CASE STUDIES OF SELECTED CHURCHES WITH EFFECTIVE MINISTRY TO MALE HOMOSEXUAL STRUGGLERS ___________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Doctor of Ministry Dallas Theological Seminary ___________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry ___________________ by Jeffrey R. Scott May 2010 Accepted by the Faculty of the Dallas Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree Examining Committee SLLdV-/ ABSTRACT CASE STUDIES OF SELECTED CHURCHES WITH EFFECTIVE MINISTRY TO MALE HOMOSEXUAL STRUGGLERS Jeffrey R. Scott Readers: Linda M. Marten, David A. Crum The dual purpose of this qualitative study was first to evaluate why the ministry of selected churches who are ministering to male homosexual strugglers was effective. What makes these churches safe and welcoming for those seeking to gain victory over same-sex attractions and behaviors? And second, to convince church leaders that our churches need to become the kind of churches that are effective in ministering to male homosexual strugglers. A confidential survey methodology was used in asking both male strugglers and active church members their perspective on their church’s attitudes and actions as it related to ministering to and discipling male strugglers. The participating churches were chosen based upon the entire church body having embraced the ministry to those who were struggling and desiring assistance out of homosexuality or same-sex attraction. The churches were located in Texas, Indiana, and Virginia. The results of this study highlight that effective churches are: 1) welcoming and safe environments for those who are seeking assistance out of homosexuality, 2) exhibiting an attitude of equality throughout the congregation that the sin of homosexuality is treated as a sin not the greatest sin, 3) demonstrating empathy by a variety of church members engaged in relationship with strugglers counseling them to a place of holiness through discipleship, and that those churches 4) are committed to the equipping and training of heterosexual men to minister alongside each of the strugglers. Results were validated by the survey answers provided by the male strugglers as compared with active church members. In summary, the study brings to light that effective churches have created a welcoming and safe culture by demonstrating equality, empathy, engagement and education in its ministry to male homosexual strugglers. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES. .vi Chapter 1. Introduction . 1 Statement of the Problem Statement of Purpose Primary Research Questions Significance of Study Definition of Terms Preview of Remaining Chapters 2. Previous Research and Literature Review . 27 Literature related to Church’s Responsibility to Homosexual Struggles The Bible & Homosexuality Genesis 1 and 2: Creation and Created Intent Genesis 19: 4-9: The Destruction of Sodom Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13: The Levitical Law 1 Samuel 18-23: David and Jonathan Romans 1:26-27: “Natural” and “Unnatural” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and 1 Timothy 1:10: Unable to Inherit the Kingdom of God Biblical Basis for Church Involvement with Homosexual Strugglers Literature Related to the Church Possessing a Caring Attitude and Demonstrating a Caring Behavior Toward Male Homosexual Strugglers Homosexuality as a Behavior Is the Church Homophobic? Bailey and Pillard Twin Study Hamer X Chromosome Study The Causes of Homosexual Attractions Homosexuality and the Possibility of Change Helping the Homosexual: The Steps to Change Motivation The Three R’s Knowing God Through Spiritual Disciplines The Homosexual Struggler and Same Sex Needs Literature Related to the Church Providing Change Agents to Equip Churches to Minister to Homosexual Strugglers iv 3. Procedure and Research Method . 124 Design of the Study Difficulty of the Study Participating Churches and Administration of the Survey Focus of the Survey Layout of the Survey Survey Questions Related to Hypothesis One Survey Questions Related to Hypothesis Two Survey Questions Related to Hypothesis Three Survey Questions Related to Hypothesis Four Limitations of the Study 4. Results . .. .147 Survey Results for Hypothesis One Survey Results of Hypothesis Two Survey Results of Hypothesis Three Survey Results of Hypothesis Four 5. Conclusions and Research Implications . 200 Analysis of the Hypothesis General Conclusions Implications for My Future Ministry Implications for Other Ministries Recommendations for Future Researchers Large Scale Study of Welcoming Churches General Study of the Strugglers’ Attitudes and Church Experiences Recruitment of Churches to a Homosexual Strugglers’ Ministry Study Comparing Results of Para-Church Ministry to Local Church Ministry Compilation and Centralization of Resources Development of Discipleship Models for Working with Strugglers Research into Mentoring Male Strugglers by Heterosexual Men Scientific Research by Christian Psychologists and Psychiatrists APPENDICES . 