The United Church Of Christ, By Howard W. Stone &Amp; James O...

The United Church Of Christ, By Howard W. Stone & James O...
Introduction
A–30 of The Leaders Box, a resource for church leaders in the United Church of Christ, contains
information for one who is seeking to become an ordained minister. One of the requirements of a
candidate for ordination is to provide their association committee on ministry with a paper "dealing
with the person 's theological perspective and grasp of the historic Christian faith; understanding of
the history, theological roots, polity and practice of the United Church of Christ; and the person 's
faith pilgrimage and understanding of ministry." The Leaders Box: www.ucc.org/ministers_leaders–
box
Howard W. Stone & James O Duke, in their book How to Think Theologically state, "To be a
Christian at all is to be a theologian. There are no exceptions." Google's definition of a theologian is
"a person who engages or is an expert in theology. Theology, according to Google is 1) the study of
the nature of God and religious belief and 2) religious beliefs and theory when systematically
developed.
It is with these definitions in mind that I prepare my paper for ordination. My journey to ordination
has taken sixty years. The journey has been easy, yet difficult. Joy filled, and yet often full of
sadness and frustration. My journey has been sixty years of walking with God, running to, and
sometimes from God, exploring, stumbling, falling, and climbing. It has been a journey of
discovering the theology of me and how that theology is to be used to glorify our creator not only
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A Brief Note On Hunger And Food Insecurity
II. The Issue A. In your own words, describe the presenting issue facing the community. In our
current economic crisis, many people have had to make tough choices and have ended up unable to
provide food for themselves and the ones they love. In Florida, we are faced with an alarming
number of people who are hungry without a secure source of food for themselves and their families.
B. Research and Trends (please use more than one source when answering this question) In 2006,
CNSTAT(The Committee on National Statistics) asked the USDA to clarify and make a clear
distinction between hunger and food insecurity. What the USDA came back with was the following
definitions (USDA, 2014): "Food insecurity, is a household–level economic and social condition of
limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Hunger is an individual–level physiological condition
that may result from food insecurity" (USDA, 2014, CNSTAT Review and Recommendations, para.
3). One of the main causes of food insecurity is Poverty. In 2012, the percentage of adults and
children afflicted by poverty in Pinellas County was calculated, and the percentage they found with
was a startling and quite worrisome number. It was estimated that 14% of adults and 21% of
children in Pinellas County are in poverty. That's over 130,000 Pinellas County residents who are in
poverty and may not be able to afford their next meal (Pinellas County, 2014). While Pinellas
County is suffering with a serious poverty and food

The Baptism Debate
Often held as a rite of passage and entrance into the Christian church, baptism is much more than
just symbolic ritual. Baptism was commanded by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission recounted
in the book of Matthew. Even though we are simplistically called to be obedient by being baptized
the Christian church has long debated the aspects of this ordinance. Denominations are divided on
the basic meaning, types and modes of baptism even two thousand years after the founding of the
Christian church. Just as the other ordinance, the Lord's Supper, congregations find themselves at
odd with tradition, biblical interpretation and even individual understanding. However, the simple
message of this awe inspiring act can be explained out of the ... Show more content on
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Thereafter, infant baptism became the norm." (Hammett, 2005, pg 269) Three arguments are often
used in support of infant baptism. The early church used the idea of household baptisms mentioned
in the book of Acts to support that entire families were baptized for the acceptance of faith by the
parents of the household. Other historians point to the Gospel encounter of children being brought to
Jesus for blessing and for Him to pray over the children. The last support can be found in the need
of an act of covenant being established as it once was in the Old Testament. In the time of Abraham
young boys were circumcised as a sign of the convent. In the New Testament infant baptism was
used as that sign. (Hammett, 2005 pg 269–270). Each of these were steeped further in tradition than
biblical basis. The New Testament points more specifically to believers' baptism rather than infant
baptism. As stated earlier, baptism is a symbolic act of obedience representing a choice of salvation
through Jesus Christ. It is unreasonable to think that an infant would be able to make such a choice
by itself. The parallel of Abraham's covenant is also misapplied. Hammett points out, "As
circumcision was applied to Abraham's physical seed under the old covenant, so baptism is to be
applied to Abraham's spiritual seed under the new covenant. But the spiritual seed of Abraham are
thus of faith, which means that believers should be baptized, which, they would

Rhetorical Analysis Of Senator Barack Obama
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Senator Barack Obama, in his address, "A More Perfect Union" (March
18, 2008), pushes back criticism from politicians and Americans alike, regarding inflammatory
comments made against the country by his former pastor. Obama is calling on his fellow Americans
to consider the role that race has played in dividing the country and in developing a more perfect
union. Through his use of characterization to establish his foundation as a person who has the same
struggles as everyone else and is not just some perfect politician, followed by use of repetition in the
middle of his address, he is establishing his true opinions about his pastor's comment, and a final use
of parallelism towards the end of his address to channel ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He does this because it gets his view before the public eye and it corrects any misunderstanding
about whether he believes what his pastor believes. As he answers the questions, he attempts to end
the controversy, hoping it will not be held against him during the election and people will vote for
him. In his address, he also utilizes parallelism to bring the focus back to the foundation of his
campaign. Obama says, "We can accept a politics that breeds division and conflict and cynicism. We
can tackle race only as a spectacle as we did in the OJ trial . . . That is one option . . . This time we
want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white
children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native–American children. This time we
want to reject cynicism that tells us that these kids can't learn . . .."(Obama, 3) Here, Obama is
listing all the things that America could do, but the list of problems would just continue on forever,
and contrasting them with what America could do that would actually help it in the long run. He
uses repetition to bring the attention back to what he would tackle as president. He is taking the
pastor's negative comments and addressing them, but instead of focusing on all the bad, Obama
shifts the focus to the

Moreland Case Study
In 1851, Moreland was established as one of the first school districts in California (District #2).
Instruction was provided in a private home. On November 13, 1852, teacher Samuel Rogers
purchased the home of Zechariah Moreland for $350 to establish the district. The home was located
at the corner of Payne and Saratoga Avenues, northeast of the old oak tree (officially named "The
Moreland Oak Tree" in August, 1981). It remained the schoolhouse until 1894 when Moreland
Elementary School was built at that location. The picture on our home page is part of a picture taken
in 1933. The facility was planned to take care of the ultimate growth of the Moreland School
District. At first, only the lower floor was used. The upper floor was occasionally

Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints: Community Analysis
Mormonism is the term used to describe the religious beliefs and practices of the members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints. The congregations, or the group of people assembled
for religious worship, are frequently referred to as Mormons. This religious movement, which was
founded in the year 1830, argues that the Mormon Church is a restoration church originally created
by the Saviour Jesus Christ and He chose the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. to restore it (Hughes, 2014).
From that day, Joseph labored in God's service, working to establish The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter–day Saints and to build up God's kingdom on earth in the latter days. Jesus directs His
Church today through revelation to a prophet on the earth, and Joseph Smith was that such prophet.
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which attending The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter–day Saints promotes a sense of community among the congregation at the Victoria, British
Columbia location and how the perception that this religion is similar to a cult is an inaccurate
representation of the faith. We attended a Sacrament at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day
Saints in Victoria and conducted an interview with a six–year member of the church, furthermore
referred to as Hayley or Hayley Downton, to gain a deeper insight into the beliefs of this religion. In
this paper, we will be focusing on how globalization and modernization has influenced the religious
beliefs and practices of Mormonism; the sacred objects and rituals within this religion that assists in
promoting a sense of community; and on how we disagree with Karl Marx's perspective and critique
of religion being "the opiate of the masses" (Hegel,

The Book Of Discipline Essay
In the United Methodist Church's The Book of Discipline, the book of procedure and legislation of
the United Methodist Church, states that the church is to be inclusive and that it should enable every
person to participate in its life (BOD ¶ 139). It further states that all persons with "mental, physical,
developmental, neurological, and psychological conditions or disabilities" are fully human and full
members of God's family, with a rightful place in church and society. In recognition of this status,
the church is to be in ministry with all people who have any special need and to enable their full
participation in its activities. The church is also to be an advocate for equality (BOD ¶ 162). This
statement of inclusivity of the disabled seeks to fulfill what both authors are setting out to
accomplish; the inclusion and call for equality for those who are disabled mentally or physically in
both church and society. It speaks to Reinders' argument that the disabled are fully human no matter
what, and it speaks to Eiesland's argument of full ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although these shortcomings are not altogether surprising; every model of God is metaphorical.
Beyond this, it is important to note that each of the models presented here focuses specifically on
the Christian tradition; we are still in need of imaginative theologians to reflect on images and
metaphors from other religious traditions. This also is an insight we gain from reflection on
disability, there is so much diversity that we must attend to, finding commonalities while also
valuing the beauty of radical

Environmental And Environmental Disaster Of The United...
The number of white residents living within a mile of treatment and environmental toxic disposal
facilities has increased. Environmental justice advocates have discovered the disproportionate
placement of hazardous waste facilities in low–income communities of color throughout the United
States. California, specifically, is a culturally diverse state with changing demographics and major
issues with pollution. Although pollution and waste is a widespread problem, it has been more
negatively impactful to communities of color than those of whites. Environmental racism
demonstrates several instances of causation and correlation between ethnicity and exposure to
pollution.
The United Church of Christ Commission on Racial Justice director, Benjamin Chavis, publicly
mentioned the term 'environmental racism'. The UCCRJ concluded that dumpsites are
disproportionately located in low–income communities. This sparked a nationwide social movement
for environmental justice. Scholars have expanded the definition of environmental racism to "any
policy, practice, or directive that differentially affects or disadvantages (whether intended or
unintended) individuals, groups, or communities based on race" (McDowell). One major focus of
environmental justice involves the uneven placement of environmental pollutants with the poor or
racial minorities.
In identifying the problem of environmental racism, one must consider the most general issues
facing urban dwellers living in California today.

The Sacrament Of Baptism And Communion
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AND COMMUNION
The Sacrament of Baptism is a gift of grace that brings us into union with God, church, and the
Christian community. God's plan since the foundation of the of the earth was to enter into a
covenant relationship with all inhabitants, in order to bless them. The New Testament Covenant is
established through Jesus Christ and consist of baptism by water and the spirit. Mark 16:16, the one
who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned"
(NIV). By being obedient to Christ, we become participants in this sacred act of Baptism. Gayle
Carlton Felton wrote a book, By Water And The Spirit, and she shares about the tradition of Baptism
in the United Methodist Church. John Wesley plays a major role in helping shape the doctrine of
The United Methodist Church.
"The United Methodist Church is diverse in the way it offers the Sacramental Baptism; "Candidates
or their parents have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, and pastors and congregations
should be prepared to honor the requests for baptism in any of these modes" (Committee 1992, p.
81). It is important for individuals to understand the meaning of each mode. Immersion symbolizes
the burial and resurrection with Christ, and being born of a new water and the spirit. Pouring or
sprinkling water on the head signifies pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Pastors should be able to share
each mode with the candidates. The United Methodist

The Church Of Jesus Christ
Commonly referred to as "Mormons," though they prefer to be known as Latter–day Saints. The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints was formed in the first–half of the nineteenth–century
by its founder, Joseph Smith. Smith was said to have been visited by God, the Father, and Jesus
Christ after retreating to the woods to pray for guidance. At the time there were multiple competing
facets of Christianity and Smith was unsure which to join. To answer his question, God and Jesus
Christ told him not to join any of the churches, but to restore the one true church. After Jesus's
crucifixion, Latter–day Saints believe the original church fell after followers argued over his
teachings leading to the loss of his true message. Later, Smith was visited by an angel named
Moroni, who announced the existence of two gold plates for him to find. The plates were in an
unknown language so, through God's assistance, Smith translated the plates into English. Once they
had been translated, the plates were taken back by the angel. The translation of the plates came to be
known as the Book of Mormon, which is the groundwork of the church for Latter–day Saints. Smith
and his followers, due to the hostility from the local population in New York, left to settle westward
where they could practice their religion freely. Along the journey, Smith was murdered by a mob for
his religious beliefs, but his follower continued on and settled in Utah. On February 14th, I
interviewed Kevin Anderson at The

Personal Religion Comparison
World Religions – Personal Religion Comparison
Laura Ricketts
HUM 130
January 17, 2011
Ken Linder
World Religions – Personal Religion Comparison
"The chief feature of the Mormon Church, more formally known as the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter–Day Saints, that distinguishes it from the many variations of mainstream Christianity is that
Mormons believe not only in the Bible but also in another scripture, The Book of Mormon" (Fisher,
2005, pp. 453–454).
On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith formally organized the church that became The Church of Latter
Day Saints. Considered to be the first prophet in the end–time before the return of Christ, allegedly
Smith was led by God to discover golden tablets that were the sacred word of God. ... Show more
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The members are allowed to choose which study to attend. The studies lasted a little over an hour.
The scheduling for various traditions and services was performed in a normal fashion; e.g., how the
service in the church is held (music, sermon, etc.); how activities within the church are scheduled;
bible school for children, etc. No elders or leaders in the church spoke at the services, teaching
about the faith or from the Book of Mormon. This is taught in the classes.
Patti warned me that the members of the church do not interact with each other very much, and that
they weren't necessarily friendly. This did not seem to be the case today, as many of the "sisters"
came over to speak to Patti, and to "meet" her friend.
Personal Interview
The following is a transcript of an interview with my friend concerning her personal beliefs and
faith in her religion:
Interviewer: What was the main reason(s) for you to decide to follow the Mormon faith?
Patti: The church has everything I always felt a church should have, even though I wasn't active in
any church. I still believed there was a God and His Son Jesus Christ.
Interviewer: What is it about the Mormon faith that keeps you coming back?
Patti: Its doctrine, organization and people. The spirit I feel when at church.
Interviewer: If there is one thing about the Mormon faith that you don't like, what would that be?
Patti: I like everything! (grinning)
Interviewer: How strict are you in keeping

