1. 1 2 4 5 Formal Organization Maximum Efficiency Institutionalization Disintegration Incipient Organization

2. 1 2 4 5 Formal Organization Maximum Efficiency Institutionalization Disintegration His analysis sheds a great deal of light on the development and current status of Adventism, even though his model does not provide a perfect correlation. leading Evangelical sociologists Incipient Organization

3. 1. Stage of Incipient Organization A. Dissatisfaction with existing churches B. Collective excitement C. Charismatic, authoritarian, prophetic leaders D. Sometimes hard to designate a founder According to Moberg

4. 1 2 3 4 5 Formal Organization Maximum Efficiency Institutionalization Disintegration 1. Stage of Incipient Organization in Sabbatarian Adventism 1844-1863. Incipient Organization

7. A. Formal Organization B. Formal ministry and membership B. Separation from parent group C. Membership goals D. Seeks the perfection of society & individuals E. Creed protects orthodoxy F. Slogans that emphasize group's distinctives G. Distinctive code of behavior H. Differences draw persecution (Persecution intensifies unity) 2. Period of Formal Organization According to Moberg

8. 1 2 3 4 5 Formal Organization Maximum Efficiency Institutionalization Disintegration 2. Period of Formal Adventist Organization, 1861-1900 Incipient Organization

13. 1 2 3 4 5 Formal Organization Maximum Efficiency Institutionalization Disintegration 3. Stage of Maximum Efficiency in Adventism, 1901-1956 Incipient Organization

14. A. Leadership is less emotional - more statesmanly B. Rational organization replace charismatic leadership C. Historians & apologists emerge with “propaganda” D. Intellectuals repelled by earlier emotionalism are drawn in E. Moves from a despised sect to near-equality with recognized organizations Moberg 3. Stage of Maximum Efficiency According to Moberg

15. F. Hostility toward others diminishes G. First generation of converts has mostly died H. Development of committees & boards I. Rituals and procedures are seen as means, not ends J. Rapid, but uneven growth with periods of integrating new members K. Incomplete integration gives rise to internal dissension Moberg 3. Stage of Maximum Efficiency According to Moberg

17. Reorganization for Mission Unless reorganization is done “it will take a millennium to give this message to the world” A. G. Daniells, “The Field,” 1901 General Conference Bulletin, 48

21. A. Formalism saps group's vitality B. Bureaucracy concerned with perpetuating its own interests not original theological distinctives C. Administration centers in self-perpetuating boards D. Those in authority talk one thing and practice another E. Mechanism of structure becomes an end in itself F. Creeds become venerated relics Moberg 4. The Institutional Stage According to Moberg

22. G. Organized worship becomes a ritual, empty formality H. Symbolism replaces internal, personal devotion J. Conflict with the outside world is replaced with toleration K. Membership standards relaxed to gain respectable members L. Feelings of intimacy decline Moberg 4. The Institutional Stage According to Moberg

23. M. Membership becomes passive and remote from leadership N. Activities once considered secular now become major attractions O. Institution becomes the master, not the servant P. Sermons become topical lectures, not fervent discourses on sin, salvation, and doctrine Moberg 4. The Institutional Stage According to Moberg

24. 1 2 3 4 5 Formal Organization Maximum Efficiency Institutionalization Disintegration Are we already in the Institutional Stage? 1956- . Incipient Organization

28. A. Huge Bureaucracies B. Bureaucracy concerned with perpetuating its own interests not original theological distinctives C. Administration centers in self-perpetuating boards 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage ? 1956- The “church has over-institutionalized, overbureaucratized, and seems to be in the process of becoming increasingly happier with the kingdom of this world” , G. Knight, The Fat Lady and the Kingdom, p.41 “… many parts of the world there appears to be more salaried ordained talent behind desks than in frontline pastoral and evangelistic posts. G. Knight, The Fat Lady and the Kingdom, p.41

29. CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS Churches, 129; membership, 35,289; 84 ministers 38 Conference Administrators Ordained Ministers Members per Minister 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage ? 1956-

30. Oklahoma Conference. Churches, 70; membership, 8,058; 24 ordained ministers, 12 Licensed ministers, 17 Administrators Ordained Ministers Ord. Ministers Administrators

