Introducing the Quest: Why and How to Read This Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to contribute to new or renewed understanding of why and how people identify with and commit to growing churches in the late modern context. The primary strategy of this study is semi-structured interviews in which respondents reflect actively on their own situation, yet supplementary methods are also employed. Further, in chapter two of this study, the author presents important theories that he considers highly relevant for the study. It's worth noticing however, that it is possibly to pass over this chapter and go directly to the empirical presentation in chapter three. In chapter three, he presents the two churches that he regards as 'context cases'. The purpose of chapters four and five is to present and analyse six individual cases in depth. Chapter six presents seven themes that describe organisational foci, and these can be classified into four types of identification.Keywords:church; empirical presentation; late modern context; organisational foci