The Church Of Jesus Christ
Commonly called "Mormons," though they prefer to be known as Latter–day Saints. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints was formed in the first–half of the nineteenth–century by its
founder, Joseph Smith. Smith was said to have been visited by God, the Father, and Jesus Christ
after retreating to the woods to pray for guidance. At the time there were multiple competing facets
of Christianity and Smith was unsure which to join. To answer his question, God and Jesus Christ
told him not to join any of the churches, but to restore the one true church. After Jesus's crucifixion,
Latter–day Saints believe the original church fell after followers argued over his teachings leading
to the loss of his true message. Later, Smith was visited ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Mr. Anderson, is the Young Men's President for the Garner Ward, meaning he is in charge of all
Young Men's age groups. My girlfriend is a Latter–day Saint, so I have been to her church on two
separate occasions. As to whether visitors are welcomed at their church, Mr. Anderson says, "Yes,
we warmly welcome visitors," which I can agree with because I have spent time at their church.
Outsiders can take part in activities, come to classes, and make testimonies, but only members can
hold calling. One of the church's main attributes is that they are referred to as a "missionary church,"
meaning they desire to share the Gospel and want outsiders to learn more about their message. By
being open to outsiders and seeking new members, the church has seen rapid growth over the last
two hundred years and continues to grow to this day. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day
Saint's official sacred scripture is the Book of Mormon. To the Latter–day Saints, the Book of
Mormon is considered a partner to the Bible; however, there is more emphasis on the Book of
Mormon. The leadership of the church has changed over time, but the founder, Smith, is believed to
be the first prophet since the old church fell. The title of prophet symbolizes the original structure of
the old church where Jesus Christ established the first church with his biblical prophets. For the
Latter–day Saints, the prophet is the current president of the church and is the

Why The Church Is A Complex Concept Of Grasp
There are many reasons why the church is one, but to actually be "one" is a complex concept to
grasp. To be one means to be united, and unity is a powerful bond held together for a common
purpose. For example, through the Trinity, God is one in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Likewise,
all the aspects of the church is one just like the relationship of the Trinity. However, the Trinity is
also one of the primary ways the church is united. The Trinity is the leader in making the church
one. As Lumen Gentium claims, "the universal church is seen to be a people made one by the unity
of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit," (Lumen Gentium, 4). Yet, each part of the Trinity plays a
specific role in the unity. First, God the Father calls us to be a part of His church. "All the just from
the time of Adam, 'from Abel, the just one, to the last of the elect' will be gathered together with the
Father in the universal church," (Lumen Gentium, 2). God the Father allows the entire church to
have a relationship with Him, and brings people together through his love. In addition, The Father
sent His Son to bring the kingdom of God to Earth. The Church's foundation is the Son of God.
Lumen Gentium goes on to say, "All are called to this union with Christ, who is the light of the
world, from whom we come, through whom we live, and towards whom we direct our lives,"
(Lumen Gentium, 3). Therefore as the church, unity is formed by following and devoting our lives
to Jesus Christ, and it

Sean Mcgraw To Perlon Case Study
On Monday 04/23/17, Sherri Guidry submitted the resume of Sean McGraw to Perlon. This is
candidate that Sherri sourced through her own efforts. Sean relocated from New York to Columbia,
SC. His employer at the time (Cintas) offered to transition him to a driving position at a rate of
$12.00/HR. In New York, he was earning roughly 80K. Since he was relocated for personal reasons
related to his family and because of the difference in cost of living (SC vs NY is about a 60%
reduction), he was willing to interview for positions that paid between $10.00 to $15.00 an hour.
While Perlon did not feel he was a fit for the position Sherri submitted him for, they did feel he was
a fit for another job and offered it to him. Sean accepted the position.

Southern Baptist Denomination Research Paper
The Holy Bible authorities people to be evangelists for Jesus Christ, and they will impart their
beliefs on others, therefore knowing the doctrine of Jesus Christ is important.
The Word of God states in 1 Timothy 4:16: "Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue
in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." One's denomination
must mirror the Word of God and give glory to Jesus Christ, choosing a denomination that does not
fulfil this is unbiblical. The Southern Baptist denomination body highly exalts Jesus Christ in its
members' everyday life, crediting the only way to heaven is to believe in Jesus Christ. "The
Southern Baptist denomination holds the Scriptures to be the ultimate source of ... Show more
Connie R. Green, Emily Katherine Green Scott, and Sandra Brenneman Oldendorf scripted
Religious Diversity and Children's Literature: Strategies and Resources and said "All of these
groups shared common ideas such as the belief that communion is symbolic and not the literal blood
and body of Jesus." Believing salvation is the highest importance; I have chosen to research it
further. I want to recognize how different or similar the plan of salvation is for the three distinct
denominations. Denominations start to differentiate and separate in their spiritual philosophies, and
they are remarkably contrast about the permanence of salvation. Every sect teaches their creed with
absolute certainty, without acknowledging how faithfully or not it follows the

Candidacy Questions
Candidacy Questions
I was born in Pakistan to a Christian family and deeply steeped in Christian tradition from a young
age. My life began with an infant baptism and I was raised in a prototypical Christian way: I
attended church with my family every Sunday on a regular basis. My grandfather was a pastor and
my mother was a music minister at my home church. My mother's legacy had a direct influence
both on my siblings and on me, for we were likewise engaged in music ministry. I grew up hearing
my grandfather's sermons every Sunday, and I matured with a diverse culture around me. My church
generally hosted three separate Sunday services: the morning service was presented by Caucasian
missionaries. This service was followed by a bilingual service ... Show more content on
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Focusing on the sanctification, it is easy to find a clue in role of the Holy Spirit, and one's
relationship with God. In the book, An Introduction to Ecclesiology, Veli– Matti Karkkainen
mentions the sanctification and participation in the sacraments as a way of attaining strength to be
the body of Christ. Wesley is also said to have spoken very eloquently that "the church" has been
bought with the blood of Christ, and comprises of "whom God hath so called out of the world as to
entitle them to the preceding character." In other words, one needs to be a disciple of Christ, to
receive the Holy Spirit. According to 1 John 2:22, one needs to believe in Christ as Son of God, and
God as the Father, and only then one can abide in God, the Trinity that is one. This means that it is
necessary for one to have faith in God, and that one cannot be a believer having half, or no faith in
the knowledge of the existence of God. Speaking of one's faith in God, Karl Barth writes about the
church as one that is "grounded in an eternal election, realized through a divine calling, and alive in
faith and obedience through the Holy

