephrasing makes it a claim and not evidence. I do not suggest this change.
So, here is a final thesis that I will approve, if you agree: “Research and surveys of churches that have split in the US will yield principles that can help churches sustain their unity and prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6) and historical wisdom to prevent church splits exists.”
On a stylistic note, please observe that the US abbreviation is used without periods according to Turabian 24.1.3. Please follow Turabian on this point.
If you are satisfied with the above thesis, then I am. Consider it approved. You should begin gathering research evidence to support your claim per the thesis. I gave you some guidance for beginning an outline of the paper as well. Gathering resources and building a detailed outline are your next steps.
Hopefully, my detailed steps above were helpful in showing the process of building a concise thesis that follows the guidance of TCR related to research arguments. This is a skill that you and your colleagues will need to hone as you move through your doctoral studies.
Dr. Bryan
My revised thesis statement adopts the proposed change by Dr. Bryan, specifically to state it in the positive.
“Active, experiential discipleship models are better aligned with how middle-aged brains learn and change based on the results of neuroplasticity research.”
As far as where I’m at, I am in the selection stage. I feel like a bit of uncertainty has subsided, and I feel good about where I’m headed. Gathering sources and my initial readings have helped with this. Formulating the thesis and receiving feedback has helped take a step towards focus. Concerning activity, I am definitely more so in the exploring stage rather than the documenting stage.
I need to schedule the time to work on research and focus sooner rather than later in order to get a good jump on this. Life is especially crazy right now with a move on the horizon, so scheduling time to work on this is much needed to not let it get away from me.
Thank you Mark for your honesty. I really like this prompt because it allows us to be transparent. I think we all would agree, the more we get into the research, the more confident we will get as we see the direction our research is taking us.
Mark,
Your revised thesis is approved.
A question I have about your thesis is what other factors besides neuroplasticity may cause middle-aged persons to have a propensity for active, experiential discipleship? While neuroplasticity may be one factor, it is not the only factor or perhaps even the dominant factor. Your research will help tease this out. It may be good to acknowledge that neuroplasticity is one factor affecting learning style but that there are other factors. You can respond to this fact based on the results of your research.
Thank you, Dr. Bryan. I’m excited to continue exploring the research and see what it leads to!
Mark, I am excited to hear more about your research. At my church, our average age is 52, and our pastor really wants to work on improving discipleship models for adults. What drew you to middle-aged brains specifically? Was it because often most of the adults in our churches fit into that scope? You may have heard of Dr. Daniel Amen. He is a Christian, psychiatrist, and author. He does a lot of research in neuroscience. He may be a source for you in your research.
Thanks for that, Lezah. I think part of the desire to aim this direction is to understand how adults learn, and to consider the implications for discipleship. We still operate with a very traditional Sunday School model, which ends up being mostly lecture based. I’m hoping this research will lead to greater understanding, and maybe some alternative suggestions for experiential discipleship.
1. My revised statement: Children aged birth to 18 years express grief through unique emotional, physical, and behavioral patterns because of their different developmental stages.
2. I am currently in the exploration & formulation stages of the ISP model. In the affective thread I am not quite to confidence but feeling more certain. In the cognitive thread I am focused and have an increased interest. In the activity thread I am exploring but need to start documenting. I have been trying to stay on top of everything, but I am realizing I should have started researching already. That is my fault. I really appreciate the feedback and help from you, Dr. Strawn.
3. I need to set aside time numerous times a week to research. Also, I need to block out two-three hours each week to research and write. I have been setting aside time each day to read but have not set aside time each day or several days of the week to research. I am very interested in the topic, but I do not feel as confident in the writing portion. I know I will get the hang of it once I get back in the rhythm of writing.
Hi Lezah! Your thesis statement reminds me of a child development class I took for my bachelors in education. Specifically, I reminded of the eight stages that Erik Erikson developed. You may have already read his stages, but I really enjoyed his concept and may be helpful to your work.
