A New Way to Attract the Unchurched and People Of
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CONGREGATIONAL MISSION AND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY: A NEW WAY TO ATTRACT THE UNCHURCHED AND PEOPLE OF COLOR TO ELCA CONGREGATIONS. A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY SAMUEL SUMO WALAWULU PAYNE WINEBRENNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 2, 2014 i ii Copyright© 2014 by Samuel Sumo Walawulu Payne All rights reserved ii iii CONGREGATIONAL MISSION AND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY: A NEW WAY TO ATTRACT THE UNCHURCHED AND PEOPLE OF COLOR TO ELCA CONGREGATIONS A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIRMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY SAMUEL SUMO WALAWULU PAYNE APPROVED BY: David Coffin 2-28-14 Project Mentor Date Sakui Malakpa 5-28-14 External Reader Date Katie M. Erickson 1-30-14 Writing Stylist Date M. John Nissley 1-30-14 Doctor of Ministry Director Date WINEBRENNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 2, 2014 iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS .........................................................................................................viii ACKNOWLEGEMENTS .................................................................................................ix ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………..xii CHAPTER ONE 1 Context of the Problem ............................................................................................5 Statement of the Problem .........................................................................................7 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................8 Research Methodology to Study the Problem .......................................................10 Research Questions to Guide the Research Project ...............................................11 Significance of the Research Project for the Broader Church ...............................12 Assumptions and Limitations of the Research Project ..........................................12 Definitions of Terms ..............................................................................................13 Organization of the Study ......................................................................................14 CHAPTER TWO: BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS ......................17 Introduction ............................................................................................................17 Scripture .................................................................................................................18 Events in the Text ..................................................................................................21 The Return of the Apostles to the Upper Room ....................................................24 Characters in the Text ............................................................................................27 The Disciple……………………………………………………………………...28 Settings of the Text ................................................................................................30 Overall Interpretation of the Text ..........................................................................30 Tradition .................................................................................................................33 Experience..............................................................................................................38 Reason ....................................................................................................................43 Personal Theological Reflection ............................................................................45 CHAPTER THREE: LITERATURE REVIEW AND OTHER SOURCES .....................49 Introduction ............................................................................................................49 What does the Bible Say Relative to the Problem? ...............................................50 God is Calling the Church to Become Inclusive ....................................................52 The Four Steps of the Actionary Church for Outreach to the Unchurched ...........57 iv v Paul’s Understanding of the Missionary Church ...................................................59 The Church as Communion to the World ..............................................................60 Working With God to Build a Faithful Church in the Twenty-First Century ..............................................................................63 How Can the Church Find the Lost and Unchurched to Lead to Christ? .............67 The Right Philosophy and Cultural Relevance ......................................................68 Know Your Target Audience in Evangelism and Outreach to the Unchurched ....71 Welcoming the Strangers in Your Service Area ....................................................72 Definition of Leadership ........................................................................................76 The Role of Meditative Thinking in Outreach to the Unchurched ........................78 Is There Any Hope for the American Church in the Twenty-First Century? ........86 The Need to Educate the Saints as the Church Makes Disciples ...........................86 The Dual Nature of the Church ..............................................................................92 The ELCA Strategy to Transform Small Congregations for Growth in the Twenty-First Century .....................................................................93 The ELCA Mission in Discovering God’s Call to the Church ..............................93 We Are All Ministers .............................................................................................93 The ELCA Structure in Carrying Out the Vision ..................................................94 The ELCA’s New Way for Congregational Mission .............................................94 Conclusion .............................................................................................................97 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES ...............100 Preliminary Questions and Survey.......................................................................105 Broader Survey of New Creation Lutheran Church’s Congregational Assessment ........................................................................................106 Interview with ECLA Pastor’s in Allen County Ohio .........................................108 Interview with Pastors Serving Growing Non-Lutheran Congregations in Allen County Ohio .............................................................................109 Interview with Persons of Color at New Creation Lutheran Church ...................109 Researcher’s Personal Observation......................................................................113 Field Notes ...........................................................................................................113 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................115 CHAPTER FIVE: ANALYSIS OF DATA .....................................................................116 Data Gathered Through Survey from Church Council Members ........................117 Data from Interview on Financial Viability at NCLC, Lima, Ohio .....................119 Breakdown of Questions Used on Financial Viability on NCLC Lima, Ohio ....121 Interview Conclusion ...........................................................................................123 Data from Congregational Assessment Survey ...................................................123 Data Results Based on Selected Questions in Category One of Survey ..............124 Data Results on Questions in Category Two .......................................................128 Data Results from Selected Questions in Category Three ...................................130 Data Results from Category Four ........................................................................132 v vi Data Results from Category Five .........................................................................136 Data Results from Interview with ELCA Pastors in Allen County Ohio ............139 Data Results from Interview with Pastors at Growing Non-Lutheran Churches in Allen County Ohio .........................................................143 Data Results from Selected Persons of Color at NCLC in Lima, Ohio ...............147 Researcher’s Personal Observation......................................................................148 Researcher’s Personal Notes ................................................................................150 CHAPTER SIX: SUMMERY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 151 Summary ..........................................................................................................................152 Findings............................................................................................................................155 Findings Through Cottage Conversation with New Creation’s Members...........156 Findings on New Creation Financial Feasibility .................................................157 Congregational Assessment Survey Findings ......................................................158 Findings on Interview with ELCA’s Pastors in Allen County, Ohio ..................163 Findings from Interview with Pastors Serving Growing Non-Lutheran Congregations in Allen County Ohio ................................................164