Suggested Outline of the Praxis Thesis

Suggested Outline of the Praxis Thesis

SPST Korean DMin

Fall 2009

 

The following outline is suggested; it is not mandatory. But if you want to depart from this outline, you should consult the faculty (Chun, Martin) for their advice and recommendations.

 

As you construct the Praxis Thesis, keep these principles in mind

1. It might be best for you to think about the Praxis Thesis as a teaching tool that you might use for clergy. E.g., imagine that you have been invited to teach a group of clergy about the subject in your Praxis Thesis. Write the Praxis Thesis for them as a document that they will read prior to your instruction. Imagine that they will have a general understanding of the material, but you will need to keep in mind that you are writing to them and for them. With this in mind, you will be more likely to write clearly and for the document to be more accessible.
2. Your thinking needs to be explicitly grounded in objective evidence and/or authoritative resources so that the reader can assess the veracity of your claims and the wisdom of your innovative model of ministry.
3. In each section of the praxis thesis, draw explicit connections between theological principles and

a)       the context,

b)       the theological framework that you are constructing,

c)       the specifics of the model of ministry,

d)      the implementation of the model of ministry.

4. Within each section, there is no need to follow the order of the outline exactly. The outline is primarily a guide for you.
5. Have someone who is a proficient writer proof-read your chapters.

 

Suggested outline of an 80 page paper (about 27,000 words) with suggested page numbers. The Praxis Thesis can be from 60-100 pages.

 

I.                   Introduction (10 pages)

a.       Identify the main question or problem that you are addressing through your DMin study. (3 pages)

1)      Describe the contexts of the question/problem.

§  Contextual study (in a congregation or another setting of ministry)

o   What are the practices, identity, understandings of congregation and its members?

o   What are the explicit and implicit theological understandings operative within the setting?

o   What are the points of convergence and divergence, what are the tensions, between understandings and practices?

§  Contextual study beyond the setting of ministry

o   What are the populations that live around the congregation?

o   How does the congregation relate to the larger community?

o   What are the issues that predominate in the community and how do they correspond to the main concerns of the congregation?

 

2)      Identify the most important dynamics in the contexts that call you to address them in this study.

b.      What is the question you are addressing? What is the hypothesis that guides your Praxis Thesis

c.       State the significance of the topic for the church. (1 page)

d.      Explain the relevance of the topic to your self-identify and vocation in ministry. (1 page)

e.       Give a general description of how you will address the topic. This is an overview of the praxis thesis. (1 page)

f.       Explain the general theological framework of the praxis thesis. Explain the theological method and describe the assumptions and commitments upon which it is based. (4 pages)

 

II.                Critical Integration of DMin study (20 pages):   Construct a theological framework within which the question/problem is to be addressed.

·         Identify the general framework of your approach. (1 page)

·         Identify and explain the biblical, doctrinal, historical, and practical elements of the framework. These should be drawn explicitly from course material in the DMin track as well as from your own research.

·         Relate each element of the framework to the question/problem as an important component of addressing it.

 

III.             Constructing  a unique ( Innovative ) Model of Ministry (25 pages)

a.       Propose a Innovative model of ministry that addresses the question/problem of the Praxis Thesis.

1)      Introduction to the model of ministry. Explain how the model of ministry is appropriate to the context.

2)      Identify and explain the sources of your unique model of ministry.

3)      Explain how your model is Innovative.

4)      Identify the general goals of the model

5)      Explain the model in detail: its structure, persons and groups involved, how it operates, criteria for evaluating the positive and negative outcomes of it.

b.      Identify the specific elements of the question/problem the model of ministry will and will not address. (2 pages)

 

IV.             Planning to Implement the Model of Ministry (25 pages)

a.       Describe the process by which the model of ministry might be best implemented.

1)      Persons and institutions involved

2)      Timeframe

3)      Processes involved

4)      Steps or stages of implementation

5)      How and when the model will be evaluated during the implementation

b.      Identify and describe the leadership that is best suited for the model.

1)      Qualities of Leadership

2)      Goals and Activities of  Leadership

3)      Steps that Leadership takes to implement the model, including the following:

a)      Organizing the community/congregation

b)      Developing leadership

c)      Evaluating the process

c.       Limitations of the Model of Ministry (2 pages)

d.      Identify remaining questions that still need to be addressed. (1 page)