<p> This dissertation explores contemporary church planting experiences across select locational contexts. In the 21st century, there has been an intentional focus and renewed vigor among several Christian Protestant denominations, church planting networks, and church planting churches to effectively influence the start and growth of new churches. These church planting entities are attempting to address changing spiritual, geographical, sociological, and cultural realities in the United States through the entrepreneurial endeavor of founding new churches. This strategy of outreach is increasing in use because new churches tend to be pioneering, adaptable, and able to meet the needs of different populations. However, the available evidence and information about church planting is less than comprehensive. This qualitative research study was conducted to add insights to the entrepreneurship, leadership, and organizational change literature by exploring church planting across select locational contexts. This study utilized 11 church planting expert interviews and two mini-case studies of extant churches in order to examine five factors that are considered key in church planting: the overarching church planting perspective, church plant support systems, leadership approaches, organizational change, and successful outcomes. A key goal of the study was to identify and acknowledge diverse perspectives and realities in the church planting experience. The findings revealed a need for a universal definition of church planting and a more comprehensive and holistic approach to church plant support systems, leadership development, and the management of change. Further studies could include a more extended, multi-year longitudinal study that evaluates the organizational change approaches of diverse church plants, and use of experimental research design studies to assess collaboration across churches and church planting entities.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:3715644 |
| Date | 12 September 2015 |
| Creators | Boyd, Zarat Y. |
| Publisher | Fielding Graduate University |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds