ABSTRACT RELIGIOUS PUBLISHING AND PRINT ON DEMAND: A COMPARISON OF WARNER PRESS WITH REPRESENTATIVE RELIGIOUS PUBLISHERS BETWEEN 1980-2005 by Steven V. Williams This research project examined the changes within religious publishing brought about by the introduction of on-demand printing. I reviewed the example of Warner Press, publishing house of the Church of God (Anderson) between 1980-2005, noted the challenges, and analyzed the changes. The preaching-publishing ministry of Daniel S. Warner created a church body identified as the Church of God (Anderson) and a publishing house known as the Gospel Trumpet Company (later Warner Press, Inc.). Warner’s preaching and publishing collected a rapidly expanding fellowship of gospel workers, evangelistic companies known as “flying messengers” and supportive adherents. Warner’s periodical, the Gospel Trumpet, shaped and nurtured the body of believers and guided their strategies for advance. Warner’s infant publishing ministry evolved into a major publishing house that promoted Warner’s principles of reform. That publishing effort greatly assisted Warner’s followers in spreading their message of holiness and unity. During the years of 1980 to 2005, Warner Press underwent drastic changes. These changes downsized the company from a major manufacturer and supplier of religious literature to a company without equipment, fewer employees, and a reduced product line. My research began with a historical study of Church of God literature. Further research examined how the Church used the press in fulfilling its biblical mandate to evangelize. My research then included three tours and interviews of successful on- demand printers. Their methods and processes are outlined in this study. After reviewing and analyzing the information gathered, I offered criteria for assisting religious and other publishers in seizing the opportunities of print on demand. DISSERTATION APPROVAL This is to certify that the dissertation entitled RELIGIOUS PUBLISHING AND PRINT ON DEMAND: A COMPARISON OF WARNER PRESS WITH REPRESENTATIVE RELIGIOUS PUBLISHERS BETWEEN 1980-2005 presented by Steven V. Williams has been accepted toward fulfillment of the requirements for the DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree at Asbury Theological Seminary June 19, 2006 Mentor Date June 19, 2006 Representative, Doctor of Ministry Program Date June 19, 2006 Dean, Doctor of Ministry Program Date RELIGIOUS PUBLISHING AND PRINT ON DEMAND: A COMPARISON OF WARNER PRESS WITH REPRESENTATIVE RELIGIOUS PUBLISHERS BETWEEN 1980-2005 A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Steven V. Williams December 2006 © 2006 Steven V. Williams ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures..................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgements............................................................................................................ xi 1. Problem........................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose............................................................................................................................ 3 Research Question .......................................................................................................... 3 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................ 4 Project ............................................................................................................................. 4 Context............................................................................................................................ 4 Methodology................................................................................................................... 9 Population and Sample ........................................................................................... 9 Variables ................................................................................................................. 9 Instrumentation ..................................................................................................... 10 Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 10 Delimitations and Generalizability ....................................................................... 10 Theological Foundation ................................................................................................ 11 Overview....................................................................................................................... 15 2. Literature....................................................................................................................... 16 A Personal Introduction................................................................................................ 16 An Overview of Printing............................................................................................... 22 Warner Press: A Man, a Periodical, an Example.......................................................... 45 Observation #1...................................................................................................... 75 iii Observation #2...................................................................................................... 77 Observation #3...................................................................................................... 88 Observation #4...................................................................................................... 90 Observation #5...................................................................................................... 92 Observation #6...................................................................................................... 93 Observation #7...................................................................................................... 95 Observation #8...................................................................................................... 96 3. Methodology............................................................................................................... 130 Purpose........................................................................................................................ 131 Research Question ...................................................................................................... 131 Population and Sample ............................................................................................... 132 Site #1 ................................................................................................................. 133 Site #2 ................................................................................................................. 133 Site #3 ................................................................................................................. 134 Instrumentation ........................................................................................................... 134 Element #1 Mission Statement ........................................................................... 135 Element #2 History ............................................................................................. 136 Element #3 Budget.............................................................................................. 136 Element #4 Marketing/Sales............................................................................... 136 Element #5 Employees ....................................................................................... 136 Element #6 Training ........................................................................................... 136 Element #7 Equipment/Facility .......................................................................... 136 Element #8 Raw Material/Inventory................................................................... 136 iv Element #9 Workflow......................................................................................... 136 Element #10 Profit .............................................................................................. 137 Data Collection ............................................................................................................... 137 Variables ............................................................................................................. 138 Data Analysis...................................................................................................... 139 4. Findings....................................................................................................................... 140 Profile of the Participants ........................................................................................... 140 Site #1 ................................................................................................................. 140 Site #2 ................................................................................................................. 141 Site #3 ................................................................................................................. 142 Descriptive Data ........................................................................................................