Faith Healing Ministry: a Christian education model for clergy and laity

168 Pages·2016·7.96 MB·English

by  Gwendolyn A. Washington

Atlanta University Center
DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta
University Center
ETD Collection for AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library
5-1-2008
Faith Healing Ministry: a Christian education
model for clergy and laity
Gwendolyn A. Washington
Interdenominational Theological Center
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FAITH HEALING MINISTRY: A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MODEL FOR
CLERGY AND LAITY
By
Gwendolyn A. Washington
Associate in Nursing, Kentucky State University, 1978
Bachelor ofScience, Spalding University, 1991
Master ofDivinity, Interdenominational Theological Center, 2005
A Doctoral Dissertation
submitted to the faculties ofthe schools ofthe
Atlanta Theological Association
in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements ofthe degree of
Doctor ofMinistry
at
The Interdenominational Theological Center
2008
ABSTRACT
FAITH HEALING MINISTRY: A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MODEL FOR
CLERGYAND LAITY
by
Gwen A. Washington
May 2008
159 pages
Thepurposeofthisprojectwastobeginanintentionalefforttoretrievetheministry
offaithhealingthroughusingaChristianeducationmodelto educate/trainclergyand laity.
The model was comprised of Sacred Scripture, church tradition, individuals from the
Christian community experiences, and conversation voices from theologians, former and
contemporaries;includingmedicalscientists. Themodelwaspresentedinthemanualtitled,
Faith HealingMinistry:A Christian Education Modelfor ClergyandLaity.
The premise is that many church leaders fail to model the ministry of Jesus in
liberating folk who are ill within their congregations. Christian education is necessary to
retrieve the ministryoffaith healing with integrity and accountabilitybecause offear and
suspicionduetodeceptionandfraudulentacts. Inotherwords, someinthepastoral andlay
leadership are fearful to engageinfaithhealingbecauseofcontroversyduetomisuseofthe
gifts and abuse ofrecipients inthat area ofministry. One wayto changenegative attitudes
about the ministryoffaithhealing is through Christian education.
Seminars were conducted over aperiod ofsix weeks with a group participation of
sixteen clergy and laitywho completed questionnaires concerning their knowledge ofand
involvement in faith healing. The seminar sessions were taught bythe researcher and the
author of the manual. One theme addressed consistently: Faith healing should be an
intentionalministryoftheChristianchurchtobringholisticwell-beingandsoundnesstothe
congregants.
The churchreformershave influenced theologians and church leaders forcenturies
taking the theoretical position that the gifts and miracles ceased being used in the church
betweenthe first and third century. Theresearcherdemonstrated the influence theirtheory
has had on some Protestant denominations inregards to the lack offaithhealingpracticed
even in our contemporary society. The assumption is, the group that participated in the
projectareabletounderstandtheoreticalpositionstakenbysomeandcannowtakeastance
to support theirbeliefs andvalues inregards to faithhealing.
The Sacred Scriptures, some Christian traditions, former and contemporary
theologians, as well as physicians and scientists demonstrates evidence ofhow faith and
prayerworks in the healingprocess ofphysical illness.
The model for Christian education and training regarding faith healing will be
ongoing and acomponentwillbe added to include howto stayhealthy.
VI
DEDICATION
I dedicate this doctoral dissertation to my mother, my husband, my children, my
grandchildren,mydaughter-in-law,andmyson-in-lawfortheircontinualsupport, love, and
prayersduringthecourseofthisjourney. Thisworkisdedicatedtothememoryofmyfather,
my grandmothers, and auntie. All glory, praise, and honor to God Almighty for the
marvelousthingsHehas done. I am forevergratefulto seewhatwas spokento myspiritin
1998 come to past.
G. A. W.
vu
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
During myjourney to complete this project, there were those who have provided
supportbytheir encouragement, guidance, andprayers.
First, IthankDr. Stephen C. Rasor, Director oftheDoctorofMinistryDepartment
attheInterdenominationalTheologicalCenterwho listenedtomyconcernsandaffirmedthe
validityofmy studies and encouragedme to pursue.
ToFaithDominionChurchandGreaterHolyUnitywhocommittedyourselvestosee
this project come to fruition. I thank you sincerely for your time, effort, energy, financial