Lezah,
Thank you for putting your thesis statement in the TCR format of Claim-Reason-Evidence. You have made a clear claim, “Children aged birth to 18 years express grief through unique emotional, physical, and behavior patterns….” You have also linked a reason with this claim: “…because of their different development stages.” However, your evidence to support your Claim-Reason is absent.
What is the evidence that you will explore to confirm or deny your Claim-Reason? You still need to answer the “based on” question. What will your study of this claim be “based on”? You may need to name a particular developmental model or psycho-social model that will be the basis for investigating your claim. There may also be particular studies of childhood grief related to developmental level that you will discover in your research.
A thesis is often refined through the initial stages of research. As you continue to look into this interesting topic, update your thesis to better definitize the evidence that supports your claim-reason.
Blessings,
Dr. Bryan
Hi Dr . Bryan,
Could I use the “Multidimensional Grief Theory” for my claim? The only thing is their research is ages 7-18. So, I would need to change my statement a little.
Would either of these thesis statements be, okay?
Children’s grief responses cannot be understood apart from their developmental stage, and the multidimensional grief theory offers the most comprehensive explanation for why emotional, physical, and behavioral expressions of grief vary so widely across childhood and adolescence.
Or
Children’s emotional, physical, and behavioral expressions of grief shift across developmental stages, the multidimensional grief theory provides the most accurate framework for understanding how grief demonstrates from ages seven through eighteen.
Dr. Bryan,
I could even add Matthew 5:4 to the thesis statement if you think that would be good to have scripture linked to it.
Lezah,
I think adding the evidence of multi-dimensional grief theory will strengthen and narrow your thesis. You should adjust your claim for the 7-18 year-old category addressed by this theory.
One caution is that making the claim “most comprehensive” or “most accurate” about this theory adds complexity to your research. That part of your claim would require you to find and explore other such theories and to find reasons to support this claim of this particular theory’s superiority. You might want to soften that aspect of your claim to “provides a helpful framework” or “is an important theory”. Otherwise, I think you are on the right track.
I’m not sure that adding the Scriptural evidence to your thesis is required, but it might be a nice addition to explore in the opening of your paper as a basis for why your research is significant.
Mull these thoughts over a bit more and modify your thesis accordingly. I think you are almost there. You are thinking well.
Dr. Bryan
Hi Dr. Bryan,
Thank you again for all of your coaching and help. Is this okay?
Children’s grief responses cannot be understood apart from their developmental stage, and the multidimensional grief theory provides a helpful framework for why emotional, physical, and behavioral expressions of grief (Matthew 5:4) vary so widely across childhood ages seven through eighteen.
Lezah,
That is an excellent, doable thesis given the scope of this research paper. Approved.
Dr. Bryan
Hey Lezah! Your thesis is clear, and I think there will be plenty of research on this. I remember going through different materials that will help in the counseling program at Carroll. One of the things I’d note is that there have been different opinions on how to define those different developmental stages. You’ll have to do some work in choosing which specific developmental theory you will stand on before you can get into outlining the differences between the stages themselves. I’m also interested in the implications of this work, specifically in a ministry context, if you plan to dive into that.
1. Thesis Statement: “Formal peer accountability groups [connected with local Baptist associations] mitigate pastoral isolation of senior pastors of autonomous [Baptist] churches by providing them with confidential relationships through which they can make candid disclosures, provide mutual counsel, and be accountable without transferring their authority away from the local church.”
The bracketed portions identify a proposed parameter that remains fluid until research is complete. If I find sufficient material to support a Baptist-centered topic, I will retain what is in the brackets. If there is not sufficient literature specific to Baptist churches, I will remove the bracketed portions and address the topic more broadly.
