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Complexities of Pastoral Change and Transition in the Megachurches Of Luther Seminary Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary Doctor of Philosophy Theses Student Theses 2010 Complexities of Pastoral Change and Transition in the Megachurches of the Baptist General Conference, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Presbyterian Church (USA) Sheila Strobel Smith Luther Seminary Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/phd_theses Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Smith, Sheila Strobel, "Complexities of Pastoral Change and Transition in the Megachurches of the Baptist General Conference, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Presbyterian Church (USA)" (2010). Doctor of Philosophy Theses. Paper 10. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses at Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Philosophy Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COMPLEXITIES OF PASTORAL CHANGE AND TRANSITION IN THE MEGACHURCHES OF THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONFERENCE, EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) by SHEILA STROBEL SMITH A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Luther Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 2010 UMI Number: 3411418 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI 3411418 Copyright 2010 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 © 2010 by Sheila Strobel Smith All rights reserved ABSTRACT Complexities of Pastoral Change and Transition in the Megachurches of the Baptist General Conference, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Presbyterian Church (USA) by Sheila Strobel Smith The emergence of the megachurch in the United States represents a unique phenomenon which was shaped by a variety of cultural, political, economic, and religious forces. Megachurches have grown exponentially in recent years and now exercise unprecedented influence on the religious landscape in this country. Accompanying this phenomenon is a new and unique group of leaders who have guided these congregations through periods of rapid growth and substantial organizational change. It is anticipated that many megachurches will encounter significant challenges in the future as the current senior pastors retire. Since existing research on megachurches has focused primarily on the congregations, little is known about the personal and professional characteristics of these pastors, and how, if at all, these pastors and congregations have prepared for changes in pastoral leadership. Protecting the sacred relationship between pastor and congregation is critical because the disruption of the sacred trust impacts the faith and spiritual practices of the pastor(s), staff, and congregation, as well as local and global ministries. These issues were explored in twenty-two megachurches in three denominational systems - the Baptist General Conference, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Presbyterian Church (USA). The results include a detailed description of the personal and professional characteristics of the senior pastors, and provide new insight into the 11 importance of relationships in their lives and ministries. The unique characteristics of these megachurches, as well as their relationships in the local community and around the world, contribute to the complexities of pastoral change and transition. Historically, most of these megachurches have responded to, rather than prepared for, the inevitable departure of the senior pastor, which resulted in the disruption of the sacred relationship between the pastor and congregation. Many adhere to congregational or denominational policies which discourage, even preclude, any succession planning. Several pastors and congregations in the Baptist General Conference and Presbyterian Church (USA) are employing alternative approaches which promote continuity of leadership rather than disruption. The biblical, theological, historical, and theoretical resources engaged in this study support the anticipation of changes in pastoral leadership, rather than the reactionary approach currently utilized by many congregations. 111 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us .. Hebrews 12:1 This has been a humbling experience. Though I was expected to do individual research, I did not accomplish this by myself. Throughout this long journey, I depended on the grace of God, and "so great a cloud of witnesses" who sustained me through their steadfast love and prayers. Their faith carried me through the wilderness and across the finish line - for this race. There many more races to run so we must continue to pray as we discern God's will for the future. There are many so people who contributed to this study that I chose to thank them privately. However, I would like to mention a few here. Many thanks to Rev. Dr. Richard Bliese, Rev. Dr. Alvin Luedke, and Rev. Dr. Mary Sue Dreier. I really appreciate the sacrifices you made so I could graduate this year. I could not have completed this research without the cooperation of the pastors, congregations, and denominations. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to the pastors who graciously agreed to be interviewed and trusted me with their personal stories, concerns, and suggestions. Their affirmation of the importance of this research motivated me every day. I would also like to thank all of the people in the libraries I visited online or in person (see appendix Y), especially Luther Seminary, Bethel Seminary, and Metropolitan State University, whose collections and personal assistance facilitated my research. Finally, to my family and dearest friends - thank you for your unconditional love. iv PREFACE IX Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I stumbled across one data point that changed my life forever. I was stunned at first, and then became concerned when I discovered that the mean age of pastors serving megachurches in the year 2000 was 52 years old.' What will happen to these congregations as these pastors retire, or accept another call before they retire? Who will lead these congregations in the future? Are these pastors and congregations prepared? • • I realize that many people would not have taken notice, but in retrospect, my discovery was no accident. It was a Holy Spirit moment. God had been preparing me for this moment for my whole life. As Mordecai said to Esther, "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14 RSV) Why did I take notice? I am a middle-aged, late Baby Boomer who worked for a Fortune 500 corporation in which succession planning was taken very seriously. The company prided itself on promoting from within. My colleagues and I were well aware of the career path that led to the top, so it was fairly easy to predict who would be the next manager, director, or vice president. We were very sensitive to the role that experience and age played in these decisions because age and experience were often equated with a particular place on the corporate ladder. Retirement was a frequent topic of conversation 1 Scott L. Thumina, "Megachurches Today: Summary of Data from the Faith Communities Today Project." (Hartford, CT: Hartford Institute for Religious Research) http://hirr.hartsem.edu/org/faith_iiiegachurches_FACTsuiiimary.html (accessed January 5, 2003). at lunch, particularly when the company's stock price was increasing. CEOs were expected to retire when they were 62 years old. Many of my colleagues retired at the earliest possible moment, some at age 55. Few stayed into their sixties. My plans for retirement were altered by a significant career change. After twenty- one years in corporate America, I enrolled in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. In February 2001,1 attended a conference at the Community Church of Joy in Glendale, Arizona with a group of students and professors from Luther Seminary. I had never experienced a congregation so large and vibrant. I was fascinated by the complexity of the organization and the new campus. I was extremely impressed by the pastoral team and the staff. I wondered what it would be like to serve such a congregation. After graduation in 2002,1 pursued my interest in megachurches as a doctoral student in the new Congregational Mission and Leadership program at Luther Seminary. During my research for a course-related paper in the spring of 2003,1 discovered that the mean age of pastors serving megachurches in the year 2000 was 52 years old. As I mentioned earlier, that data point changed my life forever. My immediate concern led to additional research specifically focused on the pastors of megachurches. I was amazed to discover that though interest in megachurches was increasing,
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