What constitutes fruitful continuing ministry development for Baptist ministers in Scotland?

Hodson, Martin Stewart (2024) What constitutes fruitful continuing ministry development for Baptist ministers in Scotland? DPT thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis presents a series of discoveries about what has contributed to the continuing development of Baptist ministers in Scotland. Previous scholarship has focused on the initial training of ministers (eg Reber and Reber 2010, Goodliff 2017) and the impact of initial ministry education on ministerial practice in the early years (eg Scharen and Campbell-Reid 2016). Denominations have produced guidance for ministers on how to pursue continuing development (eg Archbishop’s Council 2010a, Church of Scotland 2017, Methodist Church 2018) which has been the focus of some evaluative studies (eg Hamill 2010, Wilkin 2014, Clinton, 2016, Denton and Thomas 2017). This research uses narrative inquiry to listen to the way practising ministers describe what has actually been developmental for them over the years and decades of their ministries. Key themes that emerge are the desire for practical wisdom, the importance of communal learning, the impact of development dialogues and the significance of habits. In the light of these discoveries I propose a new way of defining Continuing Ministry Development and make recommendations as to how these could be reflected in the practice of denominations and networks of churches.

• Item Type: Thesis (DPT)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Walton, Professor Heather
• Date of Award: 2024
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2024-84068
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 06 Feb 2024 13:52
• Last Modified: 06 Feb 2024 13:53
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.84068
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/84068