2. I am currently in the exploration phrase of the ISP. On the affective thread, I am confident in what I would like to research and how to attain the material. Conversations with our professors and Dr. Weaver at the Jarrett Library have brought clarity and encouragement at this stage in the process. I am still uncertain about whether the available literature will allow me to focus on Baptist churches and associations, but the fluid parameters give me a pivot point if needed. On the cognitive thread, my interest has moved from a general concern in pastoral isolation toward an argument about the role of formal peer-accountability groups. I am interested in how these groups will provide safe spaces for pastors to share honest conversations, wise counsel, and meaningful accountability without surrendering local church autonomy. On the activity thread, I am still exploring the subject. I met with Dr. Taylor Weaver at ETBU’s Library, and he is helping me gather resources through an anchor source.
3. I need to continue searching for scholarly research addressing pastoral isolation and peer-accountability practices. I need enough material to support the central argument within the bracketed parameters, or I will pivot to a broad scope. I also need to define the thesis’s key terms: pastoral isolation, formal peer-accountability groups, confidential relationships, and authority. If I do keep the Baptist parameters, I need to explain how a group is connected with a Baptist associated and how the peer-accountability groups can avoid compromising local church autonomy. After assessing the available literature’s scope, I should be able to finalize my thesis and arrange my annotated bibliography.
Skylar,
Your claim-reason is crystal clear and specific. I like your use of brackets to remain open to see where the available research evidence leads you. As I noted in my reply to Lezah, one often refines and definitizes the thesis statement based on initial research.
I suggest that you definitize the evidence that your study will be “based on” at the end of your thesis. For example you could add this phrase to the end of your thesis: “…based on the reduction of pastoral isolation of senior pastors participating in peer accountability groups.” This completes the basic TCR research argument sequence of Claim-Reason-Evidence. What do you think?
Dr. Bryan
I think that makes a lot of sense. It would specify which metric verifies my claim more clearly. Thank you for helping me fill in that gap.
Skylar,
Thanks for considering my suggested update to your thesis. When you have the final version ready, please post it here.
Thanks,
Dr. Bryan
Hi Skyler, great topic. Ministers, so easily get lost in an island of isolation. The statement that I wonder about is “confidential relationships.” That is the goal in becoming a part of the baptist association, but as I have experienced, not all associations provide that. What I have had to do is find a small pastoral group of men that I can trust. These men, although they are baptist, are not really part of the association (There is a lot frivolous politics that get in the way of true fellowship). I’m not really sure how this information can be added to your paper, but I thought I would just add my experience. Blessings brother!
Thank you for your contribution. Our connect groups at church sign a document that states (in a nutshell), “What is said in our connect group will stay in our connect group.” It’s difficult to be transparent when the foundation of trust isn’t firmly established.
Skyler,
Does your area (network/association) have a formal pastoral accountability program? I have had some natural accountability develop between ministry partners (mainly Baptist), but have never seen anything as you have described in place. I am curious as to how many people would be willing to participate if it were truly confidential. There is definitely value in it!
Nah, my association, sadly is not functioning very well. The true fellowship we ought to find there, is lacking. I don’t know if I mentioned, but another area that has truly been of great benefit to me is our church moved to an elders polity. I shared my heart with my church about three years ago, and we have been functioning with an elders body for the last six months. It is beautiful to get together with men that love the Lord and that have been called to serve as elders. The elders format has given me accountability as well as prayerful verification of God’s leading for our church
In my current research, I’ve found programs in other denominations called “reflexive” or “reflective” groups that fit this description. However, our associations don’t have anything like that. It’s not common in any Baptist circles since we don’t have regional oversight to organize these groups. I hope to bring something helpful to our doctoral group and to my area (if the data supports it).
I know too many isolated pastors, and see the toll it takes on them. I’m glad you’re diving into this topic. You mentioned confidentiality, and it got me thinking about what kind of agreement pastors who participate will need to agree to. Is that a formal agreement set forth to participate? Or how does that play out? I’m also interested in how accountability forms within the group.
