DOCSLIB.ORG

An Evangelistic Strategy for Reaching Baby Boomers in Rock Island County, Illinois

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
An Evangelistic Strategy for Reaching Baby Boomers in Rock Island County, Illinois Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Professional Dissertations DMin Graduate Research 1999 An Evangelistic Strategy for Reaching Baby Boomers in Rock Island County, Illinois Clarence H. Small Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Small, Clarence H., "An Evangelistic Strategy for Reaching Baby Boomers in Rock Island County, Illinois" (1999). Professional Dissertations DMin. 702. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/702 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Professional Dissertations DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT AN EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY FOR REACHING BABY BOOMERS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS by Clarence H. Small Adviser: Kenneth Stout ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: AN EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY FOR REACHING BABY BOOMERS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS Name of researcher: Clarence H. Small Name and degree of faculty advisor: Kenneth Stout, Ph.D. Date completed: June 1999 Problem The Moline Seventh-day Adventist Church, with a regularly attending membership of approximately 65, has fifteen Baby Boomer members in a county of over 160,000, of whom at least 44,000 are Boomers, with over 30,000 of these being unchurched. This project sought to develop a strategy for attracting Baby Boomers to the Moline church. M ethod A strategy was developed and implemented to attract Baby Boomers to church based upon six valid and transferable principles drawn from existing literature and the successful programs of the Willow Creek and Saddleback churches-and the clearly established legitimacy of targeting specific groups for evangelism. This strategy included: (1) a prayer offensive using door hangers to invite community members to pray for the community; (2) a community survey to ascertain felt needs; (3) a Seeker Service; and (4) an evangelistic series using satellite downlink technology. R esults While the strategy is based upon valid foundational principles and assumptions, it met with varying degrees of acceptance by members of the Moline Adventist church, and with little success in reaching out to Baby Boomers in the targeted community. While the concepts of targeted evangelism were accepted on an intellectual basis by most members, there was little or no personal involvement in the evangelistic outreach as needed for the strategy to succeed. The major hindrance to the project’s success was not, therefore, the principles employed, or the overall strategy itself, but the inability to illicit commitment from the members or to moboilize active support for the strategy by the host church. Conclusions A major change in organizational methodology such as this project sought to bring about requires significant time, careful planning and implementation, and a sense of urgency that the changes are needed. Without these elements, the change will not succeed. Church leaders and members need to develop a sense of eschatological urgency based on the promise of the soon return of Jesus and the sense that many of those in our communities will be lost unless they come into relationship with Jesus. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary AN EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY FOR REACHING BABY BOOMERS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Clarence H. Small June 1999 AN EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY FOR REACHING BABY BOOMERS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS A project report presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Clarence H. Small Adviser Dean,J>DAThebiogical Seminary Kenneth Stout Wemer Vyhmeister Director of DJMin. Program Ricardo Norton iroved In appreciation to my parents, James and Katherine Small, who gave me a love for books and knowledge. To Chris and Loren, who gave me courage. To Ginger, “It is finished.” In memory of Jody Stout, and in special appreciation to Dr. Kenneth Stout, who worked with me in finishing this project despite his great loss. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. vi C hapter 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................1 Justification for the P ro jec t.....................................................................................1 Limitations o f the Project .....................................................................................11 Methodology of the Project...................................................... 12 2. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR TARGETING EVANGELISTIC AUDIENCES.....................................................................................14 A Biblical Background for Targeted Evangelism ..............................................14 The Apostle Paul .............................................................................................. 16 The Prophet Jo n ah ........................................................................................... 17 Nineveh a Receptive Audience......................................................... 19 Jesus ..................................................................................................................20 Ellen White’s Views on Targeted Evangelism ..................................................23 The Church-Growth Movement and Targeted Evangelism..............................27 3. TARGETING BABY BOOM ERS..................................................................................30 Defining the Baby Boom G eneration..................................................................30 Marketing to Baby Boomers: The Challenge of Generational Marketing ..................................................................................38 Localizing Generational M arketing.................................... 42 Localizing and Personalizing Evangelism.................................................... 46 4. CURRENT SUCCESSFUL APPROACHES TO BABY BOOM ERS .................... 49 The Willow Creek M odel............................... 49 Willow Creek’s Background...........................................................................49 IV Criticisms o f Willow C reek..............................................................................52 Successfully Targeting Baby Boomers ......................................................... 