The Young and the Realigning: A Test of the Socialization
David E. Campbell in his article "The Young and the Realigning: A Test of the Socialization Theory
of Realignment", Campbell decides that he wants to know what exactly is the reason for why more
and more people are identifying with the Republican Party instead of the Democratic Party.
Campbell spends a lot of time writing about if one of the key factors for people identifying with the
Republican Party is religion; primarily between Catholics and Protestants. Along with religion,
Campbell goes through a series of variables that he believes to be the cause for the Republican Party
getting more and more identifiers. Campbell's research question is; "specifically, this article tests
whether younger voters have been more likely to realign along religious versus secular lines– as the
literature on party identification and realignment suggests they should"(210). Campbell never really
states his theory, he basically summarizes his theory instead of blatantly stating it. "I start with the
premise that the Republican and Democratic parties are divided among religious lines. This cleft is
not denominational– Catholic versus Protestant– as it has been historically; instead, it is between
religiously committed and secularly oriented voters. This test which elements of theory developed
upon observation of the New Deal party system apply to another period of changing electoral
coalitions and thus potentially to such eras generally" (210).
Campbell's unit of analysis is on page 210

Paul's Treachery
Paul's has continues his discussion from the previous verse, that belivers are given for the works of
service for the building up of the Church. In order that the entire body may be united in faith and
knowledge of the fullness of Christ. The idea that Paul is conveying here is that the church body
works together individual and coperately to know Christ in a deeper manner. However, it's not only
intellectual knowledge about Jesus, but it is also growing into a deeper relationship with Jesus. For
Paul this deeper knowledge and relationship is a state of being in communion with Christ. Where in
essence Christ will can be enacted in the life of the believers because Christ and the believer are in
perfect communion. Paul states that when believers live in a state of the fullness of Christ. They are
no longer vulnerable to various forms of treachery. Paul equates being outside of the fullness Christ
to various forms of a helpless state. He comapares such a person to an infant, who can be easily
influenced. He also compares ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These individuals are able to recite scripture from memory. Read the Bible in its original language
and exgete the text to discover deeper meanings. There also people who have grown up in the
Chruch that attend and participate on a regular basis. But are these the type of individuals that Paul
is saying have the fullness of Christ? It is possible that Paul is precisely speaking of some of these
individuals. However, not every individual like the ones mentioned fit the of the fullness of Christ.
There are individuals that have inttellectial knowledge of Christ but lack a relationship with Christ.
There are also individuas that come and participate in the church but lack a relationship with Christ.
For Paul individuals with fullness of Christ are those who continually strive in their relationship
with Christ.

My Personal Experience Of God
Thessa G. Smith 103 Stratford Road–Greenwood, SC 29649 864.377.0400 tgsmith@umcsc.org
Thessa G. Smith
103 Stratford Road – Greenwood, SC 29649
Cell phone: 864.377.0400 tgsmith@umcsc.org Disciplinary Questions – Part I
Describe your personal experience of God and the understanding of God you derive from biblical,
theological and historical sources.
I have a personal relationship with God the Father through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and
the keeping power of the Holy Spirit. I spend time daily in prayer, meditation and reading of the
scriptures. My understanding of God is found in The Apostle Creed which states: I believe in God,
the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his ... Show more content on
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This point happened "before the foundation of the world" Ephesians 1:4. And there you are, at the
beginning. God knew you before there was a "before," at a time when the Father loved the Son, also
"before the foundation of the world" John 17:24. You begin as part of a trinitarian plan, not yet as a
created reality, but with the people whom the Father gave to the Son from out of a world he had not
yet made John 17:6.
What is your understanding of evil as it exists in the world?
Adam and Eve was placed by God in a perfect newly created world. They were free and
commissioned to rule the earth with authority and dominion without any restrictions on how to
accomplish this task. However, Adam was instructed by God not to eat from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, which would reflect his dependency on God: "You may eat freely of
every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in
that day that

How Did St. Thomas Aquinas Contribute To The Abolition Of Sin
The original sin created a distance which forced God to come down to the uplift creation and man to
His original plan. His coming down was to uplift creation and man confers St. Thomas Aquinas
meritorious act of salvation, it brought man back to his relationship which was broken between God,
creation, and man. The Church continues the work of Christ, as the visible and active symbol and
must witness Christ to the situation where poor can be seen as incompleteness, imperfection, being
despised. As Christ Came to save man from the slavery of sin, the Church should be aware to
liberate man in soul and body. The poor as the image of Christ, it is where that the Church takes her
role to preach and emphasize the value of the human person who was

Research
The Church as Sacrament
The Church, Sacrament of Salvation
 Church is the visible sign of the invisible reality of God's salvation.
 Sacrament is the visible sign of an invisible reality.
 "Mystery" (invisible); "Sacrament" (visible)
 The Greek word "mysterion" is translated into Latin by two terms: "mysterium" and
"sacramentum".
 "Sacramentum" outlines better the church as the visible sign; "Mysterium" outlines better the
occult reality of salvation.
 Christ is himself the "mystery" of salvation.
 Christ instituted his Church as the universal sacrament of salvation.
The Church is an Invisible and Visible Communion
 The Church is at the same time both invisible and visible.
 As an invisible reality, the Church is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
 Marriage – symbolizes the union of Christ and Church which is the fruit of Eucharist.
 Eucharist – new members are added to the Church through this sacrament.
Necessity of the Church for Salvation
 Just as Christ is the one and only mediator between God and men, so also is the Church the one
and universal means – sacrament–of salvation.
 Church is necessary for salvation.
 We cannot forget the church is not merely a way of salvation; it is the only way. This is not a
human opinion, but the express will of Christ.
 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
 Membership in the Church necessarily requires Baptism, belief in and profession of Christ's
teaching, reception of the same sacraments, and recognition of the Pope and the other legitimate of
the Church.
The Church's Universal Mediation
 Since the Church is the universal sacrament of salvation in the world, all graces come through it
and all graces are directed towards it.
Degrees of Membership

