ASBURY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY a community called ••• This material has been provided by Asbury Theological Seminary in good faith of following ethical procedures in its production and end use. The Copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States code) govems the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under celiain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to fumish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy of reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. By using this material, you are consenting to abide by this copyright policy. Any duplication, reproduction, or modification of this material without express written consent from Asbury Theological Seminary and/or the original publisher is prohibited. © Asbury Theological Seminary 2011 800.2ASBURYasburyseminary.edu 859.858.3581 204 North Lexington Avenue, Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 Svanberg ABSTRACT Different churches flourish in different environments. The main question of this study is what church plants will grow and flourish in Swedish soil. The study focuses on the qualities of the suitable plant and not on how to plant it. o The spiritual soil and climate in Sweden is different from that in the US. Secularization has gone so far that people have started to talk about the "theophobia" of the Swedish people. What kind of church plant will be able ~o reach ordinary, secularized, unchurched Swedes? Through a multiple case study that examines three churches planted between 1992 and 1996, the study tries to answer that question. A comprehensive review of literature provided the framework for the study. It also surfaced a check-list of eighteen standard church planting principles. The study investigated the extent to which these standard principles were present in the case study churches and to what extent they were manifested in an indigenous way in these churches. The fmal objective of this study was to develop an indigenous model for new Methodist Churches in Sweden based on the principles discovered in the review of literature, the employment of these principles revealed in the case study, and the historic and contemporary challenge facing Methodism in Sweden. Therefore, the last chapter proposes a model featuring ten important characteristics that should mark new Methodist churches in Sweden which would be capable of reaching unchurched, secular people. These distinctives include: (1) a growth­ oriented, Wesleyan theology, (2) inspiring worship, (3) fervent spirituality, (4) visionary leadership, (5) gift based ministry, (6) relational life and witness, (7) authentic Christian living, (8) cell/celebration church structures, (9) cultural relevance, (10) and a seeker­ targeting approach. DISSERTATION APPROVAL This is the certify that the dissertation entitled CHURCH PLANTING IN SWEDEN IN THE 21 ST CENTURY: A MODEL FOR NEW METHODIST CHURCHES presented by Peter Svanberg has been accepted toward fulfillment of the requirements for the DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree at Asbury Theological Seminary Wilmore, Kentucky Date Dean, Doctor of Ministry Program Date CHURCH PLANTING IN SWEDEN IN THE 21 ST CENTURY: A MODEL FOR NEW METHODIST CHURCHES A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment on the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Peter Svanberg May 1999 © 1999 Lars Peter Edvin Svanberg ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables VB List of Figures Vl11 Chapter 1. Overview of the Study . 1 Introduction. ... 1 Theological Introduction. 2 Historical Review of Swedish Methodism ......... 3 Understanding the Problem. 8 Context of Study ........................................... 11 Purpose of Study ........................................... 15 Research Questions ......................................... 15 Definitions of Terms .... 16 Methodology .............................................. 17 Description of the Project. 18 Importance of the Study . 19 Overview of Remaining Chapters ...... 16 2. Review of Literature . 21 Theological Foundation for Church Planting. 21 Historical Literature ................. 34 Sociological Literature ...................................... 46 Church Growth Literature. 62 IV Missiological Literature 77 Church Planting Literature .................................. 87 What Model Emerges? ..................................... 104 3. Design of Study .......................................... 110 Review of the Problem ..................................... 110 Research and Operational Questions .......................... III Methodology ............................ , ................ 113 Data Analysis ............................................ 118 Feedback ............ " ............. " ................... 120 4. The Project ............................................... 121 Introduction .............................................. 121 F6rsamlingen M6tesplatsen ................................. 122 Stockholm Karisma Center .................................. 137 Tomaskyrkan ............................................. 151 The Research Questions Answered ............................ 165 5. Summary and Conclusions .................................. 172 Previously Published Studies ................................. 182 Thoughts on the Research Method ............................ 184 Suggestions for Further Study ................................ 185 A Model for New Methodist Churches in Sweden 187 Appendixes A. Interview Questions ........................................ 210 B. Observation Guide. 221 v Works Cited 226 VI LIST OF TABLES Table 1. The Methodist Church in Sweden, Membership. 8 2. Religious Belief in Sweden . 56 3. Churched Versus Unchurched in Sweden. 57 4. Religious Belief in Different Age-groups .......... 58 5. The Nine-teen Churches Making the Population for the Field Research. 166 6. Forsamlingen Motesplatsen. 169 7. Stockholm Karisma Center. 170 8. Tomaskyrkan................................................. 171 Vll LIST OF FIGURES Chart Page 1. Comparison Between Modernism and Postmodernism on Four Important Subjects. .. 50 2. Motesplatsen's House Group System, May, 1998. ................... 127 3 .. Stockholm Karisma Center's Cell Group System, October, 1998. ....... 143 4. The Small Group System of a Cell/Celebration Church. 205 V1l1 To Eva-Lena, my beloved wife, best friend, and partner in-ministry, and to Erik and Rebecka, my joy and pride in life. I love You. Svanberg 1 CHAPTERl Overview of the Study This chapter gives an overview of the stUdy. It provides a background to and an understanding of the problem and states the purpose and methodology of the study. Introduction I love growing roses. If possible I would grow roses in every corner of my garden. The climate in Sweden and the location of my garden do not allow that. The part of the garden that is located north of my house is not suitable for roses. The house and some huge birches give too much shadow and roses would not survive there. That part of the garden, however, is perfect for rhododendrons. It is the same way with churches. Different churches grow and flourish in different places. F or as long as I can remember in my pastoral ministry, I have had a longing to see churches grow, new people come to Christ, and new churches started. I have seen new movements come to Sweden, plant new churches, attract people, grow, and do church in new and fresh ways. Often I have felt the frustration over the small possibilities I have seen within my own church to do what I always have longed to do. At times I have been tempted to leave my church to start over again in a new movement and ride on the momentum of newness and freshness. But I am a Methodist, born by Methodists. My children are fourth generation Methodists on their father's side and fifth generation on their mother's. It is through the Methodist church God has shown me his extravagant love. There I gave my life to rum, there he called me to ministry, there I met my wonderful wife, there .... Svanberg 2 The year in the Beeson program at Asbury Theological Seminary rekindled my confidence in the possibilities of Methodism once again becoming an aggressive multiplying church planting movement. I met colleagues with a burning passion for church planting. I saw thriving, cutting edge Methodist churches that reach the unchurched in new and exciting ways. I met men and women of faith with a burning desire to seek and save the lost. The year in Wilmore, Kentucky, gave my wife and me a renewed vision for reaching the unchurched and building a church that reaches the unchurched and glorifies God. Theological Introduction Since the first day of Pentecost the church has been God's main instrument for advancing his kingdom and proclaiming the gospel of salvation to humankind. Acts of the Apostles tells the fascinating story about how a group of petrified men hiding from the Roman authorities empowered by the Spirit went out and literarIly turned the world upside down (or maybe turned it right again). The immediate result of their witness was the growth of the church. New churches