Leading the Transition from a Traditional
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LEADING THE TRANSITION FROM A TRADITIONAL ATTRACTION BASED MINISTRY MODEL TO A MISSIONAL MODEL OF MINISTRY A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY MARK H. YARGER WINEBRENNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FINDLAY, OHIO JULY 2013 Copyright © 2013 by Mark H. Yarger All rights reserved LEADING THE TRANSITION FROM A TRADITIONAL ATTRACTION BASED MINISTRY MODEL TO A MISSIONAL MODEL OF MINISTRY A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY MARK H. YARGER APPROVED BY: _______Dr. Stephen Dunn__________ July 11, 2013 Project Mentor Date _______Dr. Louis Stulman__________ July 11, 2013 External Reader Date _______Joan Crick________________ July 11, 2013 Writing Stylist Date Dr. John Nissley___________ July 11, 2013 Doctor of Ministry Director Date WINEBRENNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FINDLAY, OH JULY 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS………………………………………………………………….vii TABLES…………………………………………………………………………….viii ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………………………….ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………..x ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM .........................................1 Context of the Problem ......................................................................................2 Constantinian Era ..............................................................................................4 The Second Great Awakening ...........................................................................5 The North American Church Today ..................................................................5 The Denominational Context .............................................................................8 Local Church Context ......................................................................................10 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................14 The Purpose of the Study .................................................................................17 Research Methodology ....................................................................................18 Research Questions ..........................................................................................20 Significance of Study .......................................................................................20 Assumptions and Limitations of the Study ......................................................21 Definition of Terms..........................................................................................22 iv Organization of the Study ................................................................................25 Summary .........................................................................................................26 CHAPTER TWO: BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS ..........................28 The Theological Foundation ............................................................................29 The Old Testament ...........................................................................................30 The New Testament .........................................................................................35 Incarnation .......................................................................................................35 1 John 1:1-4......................................................................................................38 Philippians 2:5-11 ............................................................................................39 Good News and Good Deeds ..........................................................................40 The Great Commission ....................................................................................43 The Early Church (Acts 10:1-1, 18) ...............................................................45 Scene One and Vision One (Acts 10:1-8) .......................................................46 Scene Two and Vision Two (Acts 10:9-16) ...................................................46 Scene Three (Acts 10:17-23) ..........................................................................47 Scene Four (Acts 10:23-33) ............................................................................47 Scene Five (Acts 10:34-43) ............................................................................47 Scene Six (Acts 10:44-48) ..............................................................................48 Scene Seven (Acts 11:1-18) ............................................................................48 History and Tradition .......................................................................................48 Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries ...............................................................51 Denominational Tradition and History ............................................................53 Modernism to Postmodernism .........................................................................55 v Summary ..........................................................................................................62 CHAPTER THREE: LITERATURE REVIEW ..........................................................63 The Missional Church: The Biblical Mandate .................................................64 The Missional Church: The Need for a New Approach ..................................68 The Missional Church: The Cultural Challenge ..............................................75 The Missional Church: Definitions ..................................................................80 The Missional Church: It is Not Without its Skeptics! ....................................86 The Missional Church: Changing the Culture of the Church ..........................94 Summary ..........................................................................................................96 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES ............98 Focus Groups ...................................................................................................99 Evening with the Pastor ...................................................................................99 Large Focus Group ........................................................................................101 Discovery Groups ..........................................................................................101 Share and Prayer Triplets ..............................................................................102 Discovery Bible Study ...................................................................................104 Interviews .......................................................................................................105 Community Interviews...................................................................................106 Pastors and Judicatory Leaders ......................................................................106 Logan Interviews ...........................................................................................108 Missional Leadership Initiative Interview .....................................................110 Surveys ...........................................................................................................111 Top Ten Core Value Surveys .........................................................................111 vi Community Survey ........................................................................................113 CGGC Renewal Process of the 1990s ..........................................................113 Director Notes ................................................................................................113 Archive Materials...........................................................................................114 Visionary Sermons .........................................................................................114 Missional Events ............................................................................................115 Case Study .....................................................................................................115 Finances .................................................................................................... 116 Facilities ................................................................................................... 116 Summary .......................................................................................................117 CHAPTER FIVE: RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF DATA ...................................118 Surveys ...........................................................................................................118 Top Ten Core Values Surveys .......................................................................119 2009 Congregational Results .........................................................................119 2009 Administrative Council Results ............................................................120 2012 Congregational Results .........................................................................121 2012 Administrative Council Results ............................................................123 2012 Congregational Results .........................................................................123 Community Needs Survey .............................................................................124 Interviews ......................................................................................................126