The purpose of this portfolio and thesis is to demonstrate the importance of theological reflection upon church planting practice, and by so doing, to resource and equip church planters to think in creative new ways in order to become more effective in missional engagement in forming new communities of faith. This motivation and exploration lies at the heart of each component and individual chapter. The portfolio is comprised of three self contained and coherent pieces of work: a literature review which advocates that theological reflection is a developing concern for church planting, a publishable article that reflects on the nature of the gospel that underpins missional practice, and a research project which aimed to discover how different church planting tribes were engaging in theological reflection, and what issues and lessons were still needing to be learned and further explored. The thesis, building on the work of the portfolio, gives an extended Trinitarian theological reflection upon church planting practice in relation to the themes of creation, context and community. It has attempted to intentionally reflect upon the missional practice of church planting through Trinitarian perspectives, in order that it may be more robust, enriched and rooted in God's own life and story. Trinitarian perspectives on church planting are at best embryonic, and the renewal of interest in the doctrine of the Trinity has stimulated me to write a Trinitarian missiology for church planting that offers fresh theological insights and practical missional applications. Through dialoguing extensively with the Trinitarian creation theology of Jürgen Moltmann, the Trinitarian contextual missiology of Lesslie Newbigin and Timothy Tennent, and the Trinitarian ecclesiologies of Miroslav Volf, Leonardo Boff and Catherine Mowry LaCugna, I believe their collective contributions have much to offer church planting today.

<p> Despite over eight years of Christian witness, the West African country of Niger is still considered unreached by Christian missiologists. In the face of ongoing ministry challenges in Niger a new perspective is appropriate. Recent trends in missions recommend Church Planting Movements as a model for church-planting ministry in cross-cultural contexts. The church planting movements model may offer some solutions for church planting in Niger but the model tends to suffer from faulty prooftexting and inadequate theology related to the church and mission. Using theological reflection as a guiding model, church-planting-movement theology and practices are compared to John's Wesley's theology and practice. As a practical theologian, Wesley provides an example of how theological reflection can be more adequately integrated into the practice of mission. Through theological reflection and consideration for the Nigerien context, this thesis develops a church-planting ministry plan for the Free Methodist Church in Niger.</p> / Thesis / Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

ABSTRACT THE ROLE OF "PERFECTING" IN DONALD MCGAVRAN'S CHURCH GROWTH THOUGHT Matthew Donald Spradlin, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2012 Chairperson: Dr. Charles E. Lawless, Jr. This dissertation examines the role of "perfecting" in Donald McGavran's church growth thought. Chapter 1 introduces McGavran and the need for a study of his "perfecting" concept. Chapter 2 briefly gives McGavran's background and describes his discovery and definition of "church growth." This chapter also explores the experiences in McGavran's own life which shaped his understanding of the perfecting task and motivated its incorporation into his church growth thought. Chapter 3 theologically defines the terms "discipling" and "perfecting" as McGavran understood and used them. McGavran's rationale for using the term "perfecting" is examined, as well as why he chose the term perfecting as opposed to other terms. The chapter includes an analysis of McGavran's understanding of the relationship between discipling and perfecting. Chapter 3 concludes with a critique of the helpfulness of McGavran's choice and use of the term "perfecting." Chapter 4 is an analysis of the church growth thinking that distinctively comprised McGavran's understanding and approach to perfecting. McGavran's belief that missions is to be evangelistic and ecclesiocentric is outlined and analyzed, and how it affected his understanding of the perfecting task. Chapter 5 examines McGavran's methodology in relation to perfecting. The role of worship, Bible study, prayer, and evangelism in relation to perfecting and church growth is described. Chapter five focuses upon the role of perfecting in the training of workers, and how McGavran's methodological approach to perfecting differed from the missiology of his day. Chapter 6 evaluates the role of perfecting in Donald McGavran's church growth thought, determining that it was shaped by his conviction that biblical perfecting teaches and produces church growth. Chapter 6 concludes that McGavran's understanding of the role of biblical perfecting in church growth is helpful in developing a perfecting strategy for effective missions and ministry.

In this thesis the researcher argues that churches in Africa are being planted rapidly but are not growing to maturity, which produces troubling consequences. The Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) is then given as a representative case study of church planting in Afiica, because from 1990 they have seen as many as 413 new churches started. Yet there is growing concern over the stability of many of these young churches and their leaders. Key leaders in the BUSA are calling for an analysis of the church planting and a greater emphasis on church strengthening and equipping. Next, the researcher lays the exegetical foundation for building mature churches, drawing from Acts and the Pauline epistles. In Acts, keys for the growth of the church are given. In Paul's writings, the researcher identifies the core principles and content used in establishing churches. Next come the field research findings that show the condition of churches and church planting in the BUSA The research was conducted through church leader surveys and key interviews, supplemented by observations of Christ Seminary faculty in their training of pastors from these churches. Some disturbing statistics and characteristics of these young churches emerge. The researcher then seeks to demonstrate how to analyse the health of churches and church planting in Africa by interacting with the field research in light of Scripture. An analysis is given of the strengths and weaknesses of the BUSA's younger churches, in the areas of their evangelism, their establishing of the members, and their entrusting of leadership. Cautions were given against unbiblical church growth trends. Finally, the researcher offers suggestions and strategies for building stronger churches in Africa. He states, "In order for the gospel to steadily advance through the BUSA or through any churches in Africa, mother churches and church planters must take responsibility for strengthening young churches until they have qualified elders and are mature, reproducing churches." / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

