Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Project Portfolio

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

H. Colleen Butcher

Second Advisor

Martina Hagler

Third Advisor

Leonard I. Sweet

Abstract

This research examines Christian discipleship’s theological, historical, and structural dynamics, emphasizing its central role in addressing the decline of church attendance in the Western church. Recent data, such as Barna’s 2020 report indicating a 50% drop in regular church attendance, underscores a more profound issue beyond numerical decline—namely, a crisis of commitment and spiritual formation. The church’s inability to cultivate a community of believers who follow Jesus as disciples highlights a shift from relational, life-on-life mentorship to programmatic, clergy-centered approaches. Historically, discipleship was characterized by a personal mentoring relationship where elders or spiritual leaders walked alongside believers to guide their spiritual growth. This model, rooted in Jewish rabbinic traditions and embodied by Jesus and the apostles, gradually diminished as church structures became more institutionalized, especially after 325 CE. The shift to cognitive instruction over relational formation led to the outsourcing of discipleship to clergy, relegating it to formal education programs rather than integrated, community-based mentorship. The paper advocates for a return to a biblical discipleship model, wherein elders reclaim their role as primary disciple-makers within the church. By adopting relational practices inspired by early Christian and Old Testament elder roles—such as community building, teaching, contextualizing faith, promoting justice, and maintaining unity—the modern church can restore its mission to make disciples. The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) serves as a case study, highlighting how its elder-led governance can be leveraged to foster sustainable spiritual growth. This research proposes that by equipping elders to disciple through personal investment, the church can revitalize its communal life, counteract decline, and make discipleship a cornerstone of its leadership identity. This approach not only reconnects the church to its historical roots but also offers a practical framework for cultivating resilient, faith-filled communities.

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