THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AN ANALYSIS OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS (SWOT) Roger L. Dudley

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1 THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AN ANALYSIS OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS (SWOT) Roger L. Dudley The Strategic Planning Commission of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has been gathering data to use in helping the Adventist church move into the future in a manner that will maximize its mission to the world. For example, a world survey to determine the status of the church in three major areas of objectives: (1) Quality of Personal and Church Life, (2) Unity in the World Church, and (3) Growth of the Church. This report was presented to the Annual Council of the church in Another example is The Seventh-day Adventist Church Faces the Future: A Forecasting Document, presented to the officers of the General Conference in In the spring of 2003, the commission employed the Institute of Church Ministry (ICM) of the Theological Seminary at Andrews University to conduct a SWOT analysis among leaders of the church in the world field. The plan was to request the presidents, executive secretaries, and treasurers of each of the world divisions and of each of the world unions - as well as the presidents of major colleges and universities and the chief executives of selected Adventist hospitals - to complete a questionnaire that would reveal their views on the state of the church. Given their positions of responsibility and the global nature of the sample, it was presumed that their combined views would represent a fair picture of the present condition of the church. The Questionnaire A number of scholars trained in survey research along with large input from the Strategic Planning Commission and General Conference officers developed an 81-question survey form. The questions were divided into the four areas symbolized by SWOT. The area of Strengths -1-

2 relates to matters concerning resources and programs that are essentially internal to the church and was comprised of 30 questions. Weaknesses with 28 questions focuses on matters concerning resources and programs that are essentially internal to the church. Opportunities is comprised of 11 questions investigating external situations facing the church. Finally, Threats concerns external problems confronting the church. Each question is a statement appropriate to one of the four areas of SWOT to which the respondents rate on a 1 to 5 scale. The number 1 indicates that the situation is not very important or not much of a concern while 5 means it is most important or most crucial or presents the greatest danger. A copy of the questionnaire is attached to this report. Data Collecting The questionnaire, along with a letter of request from Matthew Bediako, secretary of the General Conference, was mailed in July 2003 to the church leaders identified above. Surveys were sent to 408 individuals all over the world who were requested to return them directly to ICM. Leaders were also instructed that if they wished some of their departmental directors to complete the survey, they could make copies and have these extra people return them to ICM. No follow up was attempted for the extra copies since the respondents were anonymous, but 132 questionnaires were received from this group. Securing the responses from such a widely-scattered sample proved to be extremely difficult. Mailings were originally sent in July of 2003, and data cut-off did not take place until April 1 of A reminder letter was mailed in November of 2003, and Elder Bediako sent another plea in January of In addition to these letters, constant contact and reminders were maintained through and FAX. -2-

3 By April of 2004, 294 individuals had returned usable surveys. This represents a 72% return rate from the 408 sent out - a remarkable response in a project this wide-spread and complicated. However, if we add in the extra surveys, 426 were received or 104% return. This very positive response ensures confidence that the results do well represent the voice of the world wide church and validates the lengthy collection process. Below is a list of the sources of the 294 questionnaires: 1. Division Presidents Division Secretaries 9 3. Division Treasurers 7 4. Union Presidents Union Secretaries Union Treasurers Educational Institutions Health Institutions 26 In addition to a break down by position, the following list displays the sources by divisions: ECD 26 ESD 11 EUD 41 IAD 51 NAD 67 NSD 16 SAD 28-3-

4 SID 25 SPD 19 SSD 39 SUD 25 TED 50 WAD 27 UNIDENTIFIED 1 The analysis, using the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS), will include all 426 survey responses. Findings Each of the four areas was analyzed separately in two different ways. First, frequencies were calculated, and the combined percentages of those choosing options 4 and 5 (important and most important) were arranged in descending order for that SWOT area. Second, means for each question were calculated and again arranged in descending order within a given category. This supplies two ways of viewing the most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Printouts from both of these methods are attached to this report. However, inspection reveals that the two lists are generally in the same order with only slight variations. Therefore, the comments that follow will be based on the frequencies of those reporting important or most important. Frequencies Options 4 plus 5 Question # Question Responses Percent Strengths 5 Biblical basis for doctrines Message of hope

5 Weaknesses 8 A multi-cultural church Guides for various age levels Tithe-sharing plan World-wide unity Doctrinal unity (27) Presence in most countries Health message Education for ministers Evangelism and outreach Unentered areas EGW writings Higher education Extensive system Dedicated lay members Mission service for spiritual growth Publishing ADRA Radio and TV programs Educated professionals Adventist World Radio Common study guides Healthcare facilities world-wide Church planters Satellite evangelism Supportive ministries International service Job opportunities The Adventist Review Loss of young people No growth in secular societies Bible study and prayer Rapid growth where no finances Poor retention No stability programs Cultural evangelistic materials Isolationism Decreasing youth in ministry Lack of contextualized materials Unclear use of offerings Top heavy administration Lack of books for youth Lack of leadership training No leaders for discipling Leadership model Few women in leadership Illiteracy among members Churches with narrow world view Congregationalism

