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CLERGYWOMEN with SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY a Dissertation

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CLERGYWOMEN with SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY a Dissertation CLERGYWOMEN WITH SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Sunny Sunwook Pak May 2006 DISSERTATION APPROVAL This is to certify that the dissertation entitled CLERGYWOMEN WITH SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY presented by Sunny Sunwook Pak has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for the DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree at Asbury Theological Seminary March 13, 2006 Internal Reader Date March 13, 2006 Representative, Doctor of Ministry Program Date March 13, 2006 Dean, Doctor of Ministry Program; Date Mentor ABSTRACT CLERGYWOMEN WITH SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY Sunny Sunwook Pak The word spirit has multiple layers of meaning and yet has some common features: immanence and transcendence. The languages of the spirit were used throughout this study. The purpose of this research was to examine the possible relationship between clergywomen’s understanding of their spiritual authority and their practice of ministry leadership within the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Through intensive one-on-one in-depth interviews, the study explored how their understanding of spiritual authority contributes to the ways they exercise their authority in ministry leadership. To be well represented the multicultural and multiethnic context of the California- Pacific Annual Conference, six major ethnic groups—Asian, black, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, and white—that were officially recognized in the conference were served as the recommending agents of the clergywomen for the study. The research participants were selected to reflect ethnic diverse ways of understanding and ministry. Clergywomen from diverse cultural backgrounds had similar stories to tell in different ways. Ordination was the affirming moment of clergywomen’s spiritual authority, which was given to them by God at the moment of hearing God’s call to ordained ministry. The traditional male-dominated culture in ministry was still a challenge; however, clergywomen continued God’s ministry faithfully in the spirit of shalom to create a harmonious, caring community of God with clergymen and laity as God’s family. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ………….…………………………………………………………..vii LIST OF FIGURES ……………………………………………………………………viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………..ix CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY …………………………………………………………...1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………..1 Effective History: Personal Experience and Cultural Traditions ………….1 The Title and the Approach..….…………………………………………...3 Statement of Purpose and Research Questions ….………………………………...4 Research Question 1…………………………….……………..………..…5 Research Question 2….………………………………………..………..…5 Definition of Terms..………………………………………………………….…...5 Spiritual Authority ………....……………………………………………...5 Context of the Study ….…………...………………………………………………7 Methodology …………………………………………………………….………...8 Subjects ….………………………………………………………………...8 Variables …………………………………………………..……………...9 Instrumentation and Data Collection ...........................................................9 Delimitations and Generalizability ….………………………………….....9 The Issues……………………………………………………………………...…10 Inner Empowerment: Identity in Christ ..………………………………...11 iii Institutional Empowerment: Vision ………………….…………………..11 Communal Empowerment: Culture……………........................................12 Biblical/Theological Foundations ………..………………………………………12 Overview of the Study……………………………………………………………18 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE ………………………………………………...………….19 Inner Empowerment: Identity in Christ ..………………………………………...21 Institutional Empowerment: Vision ……………………………………………..26 Communal Empowerment: Culture ……………………………………………..31 Relational Nature …………………………………………………………...……37 The Christ of the Spirit: Pneumatological Christology…………………..39 The Spirit of Christ: Christological Pneumatology ……………………...42 Ki (氣) and Ruah …………………………………………………………………43 Wilderness Journey ………………………………………………………………45 Biblical/Theological Foundations ………………………………………………..47 Triangular Model …………………………………………………….…..49 Conclusion …………………….………………………………………….……...63 CHAPTER 3 DESIGN OF THE STUDY ………………………………………………………………66 Research Questions ………………………………………………………………67 Research Question 1 …………………………………………..…………67 Research Question 2 …………………………………………..…………68 Population and Sample …………………………………………………………..69 iv Methodology ……………………………………………………………………..69 Instrumentation …………………………………………………………………..71 Validity and Reliability …………………………………………………………..71 Data Collection …………………………………………………………………..71 Variables …………………………………………………………………………72 Generalizing Factors ……………………………………………………………..72 CHAPTER 4 FINDINGS OF THE STUDY ……………………………………………………………74 Profile of Subjects ………………………………………………………………..75 Journey…………………………………………………………………...76 General Findings …...