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Most of the case studies on this page are sourced
in the Theological Case Study Method as taught by
Dr. David Fletcher in the Doctor of Ministry Program
at Dallas Theological Seminary

Case Studies

Two ways to study a case
Suggestions from David based students at Dallas Seminary and ETS India

Building Projects

And Now We Are in the New Building … A “First Person” Case Study by Bill Northrop. 2007, 6 pages.
Bill Nothrop and Ron Moore were interviewed about this at the 2007 XP-Seminar

The problem was, Randle-El, a strong believer, was due to speak at the South Hills Bible Chapel the following Sunday. He had been booked several months ago and the event had been widely publicized in the community. Services held in the Family Life Center were already filled to capacity each Sunday and the church’s new facility would not be open for three months. It was simply impossible to handle the surge in attendance that one play had wrought. It was February 2006 and thus began a year of challenges, changes and adaptations for South Hills Bible Chapel that would continue all year long.

Conflict Resolution

"Care & Correction" or "Shaming": When Your Church Issues Go National with Todd Wagner, Senior Pastor at Watermark Community Church of Dallas by David R. Fletcher. 2007, 36 pages.
Todd Wagner was interviewed about this at the 2007 XP-Seminar

The newspapers screamed headlines such as “Is Public Shaming by the Church Legal?” and “Church, ex-member battle over discipline.”  The story ran from coast to coast and was fodder in blog discussions, hallway chatter, legal circles and church meetings.  ABC News said: A female member of the Watermark Community Church, a non-denominational evangelical church in Dallas, Texas, reached out to her pastor after her husband had an alleged affair with another woman.   But when the husband, identified only as “John Doe,” failed to reconcile with his wife, he said the church’s minister, Todd Wagner, shamed him from the pulpit.

As Watermark’s senior pastor, the Rev. Todd Wagner, told his congregation: “Sue me. Nail me to a tree. Tell me you hate me. Misrepresent my motives. We’re going to love you anyway.”  Todd is the founding pastor and dynamic communicator of Watermark Community Church of Dallas, Texas.  The six-year-old mega-church, with 3,000 people in worship, found itself in the national spotlight—again. This is a case to read very, very carefully!

Deacons

A Deacon Ministry on Steroids: An Overview of the Deacon Ministry of First Baptist Church Orlando A Case Study by Mark Hudgins. 2007, 19 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1, NIV, emphasis added)
The role of deacon varies from congregation to congregation in churches across America. Some churches may acknowledge that such a function existed in first century churches described in scripture, but have no present-day deacon ministry in their own local church. In contrast, other congregations may see the office of deacon as vitally important to their church culture and have a well-defined description of deacon ministry. The presence, opinion, and practice of deacon ministry differs not only among churches, but also among denominations. Congregations steeped in the Southern Baptist tradition are well-familiar with the presence and significance of the role of deacon in their churches. One would have to search long and hard among the over 42,000 Southern Baptist congregations to find a church that did not recognize and utilize the role of deacon. Regardless of how deep-rooted a church or denomination’s tradition may embrace the function of deacons, few churches have a deacon ministry on the level of that of First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida. This central Florida church has a healthy and thriving ministry of deacons that greatly benefits the widows, in particular, and the church and pastoral staff, in general. Read on to consider a deacon ministry worth emulating.

Ingleside Baptist Church: Will the Role of Deacons Fade Into The Sunset? by Mark Hudgins. 2006, 11 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Ingleside Baptist Church is not your typical Southern Baptist church … anymore. Ingleside is a large, healthy, growing, and progressive church in Macon, Georgia. Macon is a small-ish town in central Georgia with a population of approximately 95,000. A large, contemporary church in a small town in the deep South is an anomaly. Yet Ingleside has not always been this way. Like most Southern Baptist churches, Ingleside Baptist Church has had deacons since its inception. However, at this particular Baptist church, the role of deacons haschanged dramatically since the day the church began. To best understand the changing role of deacons, a brief look at the history of the church will help.