Since Baptists value local autonomy so highly, there’s no way to propose a mandatory reflexive group. Regardless, I have read so far that voluntary participation does correlate with better results in the long run.
From my own personal experience, our connect groups (who meet in each other’s homes weekly) sign an agreement at the beginning of the year. Our three values for the group are trust, transparency, and training. You have to trust that your group will keep your struggles confidential before you can be transparent, and you have to be transparent before you can grow and train in your faith together. Our groups really hold to that standard, and signing an agreement does help the group understand the serious nature of confidentiality.
So, I’m not sure exactly how my research will support or defend my personal experience, but I’m open-minded if there’s a better solution for helping isolated and struggling pastors find the help they need.
Class,
As you reply to one another in this week’s continuing Week 3 Forum discussion, here is your focus. I expect you to ask questions about your peers’ theses. Do not simply affirm or agree with them. As a reader of the research work that they propose, what questions do you have? What holes do you see in the thesis? What else needs to be addressed?
You play the part of the skeptical reader. Doing this will help your peers strengthen their theses and better explain them. This is an important part of strengthening a thesis through the process of Acknowledgement and Response that is detailed in TCR chapter 9.
Each of you should be asking questions about your own thesis that you think readers may have. In this forum your peers become your readers. They will help you in this questioning process in the remainder of this week’s forum discussion. This process is not meant to be critical of your thesis but to strengthen both your confidence in its sufficiency for the research task ahead and the applicability of the results to your readers.
Dr. Bryan
This week’s reading, along with going back and re-reading chapter 2 from The Craft of Research gave me a better understanding of what the thesis statement should look like. After reviewing Dr. Strawn’s and Dr. Bryant’s recommendations, I would like to narrow my thesis statement to ‘Biblically defining the role of a pastor can reduce undo stress caused by a lack of identity and purpose.’
When it comes to where I am in the ISP model, it is somewhere between the exploration and formulation stages. Once my thesis statement is approved, there will be more confidence to progress into the collection stage. I do not believe that I will have much difficulty collecting materials for this topic.
this may be for another research paper, but it might me posed, how does defining the role a pastor affect the expectations that the church has on their elders? It may fit here as another result of examining and eternalizing the biblical definition of a pastor. It may be even more important reducing stress. if the church understands the calling, they will not be so critical on things that are not on the pastor’s table. The choosing of the first deacons is a great example of this. The apostles knew their calling was not serve each table, and the church eventually knew who to call for these practical needs. Just a thought. I love where this is heading.
Johnny,
I agree that the church has many non-biblical expectations of the pastor, which creates undue stress for someone with a shepherd’s heart who wants to fulfill the biblical role of pastor but ends up spending more time acting like a CEO. I mentioned on our Zoom Tuesday night that I have led our church on a multi-year journey toward a plurality of elders- a lot of that education was defining the roles of elders, deacons, and church-led leadership roles in the church (committees and teams) that allow people to use their spiritual gifts as designed to lead.
Depending where the Lord leads, this information is definitely something I would like to include in our final project.
Thanks for sharing, Rob. I’m interested in reading your research as you work through it. How “pastor” is defined is a hot button issue today, as we see in denominational life. I wonder how much you’ll need to address or argue your own “Biblical definition”. There are several different viewpoints, all from people we would consider brothers and sisters in Christ, who base their view on their own Biblical definition. I’m excited to see how it turns out.
I remember getting interviewed during my ordination process by local, rural pastors. One asked, “What is a pastor?” So I rattled off some biblical truths like the pastor’s qualifications and their roles as overseers, teachers, etc. I think the pastor was asking a leading question because he just shook his head and replied, “You really don’t know.”
It left me quite confused! After years in the ministry, I could tell that he meant the role of pastor requires an adaptive mindset and comes with tons of unsaid expectations (unless you have a really steady church that understands their mission as a church).
Are you going at this from a case-by-case basis where the church discovers their mission statement, and the pastor who interviews aligns with it? Or is a universal description of the role of pastor?
