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Thesis/Dissertation Information
- Degree Disciplines:
- Theology
Notes
- Abstract:
- The ministerial concern that motivated this thesis project was the desire to have an understanding of the embodiment of charism in the historical roots, present realities, and evolving structure of Covenant Health, a Catholic health care ministry located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. One of the most innovative Catholic health systems in the United States, Covenant Health is entirely lay-sponsored and lay-led and is comprised of the ministries of 17 different religious congregations with 17 “founding” charisms who affiliated with this new entity over the course of these 33 years. The concern is significant because Covenant Health, like all ministries in Catholic health care, is facing questions of Catholic identity and distinctiveness as a ministry. The conviction motivating this project was that mission and values do not distinguish a ministry. All organizations, not only religious and not-for-profit, but even for-profit have mission statements and values. Rather, the distinctive mark of a ministry, what distinguishes God’s work from merely good work, is charism. The ministerial question then that framed this project was threefold: What is the charism of Covenant Health? How is it articulated? How aware and intentional are the Covenant Health leaders about charism as the source of all they do in leading this healing ministry of Jesus Christ? The practical theological method used was that of Richard Osmer and data were gathered through oral interviews and written questionnaires with four groups: 1) co-founders, 2) religious congregational leaders, 3) former and present Board members and 4) current employee leaders of Covenant Health. In addition, the project explored charism in its biblical, ecclesial, and theological foundations and evolution over time. The outcome was that the charism of Covenant Health has not yet been identified, articulated, or understood by leadership. Nonetheless, the research concluded that the clearest articulation of this charism is that of covenantal relationship. This conclusion resulted in a second praxis that shifts the focus from mission to charism as the standard of distinctiveness of the ministry at Covenant Health with its spiritual grounding in the originating impetus, ongoing animating gift, and promised presence of the Holy Spirit into the future.
- Thesis:
- Thesis (D.Min.)--Barry University, 2017.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-149).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Joseph J. Driscoll. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- BS680.H413.D75 2017_DriscollJosephJ ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- BS680.H413.D75 2017 ( lcc )
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