Edwin AlstonFollow

Date

9-2017

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Philip R McFarland

Keywords

Church, Corporatization, Practice, Priority, Purpose, Secularization

Disciplines

Christianity | Ethics in Religion | Other Religion | Practical Theology | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

In effort to mainstream its exposure, income, agenda, and influence among the people all over the world, some churches have embraced a corporate model in operating and ministering to the masses. Corporatization advocates business mindset, which leads to less sensitivity to building a relationship with God. This trend focuses on revenue and the bottom line. By seeking a self-gratifying importance in society, a growing number of churches are no longer the institution that houses individuals who serve as the salt of the earth and light of the world. This strategy minimizes spiritual formation and discipleship in order to promote a church’s brand or an individual’s name. This project intends to show how corporatization shifts ministries into business-making enterprises. It also proposes that corporatization affects the body of Christ by causing a lack of basic biblical knowledge. While attendance remains high in corporate worship services, there is a significantly lower level participation in activities that are not in a mass corporate assembly. Many corporate-minded individuals in churches believe they can run God’s house better with practices learned from business principles instead of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

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