In this thesis the researcher argues that churches in Africa are being planted rapidly but are not growing to maturity, which produces troubling consequences. The Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) is then given as a representative case study of church planting in Afiica, because from 1990 they have seen as many as 413 new churches started. Yet there is growing concern over the stability of many of these young churches and their leaders. Key leaders in the BUSA are calling for an analysis of the church planting and a greater emphasis on church strengthening and equipping. Next, the researcher lays the exegetical foundation for building mature churches, drawing from Acts and the Pauline epistles. In Acts, keys for the growth of the church are given. In Paul's writings, the researcher identifies the core principles and content used in establishing churches. Next come the field research findings that show the condition of churches and church planting in the BUSA The research was conducted through church leader surveys and key interviews, supplemented by observations of Christ Seminary faculty in their training of pastors from these churches. Some disturbing statistics and characteristics of these young churches emerge. The researcher then seeks to demonstrate how to analyse the health of churches and church planting in Africa by interacting with the field research in light of Scripture. An analysis is given of the strengths and weaknesses of the BUSA's younger churches, in the areas of their evangelism, their establishing of the members, and their entrusting of leadership. Cautions were given against unbiblical church growth trends. Finally, the researcher offers suggestions and strategies for building stronger churches in Africa. He states, "In order for the gospel to steadily advance through the BUSA or through any churches in Africa, mother churches and church planters must take responsibility for strengthening young churches until they have qualified elders and are mature, reproducing churches." / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

This paper attempts to evaluate Training for Trainers (T4T) as an aid for developing healthy and sustained church planting movements (CPMs). The thesis is that Training for Trainers (T4T) can enable and sustain (by the Spirit’s power) healthy church planting movements because a discipleship process is built into the methodology that develops believers in their personal and communal growth and equips them to repeat the process with other individuals they reach. The very format of the T4T process provides a context for developing disciples inwardly and training disciples to minister outwardly. The T4T process continues over the course of months and years to systematically move believers through the essential stages of sustained church planting movements: Bridges in conversations with the lost from non-spiritual topics to the gospel in order to find those God is preparing (knowing whom to talk to and how to start) • Reproducible evangelism methods that are effective in the local context and can be learned by any new believer • Reproducible discipleship that addresses both short-term and long-term spiritual growth in a manner appropriate to the local worldview and able to be passed on by a new believer • Reproducible church models appropriate to the local context and able to be led and passed on by new believers • Leadership development and multiplication patterns that develop leaders rapidly in the context of ministry and enable the number of leaders to keep pace with the number of new churches. T4T moves each new generation of disciples (trainers) and churches through this process because it casts vision for and gives loving accountability for disciples to truly become trainers of others. It does this primarily through a three-thirds training process. T4T is training for trainers who will train trainers who will train trainers. T4T attempts to initiate movements of God in which at least four generations of new disciples and churches emerge. This paper evaluates T4T is based on case studies, survey instruments and biblical principles and then offers recommendations for CPM practitioners. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D. Th.(Missiology)

This dissertation examines the urban missiology of Roger S. Greenway. The thesis is the urban missiology of Greenway should inform the ministries of urban missiologists today. This dissertation answers four questions: How has Greenway's life and theology shaped his urban missiology? What is Greenway's urban church planting strategy? How has Greenway's understanding of holistic ministry enhanced his church planting strategy? What role does theological education and urban training centers have in his urban missiology? If urban missiologists hope to avoid the mistakes of the past and lay a firm foundation for the future, they should seek to learn from the urban missiology of Roger S. Greenway. Chapter 1 emphasizes the importance of urban missions in a rapidly urbanizing world. The chapter also introduces the research questions and the urban missiological thought of Roger Greenway. A brief overview of Roger Greenway's life and ministry is presented to demonstrate the importance of his work in relation to urban missiology. Chapter 2 contains a sketch of Roger Greenway's life and theological beliefs. The chapter considers the effects of his Reformed theological background on his urban missiology. Greenway's theology impacts every aspect of his urban missiology. Chapter 3 outlines Roger Greenway's church planting strategy. The chapter examines how Greenway's church planting strategy serves as the central piece of Greenway's overall urban missiology. The influence of Donald McGavran is evident in Greenway's urban church planting strategy. Chapter 4 explains Greenway's understanding and application of holistic ministry. Greenway believes that word and deed ministries must be infused with one another in order to complete the mission of the church. Chapter 5 delves into Greenway's theological education methodology and how he applied that methodology in the urban context. Greenway believed theological and missiological training should be contextualized into the urban context. Chapter 6 concludes with a summary of Greenway's urban missiology. The chapter also offers ideas for further research. The dissertation closes by offering insights gleaned from Greenway's urban missiology.