 Each one is admitted into the Church through faith and Baptism.
 The faithful enjoy full membership, but there are some who without being united to the Church,
are somehow related to her, with different degrees of closeness. We can distinguish:
1. The Faithful
2. The Non – Catholic Christians
3. The Non – Christians
Degrees of Membership (Notes)
1. Catechumens (Aspirants)
2. Full Members
a. State of grace

The Role of Religion in American Politics
The Role of Religion om American Politics
As the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution stipulates, "Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This regulation represents one
of the most important principles upon which the American democracy is built: the separation of
church and state. Rhys H. Williams and N. J. Demerath III, the authors of the article "Religion and
Political Process in an American City", however, raise the question that "if our national political
history is bulit on a religious–based morality – if we are a 'nation with the soul of a church' – then
why should government be excluded from religious affairs and churches have their political
activities ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Evidence has been found of a shift among a wider group of mainline Protestants away from the
Republicans towards the Democratic Party. As far as the reason for this mobility is considered, the
Civil Rights Movement is sure to have contributed to it with its calls for social reforms.
Consequently, the more liberal Protestants became more attracted to the Democrats, while the more
conservative ones remained in or joined the Republicans. Regarding the Catholics, a considerable
percentage of them is of Latin–American origin. The Catholic citizens, many of them deeply
religious, belong to the lower social classes, although some of them have become more affluent
recently. Those who has moved up on the social ladder, are more likely to make inroads into the
Republican Party, since they no longer strive for social reforms.
Relating this religious and ethnical affiliation to civic participation, it is remarkable to note that the
extent to which someone is involved in civic life may be dependent on whether they have acquired
the "civic skills through their assiciational memberships and, in particular, from their experience in
church." It is even held that it is only religious institutions that play a major role in providing
opportunities to be educated for politically active citizenship for those who would otherwise be
resource–poor (such as the Spanish–speaking immigrants from Latin–America). Accepting this
assumption means it is

Vivid Images In The Bible
Vivid images, from visions, to detailed explanations and accounts of places and events, to symbolic
imagery used to explain parables, or teach and encourage the first century churches are driving
forces within the Biblical text. Metaphorical language, by virtue of the fact that it preserves the
literal meaning of the symbol, while intending an analogous secondary meaning, is able to
communicate profound truths about reality, mainly by creating an alternative, symbolic way of
seeing and understanding the world. (Liubinskas, Susann. 404) Throughout the New Testament of
the Bible the most commonly used images are the body of Christ and vineyard imagery. These
images work together to create a powerful example of the necessity for unity among individual ...
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(Ephesians 4) The human body is held together by many joints, all the parts rely on the others to
function to the best of their abilities; if one part of the body suffers, the whole suffers. Paul is urging
the members of the church in Ephesus to be a unified group despite cultural differences that could
come between them. Unity, as presented in Ephesians 4 is not attainable by man's desires alone, but
rather a gift from the Spirit; this gift is offered to any believer "baptized in the name of Christ",
however, it is necessary that believers work to cultivate and nurture the gift of unity. (Bock, Darrell
L. 197) This passage continues to speak of the tools given in the form of prophets, saints and
teachers, "to equip the body" and nurture growth into spiritual adulthood. (Ephesians 4:11–13)
Knowledge and spiritual strength, taught to believers will increase their unity, growing them to be
more like Christ. "Believers will grow to maturity when their faith is nurtured and cared for not only
by them, but by the instruction and guidance of mature Christians in their life. Just as Jesus spent
His years of ministry teaching His disciples to live like Him, and they taught others to do the same."
(My Paper Mom, how do I cite my own work?) When Paul addresses the Church in Ephesus telling
them to grow to maturity in

The, Theological And Doctrinal Situation Of The Preaching...
1. Define the Preaching Context: a. What is the social, cultural, theological and doctrinal situation of
the preaching context? The preaching context is an urban congregation, comprising of more than
500 active congregants. The congregation has great understanding of how they are called to be One
as the Body of Christ. This is because their congregation comprises people of diverse identities.
They have single parents attending the church as well as children without their parents. They are
invested in the Black Lives Matter as well as the ESL program, which speaks to how attentive they
are about the ethnicities worshipping with them. It is very likely that the LGBTQ community is
pushed into margins and they need to pay attention to how they ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
2. Meet the topic. a. Identify the origin of the topic i.e. Did the topic originate from a specific text?
Or did it arise because of a perceived congregational need? The topic arose out of the
congregational need. b. What general topic are you addressing? Unity in the Body of Christ. c. If it
is based on a planned series of sermons, what is the theme? This is not based on any planned series
of sermons. However, the theme is being called to be united as equal and worthy members of the
Body of Christ. d. Which aspect of the general topic are you addressing in the sermon, i.e. the
particular sub–topic or sermon title? I will be addressing the sermon title: Unity in the Body of
Christ. e. What is the content of the good news that the topic offers? The good news: God unites us
as worthy members of the Body of Christ. f. Use your imagination and jot down initial impressions,
questions, and sermon ideas. In the Christian context, we are tempted to be divided as certain
groups, being known and heard in public, as the prominent voices. We easily forget in what ways we
are marginalizing those that are created in the image of God. They need to be invited into our circles
and conversations to create unity, to be heard, loved and accepted as equal and loveable members of
the Body of Christ. 3. Establish the boundaries of the topic. a. To what specific or general

The Church is Holly in Three Ways Essay
From the Incarnation of the Word, the world was given the fullness of divine Revelation in the
person of Jesus Christ. Christ instructed the apostles with the task of handing down all that he had
taught them. In order that they fulfill this mission, the Father sent the Holy Spirit upon them. The
Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to understand the fullness of Christ's teachings and proclaim them.
This definitive Revelation of Christ , which was given to the apostles and continues now through the
Church, is found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred tradition, as the Deposit of faith. In conclusion
"God has entrusted to the Catholic Church all Revealed Truth" (Theological Flint) If a Christian
Church has broken away from the Catholic Church it ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The church is made up of sinful members yet it is still considered holy. As the second mark states
the church is holy, "the church receives this from her founder Jesus Christ through the indwelling of
the holy Spirit." (The Church: Sacrament of Salvation) Christ filled the Church with grace
completely making her sanctifying. The Church is holy in three ways. She is holy because of her
founder Christ. She is holy because her goal is the glory of God. She is holy because she was given
to bring all men into communion with god, through teachings of Christ, the sacraments, and the life
of prayer. She remains holy even with her sinful members because "her essence is the Mystical body
of Christ, and like Christ is Holy and without sin." (The Church: Sacrament of Salvation) The sins
of her members do not defile her holiness, instead her holiness defiles their sins, transforming them
into holiness. As the first mark states the Church is one. She remains one because of the belief in
one God, and also that Jesus instituted the one Church. since the Church is known as one we
acknowledge "the unity and solidarity of the Church." (The Church: Sacrament of Salvation) With
the catholic faith spread around the world many different customs arise but the Church still remain
in unity. This is because the church's unity does not come from her members but from God, her
divine source. The many members of the Church are united with

