The goal of this study was to assist Washington Cathedral in overcoming institutional entropy by presenting a strategy to systematically change the meta church’s incarnational organizations through a methodical, cathedral-wide process learned from the collaborative method displayed in the book of Acts.
It is argued that the book of Acts presents an ever-growing and ever-changing model of the church. Accordingly, to overcome institutional entropy and resistance to change within an organization, continual growth and change are necessary for every healthy church. A fresh study of the church in Acts reveals a collaborative method that leadership can use to respond to conflict and resistance with positive change. Such a collaborative method has been designed for the meta church at Washington Cathedral, which is made up of home churches called Tiny Little Churches; diverse cultural congregations; and five nonprofit foundations ministering to the hurts of the world in the name of Jesus. To implement this method, a systematic, cathedral-wide plan for a yearly reengineering of ministries has been designed and is presented in this paper.
Additionally, to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural context of Washington Cathedral, a careful demographic study of the area was completed and is presented in this paper. This study included interviews with demographers, pastors of the largest churches in the area, and political leaders of King County and the city of Redmond. Also included is an analysis of how the high-tech culture of this area impacted the creation of the meta church.
This study presents a biblically sound and culturally relevant strategy that can be presented to the leadership of Washington Cathedral for continually improving the design of the meta church. It provides a plan to develop leadership that fulfills the mission of the meta church. The paper reflects careful study based upon Acts, and establishes and communicates information necessary to deepen the commitment of Washington Cathedral to its unique calling.
Theological Mentor: Kurt Fredrickson, DMi
