The Process and Adaptation of the Ministries of the Wausau Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the Postmodern Matrix to Those Born After 1964
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2005 The Process and Adaptation of the Ministries of the Wausau Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Postmodern Matrix to Those Born After 1964 William Shelby Bossert Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Recommended Citation Bossert, William Shelby, "The Process and Adaptation of the Ministries of the Wausau Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Postmodern Matrix to Those Born After 1964" (2005). Dissertation Projects DMin. 20. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/20 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title; THE PROCESS AND ADAPTATION OF THE MINISTRIES OF THE WAUSAU SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN THE POSTMODERN MATRIX TO THOSE BORN AFTER 1964 Name of researcher: William S. Bossert Name of faculty adviser: Barry Gane, D.Min. Date completed: December 2005 Problem It was apparent to many of the Wausau Seventh-day Adventist Church members, as well as the pastor, that there was an apparent lack or minimal level of participation of young adults (ages 17-35) in the life of the church. It was the strong desire of the pastor and many of the members of the congregation to he inclusive of young adults, provide ministries for and by them, and to foster an environment for them to he able to grow in a deeper relationship with Jesus. It was evident that the current practice and ministry levels at the church were not meeting the needs or attracting this important segment of the population. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT THE PROCESS AND ADAPTATION OF THE MINISTRIES OF THE WAUSAU SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN THE POSTMODERN MATRIX TO THOSE BORN AFTER 1964 by William S. Bossert Adviser: Barry Gane Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Method A two-year process began with the introduction of the local elders to the current literature to assist them in what were the possible issues involved in the rejection of the young adults of the church. Concurrently, the pastor and his wife initiated a social/spiritual ministry (called Face2Face) at the onset of the project which was aimed specifically to college-aged young adults living in the greater Wausau area. The worship liturgy began a process of change which included the inclusion of more contemporary Christian praise music to be blended with familiar hymns. PowerPoint presentations for announcements, worship service elements and sermon presentations were also included in the change process. The pastor endeavored to project a more positive, energetic and spiritual atmosphere during the Sabbath morning services. Leading laity were engaged in many hours of discussion about what kind of a church they believed God wanted and a consensus was developed. A document defining the Wausau Church was then developed and adopted. It became the foundation for the future development of new ministries as well as educating new members or attendees to the ministry philosophy of church. Results At the conclusion of the project’s two-year time period, the church had more than doubled in attendance at the worship services. A generational shift of those bom after 1964 went from 45.5 percent of the congregational attendees to 63.1 percent. All generational groups experienced growth, but those between the ages of 17-40 experienced the greatest and most significant increase. The increased participation was also reflected in the young adults increasing their numbers in leadership roles within the Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. church, as well as placing their children in the age-appropriate Sabbath School divisions. A twenty-year decline in church membership had been reversed. Conclusions The project was effective in achieving a significant increase of young adults’ participation in the life of the Wausau Church. It is evident that the process of laity education and change was effective in bringing about a new atmosphere or new church culture in which participation and growth could take plaee. The process of change that happened at Wausau Church may serve as a model to other local churches wishing to reach their young adults. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE PROCESS AND ADAPTATION OF THE MINISTRIES OF THE WAUSAU SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN THE POSTMODERN MATRIX TO THOSE BORN AFTER 1964 A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by William S. Bossert December 2005 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3241981 Copyright 2007 by Bossert, William S. All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 3241981 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE PROCESS AND ADAPTATION OF THE MINISTRIES OF THE WAUSAU SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN THE POSTMODERN MATRIX TO THOSE BORN AFTER 1964 A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by William S. Bossert APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Dnectdf"of D.Min. Pry Skip Bell _____________ Ernest Furness Dean, SDA Theological Seminary John K. McVay "DecemWr f , jOOS Bruce Moyer Date Approved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1 Purpose of the Dissertation.............................................................................. 1 Statement of the Problem........................................................................... 1 Statement of the Task................................................................................ I Justification of the Dissertation...................................................................... 2 Description of Dissertation Process................................................................3 Limitations of the Dissertation........................................................................ 4 Methodology...................................................................................... 7 2. ANALYSIS OF THE YOUNG ADULTS RELATIONSHIP TO THE WAUSAU SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH...................................10 The Central Wisconsin Church District....................................................... 10 Demographic Information on District Churches......................................... 12 Young Adult Participation Prior to Project Beginning.............................. 13 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................... 19 3. TOWARD A THEOLOGICAL AND CURRENT LITERATURE UNDERSTANDING OF RELEVANT CONSIDERATION TO THE POSTMODERN MATRIX.................................................................................. 20 Establishment of Jesus’ Repeated Calls for Evangelism of All People Groups ........................................................................................................20 Four Generations in One Church..................................................................27 Builders......................................................................................................29 Boomers.................................................................................................... 31 Busters .......................................................................................................32 Bridgers......................................................................................................35 How