56 The Saddleback M odel...................................................... 60 Saddleback Community Church’s Background........................................... 61 Turning Seekers into Saints........................................................................... 63 Targeting Baby Boomers ................................................................................66 Transferable Principles from Willow Creek and Saddleback........................... 68 5. AN EVANGELISTIC MODEL FOR REACHING BABY BOOMERS.................. 71 Applying Transferable Principles.........................................................................71 A Strategy for Reaching Baby Boomers ........................................................... 72 The Prayer Offensive ............................................................................... 75 The Community Survey ..................................................................................78 The Seeker Service........................................................................................... 83 Satellite Evangelism .........................................................................................93 Summary o f Project Results ................................................................................96 6. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................101 Summary................................................................................................................101 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 103 Recommendations.................................................... !; .................................... 109 Appendix A. MOLINE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY .................................................................................. 112 B. PRAYER OFFENSIVE DOOR HANGER ................................................................ 114 C. COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE, RESULTS, AND INSTRUCTIONS .... 115 Community Questionnaire.................................................................................. 115 Results .................................................................................................................. 116 Instructions........................................................................................................... 121 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................................................................................122 VITA .........................................................................................................................................130
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Leadership Axioms: Powerful Leadership Proverbs Free
    FREE LEADERSHIP AXIOMS: POWERFUL LEADERSHIP PROVERBS PDF Bill Hybels,Dr. Henry Cloud | 224 pages | 07 Apr 2012 | ZONDERVAN | 9780310495963 | English | Grand Rapids, United States AXIOM POWERFUL LEADERSHIP PROVERBS BY BILL HYBELS PDF William Hybels born December 12, is an American church figure and author. He is the founding and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinoisone of the most attended churches in North America, with an average attendance of nearly 24, as of late Hybels is also an author of a number of Christian books, especially on the subject of Christian leadership. Previously slated to step down in OctoberHybels retired early after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him, though he has denied all allegations. A six-month long independent review found the allegations to be credible. Hybels was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Hybel's father was an entrepreneur in wholesale produce whose work ethic was the model for his son. In a interview with the Chicago Tribunehe pointed to an experience at a Wisconsin summer camp as a teenager that crystallized his understanding and personal embrace of Christian belief. In the early s, Hybels was studying at Trinity International University then called Trinity College when Gilbert Bilezikiana lecturer, challenged the class about an Acts 2-based church. Hybels was captivated with the vision and abandoned his business aspirations for ministry. After youth waited in line to be led to Christ in a service in MayHybels and other leaders began dreaming of forming a new church. They surveyed the community to find out why people weren't coming to church.
    [Show full text]
  • Rise of Megachurches Are They Straying Too Far from Their Religious Mission?
    Researcher Published by CQ Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly Inc. CQ www.cqresearcher.com Rise of Megachurches Are they straying too far from their religious mission? ince the 1970s, the number of so-called megachurches — churches that attract at least 2,000 people to weekly services — has been exploding in the United States and abroad, particularly in Latin America, Africa and SAsia. Many of the more than 1,200 U.S. megachurches sit on large suburban campuses and boast vast sanctuaries with multiple large TV screens and other high-tech amenities. Several serve meals at their own sprawling food courts and cafés and offer gymnasiums and other facilities. Megachurches are typically Protestant evangelical and espouse conservative positions on social issues. Church leaders A 10-story-high flag hangs on Memorial Day at the are often charismatic ministers who preach the “prosperity gospel,” Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., founded by Dr. Robert H. Schuller. stressing personal fulfillment and success as much as theology. Some researchers suggest megachurches are a unique, collective response I to people’s needs amid sweeping cultural and societal changes. N THIS REPORT S But critics say megachurches are straying from their traditional THE ISSUES ......................771 I religious mission by focusing on helping parishioners get rich CHRONOLOGY ..................779 D rather than worshipping God. BACKGROUND ..................780 E CURRENT SITUATION ..........784 CQ Researcher • Sept. 21, 2007 • www.cqresearcher.com AT ISSUE ..........................785 Volume 17, Number 33 • Pages 769-792 OUTLOOK ........................787 RECIPIENT OF SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE ◆ AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SILVER GAVEL AWARD BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................790 THE NEXT STEP ................791 RISE OF MEGACHURCHES CQ Researcher Sept.
