Doctor of Ministry Program
in Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture
United Theological Seminary
 Dayton, Ohio

Dissertations of the first doctoral cohort group
Class of 2007

 The first UTS Doctoral Cohort, Learning and Developing the Theory, Practices and Power of Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture, did extensive, in-depth research, as each developed imaginative, well thought out research projects in spiritual nurture ministries. Foundational to each student’s work was an understanding of spiritual formation grounded in respect for children and all persons as inestimably valuable to God. These Ministries of Spiritual Nurture welcome children as fully participating members of families, congregations and communities. The ministries focus upon “going alongside” persons in every life stage, as they seek to deepen connection with or become more united to God and grow in relationship with God and others.

Dr. Valerie Hobby Bell

Membership Matters: Deepening the Experience with God and One Another Through New Member Classes  Dr. Bell designed “Membership Matters: classes to offer experiences for potential new members to learn more about the church, within a nurturing environment.

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Dr. Valerie Conzett

 Hope Cottage Companions: Bereavement Support for Adults Based on the Practices of Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture and the Teachings of the Roman Catholic Church Dr. Conzett provided  “Hope Cottage Companions” - a safe, supportive, faith based environment for people to explore their experience of death of a loved one.

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Dr. Cynthia Feltz

Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture Focused on Care for Caregivers Dr. Feltz wrote and offered a curriculum for Stephen Ministers in which spiritual nurture through Sabbath Rest and Blessing is offered to those who nurture.

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Dr. Arlys Fogt

Children In Worship: The Body Of Christ; Living Our Theology This focus of this ministry project, by Dr. Fogt, was on reclaiming worship as a multigenerational experience with children actively involved in the rituals and rites of the church.

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The Rev. Dr. Leanne Ciampa Hadley

Spiritual Support: A Model of Pastoral Care for Children and Teens in Trauma This project describes a model of spiritual support for children and teens in crisis, which emerged from the work of the author, The Rev. Dr. Ciampa Hadley, at First Steps Spirituality Center, Colorado Springs, CO.

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Dr. Cara Koch

Fostering Spirituality in a Preschool Sunday School with a Team of Grandfathers Using Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture The Grandpa Program was designed by Dr. Koch  to provide three and four year old children with an experience of God, rather than merely learning about God. 

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Dr. Jacqueline Nowak

Children’s Chapel: A Weekday Prayer and Blessing Experience for Preschoolers                Children’s Chapel, developed with the input of young children, by Dr. Jacqueline Nowak, offers a way for them to act out of and deepen their innate spirituality, to practice Holy Listening and compassion, to claim God’s blessing of spiritual strength.

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Dr. Charlotte Teel

Spirituality in the Church Nursery  This Christian education model, designed by Dr. Teel, employs elements of Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture in a Sunday School class for Toddlers ages eighteen to twenty-four months, and as a parent’s study on toddler’s spirituality.

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Dr. Barbara VanDoren

Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture: Holy Listening with Prayer, Scripture, Story and People as a Foundation for Confirmation Along with traditional denominational, historical, and scriptural material used in the United Methodist Confirmation experience, this project, by Dr. VanDoren, incorporated Sabbath time in sacred space using a variety of prayer experiences and Holy Listening.

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