Contextualization: A Phenomenological Study of the Church Growth Movement Dan Russell

Abstract Because the presentation has been designed like a dissertation, and abstract is available for download from Dr Russell’s web depot:

Title F Contextualization: F A Phenomenological Study F of the Church Growth Movement

Outline Contextualization – Framing of the Study Phenomenology – Explanation of Methodology Church Growth Movement – Data Collection Phenomenology – Data Analysis Contextualization – Presentation of Findings

Contextualization - Framing of the Study - )The term originated in the Third Mandate Study of the Theological Education Fund )The First Mandate was given in the 1950s to provide textbooks and other resource to Third World schools. )The Second Mandate in 1963 was an expansion of the first to include promoting education that allowed students to encounter the Gospel in their own culture. )The Third Mandate was published in 1972 as the findings of an extended study; “contextualization” was a central theme of the document.

Contextualization - Framing of the Study - )Although many were eager to embrace the new term because of its Third World implications, some were cautious and wanted to be sure they understood what was being said. )Byang Lausanne Congress )James Trinity Consultation )International Willowbank, Bermuda

Contextualization - Framing of the Study - )In the end missiologists have adopted a common word but do not agree on a common meaning. )Ironically, the meaning of “contextualization” depends primarily on its context. )Even if the word has no meaning, people do. Numerous books and hundreds of articles have been written about contextualization.

Contextualization - Framing of the Study - )Even though of authors from various backgrounds with an assortment of viewpoints have explored the topic, most writings fall into one of two categories: )Theological Treatment (which may include biblical and philosophical aspects) )Case Study

Contextualization - Framing of the Study - )Contextualization: Meanings, Methods, and Models is a microcosm of the field. )It presents a Contextualization Continuum based on theological positions. )It gives Chinese, Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist Case Studies.

Contextualization - Framing of the Study - )The timing in missiological development, the lack of meaning, the popularity of the topic, and the uniformity of approaches beg the questions: )What more can and should be said about the matter? )Is there a different way to study contextualization that will yield something new and unify these two standard approaches?

Phenomenology -Methodology Explanation- Edmund Husserl studied mathematics at the Universities of Leipziq and Berlin, but he went on to earn a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Vienna.

Phenomenology -Methodology Explanation- With this diverse back- ground Husserl found himself caught between: -Empiricism which emphasized observing the real. -Rationalism which emphasized reasoning in ideals.

Phenomenology -Methodology Explanation- Finding oneness in these extremes became the driving force in Husserl’s writing and teaching. -On the Concept of Number -Logical Investigations -Ideas 1

Phenomenology -Methodology Explanation- Husserl’s solution was a process of intentional perception which gave rise to the field of Phenomenology. As a teacher Husserl gave his students a great deal of freedom; he wanted his lectures to be a starting point and considered himself the beginner not the owner of Phenomenology.

Phenomenology -Methodology Explanation- Interestingly enough, a pursuit to find unity has not remained unified. Today Phenomenology has four areas: 1.Realistic – Human Sciences 2.Constitutive – Natural Sciences 3.Existential – Life-Cycle Issues 4.Hermeneutical – Psychology

Phenomenology -Methodology Explanation- Phenomenology is one of five qualitative research traditions and an appropriate methodology for studying contextualization in a movement: 1.Biography - Person 2.Ethnography - Group of People 3.Grounded Theory - Theory 4.Case Study - Institution 5.Phenomenology – Event

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - The influence of the Church Growth Movement is clearly recognizable in the Southern Baptist Convention. –All SBC Seminaries offer CG course & degrees –The NAMB employs CG methodology –The IMB reorganized using CG terminology –The Sunday School Board publishes Growing Churches magazine

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - The Church Growth Movement began in India with missionary Donald McGavran.

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - McGavran moved to California to become the Founding Dean of the School of World Mission.

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - McGavran’s successor at Fuller and in the Church Growth Movement was Peter Wagner.

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - Reacting against the focus on numbers and statistics in the movement, Wagner began to write about spiritual power.

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - Church Growth became so popular that many experts began writing books and a shift took place from the seminary to the para-church organization and into local churches themselves.

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - Some examples of these popular church growth figures would include: –Bill Hybels –John Maxwell –George Barna

The Church Growth Movement - Data Collection - One name that has become very familiar is Rick Warren; however, he prefers to talk about church health not simply church growth.

Phenomenology - Data Analysis - Qualitative Phenomenological Research is based on a three step process: 1.The researcher brackets his biases. 2.The event is reduced to basic aspects. 3.From these elements the researcher intuits the essence of the phenomena.

To understand the Church Growth Movement one must bracket his biases. One such misconception is thinking of church growth as principles instead of people.

The chronology of the Church Growth Movement should then be reduced to its elemental parts: 1.Mission Field 2.Mainline American 3.Third Wave 4.Popular American 5.Church Health

Finally, the researcher should try to understand the essence of the phenomena; in our movement it is was: 1.Branching 2.Blossoming

“Branching” refers to those changes that were radical and usually came because of disillusionment or conflict. “Blossoming” refers to those changes that were subtle and were often just a fine tuning of an early teaching.

The Church Growth Movement began revolutionary sprouting into a new area. Then it blossomed in an evolutionary fashion. In time though, a new revolution would create a new branch followed by the inevitable evolutionary growth.

An Illustration “Missiological” “Mainline” “Missiological” “Mainline” “Third Wave” “Missiological” “Mainline” “Third Wave” “Popular” “Missiological” “Mainline” “Popular” “Third Wave” “Church Health”

Contextualization - Presentation of Findings - These findings do sound similar to other articles on contextualization. For example, Justin Ukpong, a Nigerian New Testament scholar, used “Revolutionary” and “Evolutionary” language in an his work: “What is Contextualization?”

However, the significant contribution of the study is not the terminology but the biological illustration. “Revolutionary” and “Evolutionary” have too many political and scientific connotations; “Branching” and “Blossoming” are relatively neutral.

In addition, the model has the ability to predict future contextualization. What is the future of the Church Growth Movement? Another branch stemming off of church health.

Furthermore, the findings challenge a common assumption. Often the emphasis is placed on what the missionary does. The reality is that contextualization is developed much more by the student, often against the instruction of the teacher.

On an ethical level, the missionary has a moral obligation to be a responsible agent of change. On a existential level, the change is needed, unavoidable, and inevitable.

A phenomenological study of the Church Growth Movement shows that contextualization is not done; contextualization happens.

Conclusion F Response F Questions and Answers

Break It Up- Find a partner and discuss how you would explain this contextualization study to a classmate who missed today’s presentation.

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