Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
849798083
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
LAC copy
Author
Janzen, Rich,
Title
Reaching out to multicultural neighbours : stories that evaluate and encourage innovative Church outreach.
Degree
Ph. D. -- Wilfrid Laurier University, 2012
Publisher
Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada = Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, [2013]
Description
3 microfiches
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
<?Pub Inc> This dissertation conveys the stories of three churches that are active in their multicultural communities. The stories are important because I believe that churches must learn how to respond and adapt to a new pluralistic, post-Christian, and postmodern context in order to remain relevant. My research focuses on three Mennonite Brethren (MB) churches in Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Toronto. The research is part of a larger program evaluation that is being conducted by the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. My dissertation's purpose therefore can be summarized in three inter-related purpose statements. The first purpose is to evaluate how selected Mennonite Brethren churches reached out to their multicultural neighbours (understanding process). The second purpose is to evaluate the extent to which their efforts have led to individual, congregational, and community change (understanding outcomes). The third purpose is to seek insights as to how to improve innovative church outreach in multicultural settings (determining future action). To meet this purpose I use a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach that focuses on case study narratives using four qualitative methods of gathering information: a) participant observation; b) focus groups; c) key informant interviews; and d) document review. I analyze the stories of church outreach individually before looking for common story elements across churches. Two analytical lenses frame this analysis. The first lens draws on the work of community psychologists emphasizing an ecological perspective with multiple levels of analysis while considering holistic (including spiritual) change over time. The second lens is from contemporary theological literature often called the "missional church movement" that was popularized by Daryl Guder and colleagues (1989). Other contributions of my research include providing a rare Canadian example of an evaluation carried out in faith-based setting, and doing so in a way that addresses the limitations of previous faith-based evaluations in both beliefs and practice. In the process, my research builds theory about how to equip church outreach by considering how local church outreach is practically done in multicultural settings. In addition, I demonstrate how narrative research can be used within evaluation, how it can encourage and inform future collective action, and how a PAR approach to narrative research can be applied in empirical faith-based studies. Finally my analytical lens combines community psychology constructs with contemporary theological discourse. As such, my research illustrates how spirituality and religion can be important facets of community research and action.
ISBN
9780494838464
0494838469