support, andprayers.
To Dr. Edward Smith, Chair ofmy Doctoral Committee who provided guidance,
counsel, andpatiencethrough the process ofcompletingthe dissertation.
To Dr. Lynette Dandridge and Dr. William T. Perkins for their commitment that
facilitatedthe successful completion ofthis dissertation.
To Dr. Marsha S. Haney and Dr. Danella Fogle for you support, assistance and
encouragement.
To Mrs. Cecelia Dixon for her support, patience, commitment, and spirit of
excellence that encouragedme in understanding theprocess.
To Mrs. Claudette Ferguson for her guidance in editing and critiquing my
dissertation.
viii
To Prophet Wales Williams, who encouraged me and prayed me through times of
beingperplexed. Youwill foreverbemy spiritual son.
To PastorMichaelaVaillantforherloveandcommitmentto financiallysupportthe
project.
ToElaineBuggs,LaSaundraDudley,DonnaMartin,whosupportedmewithprayers
andremindedme to stayfocused.
To my husband, Arthur, who supported me throughout the journey of my
InterdenominationalTheologicalCenterexperience.Iloveandappreciateyouforbeingthere
forme during times ofhigh and lowmoments.
To mydaughters MonicaandRenee, andmysonsNorman, Shawnand Troy, thank
you foryourlove and support.
To my mother who God has sustained throughout the years to see her daughter
accomplish a dream. Ithank God forher support andprayers.
To Bob, Stewart, and Carolyn youhave always been thereto love andprayforme.
Betty, RickyandKim thank you forbeing there.
I thank God for giving me the determination to complete the Doctor ofMinistry
program. Ineverwould havemade itwithout Hispresence always there to remindme that
itis inHim that I live, move, andhavemybeing.
IX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT v
DEDICATION vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS viii
Chapter
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. THE MINISTRY ISSUE 5
ALack ofHealing in Christian Churches 5
Historical andPersonal Historythat Informs the MinistryQuestion 9
Relationship ofMinistryIssueto the Author's Model ofMinistry 13
The Ministry Context 14
The Church 16
Theological Characterization ofthe Ministry Setting 16
Organizational Structure 19
III. LITERATURE REVIEW OFTHE MINISTRY ISSUE 20
Empirical Perspective 20
Central Themes ofThought - Section II 47
IV. BIBLICAL LITERATURE 56
V. THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE 74
VI. A MANUAL TO EMPOWER CLERGY AND LAITY 88
The Questionnaire Session 89
Small Group Sessions 90
First Seminar Session 91
XI
Chapter
Second Seminar Session 97
Third Seminar Session 101
VII. EVALUATION AND REFLECTION 103
The Pro-Active Results 103
The Results ofthe Project Evaluated 104
HealingMinistryManual to Teach and Train Others 106
How the Goals Were Achieved 106
Strengths and Weakness ofSessions 108
Reflection Regardingthe Model in the Manual for OtherPeople to See 109
APPENDIXES Ill
A. Initial Questionnaire SurveyforFaithHealingMinistry 112
B. Pre Seminar: Faith HealingProject Questionnaire Survey 116
C. Post Seminar: Faith Healing Project Questionnaire Survey ... 118
D. Faith HealingMinistryManual 119
E. Health Issues inMinistryContext 150
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 156
xn
CHAPTERI
INTRODUCTION
Thisprojectcameforthoutofthedesiretoseefaithhealingasanintentionalministry
oftheChristianchurch. Researchandobservationhasrevealed that faithhealingcontinues
tobeaneglectedministryofthechurch. Thedesireofsufferinghumanityistobehealed, or
madewholeinwhateverareaoftheirlivesisbroken. Byobservingthe sufferingofsomany
peopleonaweeklybasisthatcouldbenefit fromthechurchhavingacenterforhealing,has
encouragedtheauthortocompleteherstudyonfaithhealing.Thisisthegreatesthourforthe
churchtobeinstrumentalinhelpingthosewhohavelosthope,andhealingforthosewhoare
wounded. In order for the church to fulfill the role as a center for healing there are some
barriers thathavebeen erected andtheymustbe overcome.
Fromtheresearchthatwasdoneforthestudy,andtheparticipationintheproject,the
authordiscernedthattherehasbeentraditionalstrongholdserectedinLouisville,Kentucky,
including Shively, a suburb in the Southwestern areaofcity. The cityis steeped in Baptist
tradition and Catholicism. The Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Southern
BaptistTheological Seminary, Simmons Bible College, and other educational institutions,
areimpactedbyphilosophicalviewsandchurchreformerstheology.Theauthorattendedtwo
ofthe seminaries forapproximatelythreeyears. Pastoral leadership and laitymust ceaseto
allowthevoicesofformerchurchreformerstoinfluencetheirtheologicalbeliefsconcerning