THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A LAY CONSULTANT PROGRAM TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVE DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES WITHIN CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS (TRANSFER, TRAINING, CHURCH)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a lay consultant program to: (1) increase the transfer of training from a seminar into actual performance in the participant's home church setting, and (2) test a program that could be used to reduce the consultation load on the church personnel who conducted the seminar. The study was conducted in two phases: a lay consultant training phase i.e., the instruction of sixteen lay people in church consulting skills and secondly, a consultation phase in which the newly trained laypeople worked with pastors and lay people from other churches. For the training phase, instruction was demonstrated to be highly significant when the performance of the participants was compared to their own initial performance and to an equivalent control group. During the consulting phase, the consultants' performance with their clients and the effect of the consultants on the performance of their clients were evaluated for eight weeks following the seminar given to the pastors and visiting laypeople. The consultants were randomly assigned to seventeen clients. The control group consisted up of nineteen seminar participants without consultants. Seven assessment approaches were used to evaluate the consultants. Seven assessment approaches were used to evaluate the consulting phase. Data analysis indicated that the lay consultant performance was in accordance with their training, and that it had some positive effect on the clients' attitudes and performance. The seminar participants who did not have the benefit of a consultant became significantly less favorable toward developing an Active Discipleship Ministry over the eight weeks. Neither group changed in attitude toward the equipping seminar itself during the same time period. Lay consultants successfully reduced the consultation load on the church personnel who conducted the seminar. Recommendations for further research are made. Applications of this research to improve seminar participant performance by means of a post seminar consultation service are suggested.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Curricula|Teaching
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