Rob,
I am glad that your re-reading of TCR has helped you gain a better understanding of how to build a thesis or research argument, as the authors of TCR denote it. I am also glad that you want to narrow the focus of your research based on our feedback. You are taking steps in the right direction. You may want to review my reply earlier in this week’s forum to Johnny regarding his thesis. There I outline further information from TCR about building a strong research argument. The essence of a good research argument is to make a CLAIM because of a REASON based on EVIDENCE.
You present your revised research argument as: “Biblically defining the role of a pastor can reduce undo stress caused by a lack of identity and purpose.” Here is my breakdown of your argument:
CLAIM: “a pastor can reduce undo stress caused by a lack of identity and purpose”
REASON: “Biblically defining the role of pastor”
EVIDENCE: This element is lacking in your current research argument in my opinion.
What evidence will you investigate related to the biblical definition of the role of a pastor? Certainly, Scripture gives primary evidence for the pastoral role. Identify at least one Scripture that will serve as the core for unpacking that role. There are many possibilities (e.g., Eph 4:11-13, 1 Tim 3:1-7, 1 Pe 5:2-3). Pick one and reference others as needed. Other evidence can be found in books, journals, websites, and other academic resources that address the issue of the pastoral role.
What evidence is there that knowing one’s identity and purpose, especially as a pastor, reduces stress when fulfilling that role? One key piece of evidence that you must find is how knowing one’s role and one’s identithy connects with reducing stress. This evidence may come not only from religious sources but also from psychological and even business resources. Not knowing the requirements of any job is stressful. Getting a handle on what you are to do is at least a step toward reducing stress.
So, my recommendation is that your research argument needs further refinement regarding the evidence that you will present to support your claim-reason. A possible revision of each piece of the argument might look something like this:
CLAIM: “A pastor can reduce undo stress caused by a lack of identity and purpose…”
REASON: “…that occurs when the pastor’s role has not been properly defined…”
EVIDENCE: “…by biblical definitions of that role (e.g., Eph 4:11-13) and by using practical guidance for fulfilling that role found in appropriate pastoral, psychological, and other resources.”
Putting it all together: “A pastor can reduce undo stress caused by a lack of identity and purpose that occurs when the pastor’s role has not been properly defined by biblical definitions of that role (e.g., Eph 4:11-13) and by using practical guidance for fulfilling that role found in appropriate pastoral, psychological, and other resources.”
So, as you begin to research this thesis, look for resources on the biblical definition of the pastoral role based on exposition of Scripture in commentaries, pastoral leadership books, and other resources. Also look for articles in pastoral, psychological, and even business resources that investigate stress that comes from a lack of identity and purpose. These resources should also include some practical recommendations for reducing stress through role clarification and a better understanding of one’s identity and purpose. The conclusion of your research should yield a clear, basic definition of the pastoral role based on Scripture and how understanding not only that role but also one’s identity and purpose in that role can lead to a reduction of stress.
What do you think?
Dr. Bryan
Dr. Bryan, thank you for walking me through the refinement process. I did not include it in my post, but I had been leaning toward 1 Peter 5:2-3 as the main text. I had a couple of different versions ready to send (not as clear as yours), but they were all very wordy, and I was trying to be more concise, which didn’t pay off this time!
Rob,
1 Peter 5:2-3 is also a good text. You can use it as your base text and expand to include other Scriptures as need to amplify your exegesis of that text.
Dr. Bryan
Rob,
After considering my input and that of your colleagues, please post a final draft of your thesis as it stands now.
Thanks,
Dr. Bryan
Dr. Bryan,
In an attempt not to use the exact wording you gave me, here is what I came up with:
“Pastors can experience reduced ministry-related stress when their identity and purpose are defined by biblical standards (1 Peter 5:2-3) and when they use practical guidelines from pastoral, psychological, and leadership resources. “
Thanks Rob. It is approved.