Ministry Project Outline:
Chapter 1: (4-6 pages)
• Introduction and Description of the Ministry Context, 3 – 4
• Statement of the Problem, 0.5
• Statement of the Purpose, 0.5
• Justification for the Dissertation, 0.5 – 1
• Delimitations, 0.5 – 1
• Definition of Terms, 0.5 – 1
• Methodology (Description of the Dissertation Process), 2 – 3
• Expectations from the Dissertation, 1 – 2?
Chapter 2: Biblical and Theological Foundation (10-15 pages)
• Chapter 2 uses exegetical and theological research
• Provide a solid biblical foundation
• Theological foundation can be taken from the Spirit of Prophecy
• The chapter begins with an introduction that invites the reader into the topic and presents a bird’s eye view of what the chapter will cover
• It identifies a theological question/problem which is central to the task of the project.
• It enters into conversation with the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy (optional) through the lens of a particular theological approach.
• It then constructs an answering biblical theology to serve as the theological foundation for the dissertation
• All claims are supported by clear evidence
• The connection between the claim and the evidence is warranted
• The evidence is presented in a clear and linear fashion
• The chapter bases its appeal upon logos and doesn’t attempt to divert to the sermonic lures of pathos and ethos
• The chapter minimizes the use of quotations and instead seeks to summarize the ideas of others
• All quotations are formatted correctly
• The chapter ends with a conclusion that reiterates the main points, restates the thesis in light of its substantiation and exemplification reflects on the journey that has led to this concluding moment, and acknowledges directions for further research and reflection.
Chapter 3: Literature Review (18-25 pages)
• The chapter begins with an introduction that establishes an appropriate context for reviewing the literature, defines and justifies the scope of the review, and provides a roadmap for the progression of the chapter
• The problem/topic is identified and the chosen literature is clearly related
• The literature represents the latest work done in the field
• The focus is on literature written over the last five years
• Specific reasons are given for the use of any literature that is not current
• Primary literature is emphasized and secondary literature is used selectively
• The literature review is organized around ideas, not the sources themselves.
• The ideas are presented in either a chronological or a thematic structure
• The researchers whose works are being reviewed are put into conversation with each other and their studies are compared and contrasted with each other
• The chapter ends with a conclusion that summarizes the major insights gained from the review, addresses questions for further research and provides insight into the relationship between the review and the central topic of the research
Chapter 4: Methodology/Description of the Local Context/ Programme Design (10-15 pages)
• The chapter begins with an introduction that invites the reader into the topic and presents a bird’s eye view of what the chapter will cover
• A profile is given of the ministry context that relates specifically to the task of the project
• An intervention is developed that clearly builds upon the theological foundation, the literature review, and field research
• A brief description of the performed research and evaluation of the findings
• A description of the intervention is given, including how participants are recruited, what kind of sessions, how many, objectives, and content
• The chapter ends with a conclusion that clearly reiterates the main points, and acknowledges directions for further research and reflection
Chapter 5: Programme Implementation and Evaluation (10-15 pages)
• The chapter begins with an introduction that invites the reader into the topic and presents a bird’s eye view of what the chapter will cover
• A narrative of the precise chronological implementation and evaluation of the intervention
• Evaluation may use quantitative and/or qualitative data to illustrate
• The chapter is written in a reader-friendly manner that models clarity of expression
Chapter 6: (5-6 pages)
• A concise summary is given of the dissertation
• A concise description is given of the final evaluation method employed (the comparison of the previous two evaluations), the interpretation of data, and the conclusions drawn from that data
• Outcomes of the intervention are examined that are clearly measurable by the evaluation method employed
• A concise recap is given of all of the conclusions that have been drawn through each of the chapters that culminate in final overarching conclusions
• A concise list of recommendations is given that detail further actions that need to be taken or research done in the area of this project