Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

1988

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Norman K. Miles

Second Advisor

C. Raymond Holmes

Third Advisor

Reuben A. Hubbard

Abstract

Problem. The SDA church in Uganda started in rural areas among rural people. But the situation has changed. Although the majority of the church membership nationwide is still rural, a large percentage is now urban in the real sense of the word. Moreover, it is estimated that by the year 2000, membership in city churches will have doubled. This urbanised membership requires an urbanized approach to ministry. Furthermore, as in any developing country, Ugandan urbanites have many needs which can be met only by a holistic approach to ministry. This study is undertaken to make a contribution toward achieving that goal.

Method. A description of ministry is made to create a better concept of ministry. Also an attempt is made to investigate the current pattern of ministry. Questionnaires were used to help determine the strength and weakness of the present approach. Based on the analysis of these instruments, suggestions are made for possible improvement. These recommendations are informed by the current literature on urban ministry, the researcher's understanding of biblical ministry, and his personal experience as a minister in the country under study.

Results. The study shows that the Bible teaches a holistic approach to the ministry (diakonia) of the church. It is the method Christ used. But there seems to be a deficient concept of biblical ministry, especially as it relates to non-spiritual needs. The needs that exist require creative leadership and total mobilization of all church members. The study reveals that the latter is presently a difficult task. Moreover, there is a possibility that the pastors do not have the skills and tools needed to train and moblize the lay people for ministry.

Conclusion. Investigation shows that several things must be done to effect a holistic urban ministry in the SDA churches in Uganda. First, there must be a better understanding of ministry. Pastors and members alike must understand that ministry is inclusive of every service that positively affects every aspect of human life. Second, church members (lay people) must be helped to realize that they too have a part to play in the servanthood of the church and to do it. Third, both pastors and lay people must be trained to enable them to play their respective roles in a way that is rewarding to them and beneficial to their community of faith and the larger community around them.

Subject Area

City clergy--Uganda, City churches--Uganda, Church work--Seventh-day Adventists

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/241/

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