A STRATEGY FOR OVERCOMING
DENOMINATIONAL FACTORS THAT HINDER
GROWTH IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

A DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE
SCHOOL OF WORLD MISSION
FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY

WESLEY J. GABEL

NOVEMBER 2001

ABSTRACT - A Strategy for Overcoming Denominational Factors That Hinder Growth in the Local Church
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
PART I: FOUNDATIONS FOR LOCAL CHURCH GROWTH
	Chapter 1. A THEOLOGY OF CHURCH GROWTH
	Chapter 2. A THEOLOGY OF CHURCH LIFE
PART II: DENOMINATIONAL FACTORS HINDERING CHURCH GROWTH
	Chapter 3. DENOMINATIONAL DEFINITION
	Chapter 4. WESTERN SKEPTICISM
	Chapter 5. RELATIONSHIP STRAIN
	Chapter 6. ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
	Chapter 7. DENOMINATIONAL MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS
PART III: STRATEGIES FOR UNLEASHING DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES
	Chapter 8. RECOVERING SUPERNATURAL MINISTRY
	Chapter 9. NETWORKING WITH OTHER LEADERS
	Chapter 10. DEVELOPING APPRENTICE LEADERS
	Chapter 11. INITIATING MULTICONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES
	Chapter 12. SORTING YOUR DENOMINATION’S WINESKINS
CONCLUSION
APPENDICES
	APPENDIX A: A PROPOSED CHANGE IN UNITED METHODIST APPOINTMENT-MAKING
	APPENDIX B: A PROPOSED CHANGE IN DENOMINATIONAL FUNDING
BIBLIOGRAPHY