The Church Of Philippi
MIT: Paul was teaching the church of Philippi that the path to greatness is found in being like Jesus
through humility and servanthood. Make us more like Jesus, humble like jesus, caring like Jesus,
united with Him and His mission. This is the prayer that paul had for the church at Philippi. He
wanted to show them that they can have all the knowledge and belief in God and His son, but
without understanding the true nature of Jesus and striving to be more like him, they will gain
earthly things, but miss out on the strength in the Unity of the Church body. How does paul expect
the Philippians, and the church today to achieve this goal of becoming more christ like? He lays it
out in Philippians 2:1–11, he breaks them down to be humble ... Show more content on
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In the first verse of chapter two presents four conditions for the Philippians. Paul puts them as
conditional statements which serve to draw the Philippians into a personal evaluation because they
each focus on spiritual realities experienced by those who have been saved. Paul begins by
appealing to their relationship in Christ.
In the first verse Paul presents a list of four spiritual benefits,encouragement, comfort, fellowship
and compassion, that are prescribed to the church in Philippi in order that they might conduct
themselves "in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ'". Paul uses separate "if" statements to
implying a condition must follow. The word encouragement can also be translated as "consolation"
or "comfort" and in the Greek it means "to come alongside and help,counsel, exhort." Paul said that
they can be encouraged by being united together with Jesus Christ. Paul encouraged the audience
with the unwavering love of Christ who displayed that love on the cross. Jesus' teachings stressed
love and the significance of the unity of love. It is comforting when one realizes who it was that
died. The word fellowship can be translated from the Greek to "close mutual association". The

Mormon Polygamy
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–Day Saints (LDS) was formally organized in a small log
cabin in upstate New York in 1830. It took 117 years – until 1947 – for the Church to grow from the
initial six members to one million" (Mormon Newsroom). Many people associate polygamy with
Mormonism, however polygamy has been banned in The LDS Church since 1890. Mormons believe
they have a Christian faith, but many Protestant Christians do not accept Mormons as genuine
Christians because of the differences in beliefs. While Mormonism is a fast growing religion with
more than 15 million members, many non–Mormons have misconceptions about what Mormons
actually believe (Mormon Newsroom). Although, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–Day Saints
share ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is also the largest Mormon denomination today with over 15 million members (Mormon
Newsroom). The LDS Church was founded in 1830 in New York under the leadership of Joseph
Smith. This group of Mormons believes in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Godhead in
addition to the 13 Articles of Faith, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The 13
Articles of Faith are thirteen statements that were written by Joseph Smith to summarize the main
beliefs of The LDS Church. They also believe that men will be punished for their sins. LDS "believe
that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of
hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Mormons and Religion). "The Doctrine and Covenants is a
collection of divine revelations and inspired declarations given for the establishment and regulation
of the kingdom of God on the earth in the last days" (Smith, The Doctrine and Covenants).
Compared to The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–Day Saints and the Temple Lot
Mormons, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–Day Saints is the only denomination that believes
in the Pearl of Great Price. "The Pearl of Great Price is a selection of choice materials touching
many significant aspects of the faith and doctrine of The Church of Jesus

Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit constitute the whole context of Catholic religion. We may
have a pretty good point on who Jesus Christ was, we may ponder on who God is, but we must also
balance the work of the Holy Spirit within the Catholic church and its followers. Often we think of
Jesus Christ as related to the Father, but I think his life was highly influenced and his actions were
all the more possible through the help of the Holy Spirit. Christ's actual birth is marked by the
intervention of the Spirit, Christ himself acknowledges the work of the Spirit done through him and
the moment of the baptism is introduced by the descending of the Holy Spirit as a pigeon. Other
moments in the Bible describe the presence of the Holy Spirit as well, thus making it obvious that it
has had a major influence on the work of Jesus Christ.
In the Holy Scripture, the Church is often called the body of Christ: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings
for you, for his body, which is the Church", writes the Apostle Paul. The question arises as to how is
the body of Christ the Church and the Holy Sacrament at the same time. The answer lies evidently
in the methaphorical use of the term "Body of Christ" rather than its literal sense. Catholic religion
believes that the sacraments which preserve the appearance of bread and wine are the very Body and
Blood of Christ himself.
Therefore, it acknowledges and confesses that Christ is the son of the Living God who came into
this world to relieve

Racial Justice Of The United Church Of Christ
Environmental racism is the "targeting of minorities and low–income communities to bear a
disproportionate share of environmental costs. It refers to any policy or practice that differently
affects or disadvantages individuals, groups or communities based on race or skin color" (Schill &
Austin 1991). Pollution is disproportionately distributed across the country; it is also distributed
unequally within individual states, within counties, and within cities (Schill & Austin 1991).
Hazardous waste sites, municipal landfills, incinerators, and other hazardous facilities are
disproportionately located in poor and minority neighborhoods (White–Newsome 2016). Each year,
America produces 275 million metric tons of hazardous waste. Environmental regulations only
regulate 40 million tons of the waste leaving the rest to be sent to landfills and waste sites (White–
Newsome 2016). According to research done by The Commission for Racial Justice of the United
Church of Christ, Zip code areas containing at least one hazardous waste site had, on average, 24%
people of color, compared to 12% in areas without a hazardous waste site. Additionally, "zip code
areas containing either two or more facilities or one of the five largest hazardous waste landfills in
the nation had, on average, 38% people of color "(White–Newsome 2016). One of the largest
dumping grounds is located in Emelle, Sumter County, Alabama. Sumter County houses the nation's
largest hazardous landfill facility. The landfill

The Book of Acts
Brief Overview of The Book of Acts
Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles as a follow–up to his Gospel account of the life of Christ. The
Acts should be seen as a description of the ongoing work of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy
Spirit through His apostles and followers. Luke's aim is to give an historical record of the early
church from its birth in Jerusalem to how it reached around the world with the Gospel. Through this
work Luke reveals that everything that was said previously about Jesus Christ was absolute truth.
The book of Acts can be split into two main parts: 1. The birth of the Church 2. The missionary
journeys of the apostles The book begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the waiting
disciple (120) in the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When they prayed God moved in a mighty way; saving the lost, healing the sick, raising the dead,
anointing with the Spirit, and even in an earthquake. God granted their requests not because of their
words but because they prayed from the heart. They believed that their God was able. The key verse
on prayer is "They continued steadfast ... in prayers" (Acts 2:42).
2) Courage
Boldness or courage does not come as a matter of course but come as we rely upon the Lord who
strengthens us to stand firm "And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants,
that with all boldness they may speak Thy word" (4:29). God will give us the power to say exactly
the right thing in threatening situations "We ought to obey God rather than men" (5:29), and then to
go on doing what He has called us to (5:40–42). Stephen is the prominent example in Acts of
courage in the face of adversity (6:127:60). Through his witness we understand that God can put a
holy boldness in our lives regardless of personal weakness or timidity. God is able to make us bold
regardless of what may come against us. In the book of Acts we see several occasions when
believers had courage from the Lord in difficult circumstances; (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) Peter before
the Jewish Council (4:5, 5:29) Stephen before the Jewish Council (6:12–7:60), Paul before Felix,
Festus, Agrippa, and the Jews Paul and

