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Impact of Coaching the Pastors and Churches Through the 2017 Cohort

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Impact of Coaching the Pastors and Churches Through the 2017 Cohort ABSTRACT EVALUATING THE RECALIBRATE INITIATIVE OF THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH: IMPACT OF COACHING THE PASTORS AND CHURCHES THROUGH THE 2017 COHORT by Joseph Shimko The Free Methodist Church, U.S.A. set out in 2017 to intentionally address the lack of growth in 51 percent of its churches as stated by Bishop David Roller at the Keystone Annual Conference in 2016. In 2017, out of 957 churches within the United States, the FMCUSA acknowledged a problem with church health and they were no longer going to ignore the problem. Denominational leadership believed the death spiral of so many churches must stop. Church planting was once considered the answer to dying churches. However, church planting alone cannot keep up with church closures and declining attendance around the United States. As a result, something has to change. The FMCUSA, with the help of Dr. Andrew Haskins and Bishop David Roller’s leadership, has developed the Recalibrate initiative with the 2017 cohort of thirty-five churches. These churches and their pastors received extensive coaching because they had been found to be stagnant or in decline in worship attendance for multiple years. This coaching, which started in January 2017 in Tampa, FL, involved assessing the spiritual life of a church’s leadership; refocusing the local church’s purpose, vision, mission, and values; development of healthy church systems; and finally, inspection of the church facility through the eyes of a first-time guest. In other words, denominational leadership challenged the pastors and their churches to ask, “What needs to change in order for God to openly move in the hearts and lives of their church once again?” As a pastor and assessor, I evaluated the Recalibrate initiative of the Free Methodist Church, U.S.A., and its impact on the 2017 cohort of participating churches. I hope this research will benefit other churches inside and outside the FMCUSA to experience a revitalization back to God’s intended purpose for those congregations. EVALUATING THE RECALIBRATE INITIATIVE OF THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH: IMPACT OF COACHING THE PASTORS AND CHURCHES THROUGH THE 2017 COHORT A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Joseph Shimko May 2020 © 2020 Joseph Shimko ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……………………………………………………………….vii CHAPTER 1 NATURE OF THE PROJECT……………………………………………..1 Overview of the Chapter…………………………………………………………..1 Personal Introduction……………………………………………………………...1 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………….........5 Purpose of the Project……………………………………………………………..7 Research Questions………………………………………………………………..7 Research Question #1……………………………………………………..7 Research Question #2……………………………………………………..7 Research Question #3……………………………………………………..7 Rationale for the Project…………………………………………………………..7 Definition of Key Terms…………………………………………………………..8 Delimitations………………………………………………………………………9 Review of Relevant Literature…………………………………………………...10 Research Methodology…………………………………………………………..11 Type of Research………………………………………………………...12 Participants……………………………………………………………….12 Instrumentation…………………………………………………………..13 Data Collection…………………………………………………………..13 Data Analysis…………………………………………………………….14 Generalizability………………………………………..…………………15 i Project Overview………………………………………………………………...15 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW FOR THE PROJECT…………………………..17 Overview of the Chapter…………………………………………………………17 Biblical Foundations……………………………………………………………..18 Acts 6:1-7………………………………………………………………...19 Revelation 2:1-3:22………………………………………………………24 Timothy 1:12-2:7………………………………………………………...37 Ezekiel 37:1-14…………………………………………………………..39 Theological Foundation………………………………………………………….43 Belonging………………………………………………………………...43 Body of Christ……………………………………………………………44 Physical Body of Christ………………………………………….44 Bread in the Communion Meal…………………………………..44 Relationship Between Christ and His Church…………………...45 Relationships……………………………………………………………..46 In the Church……………………………………………………..48 In the Community………………………………………………..52 Kingdom of God…………………………………………………………53 Research Themes………………………………………………………………...56 Church Revitalization……………………………………………………56 Prayer…………………………………………………………….58 Kingdom Culture………………………………………………...63 Discipleship………………………………………….……….......69 ii a. Jesus came for the lost.—Luke 19:10, John 3:17, and Isaiah 53:6………………………………………………..71 b. We are all sinners.—Romans 3:23…….…..……..……71 c. God sacrificed His only Son for us.—Romans 5:8 and 1 John 4:10……………………………………………….72 d. We all have a choice.—Romans 6:23………………....72 e. This salvation is not just for me.—1 Timothy 2:1-8…..73 f. Our goals must change. - 1 Timothy 1:18-20.