6 Opportunities Threats 49 Church judgmental Cultural segregation in churches Intolerance for cultural diversity Church legalistic in approach No materials in many languages Spirit of independence Bad communication Off-shoot movements Openness to message Technology communication People in transition outreach Radio outreach New-people groups outreach Materials in more languages College&Universities outreach Greater world awareness Interaction with communities Global view outreach World service opportunities Secularism stronger Population growth faster Increasing poverty worldwide Nationalism threat Challenges to EGW Attacks on theology Intolerance for religious freedom Perception of church as a cult Illiteracy growth AIDS threat World prejudice to Christianity NA-centered church

7 MEANS OF QUESTIONS QN Question Mean Std. Dev. Strengths Weaknesses 2 Message of hope Biblical basis for doctrines Tithe-sharing plan World-wide unity Doctrinal unity (27) A multi-cultural church Guides for various age levels Evangelism and outreach Presence in most countries EGW writings Health message Dedicated lay members Unentered areas Education for ministers Higher education Extensive system Mission service for spiritual growth ADRA Publishing Common study guides Adventist World Radio Radio and TV programs Educated professionals Healthcare facilities world-wide The Adventist Review Church planters Satellite evangelism Supportive ministries International service Job opportunities Loss of young people Bible study and prayer No growth in secular societies Poor retention Rapid growth where no finances No stability programs Cultural evangelistic materials Isolationism Decreasing youth in ministry Unclear use of offerings Top heavy administration Lack of contextualized materials No leaders for discipling Lack of books for youth

8 Opportunities Threats 37 Lack of leadership training Few women in leadership Illiteracy among members Churches with narrow world view Congregationalism Cultural segregation in churches Church judgmental Leadership model No materials in many languages Church legalistic in approach Spirit of independence Intolerance for cultural diversity Off-shoot movements Bad communication Openness to message Technology communication New-people groups outreach Radio outreach People in transition outreach Materials in more languages College&Universities outreach Interaction with communities Greater world awareness World service opportunities Global view outreach Secularism stronger Population growth faster Increasing poverty worldwide Attacks on theology Nationalism threat Challenges to EGW Intolerance for religious freedom Perception of church as a cult Illiteracy growth AIDS threat World prejudice to Christianity NA-centered church The numbers preceding each question are the numbers of each question as they appear in the questionnaire. The question itself is often abbreviated for space considerations. For the full wording of the question consult the copy of the questionnaire at the end of this report. -8-

9 Strengths The two items rated as most important strengths were Doctrines seen by members as biblically based and The overall message of the church is one of hope. Both of these were rated high by over 90% of the respondents. A break of seven points occurs until the next set where eleven items were rated high by 80 to 85%. Chief among these were A multi-cultural church, Sabbath school study guides for various age levels, and the Tithe-sharing plan. Eight items were emphasized by 71 to 78%. Four more fell in the 60% range. Though lower, two items, Lay members who operate supportive ministries and Service opportunities for international workers, were still rated as important or most important by over half of the respondents. Considerably less important was Provides job opportunities for some members at 38%. An unfortunate typographical error in the survey resulted in The Adventist Review being rated as important by only 21%. The numbers of the choices were omitted so those filling out the survey had to write in the number rather than simply circle a printed number. Only 90 people out of the 426 who answered noticed this. The list of means reveals that the average rating on a five-point scale was 3.83, placing it in the twenty-fifth place rather than last. Weaknesses In general, weaknesses were not rated as serious to the extent that strengths were rated as important. Leading the way, Great loss of young people to the church was seen as crucial by 82%. Other items of concern to approximately three-fourths of the respondents were Minimal growth in post-modern, secular, affluent societies, Only 50% of membership involved in Bible study and prayer (findings in world survey), Limited financial resources in areas of rapid -9-

10 church growth (forecasting the future document), Poor retention rates of new converts, and Lack of programs of stability in new-growth areas. The greatest perceived weakness Great loss of young people to the church seems appropriate given the findings of the ten-year longitudinal study of youth retention in the North American Division that 40 to 50% of baptized teenagers leave the church or become inactive by the time they are in their mid-twenties. Apparently, other divisions are experiencing similar problems. Only two items were considered serious by less than 50%-- Difficulty to communicate to church hierarchies and Off-shoot or fringe movements -- each at 47%. Of some interest, given the history of recent struggles, Few women in leadership was rated a serious problem by 56% - placing 17 th among the 28 items, ahead of such problems as Growing spirit of Congregationalism, Failure to produce materials in many languages, and Spirit of independence without concern for the larger body. Opportunities All opportunities were rated important or most important by the majority of respondents. At the top of the list was New openness to the message in many places - rated high by 80%. Four others Wider access to technology for rapid communication, People in transition more susceptible to the Gospel, Reach closed areas through radio, and Enter newpeople groups - were chosen as important by 72 to 76%. Unfilled service opportunities in the world drew the fewest important ratings but still was so rated by 59%. -10-

