Priesthood of All Believers

175 Pages·2017·2.15 MB·English

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Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research
2012
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Reginald R. Barthelemy
Andrews University
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin
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Barthelemy, Reginald R., "Priesthood of All Believers: a Catalyst for Change in the Ephraim Seventh-day
Adventist Church" (2012). Dissertation Projects DMin. 14.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/14
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PROJECT ABSTRACT

PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: A CATALYST FOR
CHANGE IN THE EPHRAIM SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

by

Reginald R. Barthelemy

Adviser: Zebron Ncube
ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH

Project Dissertation

Andrews University

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Title: PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: A CATALYST FOR CHANGE IN THE
EPHRAIM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Name of researcher: Reginald R. Barthelemy

Name and degree of faculty adviser: Zebron Ncube, D.Min.

Date completed: December 2012

Problem
The Ephraim Seventh-day Adventist Church has experienced a significant
declined over the last seven years. Nearly half of the membership was missing; however,
one of the main reasons for this decline is the fact that church members failed to
understand their calling to ministry and as a result they failed to assume their
responsibility as disciples.

Method
A series of six seminars were given. The participants were taught the concept of
the priesthood of all believers, the duty, and the responsibility of a disciple. Pre- and post-
seminar surveys were administered by the researcher to measure understanding and
growth acquired from those seminars. Data collected from the surveys was evaluated and
was beneficial to the Ephraim Church. Recommendations were made that other churches
in the Greater New York Conference area give a thorough study of the priesthood of all
believers concept.
The researcher recommended that follow-up get-togethers take place on a
quarterly basis for those who were taught the priesthood of all believers concept so that
they can share their ministry experiences with each other, and also to study new ways to
share the concept with other believers.

Results
We had an attendance between 20 to 40 participants in each seminar. Four small
groups were formed in order to identify those who were interested in learning and sharing
the priesthood of all believers’ concept. Each small group was composed of five to seven
members, and had for their task to grow the group to twelve people. When the group
reached twelve, then a new group would be formed. The groups met once a week for
Bible study, and then they would go out to reach others for Christ. Ministry in the groups
began with the members of the groups, then to the members of Ephraim Church, and then
they took their ministry outside to the community. Each group had a designated Sabbath
to share their experiences with the church during the personal ministry minutes.
We found small groups ministries to be among the best models to implement the
priesthood of all believers’ concept. The Ephraim church members have been motivated
by the results of these findings and manifested the desire to continue toward that path.
Four people have received Christ as a result of the small group ministries, and we are
currently preparing other people who joined these small groups to receive water baptism.
Conclusions
The priesthood of all believers concept advocated in this project seeks to train and
equip members of the Ephraim Seventh-day Adventist Church for Christian duty. This
concept creates a friendly environment for all believers to work together as a team and to
foster a spirit of unity and togetherness among pastors and members. Team effort is the
pathway to success. This research provided many practical and spiritual life changing
lessons to both participants and the researcher. However, this model needs further
reflection and implementation for improvement.
Andrews University

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: A CATALYST FOR
CHANGE IN THE EPHRAIM SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

A Project Dissertation

Presented in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Doctor of Ministry

by

Reginald R. Barthelemy

December 2012
© Copyright by Reginald Barthelemy 2012
All Rights Reserved
PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: A CATALYST FOR
CHANGE IN THE EPHRAIM SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

A project dissertation
presented in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Ministry

by

Reginald R. Barthelemy

APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE:

________________________________ _____________________________
Adviser, Director, DMin Program
Zebron Ncube Skip Bell

________________________________ _____________________________
Kurt Johnson Dean, SDA Theological Seminary
Denis Fortin

________________________________ _____________________________
Timothy Nixon Date approved
TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................................................................ vii

LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ vii

Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1

Description of Ministry Context .............................................................. 1
Statement of the Problem ......................................................................... 2
Statement of the Task............................................................................... 4
Delimitations of the Project ..................................................................... 5
Description of the Project Process ........................................................... 6
Definition of Terms.................................................................................. 10

2. BIBLICAL BASIS FOR THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS ......... 13

Introduction .............................................................................................. 13
Function of the Priesthood in the Old Testament ................................... 14
Priesthood in the New Testament ............................................................ 15
Conclusion ............................................................................................... 15
Clergy and Laity as Priesthood in Church History .................................. 16
Laity and the Priesthood of all Believers ................................................ 17
Pastors and the Priesthood of all Believers .............................................. 18
Women and the Priesthood of all Believers ............................................. 20
Adventist View on Women in Ministry ................................................... 24
Argument Against Ordination .......................................................... 25
Argument for Ordination .................................................................. 26
Welcome Table and Women in Ministry ................................................. 27
Arguments For and Against From Some Other Denominations and
Authors ............................................................................................. 29
Orthodox Church .............................................................................. 30
United Church of Christ ................................................................... 30
Ellen White’s View on Women in Ministry ............................................ 31
Personal Conclusions on Ordination ........................................................ 34
Conclusion ............................................................................................... 35
Priesthood of All Believers and Spiritual Gifts ....................................... 36
Summary .................................................................................................. 40
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