Date
5-25-2023
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Fred Milacci
Keywords
organizational inclusion, special needs, social identity theory, exclusion
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Warren, Kenneth Gene, "An Intrinsic Case Study of an Inclusive Special Needs Ministry in a Large Nondenominational Faith Community in Central Virginia" (2023). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 4404.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4404
Abstract
The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to explore the special needs ministry of “Quality Church,” a large nondenominational ministry in Central Virginia. The theory that guided this study was Tajfel’s (1969) social identity theory, which provided a framework for understanding how attachment develops when there is a common social group connection. The central research question guiding this study was, “What ministries does Quality Church provide for children with special needs and their families?” Subquestions were as follows: “What is Quality Church’s vision for ministering to children with special needs and their families?” “What are the experiences of families with children with special needs within the special needs ministry at Quality Church?” “What is the culture Quality Church is building for children with special needs and their families who attend the church?” Data were collected through interviews, observations, and artifacts. Data analysis included observation, explanation building, and chronological sequences. The findings in this study culminated in the identification of four components regarding the special needs ministry at Quality Church—culture, community, competence, and care—that make the special needs ministry at Quality Church what it is.
