Date of Award

4-2022

Document Type

Project Portfolio

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Phil Newell, DMin

Second Advisor

Dan Lioy, PhD

Third Advisor

Leonard I. Sweet, PhD

Abstract

The opportunity existed to develop a curriculum on a theology of risk for Key West United Methodist Church. This will enable us to begin to risk substantially for the Kingdom of God. This NPO was developed over the three years of the DMIN program; each milestone provided clarity to get to this final NPO. I began searching for tools used by United Methodists in previous times of liminality and discovered the need for a theology of risk. A hero who risked for God’s kingdom emerged in this search, Robert Strawbridge. Strawbridge was a layperson who exceeded his authority to reach others with the life-changing message of grace. As Americans exit Christendom, there will be a need for others to bear the mantle of Strawbridge; laity who are willing to risk, to exceed their authority, and who are ready to, by all means available, share the grace of God.

I serve as the senior pastor of Key West United Methodist Church, the oldest continual worshipping congregation on the island. It has a mixture of locals, seasonal residents, and guests. Together, we represent what Key West calls our “One Human Family.” The project is a curriculum on a theology of risk. It was explicitly created for this one congregation. This six-toeight-week study will help congregants discover how God risks and how God is calling the congregation to risk together and individually for the Kingdom of God.

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