Leadership Dissertations

A New Resource for Seminaries and Universities

Dissertation research and research conferences often reach the rather select audience of a few. In an effort to extend that circle of researchers on servant leadership we are introducing in this issue a new section featuring dissertation and research conference notices. A small beginning, perhaps, but I invite seminaries, graduate ministry and other departments to submit PhD and EdD dissertation (and on occasion DMin) notices and abstracts (less than 150 words) of studies of interest to Christian leaders. If you are planning research conferences dealing with servant leadership or leadership issues of interest to Christian leaders you are welcome to send an official note to the editor of this journal. 

Dissertation Notices

• David Boshart. PhD 2009. Planting Missional Mennonite Churches in Complex Social Contexts.
• David Penno. PhD 2009. An Investigation of the Perceptions of Clergy and Laity Concerning Race-Based Organizational Segregation in the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists.

Boshart, David W. (2009). Planting Missional Mennonite Churches in Complex Social Contexts as the Denomination Undergoes an Ecclesial Paradigm Shift: A Multiple Case Study.

PhD dissertation, Andrews University. Chair: Erich Baumgartner.

This qualitative study investigated the struggle of church planters and their key stakeholders to develop common understanding about the churches that are being planted in complex social contexts while relating to a denomination in the midst of an ecclesial paradigm shift in mission. It presents four cases representing Anglo, Hispanic, Hmong, and multi-ethnic church plants using narrative inquiry through semi-structured interviews with denominational and conference leaders, church planters, and key stakeholders.

The study found that the attempt to establish a missional culture within Mennonite Church USA has been subverted by an underdeveloped change process. To address this problem it recommended a narratological approach to organizational culture development that involves generative learning and reflexive dialogue. This approach is consistent with the desired ecclesial paradigm and historic theological commitments.

Common theological commitments among the cases of church planting in this study included the authority of Scripture, the normative teachings of Jesus, believers’ baptism, community discernment in discipleship, justice, peacemaking, reconciliation of all things as a sign of God’s reign, simplicity in lifestyle, and an understanding of the church as different from, yet engaged with, society.

Significant aspects of a missional ecclesiology present in the cases included the classical view of missio Dei, contextual sensitivity, hospitality by welcoming the stranger, holistic and incarnational ministry, and a reaction to modern expressions of the church as the steward and purveyor of normative social values.

Prior assumptions that threaten to derail the development of a missional ecclesiology include seeing the church as a vendor of therapeutic services rather than an alternative society, the inability of Mennonites to allow themselves to be hosted by others, and the tendency to replicate ministries rather than envision reproducing, contextualized ministries. Hospitality was identified as a significant multi-dimensional issue in developing a missional ecclesiology.

Significant social and cultural pressures with which church planters contend included growing ambivalence toward organized religion, the marginalization of the church in society, inhospitable immigration policies, language barriers, overwhelming social complexity, financial constraints, and the uncritical acculturation of Mennonites into mainstream American individualism.

Church planters understand their most significant contributions to be in the areas of congregation-based theological education and leadership development. An unexpected finding was the level to which church planters reflect on their practice. Creating opportunities for this level of reflection can provide important learning opportunities for increased competency. Go to the top of this page.

Penno, David K. (2009). An Investigation of the Perceptions of Clergy and Laity Concerning Race-Based Organizational Segregation in the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists.

PhD dissertation, Andrews University. Chair: Erich Baumgartner.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States maintains a racially segregated organization in a society that has intentionally dismantled segregation in most of its organizations.  The church needs to evaluate its current conference organization in light of this reality.  The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of Seventh-day Adventist clergy and members in two Southern administrative units of the denomination concerning race-based organizational segregation in the church. 

This study used a mixed method and was descriptive in design.  Four focus groups were conducted to explore the dimensions of the research problem.  This step was followed by the development of a quantitative survey, which was administered to clergy and members of a White (“state”) conference and the other a Black (“regional”) conference of the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

The study found that members of various ethnic backgrounds and ages in the church are open to the idea of changing the race-based organizational structure in the Adventist Church.  Whether they are employed by the church or not, respondents are not comfortable with the current system.  They strongly see God calling the church to integration, and they believe that the success of the church’s outreach to the culture demands such a change.  They are concerned about how leadership positions would be equitably distributed in an integrated church, but those surveyed see the benefits outweighing these concerns.

Respondents indicated no support for the idea that separate conferences are necessary for the effective prosecution of the church’s mission.  They also seemed to feel that segregation does affect the church’s witness but are unsure of the level of strength of that influence.  The participants indicated that leadership issues rather than worship style may be the primary cause of Caucasians leaving churches where they have become the minority.  Participants perceived a real economic benefit in merging state and regional conferences, though they were uncertain about the impact a merger of conferences would have on job opportunities for clergy.  There was no indication that participants felt a need to hold strongly to the current system.

Demographics had less of an impact on responses than was expected.  In particular, age was expected to have far more influence than it did.  It was expected that the responses of younger members would vary significantly from those of older members, but generally this was not the case.  On the other hand, non-employees consistently responded more favorably toward integration than did conference employees.  Ethnic groups, particularly African-Americans and Caucasians, were much more in harmony than was expected.  Though there were small degrees of difference, there was no sharp disagreement as might be expected for such a sensitive subject. Go to the top of this page