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The role of an ecclesiastical network leader in a secular age : exploring missional leadership of transgenerational churches that reach dechurched and unchurched people with the gospel of Jesus Christ

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Kapusinski, Russ. The Role of an Ecclesiastical Network Leader In a Secular Age : Exploring Missional Leadership of Transgenerational Churches That Reach Dechurched and Unchurched People with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/f1bb4502-f863-4c68-b236-8e3779dbd6fe.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

K. Russ. The role of an ecclesiastical network leader in a secular age : exploring missional leadership of transgenerational churches that reach dechurched and unchurched people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/f1bb4502-f863-4c68-b236-8e3779dbd6fe

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Kapusinski, Russ. The Role of an Ecclesiastical Network Leader In a Secular Age : Exploring Missional Leadership of Transgenerational Churches That Reach Dechurched and Unchurched People with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/f1bb4502-f863-4c68-b236-8e3779dbd6fe.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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Abstract
  • The purpose of this study is to explore how ecclesiastical network leaders (ENLs) equip pastors to lead transgenerational churches that are reaching dechurched and unchurched people. The problem this study addresses is the broad scale disaffiliation and consequent decline of the Christian church in the U.S., especially among younger generational cohorts. This study utilized a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with six ENLs from diverse parts of the U.S., in large metropolitan regions, representing different denominational traditions. The interviews focused on gaining data with three main research questions: how do ENLs describe their role within an ecclesiastical network? How do ENLs equip pastors to lead transgenerational churches that are reaching dechurched and unchurched people? How do ENLs describe the mission of the local church? In addition, ENLs were asked how they equip pastors with knowledge of: current culture, generational thinking, epistemology, and Christology. The literature review focused on four key areas that provided relevant and foundational knowledge to understand the context and critical work of ENLs. The four areas were: the enmeshment of generational theory and culture, the contours of a secular age, the apologetic appeal of covenant epistemology, and missional ecclesiology. This study concluded that causes leading to mass generational disaffiliation is a complex amalgamation of: the dynamics of an increasingly secularized culture, the church’s loss of missional identity resulting in loss of respectability and relevance among younger generational cohorts, and the fragilization of the Christian faith through a myriad of factors. To address these challenges this study identified commitments and practices of ENLs that address the crisis of disaffiliation. These commitments and practices involved the church’s recovery of its missional identity marked by the following characteristics: a renewed eschatological vision for shalom, holistic ministry addressing the needs of dechurched and unchurched people, the functional unity of the church in a geographic region, and missional contextualization of gospel proclamation and ministry. The study revealed the role of ENLs as instrumental in effectively addressing the crisis of disaffiliation, and the church in decline, through the establishment of citywide networks of missional churches.
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Last modified
  • 12/04/2024

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