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Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.

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Main Author: Cameron, Alan Duncan
Other Authors: Hendriks, Hans Jurgens
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
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access_status_str Open Access
author Cameron, Alan Duncan
author2 Hendriks, Hans Jurgens
author_browse Cameron, Alan Duncan
Hendriks, Hans Jurgens
author_facet Hendriks, Hans Jurgens
Cameron, Alan Duncan
author_sort Cameron, Alan Duncan
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51742
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:41:38.867Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2012
publishDateRange 2012
publishDateSort 2012
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51742 Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model Cameron, Alan Duncan Hendriks, Hans Jurgens Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology. Hybels, Bill Church growth Non-church-affiliated people Dissertations -- Theology Theses -- Theology Dissertations -- Practical Theology and Missiology Theses -- Practical Theology and Missiology Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Willow Creek's celebrated seeker-sensitivemodel ostensibly offers an alluring alternative ecclesiology for many congregations seeking a differentway to 'do chuch' viz an attractive communication ambience and an effective process of persuasion. It reflects both the strengths of evangelical entrepreneurial ecclesiolgy as well as the weaknesses of first generation independent ecclesiology. It espouses a pragmatic, populist approach, reliant on managerial, therapeutic and marketing techniques. Whilst there is much to commend in the Willow Creek model, uncritical imitation of the attempt to reach a secularized post-modern North American society results in unwitting theological reductionism and cultural accomodation of the gospel not least in the following respects: The temptation of image places a premium on performance and appearance. The allure of psychology distorts the ethical framework of Willow Creek. The stress on marketing and measurasble results unduly shapes the gospel. A 'user-friendly' canon within a canon results in a minimalist dualism. A marginalization of theology leads to baptised pragmatism and a deprecation of truth. The resultant re-imaged ministry model owes more to contemporary business methodolgy than it does to the historic theological magisterium of the church. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Willow Creek se beroemde soekersensitiewe model bied klaarblyklik 'n aanloklike alternatiewe eklesiologie vir baie gemeentes wat 'n anderrnanier van 'kerk-doen' soek, aan, te wete, 'n aantreklike kommunikasie ambience en 'n doeltreffende oortuigings proses. Oit weerspieel beide die sterkte van evangeliesgesinde ondernemingsekklesiologie so wei as die swakheid van eerste geslag onafhanklike ekklesiologie. Oit omhels 'n pragmatiese populis benadering vertrouend op bestuurs-, teraputiese- en bernarkinqsteqnieke. Alhoewel daar baie in die Willow Creek model is wat aanbevelings- I waard~g is, kan onkritiese navolging van die poging om 'n sekulariseerde post-moderne Noord Amerikaanse samelewingte bereik, eindig in 'n onbewuste teologiese reduksie en kult~rele aanpassing van die evangelie, ten minste in die volgende opsigte, te wete: die versoeking van beeld plaas 'n premie op vertoon en voorkoms; die aantreklikheid van sielkunde verdraai die etiese raamwerk van Willow Creek; die klem op bemarking en meetbare resultate vorm uiteindelik die evangelie; 'n verbruikervriendelike kanon binne In kanon lei tot 'n minimalistiese dualisme; die vermindering van teologie lei tot 'gedoopte' pragmatisme en afkeuring van die waarheid. Gevolglik het die nuwe beeld , r: van die bedieningspraktyk smId- meer te danke aan eietydse besigheidsmetodes as die historiese magisterium van die kerk. 2012-08-27T11:34:39Z 2012-08-27T11:34:39Z 2001-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51742 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 77 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Hybels, Bill
Church growth
Non-church-affiliated people
Dissertations -- Theology
Theses -- Theology
Dissertations -- Practical Theology and Missiology
Theses -- Practical Theology and Missiology
Cameron, Alan Duncan
Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model
title Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model
title_full Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model
title_fullStr Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model
title_full_unstemmed Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model
title_short Entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology : towards a critical evaluation of the Willow Creek seeker-sensitive model
title_sort entrepreneurial evangelical ecclesiology towards a critical evaluation of the willow creek seeker sensitive model
topic Hybels, Bill
Church growth
Non-church-affiliated people
Dissertations -- Theology
Theses -- Theology
Dissertations -- Practical Theology and Missiology
Theses -- Practical Theology and Missiology
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51742
work_keys_str_mv AT cameronalanduncan entrepreneurialevangelicalecclesiologytowardsacriticalevaluationofthewillowcreekseekersensitivemodel