Executive Pastors: Defined

The XP & Church Ethos: Irving Bible Church by David R. Fletcher. 2005, 20 pages.
And, Questions for the Irving Case Study (1 page)
Steve Roese was interviewed about this at the 2005 XP-Seminar

Steve Roese is a Catalyst … Shakes up categories … no policy manuals or time cards—anywhere … visionary with an outreach heart … doesn’t allow second best … lightning rod for criticism … explains explosive issues … loves to think out of the box. This case study will do Steve Rose little justice—how can one define a catalyst? The data here might give a backdrop to understand him. Though different in style and approach from Stonebriar, this case-study discovers an Executive Pastor who also implements the vision of the Senior Pastor and enacts the policies of the Elder Board.  Coupled with strong church growth, few churches have had such a successful relocation effort as Irving.  Irving added the position of Executive Pastor one year after relocating to their new church home. 

Mount Vernon Baptist Church: After 145 Years, Does Mount Vernon Need an XP? by Larry Hoyle. 2006, 14 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Mount Vernon Baptist Church’s history dates back over 145 years. During these years, the church faced many challenges. Individuals emerged to lead the church forward. The church is again at a crossroad in its history. In this case the ministerial leadership of the church is stymieing the growth potential of the church. The supervision of the church staff is the same in 2006 as it was in 1994 when Mount Vernon had half the number of ministerial staff. All ministerial staff directly report to the senior pastor. Could this philosophy of leadership be the reason the staff is in turmoil and the church is experiencing two years of decline in attendance after 20 years of growth? Does staff organization need to be restructured? Is it time for Mount Vernon to add an Executive Pastor to its staff? A history of the church will help the reader understand Mount Vernon’s evolution to its present leadership style.

The XP & Church Growth: Stonebriar Community Church by David R. Fletcher. 2005, 20 pages.
And, Questions for the Stonebriar Case Study (1 page)
And, Stonebriar Part II by David R. Fletcher. 2005, 12 pages.
David Chavanne was interviewed about this at the 2005 XP-Seminar

In January 2004, Dr. Charles Swindoll, Senior Pastor of Stonebriar Community Church, announced his decision to David Chavanne, the church’s Senior Executive Pastor.  The internationally known radio preacher, who likes to be called “Chuck,” had decided that Stonebriar would add a third worship service at 8:00 on Sunday morning.  The decision culminated a two-year period of Stonebriar being at capacity and the church wondering if Chuck would add a third service. How did they get to this point and how would they move forward?

To XP or Not to XP, that is the Question: Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship by David R. Fletcher. 2005, 12 pages.
And, Questions for the Oak Cliff Case Study (1 page)
Martin Hawkins was intervewed about this at the 2005 XP-Seminar

When was the last time that the President of the United States attended the dedication of your Youth Education Center? On October 29, 2003, President George W. Bush gave extended remarks at the dedication of a new building at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas.  The President commented: "You can hear Tony on 500 radio stations. You can read 20 of his books. You can listen to his powerful sermons on Sunday. He is a busy man, and one of the advantages of being President is he'll take my phone call. And I'm glad he does, I appreciate his advice—and he’s got good, sound advice." Dr. Evans is served by his Assistant Pastor, Dr. Martin Hawkins.  The church does not have an Executive Pastor.  In the eventual retirement of Dr. Hawkins, the church has considered moving toward an Executive Pastor.  Does Dr. Evans, a Senior Pastor leading an enormous ministry and admired by the President of the United States, need an Executive Pastor?

Executive Pastors: New & Entrance into the role

Mary Jammerman: From Executive to XP by David R. Fletcher. 2006, 25 pages.
Mary Jammerman was interviewed about this at the 2006 XP-Seminar

In June 2000, and after only a few months without a Senior Pastor, Woodinville Alliance Church made a “coup” in the pastor-hiring category.  Morris Dirks was at Salem, Oregon’s 3,000 member Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, and had been seeking God’s call to a smaller, growing church.  He found it in western Washington, where he could pursue his passion for preaching, leadership development and spiritual direction. Fast forward three and one half years to 2004.  Following the resignation of a senior associate pastor, it was decided that the key position to fill was that of Executive Pastor. Mary Jammerman had been serving on the Governing Board and due to her experience in the HR field, has been assisting with church human resource issues.  In January 2004, Mary began a new chapter as Executive Pastor at Woodinville Alliance Church. In October of that year, Senior Pastor Morris Dirks announced that he would resign and he left in January 2005.

