Young Adults Leaving the Church

157 Pages·2015·0.97 MB·English

Digital Commons @ George Fox University
Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations
5-1-2015
Young Adults Leaving the Church: The Tie to
Intentional Spiritual Mentoring Among Lutheran
Church Missouri Synod Teens Through Youth and
Confirmation Ministry
Serena Alexandria Pace
George Fox University, [email protected]
This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University.Find out more
about the program.
Recommended Citation
Pace, Serena Alexandria, "Young Adults Leaving the Church: The Tie to Intentional Spiritual Mentoring Among Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod Teens Through Youth and Confirmation Ministry" (2015).Doctor of Ministry.Paper 113.
http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/113
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GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY

YOUNG ADULTS LEAVING THE CHURCH:
THE TIE TO INTENTIONAL SPIRITUAL MENTORING AMONG LUTHERAN
CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD TEENS THROUGH YOUTH AND CONFIRMATION
MINISTRY

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO
THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY
IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY
SERENA ALEXANDRIA (ANAZAGASTY) PACE

GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY
MARCH 2013
George Fox Evangelical Seminary
George Fox University
Portland, Oregon

CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
________________________________

DMin Dissertation
________________________________

This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of

SERENA ALEXANDRIA (ANAZAGASTY) PACE

has been approved by
the Dissertation Committee on March 13, 2013
for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation.

Dissertation Committee:

Primary Advisor: Daniel Brunner, DPhil

Secondary Advisor: Lars Rood, DMin
Copyright © 2013 by Serena A. Pace
All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the New International Version
Bible copyrighted 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. i
Abstract ................................................................................................................... ii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................1
Narrative
Introductory Statement
Assumptions and Limitations
CHAPTER 2: YOUNG ADULTS LEAVING THE CHURCH ............................12
Current Trends of Teens Leaving the Church
Young Adult Perceptions of the Church
Young Adult Characteristics and Impact of Leaving the Church
Departure of Young Adults in the LCMS
Youth Ministry
Bible Instruction
Trends in the LCMS
CHAPTER 3: STUDY OF MENTORSHIP ..........................................................47
What Mentorship Entails
Christian Mentoring Basics
Why and Whom to Mentor
A Heart for Mentoring, Elements and Models
How Mentorship Differs from Discipleship
CHAPTER 4: JESUS AS MENTOR OF HIS DISCIPLES...................................72
iii
Historical Jesus
Rabbinical Styles of Mentorship in the First Century
Jesus as Builder of Leaders
Jesus as Builder of Mentors
CHAPTER 5: THE IMPACT OF MENTORING ON TEENS .............................95
A History of Mentoring in America
The Role of Adults in Mentoring
Mentoring Teens for Spiritual Growth
Developmental and Spiritual Insights in Mentoring
Confirmation Models and Mentoring
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION ............................................................................118
APPENDICES .....................................................................................................124
Appendix A: Ally S. Interview
Appendix B: Liz M. Interview
Appendix C: Teen Next Steps Prototype
Appendix D: Mark Schaefer Interview
BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................142

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I praise God for providing me with new insights in leadership and spiritual
formation and for the strength to persevere on this doctoral journey. Thank you, Faculty
and Staff at George Fox Evangelical Seminary, especially my Advisor, Dr. Dan Brunner,
for challenging me to grow and granting me guidance and encouragement. To ―Cohort
F,‖ thanks for the memories!
To my husband, Mike, thank you for believing in me and pushing me forward. I
know you sacrificed much for me. You are the best and I love you! To Mom, Dad and
Rob, your love, prayers and support are cherished.
To my colleagues at Concordia University of Texas in Austin, especially Dr. Jim
McConnell, whom I partnered with in ministry on the faculty of the Director of Christian
Education program, thank you for instilling a passion for higher education within me and
allowing me the opportunity to grow in serving young adults and those desiring to serve
God‘s people. To my colleagues and friends at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in
Carrollton, Texas, our ministry together, your prayers, encouragement, sense of humor
(words I should use in my dissertation), and even borrowed resources are much
appreciated.
To my young adult friends, Ally S. and Liz M., thank you for teaching me about
ministry to youth and young adults and for sharing your hearts with me. Here‘s to the
journey ahead! To Pastor Mark Schaefer at Water‘s Edge Lutheran Church in Frisco,
Texas, thank you for letting me pick your brain. What a sweet community of missionaries
you are!
v
I pray this topic will inspire others to serve as mentors to young people, seeing
their spiritual formation as crucial to the life of the church. I am forever grateful for those
who walked with me through the dissertation process. To God be the glory!

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ABSTRACT

Title: YOUNG ADULTS LEAVING THE CHURCH:THE TIE TO
INTENTIONAL SPIRITUAL MENTORING AMONG LUTHERAN CHURCH
MISSOURI SYNOD TEENS THROUGH YOUTH AND CONFIRMATION
MINISTRY

Author: Serena Alexandria (Anazagasty) Pace
Degree: Doctor of Ministry
Year: 2013
Institution: George Fox Evangelical Seminary
Previously churched Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)1 young adults are leaving
the worship community post confirmation and post high school. Is this truly what is
taking place? If so, what structures within churches and youth ministries might contribute
to this problem? In order to address this problem, it is proposed that the lack of youth
mentorship ministry, especially of teen-agers in the church, contributes to the problem.
Worship communities can help ensure that young adults stay connected by establishing
mentor relationships during the confirmation and teen years.

1Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is a conservative church body, established in 1847.
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Narrative: I Hoped to Meet Someone Like You
It was often the case that I found myself in the airport for business travel for the
university where I worked. This morning was a travel morning. I knew the trip ahead
would belong. I like getting to the airport early so that I do not feel rushed. It is good to
get a jump on the crowd and find a nice place to settle in, close to the doors of the gate, of
course. There, I do my best work. The truth of thematter is it is also the place where
much ministry has happened for me. This day, the prayer was this:
―Lord, I really have a lot on my plate that I need to tackle between now and the
time I arrive at my destination. I do not really want to be bothered, unless you just
want me to. In that case, I hope you will make me open to it.‖

This day, I thought for certain my time would be uninterrupted and productive. I thought
to myself, ―Great! Does she have to sit there? There are so many other seats to sit in and
she picks one right next to me. Maybe she wants to be close to the doors of the gate, too.‖
I quickly went back to reading.
―Excuse me. I couldn‘t help noticing what you are reading.‖
I remember thinking, ―Oh really?‖ I asked, ―Why is that?‖ I was reading a book
on decision making in the church. I wondered how this resonated with her.
―I guess it has been on my mind lately, I mean the church part. Hi, I‘m Erica,‖ she
says.
She was bubbly and inquisitive. At age twenty-three, she was engaged to be
married. After finding out we were from the same city, I asked which church she was to
be married in.
1