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?

Abstract

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.