2012
Thomas A. Thoeni
Holy Obligations: Using the Vows of the Baptismal Covenant to Build Teams of Missional Leadership
The Baptismal Covenant as found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer is central to the missional vision of the Episcopal Church. It serves not just as a rite of initiation for new converts; it also serves as a rite of the renewal of vows taken in Baptism. The Covenant consists of eight questions. The first three of these regard issues of belief. The final five regard issues of how a person will live out that belief. Within these five questions can be found themes ripe for teaching and the formation of missional leaders within a congregation. This thesis explores the centrality and meaning of the Baptismal Covenant, identifies important themes and offers a curriculum of lesson plans to encourage congregational leaders to become leaders of the mission of the Church.