………………………………………………………….…88 Inner Empowerment: Identity in Christ ………………………………….89 Institutional Empowerment: Vision …………………………………...…90 Communal Empowerment: Culture ……………………………………...92 Thematic Findings …………………………………………………………….…93 Ethnic and Gender Consciousness ……………………………………….93 Ordination ………………………………………………………………..94 Compensation and Salary Support ……………………………………….95 Ministry …………………………………………………………………..95 Clergywomen’s Own Voices …………………………………………………….96 Summary ………………………………………………………………………....99 v CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS …………………………………………………..101 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………..101 Understanding the Reality………………………………………………………103 Alternative Norm: Team Ministry ……………………………………………...107 The Authority of Calling………………………………………………………..109 Personal Life………………………………………………………….…109 Institutional Life………………………………………………………...110 Communal Life …………………………………………………………110 Implications of the Study …………………………………………………….…112 Limitation of the Study …………………………………………………………114 Suggestions and Recommendations …………………………………………….115 Remarks ………………………………………………………………………...116 APPENDIXES A. Contact Record ……………………………………………………………...118 B. Initial Contact Strategy ……………………………………………………..120 C. Cover Letter for the Covenant …………………………………………....…123 D. The Covenant ………………………………………………………………..124 E. Six Action Steps in Conducting the Interview ……………………………....125 F. Interview …………………………………………………………………......127 WORKS CITED…………………………………………………………………….…129 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1.1 Serving Community of Cal-Pac ……....……………………………………………...8 2.1 The Issues around Clergywomen ……………………………………………….......20 2.2 Comparison of the Salary and Benefit Schedules 1998-2003.……………………...31 4.1 Participant Summary …………………………………………………………….….75 4.2 Spiritual Authority ………………………………………………………………….90 4.3 Passion…….……………………………………………………………………...…90 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 2.1 Triangular Model of Spiritual Authority …………………………………………..49 4.1 Spiritual Disciplines of Subjects ……………………………………………………89 4.2 Institutional Empowerment …………………………………………………………92 5.1 Head Count Enrollment in M.Div. Program by Gender 1998-2003 ………………106 viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to thank all those who have helped in one way or another to bring this study to its completion. I offer my deepest appreciation to: Dr. Leslie Andrews. You planted the seed of this study in my heart and guided me through its completion. You were unflagging in your attentiveness and enthusiastic in your support as you helped to shepherd this project along toward its completion. Dr. J. Ellsworth Kalas. Your genuine spirit softened my heart. Your encouragement kept me moving forward. Dr. Anthony J. Headley. When you read the result of my DISC test with me, I felt like you knew me inside out. You heard me well before I said. Judy Seitz. You are an amazing editor. You have an unusual ability to guide without dominating, to encourage without flattering, and to correct without discouraging. Research Reflection Team (Dr. DeWayne Johnson, Dr. James Goss, Dr. Gary Dickey, Rev. Thomas Griffith, Nancy Moravec, and 10 interviewees of the study). You offered cheerful and diligent research assistance at every stage of this project. You were exemplary in your patience and perseverance throughout the entire editorial process. Beeson Center for Biblical Preaching and Leadership Program at Asbury Theological Seminary. I was privileged to attend this program. I was equipped through this program how to be a leader of leaders. Thank you, Dr. Dale Galloway, for offering me Beeson learning opportunity. With Beeson program, I was able to start and finish this project. My Mother. You bore patiently my year-long obsession with the topic of simplicity related to clergywomen with spiritual authority. During the final months of writing, you took over all of my responsibilities at home. These and the many others who have surrounded my life have helped give shape to this study. I owe them an immense debt. They are the living voice of the Church—vita vox ecclesiae. ix Pak 1 CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY Introduction Hans-Georg Gadamer, a renowned figure of twentieth-century German philosophy, argues that people do their interpretive work out of their effective history, personal experience, and cultural traditions to assimilate new experiences. Following his advice, I begin this study with a brief report of my effective history. After that report I then clarify the significance of the title of this study, including the specific angle from which I approach my theme, and conclude with an exploration of my theme of the study. Effective History: Personal Experience and Cultural Traditions A brief report of my effective history begins in
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