Means - AN EXPLORATION OF SPIRITUAL NURTURE PRACTICES FOR RETENTION, INTEGRATION, AND COMMITMENT

2019·0.52 MB·English

by  Richard Means

AN EXPLORATION OF SPIRITUAL NURTURE PRACTICES
FOR RETENTION, INTEGRATION, AND COMMITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS
AT THE WILLIS AVENUE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

A Professional Project

presented to

the Faculty of

Claremont School of Theology

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Ministry

by
Richard Means, Jr.
May 2019
© 2019
Richard Means, Jr.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This professional project completed by

RICHARD MEANS, JR.

has been presented to and accepted by the
faculty of Claremont School of Theology in
partial fulfillment of the requirements of the

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

Faculty Committee
Dr. Lincoln Galloway, Chairperson
Dr. Karen Dalton
Dr. Jack Jackson

Dean of the Faculty
Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook

May 2019
ABSTRACT

This project focuses on spiritual nurture as a critical dimension of the ministry of
churches that could lead new members from their early passion to the stages of integration and
commitment. The purpose of this research project was to explore ways to address new member
dropout through nurture and retention strategies at the Willis Avenue Church.
The project was designed on the understanding that nurture consists of all the ways a
community of faith operates under pastoral leadership to intentionally sponsor the awakening,
shaping, and ongoing growth in vocations of new members. One indication is that new members
who find friendship in a congregation are more likely to be incorporated into the life of the
congregation and to be motivated to serve. People are more likely to remain in membership when
a church cultivates and projects a loving, friendly, and supportive environment.
As Christ’s Body, churches are uniquely challenged to make firm, consistent, growing,
engaged and mature followers of Jesus Christ. Consequently, churches interested in maintaining
growth and making the most of their evangelistic outreach need to seriously consider spiritual
nurture processes for new members. Thus, in addition to being ethical, social, spiritual and
missional spaces, churches ought to be nurturing entities.
This project engages the spiritual nurture component of the incorporation, retention,
integration and motivation processes in local churches. Consideration is also given to strategies
for slowing member dropout. Finally, theological reflections on creating a culture of spiritual
care and nurture are presented.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to God Almighty for the thoughts and plans you have for me. You are great and greatly
to be praised!

My achievement of this milestone would not be possible without the encouragement, prayers,
and support of faculty, family, and friends who have helped me through this arduous process.

To my thesis advisors and Claremont faculty, Dr. Lincoln Galloway, Dr. Jack Jackson, Dr. Karen
Dalton, Rev. Stephanie Rice, Dr. Frank Rogers, Dr. Andy Dreitcer, and Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-
Holbrook. Thanks for their support and expertise through this process. Their guidance has been
beyond what I could have hoped.

Thanks to my family for their belief in me. Their love and support made completing this
academic work possible.

Thanks to the administrations of the Alberta Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the
Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for extending the call to pastoral ministry
and for giving their support of this academic pursuit.

Thanks to the Garden Road Seventh-day Adventist Church, where this doctoral journey began
and where I was first nurtured as a pastor. Their prayers, thoughts, lavish affection, and
encouragement helped me reach this goal. I will always cherish them for enriching my life.

A special thanks to Pastor Ishmael Ali, who called me to serve as his Associate Pastor, and under
whose tutelage I sat for five years and gleaned what it means to be a servant-leader. He urged me
to pursue this process at Claremont, and a did all he could to prepare me for a life of ministerial
service. I will forever be in his debt.

Thanks to Dr. Canute Birch, Dr. Steve Cassimy, Dr. Warner Richards, Dr. Ainsworth Joseph,
and Dr. Ainsworth Keith Morris for your guidance, unconditional support, mentorship,
encouragement, and prayers.

Thanks to Dr. Abraham Henry, my longtime friend and brother, for maintaining your
commitment to joining me in this academic pursuit as planned many years ago.

Finally, thanks to the Willis Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church for their support,
encouragement and prayers through this project research. Thank you to the church members who
participated by attending the workshops and completing the questionnaires. I am blessed to be
surrounded by caring, gifted, and sacrificial members and leaders. I am incredibly grateful.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iii
List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................... vi
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................1
Problem ................................................................................................................................1
Context .................................................................................................................................1
Justification .........................................................................................................................3
Audience ..............................................................................................................................6
Expectations .........................................................................................................................7
Scope and Limitations..........................................................................................................8
Chapter Content Summary ...................................................................................................9
Chapter 1: Theological Foundations of Nurture.......................................................................11
Theological Understanding ................................................................................................12
Christological Perspective .................................................................................................16
Practical Application ..........................................................................................................19
Chapter Summary ..............................................................................................................20
Chapter 2: Biblical Foundations of Spiritual Nurture: Old Testament .................................21
Household ..........................................................................................................................21
Priests .................................................................................................................................23
Prophets..............................................................................................................................24
Chapter Summary ..............................................................................................................24
Chapter 3: Biblical Foundations of Spiritual Nurture: New Testament ................................26
Household ..........................................................................................................................26
Rabbi ..................................................................................................................................27
Apostles..............................................................................................................................29
Clergy .................................................................................................................................32
Laity ...................................................................................................................................33
Chapter Summary ..............................................................................................................35
Chapter 4: Spiritual Practices for Nurture and Retention .....................................................37
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Spiritual Nurture as Mission: SDA Perspectives of Nurture and Retention ......................37
Mission of Local Church Boards ...........................................................................38
Mission of Local Members ....................................................................................38
Mission and Fundamental Belief ...........................................................................39
A Journey Towards Spiritual Practices ..................................................................40
Understanding the New Member Experience ....................................................................41
New Member Experience in Stages .......................................................................41
Key Strategies for Nurture, Retention, Integration and Commitment ..................44
Small Group Strategy .................................................................................45
Friendship Strategy ....................................................................................47
Service and Involvement Strategy .............................................................49
Chapter 5: An Exploration of Spiritual Nurture Practices at the Willis Avenue Church ....51
Overview ............................................................................................................................51
Design ................................................................................................................................51
Sermons..................................................................................................................52
Workshops .............................................................................................................52
Data Analysis & Discussion ..............................................................................................53
Workshop 1 Data Analysis & Discussion ..............................................................53
Workshop 2 Data Analysis & Discussion ..............................................................54
Workshop 3 Data Analysis & Discussion ..............................................................56
Chapter 6: Evaluations, Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................58
Interpretation of Findings ..................................................................................................58
Recommendations for Action ............................................................................................59
Recommendations for Further Study .................................................................................60
Conclusion .........................................................................................................................61
Appendices ....................................................................................................................................62
A: Project Announcement ..................................................................................................62
B: Sermon 1 Outline ..........................................................................................................66
C: Workshop 1 Outline ......................................................................................................68
D: Workshop 1 Questionnaire ...........................................................................................72
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E: Sermon 2 Outline...........................................................................................................73
F: Workshop 2 Outline.......................................................................................................75
G: Workshop 2 Group Exercise .........................................................................................78
H: Workshop 2 Questionnaire ...........................................................................................79
I. Official Position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: Church Board Functions ........80
J: Workshop 3 Outline .......................................................................................................82
K: Workshop 3 Questionnaire ...........................................................................................85
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................86

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
SDA Seventh-day Adventist
GC General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this project to my mother Michelle, maternal grandmother, Dorothy Ritter, and my late
paternal grandmother, Dorothy Means. This project was a labor of love, much like the upbringing
I received. I am grateful that I was nurtured, empowered and embraced by examples of pure love
in those wise, humble and godly women. This work is the product of their petitioning, the creation
of their covering, and the result of their resilience.