Date
3-21-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Chair
Adeeb F Mickahail
Keywords
Divorce, Remarriage, Theological Confession, Pastoral Care, Tension, Discordance
Disciplines
Practical Theology
Recommended Citation
Kälin, Marco H., "Bridge over Troubled Water: Crossing the Bridge between Biblical Confession and Pastoral Practice Regarding Divorce and Remarriage in Unie-ABC Congregations" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6559.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6559
Abstract
Quite a few pastoral workers within the Unie-ABC perceive a discordance between their churches’ biblical-theological confessions regarding divorce and remarriage and the pastoral practice in which they minister. This could induce tension in which a pastoral worker’s counsel is constrained by the church’s biblical position on these issues. In order to diminish that gap, the purpose of this action research project is to implement a redesigned biblical-theological framework regarding divorce and remarriage in training seminars for Unie-ABC pastoral counselors. The project utilized quantitative data collected through email responses and documents provided by Unie-ABC congregations. In addition, qualitative data was developed from the participants’ feedback during interviews and online seminars, as well as from the researcher’s observations and field notes. Data was collected through survey questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group seminars. The data was then triangulated and compared. The result of the research indicate that the biblical framework can diminish the gap between the Unie-ABC congregation’s theological confession and pastoral practice. The project’s overall success also opens the door for exposing the biblical approach and its pastoral impact to a broader audience within the body of Christ.