This dissertation seeks to theologically analyze three prominent church planter profiles. Chapter 1 explains the need for such a study by giving consideration to the place of church planting in the Great Commission and the importance of leadership within church planting. Chapter 2 provides a historical overview of assessments in a variety of fields that led to the inclusion of assessments within church planting. This chapter also introduces the three profiles as well as some lessons learned from the use of profiles in assessment. Chapter 3 introduces the first area of theological analysis. The chapter discusses the pastoral qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Considerable attention is also given to apostles and the role of apostles in church planting. Chapter 4 provides an overview of the nature of the church. For a church planter to lead a church, he needs to understand the nature of the organization he is seeking to lead. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the church that can be used to analyze the profiles in terms of their understanding of the church. Chapter 5, building upon the previous two chapters, is the theological analysis of the three profiles. The analysis of the profiles follows the content of the previous three chapters and examines the three profiles according to the nature of the church, which also surfaced the concern of the leader's relationship with God, the character issues raised in the Pastoral Epistles, and the role of apostles in church planting. Chapter 6 provides concise answers to the research questions which guided the dissertation. The chapter also offers suggestions about changes to church planter assessments in light of the analysis. Additional suggestions are offered also with respect to potential areas of further study related to church planter assessments.

This thesis looks at the missiological implications of church planting in global cities. Chapter 1 introduces the main argument for this thesis: that all evangelism strategies should hold church planting as the end goal and that the most strategic places to implement these strategies are our global cities as evidenced by what has happened in New York City. The chapter will begin with a look at the significant movement that has happened in Manhattan over a twenty year period (1990- 2010) with the evangelical population of the city growing from less than one percent evangelical to now more than three percent. An introduction to the definition of global cities will segue into a look at the imperative for church planting initiatives in these cities. Chapter 2 will offer a deeper study of the characteristics of a global city and the missiological significance of such cities. It will explore world urbanization in light of the fact that over 50 percent of the world now lives in cities. The strategic nature of the cities will be analyzed given the influence that global cities have on the culture of the rest of the world. Finally, New York City will be shown as a global city and its significance on the missiological landscape will be highlighted. Chapter 3 provides a history of some of the major New York City church planting initiatives. Specifically, it will review the church planting history of Concerts of Prayer and the Church Multiplication Alliance, Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Jim Cymbala and The Brooklyn Tabernacle. Lastly this chapter will reveal methodologies used by other prominent ministries to reach the city context. Chapter 4 will look at implications learned from New York City on how a global city church planting strategy could impact the Southern Baptist Convention. A look at the history of SBC church planting in New York City will be looked at with special attention being paid to the effectiveness of these strategies. Chapter 5 will conclude this thesis with a look at the lessons learned during this research process. It will also look at three areas of further study that are needed. This work contends that the priority of all missions strategies should be a focused approach on global city church planting. This will prove to be an effective use of people and financial resources that ultimately has an impact on the whole world.

This dissertation is about the future of church in the United States. In it I argue that practical ecclesiological reflection on new churches in Seattle yields promising proposals for viable, faithful, ecclesial forms of missional engagement fitting for the U.S. church’s emerging context. In response to the significant decline in religious affiliation and participation in the U.S., major efforts in church planting are underway, but there is little scholarly research on these efforts. Moreover, the literature supporting church planting reflects insufficiently robust ecclesiological and missiological reflection. This dissertation utilizes mixed methods fieldwork and multi-disciplinary analysis to identify and assess the dominant models among new Seattle churches and offers practical wisdom for the U.S. church in its task of ecclesial witness. Within the dissertation I identify national trends exemplified by Seattle that make it a suitable proxy for the emerging U.S. context: urbanization, progressive values, technological culture, and post-Christian culture. On the basis of my fieldwork and the New Seattle Churches Survey that I fielded, I develop the four practical ecclesiological models that I discern among these churches: Great Commission Team, Household of the Spirit, New Community, and Neighborhood Incarnation. I then employ four core ideas of missional theology (missionary Trinity, missio dei, Jesus as paradigm for mission, and the missionary nature of the church) and four priorities for missional church planting (discerning God’s initiatives, neighbor as subject, boundary crossing, and plural leadership that shapes an environment) as a basis for assessment. I find that the Neighborhood Incarnation model best embodies these missional ideas and priorities. In conclusion, I propose practices for renewing each model and highlight five threads of practical wisdom for ecclesial witness: 1) embracing local identity and mission, 2) cultivating embodied, experiential, everyday spirituality, 3) engaging community life as means of witness and formation, 4) prioritizing hospitality as a cornerstone practice, and 5) discovering ecclesial vitality in a diverse ecclesial ecology. / 2023-01-25T00:00:00Z