239 BIBLIOGRAPHY . .252 v FIGURES Figure 1. Percentages of Responses Related to Church Safety for Strugglers Figure 2. Percentages of Responses Related to Being Equal Objects of God’s Affection Figure 3. Percentages of Responses Related to Understanding God’s Desire for Transformation Figure 4. Percentages of Responses Related to Churches Heartfelt Compassion toward the Male Struggler Figure 5. Percentages of Responses Related to Churches on Equality of Sin Figure 6. Percentages of Responses Related to a Positive Outlook for Life Change Figure 7. Percentages of Responses Related to Demonstrating a Willingness to Listen Figure 8. Percentages of Responses Related to a People Involvement Figure 9. Percentages of Reponses Related to Heterosexual Men Modeling Biblical Manhood Figure 10. Percentages of Answers Related to Participation of Strugglers as a Part of the Church Figure 11. Percentages Of Responses Related To Vision And Mission To Recruit Volunteers Figure 12. Percentages Of Responses Related To The Availability And Quality Of Training Materials For Volunteers Figure 13. Percentages Of Responses Related To The Sermons And Teaching Events Recruiting And Equipping Volunteers TABLES Table 1. t-test of Responses Related to Church Safety for Strugglers Table 2. t-test of Responses Related to Being Equal Objects of God’s Affection Table 3. t-test of Responses Related to Understanding God’s Desire for Transformation Table 4. t-test of Responses to Churches Heartfelt Compassion toward the Male Struggler Table 5. t-test of Responses Related to Churches on Equality of Sin Table 6. t-test of Responses Related to a Positive Outlook for Life Change Table 7. t-test Responses Related to Demonstrating a Willingness to Listen Table 8. t-test of Responses Related to a People Involvement. 178 Table 9. t-test Responses Related to Heterosexual Men Modeling Biblical Manhood Table 10. t-test Responses Related to Participation of Strugglers as a Part of the Church Table 11. t-test Responses Related To Vision And Mission To Recruit Volunteers vi Table 12. t-test Responses Related To The Availability And Quality Of Training Materials For Volunteers Table 13. t-test Of Responses Related To The Sermons And Teaching Events Recruiting And Equipping Volunteers vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As the end of one road and the beginning of several others, this written project leads to the challenge and opportunities of implementation. God has provided wisdom, insight and direction for each step of this incredible journey, He will provide the same for the road ahead as the Church recognizes the opportunity and responsibility that it has toward male homosexual strugglers. There are many to thank for enabling me to complete this task that was set before me. To several key Dallas Theological Seminary Professors and Administrators: Dr. John Reed and Dr. Jerry Wofford, thank you for your unswerving encouragement to tackling this topic. There was more than one time during this process that your words of encouragement kept me from quitting. To Dr. Linda Marten, my advisor, your input consistently brought clarity to my thoughts. To Dr. David Crum, second reader, your words of encouragement kept me moving forward, believing that this study could impact the Church, causing it to get involved with male homosexual strugglers. To Dr. Scott Barfoot, you have my gratitude for walking me through several administrative minefields and deadlines. My mentors for this project have been the authors of the books or articles that I have read, most especially H. Newton Maloney, Joe Dallas, Chad Thompson, Stanton Jones, and Mark Yarhouse. My greatest help has come from the selected churches, especially the church members and male homosexual strugglers, who participated in the survey portion of this project. A special thanks goes to the pastors and elders of the selected churches for allowing me to dig deep into issues at hand in their church. Thank you for your trust and confidence. viii Thank you to my pastor and boss, Dr. F. Gerald Kroll, for granting me permission to pursue this degree and project. To Roy Burket, thank you for your friendship and camaraderie not only in this project but as co-laborers in ministry. To the Heritage Baptist Church Prayer Partners Ministry, specifically Bill Moir, thank you for praying faithfully for me as each deadline approached. To the Koinonia and Family Foundations Adult Bible Fellowship Classes, thank you for your unending prayers and words of encouragement along the way. To Regina Case, my Administrative Assistant who always goes out of her way to make me look good, your efforts in the tough job of doing the form editing goes beyond the call of duty. Thank you. Thank you also to Kathy Shaibani for your excellent work in proof reading and to Jerry Truax for assisting me with the Excel charts. A special thanks to all the strugglers who trusted me enough to share your story. To my anonymous friend who helped me wrestle through understanding same-sex attraction and behaviors from a struggler’s perspective – thank you for your willingness to share and be a sounding board on this project. I continue to pray that many will come to a place of freedom in Jesus Christ as a result of you.