Introduction
The choice of an optimal research methodology is a responsible task since this procedure determines the quality of the work done and the value of the outcomes obtained. When applied to qualitative studies, there are different designs that aim to elicit research results through distinctive data collection and analysis tools. As the purpose of this proposal, a case study methodology will be applied to justify the research questions, and the rationale for this approach will be provided. The research questions are as follows: why does the Indian Church of God (an ethnic-centered church) retain its young adult population (18-25), and what role is the senior pastor playing in achieving this? Does, and if so, how does an ethnic-centered metropolitan church in the southwest region of the United States retain and engage its young adults (18-25) in the ministries of the church? A case study methodology is optimal for answering the proposed questions due to the practical nature of the issue and an opportunity to analyze a specific topic within a concrete entity.
Rationale for the Methodology
A case study methodology is a research approach that makes it possible to assess a real situation from a practical perspective without using theoretical assumptions or abstract correlations. According to Creswell and Poth (2018), questions are common research tools, which allow applying such a methodology within this proposal. The statement of the problem plays an important role since, to carry out relevant and in-demand research work, a specific situation should cause ambiguous or controversial views. In this case, the retention of the young population by the Indian Church of God is an issue that requires analyzing from the standpoint of assessing the entire situation, including the prerequisites and accompanying factors. The role of the senior pastor, in turn, can be determined by evaluating the problem as a whole and presenting contextual information. This practice, as Creswell and Poth (2018) note, allows identifying specific research boundaries and provides opportunities to analyze a specific case comprehensively. Therefore, in relation to the given topic, a case study methodology is appropriate and can help determine the premises of the issue, the current nuances affecting it, and the perspectives for all the stakeholders involved.
Justification for the Research Questions
In the context of the formation of an ethnic-centered religious movement, interaction with the target audience is a mandatory aspect of retaining parishioners. According to Michna (2020), for the pastorship of the Indian Church of God, interaction with the younger generation provides an opportunity to expand influence and promote specific ideas more successfully. One of the reasons for this is the active attitude of young people aged 18 to 25 and their developed communication skills, including the habit of interacting both directly and remotely via social media. In an ethnic-centered program, theological doctrines involve creating communities and groups that bring people together through a single spiritual idea (Michna, 2020). A case study approach gives a chance to assess how strong the impact of the Indian Church of God is and to evaluate the role of individual members of the church, in particular, the senior pastor. In addition, specific local traditions can be considered in the context of the proposed issue, which also helps uncover the topic and address the issue related to youth retention. Therefore, from the standpoint of impact, spiritual work with the young population is an objective measure.
A senior pastor’s role in engaging young adults is significant. As Michna (2020) notes, this church minister’s mandate allows coordinating major development processes, including congregation expansion. Samuel (2018), in turn, states that since an early age, the parishioners of the Indian Church of God are involved in theological learning, with an emphasis on cultural heritage. For young people, the historical background of service to God is a strong motivational factor that stimulates interest in religion. A senior pastor organizes educational workshops and courses that aim to expand the target audience’s knowledge of the missions and resource base of the Indian Church of God. Engaging young people through interpersonal communication and progressive interaction practices are powerful tools. Therefore, the role of a senior pastor is essential and can be defined from the standpoint of a coordinating party directing relevant theological ideas to a specific population and developing the interest in religious learning.
With regard to the ethnic-centered metropolitan church in the southwest region of the United States, similar principles of engaging younger adults are promoted. At the same time, Jung (2019) notes that, compared to the Indian principles of interacting with the target audience, involving young people in the United States is more challenging due to a broader cultural background. However, individual principles of communication have been developed – ideological work with young families and studying the traditional aspects of parishioners’ cultures (Jung, 2019). For American society, such a principle may be considered non-standard due to mass assimilation. Nonetheless, the southwestern regions of the country, which are located at a distance from large metropolitan areas and administrative-territorial units, have more opportunities to interact with the target audience. By following a case study methodology and utilizing an interview as a data collection tool, communication with a senior pastor can be established to find out the specifics of an intermediary role between the church and parishioners. Therefore, both in the Indian Church of God and the American ethnic-centered metropolitan church, engaging young adults is a significant aspect of the theological idea.
Site Selection Rationale
The analysis of the Indian Church of God, the southwestern metropolitan church in the US, and the aspect of engaging young adults to specific religious doctrines due to a case study methodology is a convenient approach in relation to choosing the site for the assessment. In the context of expanding social contacts, ethnic-centered theological teachings that are promoted locally make it possible to consider specific practices in detail. This, in turn, allows highlighting both anthropological and sociological aspects of the issue, which, as Creswell and Poth (2018) state, corresponds to the principle of a case study methodology. Thus, the choice of specific locations simplifies the evaluation procedure and makes it more accurate in terms of covering the basic prerequisites.
Conclusion
A case study methodology is a convenient approach to analyzing the proposed research questions related to the activities of the Indian Church of God and the southwestern metropolitan church in the US. Engaging young adults is an ethnic-centered approach that addresses the cultural background of the youth, thereby involving the target audience. The emphasis on the selected locations is due to an opportunity to assess the unique manifestations of the issue in question due to the applied case study design, which is an accessible form of research.
References
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Jung, G. (2019). Ethnic church meets megachurch: Indian American Christianity in motion by Prema A. Kurien. Journal of Asian American Studies, 22(3), 452-454. Web.
Michna, G. (2020). The long road to sainthood: Indian Christians, the doctrine of preparation, and the Halfway Covenant of 1662.Church History, 89(1), 43-73. Web.
Samuel, J. T. (2018). The pneumatic experiences of the Indian Neocharismatics [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Birmingham.