    [Show full text]
  • 180811 Willows Journey, Chicago Tribune, Inside a Brightly Lit
    10. August 2018 | Kopie, da die Seite aus Europa nicht aufrufbar ist. Willow Creek’s journey from defending pastor to accepting accusations unfolds slowly, ends in mass resignations Inside a brightly lit conference room overlooking downtown Chicago, Bill Hybels struggled to explain away allegations that he had acted inappropriately with women during decades as leader of one of America’s most influential megachurches. Then still the pastor of Willow Creek Community Church — and the leader of its Christian empire around the globe — Hybels had managed to avoid any rigorous investigation by the church’s board of elders or an independent third party. But on that day in March, he found himself sitting in the office of a crisis communications firm, attempting to keep control of events that were for the first time slipping away from him. “I don’t know who’s colluding with who, who promised who what, what was the reward — a promise to someone for going public with these absolute lies,” Hybels said with anger in his voice. “There had to be some kind of inducement, but I don’t know what it is.” The women, church employees among them, had said Hybels made suggestive comments. Some said he invited them to hotel rooms while on overseas trips. There was an allegation of an unwanted kiss and stories of intense hugs that lasted too long. There was a claim of a consensual affair, which the woman later retracted. As the Tribune interview he had reluctantly agreed to came to an end, Hybels made a final plea for the allegations to be discounted and for his work and reputation not to be tarnished.
    [Show full text]
  • Learning from Willow Creek? Church Services for Seekers in German Milieu Contexts a Theoretical and Empirical Study with Special Reference to Berlin
    Rainer Schacke (Autor) Learning from Willow Creek? Church Services for Seekers in German Milieu Contexts A Theoretical and Empirical Study with Special Reference to Berlin https://cuvillier.de/de/shop/publications/989 Copyright: Cuvillier Verlag, Inhaberin Annette Jentzsch-Cuvillier, Nonnenstieg 8, 37075 Göttingen, Germany Telefon: +49 (0)551 54724-0, E-Mail: [email protected], Website: https://cuvillier.de 23 Introduction At the beginning of the new millennium, the topic of evangelism is ‘officially’ back on the agenda of German Protestantism.1 Church membership has been declining for years in most denominations. In this context, Christianity has often been labelled an out-dated model. But increasingly German churches are looking for new ideas and approaches to reach non-churched contemporaries. Already during the past decade, a significant number of church leaders have directed their views to growing churches and evangelistic models in the Anglo-Saxon world, foremost in the North American context.2 One of the most significant trends born out of these learning relationships in Germany are hundreds of new church services with an evangelistic character. ‘They try to approach non-churched people in society by concentrating on specific targets. There is no longer one type of liturgy for everybody, but a multitude of culturally adapted services.’3 When we compare Germany and North America, lifestyles are increasingly similar in many respects. At the same time, there are also significant differences, particularly when it comes to religion. While many churches in Germany are losing ground, overall church attendance in North America is not significantly declining. At the same time, however, similar to Germany, there is a steady loss of Christian knowledge and tradition among the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Blessings of Business
    THE BLESSINGS OF BUSINESS: CORPORATE AMERICA AND CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICALISM IN THE SUNBELT AGE, 1945-2000 by DARREN ELLIOTT GREM (Under the Direction of James C. Cobb) ABSTRACT Scholars and pundits have often cast postwar conservative evangelicalism as a kind of doppelganger of liberal activism, as a grassroots expression of populist will against the social revolutions of the 1960s. In contrast, this dissertation argues that the rise of culturally and politically-engaged, conservative evangelicals first began in the midst of the New Deal state in the 1940s and 1950s and depended heavily on another will—the will of corporations and corporate actors, especially those working out of the economic and social context of an emergent, postwar “Sunbelt.” There, in the midst of a burgeoning regional economy that stretched from Georgia to Texas to California, a postwar generation of business leaders worked with evangelical leaders to resurrect the cause of religious, economic, and political conservatism in the midst of the early Cold War. In the 1960s and 1970s, as the Culture Wars heated up, they brought their faith, free market policies, and “family values” to the forefront of American public life. The blessings of business were everywhere—in the ministries of celebrity evangelists like Billy Graham and lay evangelists like R.G. LeTourneau; in corporate-funded missionary groups like Young Life, Campus Crusade for Christ, The Navigators, and Wycliffe Bible Translators; in independent evangelical colleges strung throughout the South and West; in everyday operations at thousands of small businesses and dozens of mass-market corporations; in evangelical-inspired “biblical success” books and in a cottage industry of evangelical-led entrepreneurial seminars; in evangelical culture industries and megachurches; and, most especially, in the careers of evangelical political leaders from Jerry Falwell to George W.