Stacey Campbell: From Pastor to XP & Close Encounters of the Sexual Kind by David R. Fletcher. 2006, 24 pages.
Stacey Campbell was interviewed about this at the 2006 XP-Seminar

In the American religious landscape, there is no clear path for an individual to become an Executive Pastor.  Some churches have hired or promoted individuals to become Executive Pastors who have experience in only one or two areas of ministry.  Their native talent, or combination of talent, experience and training have qualified them for the position. What are some of the “pastoral” components in the XP role?  Stacey Campbell gives some insight from a recent ministry experience: "It’s never a good sign when one of your elders calls on a Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. This was no exception. “Are you sitting down?” he asked over the phone. “We’ve got a situation.” “What is it?” I asked, my mouth suddenly dry. “I just received a call from someone in our church who says that they were coerced into having a sexual encounter with someone else in a restroom at our church during one of the worship gatherings this morning.” This case study will help one understand how a person moves from Pastor to Executive Pastor.  What were the elements and experiences that brought Stacey Campbell to this phone call?

The Perfect Storm: Liberty Church. Nathan Baxter from SP to XP by David R. Fletcher. 2005, 20 pages.
Questions about the Case
Nathan Baxter and Paul Taylor were interviewed about this at the 2005 XP-Seminar

Liberty Church is a dynamic, progressive church of 550 adults and 300 children in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Unusual for a Southern Baptist Church, it is governed by a Board of Elders—and the ministry is carried out through teams.  The Church has over fifty percent of the congregation involved in ministry.  Liberty dares to think and act as a maverick, setting the pace for future churches.  Yet, it was not always so … After ten years as Liberty’s Pastor, Paul Taylor began to realize he and the church needed to change.  Sometimes dictatorial and overseeing every detail, Brother Paul was not happy with who he had become.  He believed the church could not grow as it was organized.  The process of deciding on how and what to change took four years.  In 2002, the church had changed to a team ministry concept and hired Nathan Baxter as Executive Pastor. So now the XP has been hired, but what would be expected of him in the first year.  High hopes marked Nathan’s entrance.  But, how would Paul, Nathan, Elders and church members cope with the first-year challenges of having a powerful XP manage the staff and oversee ministry?

Joe Ward: A Journey from Administration to Executive Pastor by Larry Hoyle. 2007, 14 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary.

“If leaving one ministry position for a similar one requires careful assessment, then sound counsel is even more important when one moves into a new ministry role altogether.”
John R. Cionca’s quote reflects the need for careful study and counsel when a minister makes the transition from one ministry position to another. The skills and gifts needed in one position may be drastically different than those needed in another position. That can be true when an administrator who lives the life of finance and property issues becomes an executive pastor who, in most cases, supervises other ministers and run point for a church’s vision. In April of 2003, Joe Ward became the first executive pastor of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas. A member of the church observed the need for someone to serve in a new position for WRBC, executive pastor. Senior Pastor Randy Weeaks and Associate Pastor for Administration Joe Ward were approached with the idea.

Human Resource & Hiring Issues

Sabbatical: Siesta, Study or Sayonara? Bel Air Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, California by Dr. David R. Fletcher. 2008, 20 pages Mark Brewer and Roger Dermody were interviewed about this at the 2008 XP-Seminar.

