| This thesis presents a focus group study of members of Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church (Kettering, Ohio) following a 1997 accidental church fire. The research aim was to learn what theological understanding, if any, Sugar Creek members derive from their experience of, and recovery from, a church fire. Three focus groups were convened, each representing different roles in 1997–1999 church activity: (1) members who led the rebuilding process, (2) members who led regular ministries, and (3) members who participated but did not lead. Thesis data presents the words participants chose to describe the event; the activities, disruptions, and emotional tone they experienced; and the theological reflections given. Participants preferred words such as “crisis” or “challenge” because the fire damage fell short of their sense of a “catastrophe.” Using behavioral models of disaster recovery, data on post-fire activities are organized by stages: Impact, Inventory, Rescue, Remedy, and Recovery (Wettenhall). Findings show similarity among the three groups, except during the Remedy phase, when greater strain was remembered by regular ministry leaders. Possible explanations for the difference are provided by the honeymoon-disillusionment dynamic of disaster recovery (Cohen and Ahearn) and by the demand/control model for job strain (Karasek). Participants were willing to reflect theologically on the fire, but only when viewed in context with the pre-fire and post-fire factors that aided recovery. They exhibited little interest in seeing a theological cause for the fire, which suggests a naturalist understanding. Their preference for theological reflection on beneficial responses prompts reconsideration of the Reformation-era high view of providence. |
