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Engaging the Monterey Church of Christ in a Collaborative Elder Selection Process Benjamin D Abilene Christian University Digital Commons @ ACU Doctor of Ministry Project/Theses Doctor of Ministry Spring 2013 Elder Selection: Engaging the Monterey Church of Christ in a Collaborative Elder Selection Process Benjamin D. Pickett [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/dmin_theses Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Practical Theology Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, Rhetoric Commons, and the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Pickett, Benjamin D., "Elder Selection: Engaging the Monterey Church of Christ in a Collaborative Elder Selection Process" (2013). Doctor of Ministry Project/Theses. 20. https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/dmin_theses/20 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Doctor of Ministry at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry Project/Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. Elder Selection: Engaging the Monterey Church of Christ in a Collaborative Elder Selection Process A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School Abilene Christian University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry By Benjamin D. Pickett March 2013 To my devoted wife, Kerry ABSTRACT This doctor of ministry thesis presents the outcomes of a project intended to foster greater collaboration at the Monterey Church of Christ in its selection of elders. The intervention involved the engagement of the Monterey Church in a process that involved multiple steps. These steps involved engagement with teachers in the context of a teacher training seminar, with Bible classes in a series of Bible lessons, and with elders, elder nominees, and their spouses in order to discern the perceived degree to which Monterey members participate in the elder selection process. The Bible lessons presented an alternative model for theological reflection on the character traits of elders in hopes of generating thoughtful discussion for members as they submitted nominees. The outcomes of the project presented several important insights: a) the engagement of additional constituent groups in the process was viewed as a positive contributor to feelings of collaboration within the church; b) the lesson materials, on the whole, presented an opportunity for Bible classes to reflect more intentionally on the character traits of elders contributing to the overall sense of involvement in the selection process; and c) the project provided opportunities for the Monterey leadership to reflect on the elder selection process, inviting thoughtful theological and practical consideration of the steps involved. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………iv I. CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................1 Title of Project ...............................................................................................2 Ministry Setting..............................................................................................2 A Brief History ............................................................................2 Current Ministry Context .............................................................4 Leadership Context ......................................................................6 Previous Elder Selection Process ..................................................7 Statement of the Problem ...............................................................................8 Statement of the Purpose ................................................................................9 Basic Assumptions .........................................................................................9 Definitions ................................................................................................... 10 Delimitations ................................................................................................ 11 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 12 II. CHAPTER II: THEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK ....................................... 13 Cruciformity and Elder Character Traits ....................................................... 16 Cruciformity ................................................................................. 16 Cruciform Faith ........................................................................... 19 Cruciform Love ........................................................................... 22 Cruciform Power ......................................................................... 26 Cruciform Hope ........................................................................... 30 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 33 III. CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ............................................................. 35 Strategy ........................................................................................................ 35 Participant Groups ........................................................................................ 36 Process Team…………………….……………………………….37 Current Elders, Elder Nominees, and Their Spouses……………..37 Teachers…………………………………………………………..37 Current Elders, Elder Nominees, and Their Spouses……………..37 Bible Class and Bible Class Leaders……………………………..38 Description of Ministry Intervention............................................................. 38 Teacher Training Workshop………………………………….…..38 Adult Bible Classes………………………………………………39 Elder/Nominee “Count the Cost” Session…………………….….39 Evaluation Methodology .............................................................................. 40 Field Notes ................................................................................................... 41 Open-ended Questionnaires .......................................................................... 42 Group Interview ........................................................................................... 43 Data Collection ............................................................................................ 43 Data Interpretation ....................................................................................... 43 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 45 IV. CHAPTER IV: RESPONSES AND RESULTS ........................................... 47 Description of Results .................................................................................. 48 Bible Class Questionnaire Data and Themes ................................. 49 Online Questionnaire Data and Themes ........................................ 53 Process Team Group Interview Data and Themes ........................ 55 Field Notes Data and Themes ....................................................... 59 Themes of Collaboration .............................................................................. 64 V. CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS ................................................................. 67 Areas of Personal and Ministerial Learning .................................................. 67 Issues of Reliability ...................................................................................... 69 Reflexivity ................................................................................................... 75 Future Questions .......................................................................................... 76 Sustainability ............................................................................................... 77 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 78 WORKS CITED ...................................................................................................... 79 APPENDICES ......................................................................................................... 81 A. MONTEREY MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS ........................ 81 B. ELDER SELECTION PROCESS MAP .................................................. 83 C. GUIDELINES FOR SHEPHERD MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS .... 86 D. ELDER SELECTION PROCESS TIMELINE ........................................ 88 E. INFORMED CONSENT FORM ............................................................. 90 F. FIELD NOTES WORKSHEET ............................................................... 92 G. BIBLE CLASS QUESTIONNAIRE ....................................................... 95 H. PROCESS TEAM GROUP INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE .............. 96 I. ELDER NOMINEE ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE .................................. 97 J. CODING SCHEME THEMES FOR BIBLE CLASS, ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE, AND PROCESS TEAM INTERVIEW ....................... 98 K. “ELDERS AND THE CRUCIFORM LIFE” LESSON MATERIALS .... 99 L. “ELDERS AND THE CRUCIFORM LIFE” LESSON OUTLINES ...... 120 M. COUNT THE COST SESSION ........................................................... 127 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Traditional Approach for Elder Nominee Identification………………….15 Figure 2. Alternative Approach for Elder Nominee Identification………………….18 iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
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