Scrawled Shortcuts through the Research Maze
Research in Ministry
Has someone already written your DMin thesis? Check this index to DMin theses, produced by the American Theological Library Association, at http://rim.atla.com/star/rimonline_login.htm
ARDA
What is the population of religiously uncommitted in your hometown? The Association of Religion Data Archive provides affiliation statistics, by county. On http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/, select your state and county, and note the “Unclaimed” bar in the resulting graph.
Adherents.com
Where are all the Methodists? Browse this rich website of religion statistics to discover “The Top 10 U.S. States with Most United Methodists” [Maybe Texas?]
http://www.adherents.com/
Congregational Resource Guide
The Alban Institute is one of the clergyperson’s best online friends. Consult the site for free online reports, tutorials, and how-to guidance on congregational vitality, spirituality, leadership, and worship. http://www.congregationalresources.org/
TextWeek
What’s the Epistle for this week? And which year of the Revised Common Lectionary cycle is it, anyway? Check Textweek at http://www.textweek.com/ for exegetical inspiration, a labor of love by its webmaster, Jenee Woodard.
Chicago Manual of Style
At the thesis writing stage, I may well wonder: How do I footnote an unpaged article in an online database? The Chicago Manual of Style tells all.
Under Chicago on the Electronic Resources List: http://www.drew.edu/depts/library/er-title.aspx [answer is in rule 17.181]
And don’t forget printed reference books…
If you can stop to smell the flowers, you can stop to open a book. These references, all at Drew, and some at public libraries, are good starting points for DMin theses: Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling; New Westminster Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship; Concise Encyclopedia of Preaching.