“I talked about my sabbatical from the pulpit,” said Sr. Pastor Mark Brewer. “I even brought up the Elders at each of the three services, and brought up all of the pastoral staff. But, the congregation still had questions.” Some said, “Mark, there’s an undercurrent that you are half way out the door,” while others added “Mark, are you coming back?” and “Mark, are you being disciplined by the Elders?” queried one lady. “I knew,” said Mark, “that in churchland, people cloak things in Christianese. The one lady came from a church where sabbatical was code for discipline. So I told everyone that I had negotiated hard for the sabbatical.” Sabbaticals can be code in the church. It is a seemingly easy way to get rid of a staff person or for the staff person to go looking for a job. Is a sabbatical a siesta, a period to rest before returning to work? Or, is it for study, preparation for continuing ministry, enrichment of the mind and soul? When the Rev. Dr. Mark Brewer, Pastor and Head of Staff at Bel Air Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles went on sabbatical in October of 2006, he faced all these questions.

Anonymous Church, Honing the Staff: Transition and Turn-over by Paul Utnage. 2007, 16 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Many churches struggle to hone a functioning church staff.  How do you create a healthy and effective staff?  What do you do if a staff member does not fit the chemistry or necessities of a staff?  What kind of commitments ease the tension when one has to transition a staff member?  How much courage is necessary to truly hone an effective staff?  First Church (a pseudonym) provides one story of such questions.

Hiring 101: How the “great” ones do it, Fellowship Bible Church of Little Rock by Bill Egner. 2007, 12 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Hiring. Just saying the word out loud for many pastors produces audible groans, pained expressions and rolling eyes. Everyone knows it’s a necessity; hardly anyone sees it as glamorous. Yet a few, perhaps, see in it and through it a great opportunity to maintain or even increase spiritual momentum; an opportunity to positively influence their church’s future trajectory; to go from good to better or even from good to great. In a 2006 Leadership article famed business guru, Jim Collins, author of Built to Last and Good to Great, discusses how his work transfers and applies to the non-profit sector:

Collins: "Great institutions discipline themselves to get people whose character is naturally to exhibit great behavior … the work is too important to let key seats on the bus be occupied by the wrong people. By getting the right people in key seats. These right people then ask, ‘What are the brutal facts we must confront?’ Notice what I did not say. They do not begin with a vision to rally people around. They say, ‘Let’s get some strong people in key seats who care about the cause we’re engaged in. Even though we don’t know the strategy or the end vision, there is an allegiance to the mission."

The question is simply this, “If you have the privilege and responsibility for hiring at your church, how do you hire the right staff?” How do the “great” ones do it? Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas has learned a thing or two about hiring over its 30-year ministry history, successfully implementing their broad spiritual vision has extended beyond the reach and/or control of what its Senior Pastor alone could do. They have had to find the right staff time and time again to maintain and even increase their spiritual momentum. They grasped some time ago the truth that realizing your preferred future depends on recruiting the right staff, on being disciplined about hiring.

Ministry Issues

Learning From The Past To Guide Us Into The Future, A “First Person” Case Study by Bill Egner. 2007, 15 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary and at the 2007 XP-Seminar.

Christ Chapel Bible Church finds itself in the late summer of 2006 at a blessed crossroads. That crossroads is the opportunity to invest in one of three ministry options, each of which will offer material care as well as show the love of Christ to orphans and/or impoverished children. All three options have been brought forward by lay people, are overseas and are seriously being considered by the Elder Board. Two of the three options require a relatively small financial commitment from the church, short-term volunteer commitments to go and serve and no governing Board or staff oversight. The third option, on the other hand, requires a significant amount of financial commitment, potentially hiring overseas staff as well as requiring large-scale governance and longer-term commitment. It’s a wonderful place to be and in a sense Christ Chapel has been building toward a time such as this … and for ministry discussions such as this.

Yet realities being what they are mean ministries still vie for the same fixed resources of the church. How should the leadership decide which, if any, should be funded or supported? What might Christ Chapel’s history disclose about its ability to finance or even oversee an overseas “church-sized” ministry idea? Though the risks of the third option loom large, is this actually the direction God is calling the church?

A Pastor as a Church Planter: Hosur Bible Fellowship Centre by Aji Thomas. 2007, 6 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of the Evangelical Theolgical Seminary of India. Winner of the Joy M. George Prize, 1st Place.