11 Threats How serious are threats from the outside world? Of the 12 suggested possibilities, 78% rated Strong press for materialism and secularism in the world as most crucial. Another twothirds saw World population grows faster than the Adventist membership Increasing poverty worldwide as especially serious. Rated most serious by only a minority of respondents were The general social turmoil caused by AID (46%), World prejudice to Christianity (46%), and Church viewed as a North American church (45%). Conclusion World leaders tended to rate most strengths and opportunities as important or most important and most weaknesses and threats as serious or most serious. Out of the 81 items covering all four categories, 72 of them were given top ratings by a majority of the respondents. This suggests that the world church has a very large agenda to engage. Yet in spite of the tendency to see most things as important, enough variation was discovered to allow the church to set priorities. The church faces large challenges in retaining its youth, speaking to the secular mind, dealing with population growth, and encouraging members to remain faithful by maintaining a rich devotional life. -11-

12 THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH: AN ANALYSIS OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS (SWOT) Please rate the importance of the strengths and opportunities and the extent of the problem of the weaknesses and the threats on a scale of 1 to 5 as follows: 1 = not very important or not much of a concern; 5 = Most important or most crucial or greatest danger. Please circle the number. Strengths (relate to matters concerning resources and programs that are essentially internal to the church) Organization 1. An organizational system that ensures world-wide unity Message and doctrine 2. The overall message of the church is one of hope Health message that promotes longer and healthier lives United in doctrine based on the 27 Fundamental Beliefs Doctrines seen by its members as biblically based Writings of Ellen White Membership 7. Has presence in most countries of the world A multi-cultural church Dedicated lay members A growing group of educated professionals Lay members who operate supportive ministries Service Opportunities 12. Mission service opportunities that benefit spiritual growth Service opportunities for international workers Provides job opportunities for some members Education 15. A strong belief in higher education An extensive educational system Ministry and Evangelism 17. A comprehensive plan to educate ministers Strong in evangelism and outreach programs Global Mission initiative focused on unentered areas Various types of church planters Institute of Church Ministry 2003

13 Sabbath School 21. Common Sabbath school study guides world-wide Sabbath school study guides for various age levels Other Ministries 23. Healthcare facilities world-wide Extensive system of radio and television programs Adventist World Radio Utilizes satellite evangelism World-wide publishing program The Adventist Review Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Finance 30. Tithe-sharing plan Weaknesses (relate to matters concerning resources and programs that are essentially internal to the church) Finance 31. Limited financial resources in areas of rapid church growth Members poorly informed how offerings are used Organization/ Leadership 33. Top heavy administration Lack of clearly defined church leadership model Difficulty to communicate to church hierarchies Spirit of independence without concern for the larger body Lack of leadership training Few women in leadership Lack of leadership in nurturing/discipleship programs Growth 40. Minimal growth in post-modern, secular, affluent societies Great loss of young people to the church Lack of programs of stability in new-growth areas Poor retention rates of new converts Institute of Church Ministry

14 Resources: Personnel 44. Declining number of Adventist youth preparing for the ministry Resources: Material 45. Lack of literature for young people Need for culturally adapted evangelistic materials Lack of printed, contextualized materials Failure to produce materials in many languages Perception 49. Church perceived as judgmental Perception of the church as legalistic in its approach Smaller churches without a more expansive world view Membership 52. High percentage of member illiteracy in developing countries A tendency to group together and not permeate society Too much cultural segregation in Adventist churches Growing spirit of congregationalism Off-shoot or fringe movements Low level of tolerance for cultural diversity Personal Devotion 58. Only 50% of membership involved in Bible study and prayer Opportunities (these are external opportunities confronting the church) Growth 59. New openness to the message in many places Reach closed areas through radio Enter new-people groups Wider access to technology for rapid communication Freedom to produce materials in more languages People in transition more susceptible to the gospel People with global view more susceptible to the gospel Youth in college and universities are open to change Awareness/Community Institute of Church Ministry

15 67. Greater awareness of world to the work of the church Interaction with local communities Service 69. Unfilled service opportunities in the world Threats (these are external threats confronting the church) Message 70. Attacks on theology; e.g., creation account, sanctuary Challenges to the inspiration of Ellen White Church is viewed as a cult in some countries Finance 73. Increasing poverty worldwide Organization 74. Church viewed as a North American church Religious Freedom 75. World prejudice to Christianity Decrease in tolerance for religious freedom Growth 77. World population grows faster than the Adventist membership Strong press for materialism and secularism in the world Increasing illiteracy worldwide National and ethnic rivalries fracturing unity The general social turmoil caused by AIDS Institute of Church Ministry