1999
Freda Blackburn Dohoney
A Ministry of Hospitality for the Parish
This thesis is concerned with the ministry of hospitality for the parish. The dynamics of hospitality in parishes over a forty year period, the evidence of hospitality in scripture, and insights from writers in the field of congregational development were explored to point up the need for parishes to employ a ministry of hospitality for the creation of a Christian community that not only fosters growth spiritually but also in numbers. In the body of the thesis, the author has outlined a three-phase program of hospitality that may be used by any parish for developing a ministry of hospitality. The author is very firm in her belief that Jesus is calling every parish to create a ministry of hospitality for developing a community of faith that welcomes, nourishes, teaches and continues faith development for all whom God sends among them.