    [Show full text]
  • The Growth of the Megachurch
    Chapter 2 The Growth of the Megachurch David E. Eagle 1 Introduction1 The dominant view of megachurches claims they represent a new religious form, born in the United States in the 1970s and 80s. Contrary to this position, I argue megachurches enjoy a long history in Protestantism. An important ex- ample from the sixteenth century Huguenot architect Jacques Perret reveals an early Protestant vision for a large, multi-functional worship space. Soon after, this vision became realised in bricks and mortar. Revivalism and the Institu- tional Church Movement of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries pro- vide further connections between present-day megachurches and the past. Revivalism provided the motivation for Protestants to go out and reach the masses, and the Institutional Church Movement provided the infrastructure to attract, convert, and nurture them. The demographic shifts that occurred following wwii led to the proliferation of churches in post-war America. This meant that large churches became increasingly visible, but journalists and so- cial commentators mistook their increase in prevalence for lack of historical precedent. Pastors and other leaders, capitalising on the appeal of innovation, reinforced this view. I offer an important corrective that helps situate mega- churches in the United States in their proper context. 2 The ‘Emergence’ of the Megachurch? The megachurch burst into the American consciousness in the 1980s. Mega- churches differed from their predecessors by offering their participants a single organisation to meet their spiritual, emotional, educational, and recreational 1 This chapter is adapted from the article Eagle, D.E. 2015. “Historicizing the Megachurch.” Journal of Social History.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract Communicating Church Branding Through
    ABSTRACT COMMUNICATING CHURCH BRANDING THROUGH ANNIVERSARY SERVICES Kate Mead, MA Department of Communication Northern Illinois University, 2017 Kerith Woodyard, Director This study provides an analysis of communication as presented through church anniversary services. The paper includes a discussion on organizational branding, which is then applied to religious organizations and, more specifically, the megachurch. Anniversary services to be analyzed originate from Willow Creek Community Church of South Barrington, Illinois and include those presented during the years 2011 to 2015. These services are employed as a case study through which communication is analyzed in two primary ways: first, as part of a church organizational branding process and second, through a lens of community-building ritual communication (per James Carey and Eric Rothenbuhler). Attention is given to how communicated messages are tailored to two main audiences: those who already ascribe to the Christian faith and those who do not. NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY DE KALB, ILLINOIS MAY 2017 COMMUNICATING CHURCH BRANDING THROUGH ANNIVERSARY SERVICES BY KATE E. MEAD ©2017 Kate E. Mead A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION Thesis Director: Kerith Woodyard ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to thank my thesis advisory committee for the support offered during this thesis writing process as well as in the semesters leading up to it. Thank you to Dr. Gary Burns for the feedback on the first, original version of this paper and to Dr. Mehdi Semati for the initial, informal recommendation of James Carey’s Communication as Culture. The encouragement received from you both was instrumental in encouraging me through my first year of graduate work.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Constitutive Necessity of Abuse in Evangelical Sex Manuals
    religions Article “Abusers of Themselves with Mankind”: On the Constitutive Necessity of Abuse in Evangelical Sex Manuals William P. Boyce Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22911, USA; [email protected] Abstract: In this essay, I recount the recent narrative of an evangelical awakening on issues of sexual violence though the impact of Rachael Denhollander, an advocate and survivor of sexual trauma. Denhollander’s evangelical credentials authorized fellow US evangelicals to sympathize with the #MeToo movement. I then show how this script of awakening obscures a long history of abuse in relation to LGBTQ persons of faith. I demonstrate how American evangelical sex manuals make abuse both constitutive to a genuine discovery of personhood and simultaneously marginal to one’s self-identification. Paradox becomes a framework for describing the “problem” of homosexuality in evangelical circles. Finally, I reflect on what