Francis Foulkes in his book titled, The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, states “Apostles and evangelists had a particular task in planting the church in every place; prophets, for bringing a particular word from God to a situation. Pastors and teachers were gifted to be responsible for the day-to-day building up of the church.” But then what do we have to say if a man of God with a heart and passion of a pastor is instrumental in planting a church? “I don’t have the gift of an evangelist. The capacity in which God has called me to serve Him is as a Pastor-Teacher.” says Pastor Saji Abraham of the Hosur Bible Fellowship Centre.

Sr. Pastor Transition

A Church and XP for Urban Life, long-term transition of Nicholas Smith by David R. Fletcher. 2006, 22 pages.
Nicholas Smith was interviewed about this at the 2006 XP-Seminar

In the year 1990, when Nicholas Smith was 8 years old, Bethany Baptist Church of Lindenwold, New Jersey had 29 active members.  In the year 2003, Bethany Baptist had 16,500 members, Nicholas was 23 years old and he was Bethany’s Executive Pastor. Every case study is “unusual” in that God uniquely works through local churches.  God uses gifted people to reach communities in entirely different ways.  Yet, the story of Bethany Baptist and Nicholas Smith stands out.  A vibrant ministry of Bethany reaches the urban world with dynamic programs—and people are responding.  Yet, why did Bishop Evans choose such a young XP?  The reason may be in the spiritual DNA of the church.

Exit of a Founding Pastor, Jeff Jones to 'replace' Gene Getz by David R. Fletcher. 2006, 24 pages.
Gene Getz, Jeff Jones and Jack Warren were interviewed about this at the 2006 XP-Seminar

One of the greatest challenges in the business world is the exit of the founder of a corporation.  Consider the words of Professor Noam Wasserman of the Harvard Business School: My research focuses on founder frustrations in entrepreneurial firms, with a particular emphasis on the core issues of organization building that cause problems for founders’ abilities to achieve their goals. My data shows that the percentage of founder-CEOs who “go the distance” is extremely low, especially in high-potential ventures. People like Bill Gates and Larry Ellison, who are able to lead their companies for quite a while, get all the attention because they are rare, not because they are typical. There are clear similarities between entrepreneurial people who found churches and founders of successful companies.  Founder-CEO’s have frustrations over succession issues, just as do founding pastors.  It is extraordinarily difficult for founders to step aside and let another assume the mantle of leadership. Could Getz succeed in transition where so many other Senior Pastors had failed?  Could Gene live in retirement?  What about his future relationship with the church he founded and served for so many years?

From XP to P; With Plenty of Change In Between: A “Personal” Case Study by Ray Glenn. 2007, 14 pages.
A Case Study presented in the Doctor of Ministry Program of Dallas Theological Seminary.

The winds of change had been blowing for several years. Not in response to a particular problem, a mid life crisis nor lack of ministry fulfillment, but rather a persistent, gentle unsettledness resulting in a re-evaluation of life goals, ministry skills and God’s ultimate purposes; a journey of faith, growth and learning. This is how Pastor Ray would describe the last several years of ministry. While certain circumstances make his experience unique there are also applicable truths to anyone experiencing changes in ministry. As Theodore Roosevelt said: "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause … who at the best know in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat."

Video Venue/Multi-Site

Toby Slough as Virtual Pastor and Jim Kuykendall as Associate Pastor at Cross Timbers Community Church of Argyle, Texas by David R. Fletcher. 2007, 14 pages.
Toby Slough & Jim Kuykendall were interviewed about this at the 2007 XP-Seminar

I walked in the darkened auditorium and saw Toby Slough pacing a fourteen foot path on the stage.  On two side screens, I saw close-ups of Toby.  There was a blink and Toby disappeared from center stage—then I realized that the life-size Toby was an image projected on a screen. As the Founding and Senior Pastor of Cross Timbers Community Church, Toby Slough has seen in just 5 years the church go from birth to over 4000 in weekly worship, from one building to a church of “four locations, five sites and seven services.” With the upside being Toby’s somewhat self-deprecating approachability, a potential downside is “can Toby be authentic when viewed on video?”  Is there a human element that only comes when the speaker is “live?”