Book Of Discipline Research Paper
The Book of Discipline states the definition of the local church is a place of disciple–making, a
community of true believers under the Lordship of Christ, the redemptive fellowship where the
Word of God is proclaimed, and the place where the sacraments are administered to the people of
God. It also shares that the church exists for the maintenance of worship, edification of believers,
and the redemption of the world. The mission of the United Methodist Church is "to make disciples
of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." With this mission in mind, the primary tasks for
today can be broken down to worship, discipleship, and evangelism. Worship brings the body of
Christ, the Church, together in an effort to praise God for all that God has done, is doing, and will
do. Worship is where we can experience many of the means of grace such as hearing the Word of
God, prayer, and receiving Holy Communion. Jesus' call to follow is much more than just getting in
line and walking behind him along the journey; it is about servant–hood. This is more than going to
church, more than attending Sunday school, more than listening to a sermon. Discipleship is a
journey into the heart of God's love ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Two specific characteristics rise to the front: superintendency and itinerancy. "We are a worldwide
denomination united by doctrine, discipline, and mission through our connectional covenant." The
General Conference, which has "full legislative power over all matters distinctively connectional,"
meets every four years to determine the content of the Book of Discipline, the governing document
of the United Methodist Church. All United Methodist churches fall under the guidance and rule of
the Book of Discipline. Churches are defined by connections between people: pastor and pastor,
pastor and laity, and laity and laity. That means that we hold interpersonal relationships to be
essential to the

My Christian Experience
Name: Shaka Eroje
Address: 629 Rogers Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Phone #: 6467027518
DOB: 05/27/1966
Program: Mater of Divinity
I was born into a Muslim family and raised up a nominal Muslim. I grew up believing Christianity
is just an alternative religion to Islam. Sometime in 1999, in Lagos, Nigeria, I was invited to a
church – Redeem Christian Church Of God – by a female friend. While in the church I heard the
gospel preached to me and was deeply moved by the words I heard. I responded to the alter call
made by the preacher and was told am now born again.
After my initial encounter I did not attend any church service at the church where I got born again
despite numerous follow up attempts by the church members. I continued to ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Now am thirsty to know more. I desire more personal knowledge and understanding.
As I do my personal study of the bible I begin to see parts of the bible that deserve deeper study and
insight and I strongly believe a study of the bible in its original text (Hebrew /Greek), will definitely
provide a better understanding. I am encouraged in my spirit to pursue this endeavor because the
bible admonishes that God's people perish because of lack and knowledge. Explaining how

The Lord's Supper In The United Methodist Church
The Lord's Supper, also known as Holy Communion or Eucharist, is one of the two sacraments
acknowledged by The United Methodist Church. As with baptism, the Lord's Supper is an outward
and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, where we are welcomed into the family of God
and initiated into the church universal. "Holy Communion is the sacrament that sustains and
nourishes us in our journey of salvation." Holy Communion is a means of God's grace given to us to
draw us closer to God. As United Methodists, "we believe that Christ really is present, though the
essence of the bread and wine remains the same." When the elements are blessed by the clergy, "the
Holy Spirit makes Christ really present for us." Throughout the New Testament there are six major
themes of the meaning of Holy Communion: thanksgiving, ... Show more content on
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How do you intend to affirm, teach and apply Part III of the Discipline (Doctrinal Standards and
Our Theological Task) in your work in the ministry to which you have been called?
As a pastor in The United Methodist Church, it is my responsibility to affirm, teach and apply Part
III of the Discipline in my ministry. The United Methodist Church's doctrinal standards and
theological task need to be preached, taught, and lived out in the community of faith. I believe it is
the job of the pastor to put our theological views on display in a practical manner for those in our
congregations. The three ways I can accomplish this are through preaching, teaching, and living it as
an example for all those to see. Worship is a time in the life of the church that parishioners can hear
the Word of God. This is a great opportunity for me to preach our doctrinal standards and
theological task in a practical manner for the membership. I can share the importance of the
distinctive Wesleyan Emphases like prevenient grace, justification and assurance, sanctification and
perfection, faith and good works, mission and service, and nurture and mission of the

Tom Confirmation Paper
Religion has always been important to me. It is something that is a part of me and being confirmed
in my Christian faith is definitely something I would like to do. There are several things that make
me want to be confirmed in Christian faith. The first is that it is what I truly believe in. For me it is
what explains many things. I also know that God will always be there for me in Christian faith. My
studies in the past six months to complete the confirmation class has verified all of my feelings I had
going into the class.
I have been going to Pilgrim Congregational since my mom first took me and then I couldn't decide
what I believed in, but now with the experience of many years of coming to church I know that this
is the faith that I ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It seemed that we all agreed and voted on ways to improve life for others. This was interesting
because I was able to see all of the work that it takes to donate to companies that help the needy, or
even directly help the needy. I was also able to catch a view of how the church runs. It seems like a
lot of pointless voting and following strange rules as to how we have to pass different systems that
the church uses. The annual meeting was even intense at times as there were questions about church
policies and what was the appropriate amount of money in the budget. However, it became apparent
that it is very important to follow church policies so that we can all agree upon a conclusion. It
would be awesome to finally be able to vote at these meetings and participate on committees once I
am confirmed and become a member of the church. In times where decisions are hard within these
meetings one can use the bible to help us to remember that we are all one congregation. I have
learned a lot about the bible that I didn't know throughout the class. The first person to see the risen
lord out of his tomb was Mary Magdalene, which is written in the gospel of John. Jesus Christ was
born in Bethlehem in a manger on December 25th. Jesus left Simon a very direct message to start
the church. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the writings about Jesus, or gospels, and the first
four books in the New Testament. "In the beginning," are the first words of the New and Old

