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Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church
Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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University of Pretoria
2024
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Nel, Malan |
| author_browse | Nel, Malan |
| author_facet | Nel, Malan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/96326 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:50.639Z |
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| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/96326 Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church Nel, Malan mlbthesis@gmail.com Beall, Megan Louise UCTD Churched Emerging Adults Missio Dei Missional Intergenerational Generation Y / Millennials Postmodernism Generation Z / Boomlets Parachurch Organizations Congregational Culture Youth Ministry Theory SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Humanities theses SDG-16 Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. Unquestionably, it is perspicuous that previously “churched” people who fall in the eighteen to thirty-two age demographic, which is also identified by Arnett (1998) as emerging adults, are leaving the church in increasing numbers (Barna Group, 2011; Barber, Setran and Kiesling, 2013; Pew Research Group, 2008; Nel, 2015; Rainer, 2011; and Olson, 2008). What is less evident is an understanding of how congregations are or are not effectively and meaningfully engaging churched emerging adults, in the belief that such knowledge will provide key information to understand the relationship between churched emerging adults and the local church. The research will potentially develop strategies to further engage eighteen- to thirty-two-year-olds; while proposing a praxis which strives to introduce and foster a personal, familial, and communal relationship to God. The research will specifically isolate the dormancy of the Christian Church in the United States of America, focusing on the characteristics that underlie the age fragmentation of the congregation particularly Thus, we endeavor to bring about a clarification to the concept of a lived/ everyday theology, the missio dei “mission of God” for/through the church, and the praxis of believers (Bosch,1996; Johnson, 2004). The research isolates the life of the church and how it interconnects community and theology specifically with/for churched emerging adults. It is important to note that this is not about filling churches it is about the church fostering a relationship between members, specifically churched emerging adults, and God. What new knowledge will be brought to the table? Hypothetically, the research should discover how congregations are or are not effectively engaging churched emerging adults. We will then attempt to re-focus church to the centrality of Jesus not the centrality of programs. The following research questions guided this study: What identifiable characteristics found in the local church meaningfully engage churched emerging adults? What can the local church do about the continuing decline in its membership specifically in terms of eighteen to thirty-two year olds? How does the Christian community find its way back to being Christ-centered and focused upon the mission of God in the world, missio dei? In short, we found that when these seven key identifiable characteristics are missing churched emerging adults are known to go in search of them and this has led to the current and ongoing decline amongst churched emerging adults from most congregations. Worship that provides a meaningful experience of God and Christian Tradition. Worship that is Holy Spirit inspired. Solid teaching that can change or enhance a person’s life from both the pulpit, throughout Sunday school, and all teaching. Giving people the opportunity to have input regarding decisions that affect change in the church. Opportunity for the expression of a person’s Denominational Heritage. Churched emerging adults want to be connected to the greater sense of church, in other words, how do I connect to Church history? The use of effective and up-to-date websites, email, and social media are paramount. Personal sense of making a difference in the church and beyond. Sanctification – the issue of holiness in the leadership These seven areas are at the core the heart of the personhood of each churched emerging adult. They want to know that they are valued as a member of the congregation that their opinion matters yes but more importantly is the leadership thinking through the most important things: Worship, Teaching (i.e. Sunday School), Prayer, Leadership, Church Heritage/ Denomination, Outreach, Service, Sanctification, and are they up to date on their Communication. These are the things that matter to the churched emerging adults and without them they are leaving the church and finding them at a church that takes them into account. Thus, churches must strive to be inclusive and promote missio dei, the mission of God instead of the latest program or trying to put on the best “show.” Reformed Theological College PhD (Practical Theology) Unrestricted Faculty of Theology and Religion SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions 2024-06-04T08:42:23Z 2024-06-04T08:42:23Z 2024-04-27 2023-04-24 Thesis * A2024 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/96326 10.25403/UPresearchdata.25939759 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Churched Emerging Adults Missio Dei Missional Intergenerational Generation Y / Millennials Postmodernism Generation Z / Boomlets Parachurch Organizations Congregational Culture Youth Ministry Theory SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Humanities theses SDG-16 Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church |
| title | Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church |
| title_full | Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church |
| title_fullStr | Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church |
| title_short | Toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with God and the local church |
| title_sort | toward an understanding of churched emerging adults and their relationship with god and the local church |
| topic | UCTD Churched Emerging Adults Missio Dei Missional Intergenerational Generation Y / Millennials Postmodernism Generation Z / Boomlets Parachurch Organizations Congregational Culture Youth Ministry Theory SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Humanities theses SDG-16 |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/96326 |