31. AUSTRIAN UNION OF CHURCHES CONFERENCE Churches, 49; membership, 3,897; 29 Ordained Ministers and 18 Union Conference Administrators Ministers Administrators 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage ? 1956-

32. Belgium and Luxembourg Conference. Churches, 29; membership, 2,078; population 7 ordained pastors and 9 Administrators Administrators Pastors 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage ? 1956-

33. Number of Members per Minister 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage ? 1956-

34. Malcolm Bull and Keith Lockhart, S eeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream, (2 nd ed), 122 “ From an economic point of view, the church’s resources are concentrated on administration and institutions rather than on individual churches…” 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage ? 1956-

35. J. Conflict with the outside world is replaced with toleration 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage? “ Adventism was moving closer to conservative Protestant theology…” Our seminary received accreditation for the D.Min and Th.D from the Am. Assoc. of Theological Schools (1970) From 1965 on we held annual conversations with the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission In 1968 Jerry L. Pettis became the first Adventist Congressman “ The social alienation that had characterized its origins, though still alive, was no longer as all-inclusive and dominant in Adventist faith and practice as it had been” Gary Land (ed), Adventism in America, AU Press, 1998, p. 189

36. General Conference Bulletin 8 -Ninth Business Meeting, 57th General Conference Session, July 4, 2000,3:00pm, Toronto, Canada B. B. BEACH: “ One of the happy traditions of General Conference sessions in recent decades has been to have honored guests and observers from other churches in our midst. One of them is: Monsignor John A. Radano is a senior member of the Roman Catholic delegations and is head of the Western Section of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity [PCPCU], and principal liaison person between the Vatican and other ecclesiastical communities in the West. “ Bert B. Beach's encounter with the Roman Pontiff came as a member of the Christian World Communions, and following a special luncheon at the Vatican." Review Nov. 8, 2001 4. Are we already in the Institutional Stage?

37. M. Membership becomes passive and remote from leadership N. Activities once considered secular now become major attractions O. Institution becomes the master, not the servant P. Sermons become topical lectures, not fervent discourses on sin, salvation, and doctrine Moberg 4. The Institutional Stage According to Moberg

38. A. Formalism, indifference, obsolescence, absolutism, red tape, patronage, corruption B. Loss of confidence in leadership C. Many withdraw D. Support becomes nominal and half-hearted E. Futile attempts at restoration by a few Moberg 5. Over-institutionalism Leads to Disintegration & Death According to Moberg

39. A. Formalism, indifference, obsolescence, absolutism, red tape, patronage, corruption B. Loss of confidence in leadership C. Many withdraw D. Support becomes nominal and half-hearted E. Futile attempts at restoration by a few Moberg 5. Can we avoid Over-institutionalism which Leads to Disintegration & Death or do we exhibit already some of Moberg’s Characteristics?

41. The proportion of Adventists born into the church, remain loyal to it without ever faltering, and die within the faith in which they were raised may well be less than 20 percent of the total membership. Bull & Lockhart, Seeking a Sanctuary, 349 Adventist born die as Members

43. D. Support becomes nominal and half-hearted 5. Over-institutionalism Leads to Disintegration & Death Tithe per capita as % of U.S. income per capita

44. http://www.adventiststatistics.org/view_Summary.asp?FieldInstID=1661991 Growth Rate

45. Adventism appears to have followed the Life Cycle of other Churches Will we follow it to the end? “ It is of crucial importance to realize that not one major religious revival in the history of Christianity has successfully escaped that process” of secularization and loss of it original missiological course. G. Knight, The Fat Lady and the Kingdom, p.41 “ This will not happen to the Seventh-day Adventist Church! This is not just another church – it is God’s Church!” Robert Pierson, at the G.C. annual council 1978

46. Donald McAdams expressed the challenge for the church best when he said that Adventism must “… retain the spark, commitment and message that gave the sect its original power, while accepting the institutional, structural and cultural changes that are the inevitable concomitant of growth in the real world” Donald McAdams, “The 1978 Annual Council…” Spectrum 9, p.8.