…………74 Count the Cost…………………………………………………...76 Live with Urgency……………………………………………….79 Grace-Filled……………………………………………………...82 Expect Difficulties……………………………………………….84 Leadership………………………………………………………………..87 Research Design Literature………………………………………………………91 Summary of Literature Review…………………………………………………..92 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR THE PROJECT………………….95 Overview of the Chapter……………………………………………………........95 Nature and Purpose of The Project…………………………………………........95 Research Questions…………………………………………………………........97 Research Question #1……………………………………………………97 Research Question #2……………………………………………………97 Research Question #3……………………………………………………98 Ministry Context(s)………………………………………………………………99 iii Participants……………………………………………………………………...100 Criteria for Selection……………………………………………………100 Description of Participants……………………………………………...102 Ethical Considerations…………………………………………………..103 Instrumentation………………………………………………………………….103 Pilot Test………………………………………………………………..104 Reliability & Validity of Project Design……………………………….104 Data Collection…………………………………………………………………104 Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………...106 CHAPTER 4 EVIDENCE FOR THE PROJECT………………………………………108 Overview of The Chapter…………………………………………………….…108 Participants……………………………………………………………………...109 Research Question #1: Description of Evidence………………………………111 Research Question #2: Description of Evidence………………………………118 Research Question #3: Description of Evidence………………………………123 ReMissioning Church Assessment……………………………………………..133 Summary of Major Findings……………………………………………………134 CHAPTER 5 LEARNING REPORT FOR THE PROJECT…………………………...137 Overview of the Chapter………………………………………………………..137 Major Findings………………………………………………………………….138 1. Clear communication of expectations will lead to greater buy-in…...138 2. Prayer is vital for any revitalization to be a success…………………142 iv 3. A reasonable timetable for implementing change is critical to the morale and type of fruit produced………………………………………………145 4. Denominational support is critical for both the pastor and the local church…………………………………………………………………...148 5. A regular recalibration is important to the future of the local church…………………………………………………………………...153 Ministry Implications of the Findings…………………………………………..158 Limitations of the Study………………………………………………………...160 Unexpected Observations………………………………………………………161 Recommendations………………………………………………………………164 Postscript………………………………………………………………………..167 APPENDIXES………………………………………………………………………….172 A. Permission Letter for the Project…………………………...…….…………172 B. Individual Interview Questions……………………………………………...173 C. Informed Consent Forms…..……………………………………………......175 Individual Interview…………………………………………………….175 ReMissioning Participant……………………………………………….176 WORKS CITED……………………………………………………………………..…177 WORKS CONSULTED………………………………………………………………..188 v LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 4.1. Recalibrate 2017 Churches…………………………………………………110 Figure 4.2. General Assessment and Readiness of the Churches………………………112 Figure 4.3. Results and Outcomes of the Resources and Process………………………119 Figure 4.4. Relevance…………………………………………………………………..124 Figure 4.5. Leadership Reaction………………………………………………………..125 Figure 4.6. Resources…………………………………………………………………..126 Figure 4.7. Timeframe………………………………………………………………….127 Figure 4.8. Denominational Support……………………………………………………129 Figure 4.9. ReMissioning Church Assessment…………………………………………133 vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Mom and Dad, you were the inspiration for this project. Joe and Patricia Shimko, your sacrifice and willingness to serve the Church for forty-plus years was the ultimate example of an “all in” calling for me. You never backed down from the cynics, local as well as denominational. You believed in what you were called to do, as you helped resurrect churches written off for dead, just as Ezekiel did, by sharing the very Words of God to the people. I learned so much from you as you persevered and were resilient in seeing the miraculous done by the Lord. I have been changed by your life testimony. To the people of Northway Community Church formerly Light and Life Chapel in Williamsport, PA. Thank you for believing in what God was doing during my nine years as your pastor. You allowed me to lead and love you. We saw so much accomplished. We influenced the culture of the community outside the walls of the church, which set the church up for greater impact for years to come. From the beginning, we knew all the system changes, facility improvements, the raising up of new leaders, and the changing of our PVMV to reflect an outward mindset, were not about us but all for the glory of God. Also, I would like to acknowledge my Liberty Church family and Pastors Lon and Dawn Williams for providing space for me to complete this project, for loving on my family, and for not allowing us to sit on the sidelines
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