Bjorn Ottesen | Newbold College of Higher Education (original) (raw)

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Papers by Bjorn Ottesen

This study attempts to find and describe a leadership style for a church organization that matche... more This study attempts to find and describe a leadership style for a church organization that matches the needs and expectations of the generation called "Millennials." Lessons are drawn from the workplace where employing entities have had to adapt to the strengths, weaknesses, demands and expectations of a generation that carries particular cultural trends. Leaning on research from the employment context and adding insights from two major theories on leadership, conclusions are drawn on how to lead, involve, engage and include Millennials in the life of the church. Conclusions point in the direction of a "softer" and more "feminine" approach to leadership, emphasizing collaboration, consensus, cooperation, accepting personal autonomy and participation-displaying modesty and humility. Prelude Traveling and observing church life on different continents, particularly in different European settings, and watching delegates from around the world speaking and voting at General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church meetings, this writer has noted that the leadership styles in church entities tend to reflect local cultural norms and political structures. In societies with a history of strong hierarchical structures, church members often seem to expect strong and somewhat dominant leaders, whereas members in highly democratic communities with a tradition of collaboration, cooperation and consensus, expect a softer leadership style and want to be heard and to participate in decision-making. One example of this cultural correlation can be seen in the Seventh-day Adventist representatives from the Nordic countries' (among others) stance on the issue of women's ordination; feeling at liberty to question the relevance and correctness of the votes in General Conference meetings; and assertively settling for alternative practises (cf. Scandinavian Unions of the SDA Church 2018). In The return of the Vikings (2018) Shern and Jeberg describe the general Nordic leadership style as emphasising collaboration, consensus, cooperation, accepting personal autonomy and participation-emphasising a feminine orientation; displaying modesty and humility (Shern and Jeberg 2018, 36-37). The pattern of strong individuals working in a diverse environment and still seeking cooperation might partly explain the actions of the Nordic unions in the debate over the ordination of women; one expects to be heard and be given some space. Variance, freedom to act on local convictions and some autonomy within the larger structure are expected. This behaviour might seem provocative and disloyal in the eyes of representatives from other cultures. It is one example of how church leadership tends to reflect leadership styles in society at large.

A Strategy for the Adventist Church to Reach the Increasingly Secular and Postmodern Danish Popul... more A Strategy for the Adventist Church to Reach the Increasingly Secular and Postmodern Danish Population Bjorn Ottesen Doctor of Ministry School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary 2014 The goal of this study is to understand changes that have taken place in Danish society and find better ways for the Seventh-day Adventist Church hereafter Adventist Church) to conduct its mission and witness. Immense changes have taken place in Denmark since the Adventist Church started its ministry there in 1878. From the 1960s people’s relationship to traditional Christian values and faith has changed with increasing intensity. Within the last twenty years the industrial society has been replaced by an information society. Public life has become more secular with few references to religion. The Church is doing its mission in an increasingly secular, individualistic and postmodern culture. These major shifts pose challenges and opportunities. The focus of this paper will be on methods for evange...

Article for the Dutch Adventist church paper trying to describe what kind of church people might ... more Article for the Dutch Adventist church paper trying to describe what kind of church people might be looking for today.

Thesis Chapters by Bjorn Ottesen

Christianity is losing its strong position in the western world. Many prefer to be called spiritu... more Christianity is losing its strong position in the western world. Many prefer to be called spiritual - not religious. This spirituality often have little content as far as dogmas are concerned but still carry significant meaning and content. How does the church relate to people who see themselves as spiritual and do not want to be put into a box with certain stated teachings or lifestyle?

INdividuals and their relationship to a group. When many of the independent churches established ... more INdividuals and their relationship to a group. When many of the independent churches established themselves in Europe in the 1800 and grew quite significantly over the nex 100 years, people's relationship to organisations and authority was quite different from today. How does the church respond to new generations that are individualists in a sense of the word we did not see back then?