Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1980 The Church As Family: A Study of Viability in the Smaller Local Seventh-day Adventist Church Kerry H. Hortop Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Hortop, Kerry H., "The Church As Family: A Study of Viability in the Smaller Local Seventh-day Adventist Church" (1980). Dissertation Projects DMin. 600. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/600 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 Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT THE CHURCH AS FAMILY: A STUDY OF VIABILITY IN THE SMALLER LOCAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH by Kerry H. Hortop Chairperson: Norman Miles ABSTRACT.OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECT Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE CHURCH AS FAMILY: A STUDY OF VIABILITY IN THE SMALLER LOCAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Name or researcher: Kerry H. Hortop Name and degree of faculty adviser: Norman Miles, Ph.D. Date completed: August 1980. Small churches form such a large part of the Christian church, and of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in particular, that it was felt desirable that the viability of the small church should be examined. An examination is made of current theological thought rele­ vant to the small church. This was followed by a study both of family-style motifs and family-style practice by the church in the New Testament. Sociopsychological factors which effect and also explain the operation and "personality" of the small church are noted from relevant recent literature and studies. Some church-growth and organizational projects involving small churches are included in the sociopsychological section, which aims to provide reasons and rationale as to why small churches act as they do, and from this to ii isolate their strengths and weaknesses. It was felt, desirable to examine the organizational struc­ ture of the Seventh-day Adventist church, particularly as formu­ lated in the Church Manual, from the aspect of its influence and effect upon the small church. A viability project conducted in the small Seventh-day Adventist church in Otsego, Michigan, is included. In this local project an attempt is made to deduce the viability of this small church in comparison with and in contrast to the characteristics of the typical small church--as established through the study of the NT, the Apostolic church, and current literature. The object of the viability study was to help this small church to assess itself and, within its viability potential, make tangible goals for the future. The conclusion contains recommendations for reorganization of small churches and suggestions as to how viability can be im­ proved. Cautions are given concerning certain changes which may not be for the better, especially when they run counter to the characteristics of the small church. Some suggestions are made, with certain reservations, as to an optimum size for Seventh-day Adventist churches. These propositions have grown out of the consideration of the most successful balance between strong family fellowship and the meeting of denominational, Biblical, and indi­ vidual needs within a worshiping community. m Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE CHURCH AS FAMILY: A STUDY OF VIABILITY IN THE SMALLER LOCAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A Project Report Presented in Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Kerry H. Hortop August 1980 THE CHURCH AS FAMILY: A STUDY OF VIABILITY IN THE SMALLER LOCAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A Project Report Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Kerry H. Hortop D€an, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary DEDICATED TO Pam, Paul, Julie, Ann, and Mark TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ............................. ...... vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................. vi.ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............... ............... ix INTRODUCTION........ ............ .................. .......... 1 General . ............... 1 Justification of the Project ........................... 2 Thesi s ................. 4 Definition of T e r m s .............. 4 Guidelines and Report Process and Development . ..... 5 Report Process and Development ..................... 6 Chapter I. THE CHURCH AS FAMILY . ............... .. ........... .. 8 Contemporary Theological Views ............ 8 Family Style Community in the Church ............... 8 A Tripartite Existence ............................. 13 A Total "Charismatic" Community . ........ 17 A New Testament Theological View ........... 21 The Family of God .................................. 21 The Church as Sons and Daughters ................... 25 Children Like Their Father ............ 26 Children by faith ..................... ...... 30 Blameless, separated and yet not separated children 36 The Church as a Loving H o u s e h o l d ............ .. 39 The household of God .............................. 39 The household of love ............ ... 41 Theological Conclusions ............... 45 A New Testament Practical View ............ 46 Preparation, Power, and Witness ........ ...... 48 Administration and Structure . 52 Worship, Fellowship, and Growth . .......... 55 II. THE CHURCH AS FAMILY— SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL VIEWS ...... 59 Characteristics Peculiar to the Smaller Church . 59 What is Smal 1 ? ................. .............. .. 59 Interpersonal Relationships ............. 62 Operational M e t h o d s .......... 63 iv Meeting Needs within the Small Church ......... 65 Limited Plant and Programs . ........................ 65 Individual Personal Needs . .......................... 67 Long-time members .... ................. 67 Potential new m e m b e r s .......... ............ .. 68 New baptized members ......................... 72 "Internal growth" members ........ ........ 75 Age, Social, and Interest Groups Within the Small C h u r c h ...................................... 78 The Family Function Model for Need Fulfillments .... 84 Examination of Growth and Viability Potential in the Small C h u r c h ................... ............. 88 Recent Seventh-day Adventist Studies . ............ 93 Summary . ........................................ 101 III. THE CHURCH AS FAMILY--IN RELATION TO CURRENT SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST STRUCTURES .......................... 104 Family Member Preparation . ........................ 107 Accession into the F a m i l y ............ .............. 107 Lay Involvement, Ministry, and Training.................. Til Worship and Mission ........ .. ........... .. 114 Administration and Structure........ ............ .. 116 Denominational Guidelines .......... 116 At higher levels .............................. 116 Organizational cautions ........................... 119 Program Initiators or Reactors ............ 120 Faith Action Advance 1979 .............. 122 Fellowship and Growth ............. ............ .. 129 Relationship with Sister Churches ........ .......... 129 Auxiliary Organizations and Groups .......... 132 Direction of Future Change .... ................... 135 IV. THE CHURCH AS FAMILY — IN THE LOCAL OTSEGO, MICHIGAN, CHURCH ................. .............. .................. 137 History of the Church . ........... .. ........... 137 Period of Growth--1861-1918 . .................. 137 Period of Decline--l919-1972 ................... 140 Period of Revival--1973-1980 ............. 143 Description of the Viability Project . ........... 144 The Congregational Survey ........................... 145 Assessment of Results ......... ...................... 149 Family Functions'. ........ ............ 158 S u m m a r y ....................................... 159 Outgrowth of Results ............. 160 Personal Views of the Church Family . ... ..... 164 Long time m e m b e r s ............ ........ .. 165 Visitors and new members ....... ........... 168 My Evaluation ................................ 171 v V. THE CHURCH AS FAMILY-CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS .... 178 Implications from Theology and Scripture . 178 Implications from the Relevant Studies and Literature . 180 Implications from the Otsego Situation . ............. 185 Suggestions for the F u t u r e ................... .. 187 Small Church Education ............................. 187 Relationship with the Organization . 188 Implications of Radical Reconstruction ............. 188 The Future of the Small C h u r c h ....................... 191 Conclusion . ................... 193 APPENDIX A. CONGREGATIONAL MEMBERSHIP SIZE TO NUMBER OF CHURCHES IN DENOMINATION................ 195 APPENDIX B. EARLY CHURCH CONGREGATIONAL SIZE AND PASTOR-LAY I M P O R T A N C E .............. 197 APPENDIX C. RELEVANT PORTION OF OTSEGO CHURCH BOARD-MEETING HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1979 ..................... 199 APPENDIX D. QUESTIONNAIRE .■........ ................ .. 202 APPENDIX E. LARGE QUESTIONNAIRE .............. ....... 206 APPENDIX F. RESPONSES TO LARGE QUESTIONNAIRE ......... 224 APPENDIX G. VERBATIM REPORT OF INTERVIEWS .......... 242 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................ ............. 296 vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Graph of Church "Kingdom Growth"