it suggests to scholars of religion that a religious community ensconces abuse in this distinctive way. Keywords: evangelicalism; abuse; trauma; LGBTQ; homosexuality; queer; queerness; theology; #MeToo; #evangelical; American evangelicalism; sexual violence Citation: Boyce, William P.. 2021. “Abusers of Themselves with 1. Introduction Mankind”: On the Constitutive Necessity of Abuse in Evangelical Sex Evangelical Christians are finally waking up to the horror and reality of sexual violence Manuals. Religions 12: 119. https:// in their midst—or so goes a pervasive cultural script in circulation today among insiders doi.org/10.3390/rel12020119 and outsiders of US evangelicalism. In the age of #MeToo and #ChurchToo, the reasons are urgent and profound for heralding this script and acknowledging the core of its message.1 Academic Editors: Randall Balmer The compelling story of a sudden awakening inside the ranks of American evangelicalism, and Edward Blum however, elides an important detail.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of the American Prosperity Gospel
    Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Catherine Bowler Graduate Program in Religion Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Grant Wacker, Supervisor ___________________________ Thomas Tweed ___________________________ Julie Byrne ___________________________ Mark Chaves ___________________________ Glenn Hinson Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Program in Religion in the Graduate School of Duke University 2010 i v ABSTRACT Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Catherine Bowler Graduate Program in Religion Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Grant Wacker, Supervisor ___________________________ Thomas Tweed ___________________________ Julie Byrne ___________________________ Mark Chaves ___________________________ Glenn Hinson An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Program in Religion in the Graduate School of Duke University 2010 i v Copyright by Catherine Bowler 2010 Abstract This dissertation introduces readers to the major figures and features of the twentieth-century American prosperity gospel. It argues that these diverse expressions of Christian faith-fuelled abundance can be understood as a movement, for they stem from a cohesive set of shared understandings. First, the movement centered on Faith. It conceived of faith as an “activator,” a power given to believers that bound and loosed spiritual forces and turned the spoken word into reality. Second and third respectively, the movement depicted faith as palpably demonstrated in wealth and health. It could be measured in both in the wallet—one’s personal wealth—and in the body—one’s personal health—making material reality the measure of the success of immaterial faith.
    [Show full text]
  • Megachurches Can Have Mega Problems - Insights from Toxic Leadership in Modern Megachurches
    Belmont University Belmont Digital Repository Honors Theses Belmont Honors Program 4-20-2020 Megachurches Can Have Mega Problems - Insights From Toxic Leadership In Modern Megachurches Brandon Billings Belmont University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.belmont.edu/honors_theses Part of the Christianity Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, and the Sociology of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Billings, Brandon, "Megachurches Can Have Mega Problems - Insights From Toxic Leadership In Modern Megachurches" (2020). Honors Theses. 7. https://repository.belmont.edu/honors_theses/7 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Belmont Honors Program at Belmont Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of Belmont Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 MEGACHURCHES CAN HAVE MEGA PROBLEMS – INSIGHTS FROM TOXIC LEADERSHIP IN MODERN MEGACHURCHES Brandon Billings April 7, 2020 Belmont University Honors Program 2 Abstract The Christian megachurch is a relatively recent phenomenon, championing new ideals and theological practices for faith communities around the world. Megachurches, by definition, are Christian churches that consist of over a thousand attendees. Most megachurches are independent from a denomination – a characteristic that brings a multitude of advantages as well as challenges. One specific challenge for megachurches is the problem of potential abuse by pastors that are characterized by toxic and destructive leadership. In recent years, many Christians, as well as non-Christians, have been shocked by the number of megachurch pastors revealed as bullies, narcissists, or sexual assailants. Although incidents often impact a single church, the reasons behind toxic leadership in megachurches are often similar.