The Servant Ministry Of The Member Essay
l) Describe your understanding of diakonia, the servant ministry of the church, and the servant
ministry of the provisional member.
Every believers is called to active participation in the missio dei as servants, or making earth as is in
heaven. We have a very real Eschatological hope and expectation, which causes us as the church to
engage the lost and pursue those in darkness in anticipation for that day. We await the "fulfillment of
God's universal love, justice, and peace on earth as in heaven," and act as forerunners, similar to
John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord and acting as emissaries of His Kingdom which is
coming. The Bible describes us as servants who are, "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." The Discipline also agrees that servant ministry
both a holy privilege and obligation. It is our privilege as believers to serve others as Christ has
served us, and is our obligation to live as he commanded us, which hinges on love based service to
our neighbors.
The book of Ephesians lays out that some are given as leaders to the Church. In our modern context
when these individuals heed the call and are confirmed by their local church body, can serve as an
ordained minister in the office of elder or deacon in the UMC. This tradition of identifying spiritual
gifts and calling can be identified as far back as the church of Acts.
Taking a look at diakonia, it seems the origin of this word is

Biblical Imagery Of The Bible Essay
Vivid images, from visions, to detailed explanation and accounts of places and events, to symbolic
imagery used to explain parables, or teach and encourage the first century churches are driving
forces within the Biblical text. Metaphorical language, by virtue of the fact that it preserves the
literal meaning of the symbol, while intending an analogical secondary meaning, is able to
communicate profound truths about reality, mainly by creating an alternative, symbolic way of
seeing and understanding the world. (Liubinskas, Susann. 404) Throughout the New Testament of
the Bible the most commonly used images are the: body of Christ, and vine imagery. These images
work together to create a powerful example of the necessity for unity among individual believers,
and that unity tying them Christ. However before discussing how Biblical imagery explains unity
with Christ, one first must understand what unity with Christ is. According to the Baker Theological
Dictionary, unity with Christ is more than mimicking the life of Christ. Rather "it is the present
experience of the risen Christ indwelling the believer's heart by the Spirit." (Elwell, Walter A .789)
Being 'In Christ" can be interpreted as the "intimate" interconnectedness between Christ and
believers. (Elwell, Walter A. 789) Biblical imagery is used through the entire text to allow clear
understanding this calling and what it looks like in the life of believers. (This is a terrible sentence.)
"Comparison between the body

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama's Judgment By...
Barack Obama's "Judgement" by Association
An attack on a country's ideals is an attack on everyone's in it. Because personal values are deep–
rooted, political rhetoric often inspires emotion through personal bias to cloud perception.
Habitually discovered, displays of carefully edited facts create negative value correlations to
candidates. When used to portray a presidential candidate in the 2008 election year this clever tactic
is effective in momentarily turning off almost an entire nation to the offending party. An overly
sentimental appeal in the political advertisement "Judgement" manipulates pathos to discredit
Barack Obama's ethos by associating him with his pastor's alarming proclamations.
Obama's ethos fall under attack when a partiality to Reverend Jeremiah Wright's anti–American
appeals is suggested. The advertisement opens with a close up of Obama's face with an angry
expression while the narrative begins by confronting viewers while calling them ... Show more
"Judgement" demonstrates what Jib Fowles describes in his article "Advertising's Fifteen Basic
Appeals" as the need to aggress. He unveils burdens of life result in rebellious inclinations. Fowles
explains while societally suppressed, concealed emotions are prone to rearing their head in volatile
bursts. This aggressive potential energy is an attractive vulnerability for promoters (22). While
Obama, in expression, and Wright, in flagrant testimony, display aggression, the nature of this
display is intended to invoke a similar and opposite aggression on behalf of patriotism and
traditional values, with the target being the candidate's suitability for the presidency. The dramatic
exaggeration and extension of Wright's declarations to Obama's ideals further demonstrates a scare
tactic that uses fear of prejudice to inspire

The Pros And Cons Of Racial Discrimination
As an international student, I was given a great opportunity to pursue a wide range of academic
studies and to experience the world diversity that enriches the promotion of a cultural exchange
amongst students from many different parts of the world. Interactions with different races on a
personal level has allowed me to gain a better understanding about them in person, their values, and
the world; however, until I left home and went abroad as an international student, I, too, was one of
few people who had only seen them in person from a long distance or through social media. As
much as the issue of racial discrimination has been extreme and people's ignorance of this issue has
grown in many countries, I had once denied to accept the difference and created bias in my personal
view and the way I perceived different races. People tend to acquire various knowledge through
individual perception formed simply by seeing what is currently lain in front of us, as I did. Barack
Obama, while campaigning for the presidential nomination at the National Constitution Center
Union in Philadelphia in 2008, delivered his speech about controversial issues of race that still exist
in the history of America (Rai, 646).
The speech titled "A More Perfect Union" conveys numerous messages regarding Obama's
concerning beliefs of racism. Barack Obama, himself, despite serving as the 44th President of the
United States, had gone through the long and hurtful journey of difficulties in the presence of racial
discrimination having to face the prejudice against the colored skin and a different social and
cultural background. Being colored, preconceptions about him was inevitable even during his
campaign, but his oratory that openly addressed the race which is the sensitive topic that is rarely
discussed or spoken in public, captured great attention allowing him to successfully build his image
as an intelligent and patriotic candidate. Through the speech, Obama not only responds to the
criticisms of his affiliation with his former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who spoke of
controversial and incendiary statements about the divisive racial challenges in America and the
injustice of the country as a nation by questioning the U.S. government,

Galatians 2 : 19-20 In The Teaching Of Pope Pius XII
Galatians 2:19–20 in the Teaching of Pope Pius XII
The message of St. Paul in Galatians 2: 19–20 has been considered as the essence of the Christian
spirituality. Particularly, the sentence "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me", the
Verse 19, suggests Christian life as an intimate union with Christ. In relation to this verse, Pope Pius
II, in his Encyclical Mystici corporis Christi, develops the doctrine of the union of all Christians
with Christ as the fruit of the union of Christ with His Mystical Body.
Pius XII considers this personal experience of St. Paul, his life in union with Christ, as being
applicable to the life of all believers, that is, to the whole "Mystical Body", the Church, having
Christ as her Head and the Holy Spirit as her Soul. For it is by her Founder, the Head, through the
Holy Spirit, that the Church is living. Then, it is by virtue of the habitation of the Holy Spirit in
Christian souls that the intimate union with Christ is made possible in a supernatural and mysterious
way. Therefore, "the Church, then, no less than each of her holy members can make this great
saying of the Apostle her own: And I live, now not I; but Christ lives in me." Pius XII considers this
intimate union with Christ, however, as a priceless privilege of which Christians are granted. The
union with Christ is such vital and concrete that is can biblically "compared to the chaste union of
man and wife," said the Pope, and "to the vital union of branch

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