It is not the purpose of this study to find the answer to the question which has often been asked, "Why have so many churches closed?" Finding the answer to this question is possibly an ultimate or underlying purpose, but it is not anticipated that the study will answer the question. Very little study is given to the processes which operate to cause the demise of particular congregations. Attention is rather focused on statistical data which are easily obtainable and the attempt is made to determine which of these are significantly related to the fact of closing.

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to remove some of the vagueness associated with the ministry of the Disciples and to add some depth to their theory of the ministry through some proposals for renewal and reformation. First, I propose to accomplish this purpose through an historical survey of the development of the ministry among Disciples. Then, some recommendations will be offered in the light of the Biblical ministry, the historical ministry of the Church, and the contemporary situation. It is my opinion that the Church and its ministry must be renewed constantly through continuing reformations. In order to be valid, these reformations must not neglect Biblical, historical, and existential factors. Upon these criteria, I have based my propositions for the doctrine of the ministry among Disciples of Christ.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has prioritized the ministry of "congregational transformation" for the revitalization of its congregations in decline, subtly framing the aim of this effort as one of becoming "a faithful and growing church." However, research is lacking as to what has actually changed from the past to the present in Disciples congregations purported to have made progress in this priority, particularly in terms of their lived ecclesiologies. The literature on this type of church change also reveals a need for a more robust ecclesiological understanding of congregational transformation. Accordingly, this dissertation follows a practical theological method that foregrounds ecclesiology - both theoretical and as it is practiced in congregations - in order to uncover what can be learned about the intentional ministry of congregational transformation, its definition, motivation and aims, and its faithful practice. The ethnographic research within three congregations revealed a change of ecclesial identity from one of "Church for Us" to "Church for Witness" across the processes of transformation in these congregations. When these findings were put in dialogue with select theological sources within Disciples tradition, the ecclesial identity of witness was found to be compatible with that tradition, and the reality to which the church ought to bear witness articulated as the good news of Jesus Christ - the reign of God happening. The dissertation relies on feminist commitments in reflecting on the reign of God and makes use of the process-relational theology of Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki, especially its model of becoming, in order to provide a coherent account of how transformation transpires in relationship to God. The transformation into a faithful witness-bearing church, then, occurs as the congregation practices or "dances" the reign of God, a dance that corporately and continually turns toward the lead of God, following a process that thereby integrates the means of congregational transformation with the desired end of becoming a faithful church.

Thesis (M.A.)--Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary, 1999. / Includes abstract and vita. Later published as: Torn asunder : the Civil War and the 1906 division of the Disciples; Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co., 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-114).

Thesis (M. Div.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-89).

Thesis (M. Div.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 1995. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-108).

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2003. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 186-196).

Thesis (M.A.)--Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary, 1999. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-114).

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2003. / Printout. Includes bibliographic references (leaves: 186-196).

Thesis (M.A.R.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-139).