    [Show full text]
  • Bilezikianlawsuitvswillowcreek
    Return Date: No return date scheduled Hearing Date: 9/23/2020 10:30 AM - 10:30 AM Courtroom Number: 2102 Location: District 1 Court FILED Cook County, IL 5/22/2020 7:34 PM IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS DOROTHY BROWN CHANCERY DIVISION CIRCUIT CLERK COOK COUNTY, IL 2020CH04310 GILBERT BILEZIKIAN, ) ) 9315805 Plaintiff, ) 2020CH04310 ) Case No. ______ v. ) ) SHOJI BOLDT, BARB BUTZ, JEFF CHOH, ) SILVIA ESCOBAR, JEFF MASON, MICHAEL ) ROTH, JOHN SLEETING, MARY SQUARE, ) and WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH, ) ) Defendants. ) FILED DATE: 5/22/2020 7:34 PM 2020CH04310 COMPLAINT FOR EQUITABLE RELIEF AND DAMAGES Now comes plaintiff Gilbert Bilezikian, by his attorneys, and for his complaint against defendants Willow Creek Community Church and each of its Elders, Shoji Boldt, Barb Butz, Jeff Choh, Silvia Escobar, Jeff Mason, Michael Roth, John Sleeting, and Mary Square, states as follows: Venue 1. Venue is proper because Cook County is a county in which the transaction or some part thereof occurred out of which the cause of action arose. Plaintiff 2. Plaintiff Gilbert Bilezikian is a resident of Du Page County, Illinois. Plaintiff is an American author, professor, lecturer, scholar and theologian on matters pertaining to Christianity including but not limited to gender equality. Due to his Th.D (Doctor of Theology), plaintiff is often referred to as “Dr. B”. He was born June 26, 1927. 3. Plaintiff earned his B.A. from the University of Paris, his M.Div. (Master of Divinity) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his Th.D. from Boston University. He also pursued a seven-year post-doctoral program at Ecole des Hautes Etudes at the Sorbonne in Paris.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: RETAILING RELIGION: BUSINESS
    ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: RETAILING RELIGION: BUSINESS PROMOTIONALISM IN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY John Curran Hardin, Doctor of Philosophy, 2011 Dissertation directed by: Associate Professor David B. Sicilia. Department of History Evangelist Billy Graham once remarked, “We are selling the greatest product on earth – belief in God – why shouldn‟t we promote it as effectively as we promote a bar of soap?” His comparison is misleading in its simplicity, since it strikes at the heart of the complex relationship between religion and the modern American marketplace. Retailing Religion examines how American Christian churches in the twentieth century promoted their institutions and messages by adopting modern public relations, advertising, personal sales, and marketing techniques from the secular business community. Retailing Religion develops four principal themes. First, Christian churches in the twentieth century followed the promotional trends of corporate firms with only a slight lag time. Second, this borrowing nurtured the growth of rationalism and individualism in American Christianity, which contributed significantly to the religion‟s modernization. This transformation was especially pronounced in churches‟ growing dependence on rational methods and numerical metrics, and in their transition from a producer orientation to a consumer orientation. Third, church promotional efforts increased not the secularization but the pluralization of American Christianity by erecting a platform for cooperation among churches, denominations, and religions. Fourth, church promotionalism fostered an ongoing tension between their sacred mission and their secular methods. Wrestling with this tension, both advocates and critics of church promotion labored throughout the century to develop historical, theological, and pragmatic arguments to defend or denounce the practices.
    [Show full text]