Adamson, Heath. 2019. Succession in ministry in the Assemblies of God USA: what psychographic variables shape the belief system of the AG USA millennial Christian leaders and what is its impact on leadership?. Doctoral thesis, Goldsmiths, University of London [Thesis]

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Abstract or Description

The religious beliefs and practices among the Millennial generational cohort in
America continue to change. Conservative, mainline denominations are primarily in
decline. As a conservative Evangelical, Pentecostal denomination, comprised of
approximately 13,000 churches, the Assemblies of God USA finds itself at the
juxtaposition of change. The purpose of this study is to understand the current AG USA
Millennial Christian leadership psychography and identify variables impacting
leadership succession within the denomination. Variables were identified from two data
sets emerging from a mixed-methods research approach. Qualitative research,
comprised of semi-structured focus groups, were comprised of twelve unique groups
across the United States with a total of 79 individuals, whom were AG USA Millennial
Christian leaders, participating. Quantitative research was comprised of a survey
distributed to AG USA credentialed ministers. In total, 5324 credentialed AG USA
ministers opened the survey and 3625 completed every item. This study extends the
research on the evolving religious landscape in America and identifies, from the
research analysis and literature review, dialectical tensions between AG USA Millennial
leaders and both their secular and religious cohorts. These nine dialectics frame the
cohort’s positionalities and extend the research on an American sociology of religion.
This research can: 1) Equip AG USA to negotiate change and leadership succession with
its Millennial Christian leaders; 2) Contribute to discussions within American religion of
the rich, liminal space the AG USA Millennial cohort inhabits; and, 3) Introduce a
theological nuance within AG USA’s religious tradition which can create generational
symbiosis and religious tolerance within conservative, Evangelical, Pentecostal spheres.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.25602/GOLD.00026811
Keywords:	Religion, Spirituality, Pentecostalism, Millennial, Psychographic, Leadership
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Social, Therapeutic & Community Engagement (STaCS) > Faiths and Civil Society
Date:	31 July 2019
Item ID:	26811
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2019 14:47
Last Modified:	07 Sep 2022 17:15
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/26811

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