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Creative Leadership and Innovative Climates in Ecclesial Settings: Comparing Current Church Planting Efforts to the Early Church in Acts

Creative Leadership and Innovative Climates in Ecclesial Settings: Comparing Current Church Planting Efforts to the Early Church in Acts

Justin Bowers | 2018

Abstract

This qualitative study considered the concepts of creative leadership and innovative climates through comparative analysis of both five pivotal moments in the life of the early church in Acts and current church planting resources aimed at equipping church planting leaders in today’s North American context. The sociorhetorical method of interpretation was utilized to consider five narratives in Acts: (a) Pentecost, (b) persecution and scattering, (c) Cornelius and the Gentile mission, (d) the church at Antioch, and (e) the Jerusalem Council. Along with this, a qualitative meta-analysis of the most frequently used resources recommended from 13 church-planting networks and denominations is conducted. The rise of interest in creative leadership and innovative climates within organizations has become an increasingly popular area of interest in today’s organizational leadership literature (Florida, 2002; Puccio, Mance, & Murdock, 2011). However, little research exists pursuing the nature of innovation and creativity in the ecclesial setting; in fact, the research studying evangelistic effectiveness in the North American context only shows a decline of influence toward reaching those outside the church (Dickerson, 2013; Packard & Hope, 2015). This reveals a great need for ecclesial leaders and ecclesial research to begin to pursue and understand innovation and creativity for the sake of effective ecclesial leadership in this current context. This research demonstrates a wide gulf between innovation and creativity in the early church in Acts not as a point of pursuit but rather as a natural and adaptable part of the overflow work of God’s Holy Spirit and current church-planting materials that seem to be emphasizing to planters to create and innovate for the sake of effective contextualization but also to heed a warning that creativity can often be little more than a hazard and distraction from true, pastoral ministry. The current research serves to build a foundation for future research into creative leadership and innovative climates in ecclesial settings.

Missionary Teams as Complex Adaptive Systems: Understanding the Impact of Multiple Embedding Contexts on Team Coherence

Missionary Teams as Complex Adaptive Systems: Understanding the Impact of Multiple Embedding Contexts on Team Coherence

Jeffrey James Singfiel | 2019

Abstract

This dissertation applied one model of complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory to missionary teams to determine the impact of their multiple embedded contexts on team coherence. The literature on missionary teams falls into two broad approaches: scholars contributing to member care literature with few contributions to the leadership of missionary teams, and professional and trade writers addressing practitioners. None of these approaches examine missionary teams as a group phenomenon. This study explored a missionary team as a group phenomenon using CAS theory, thus addressing a gap in the missionary literature and utilizing the recent applications of CAS theory in groups. The CAS literature indicated a group’s contextual environments impact the coherence of the team. This study asked the research question, to what degree do a missionary group’s various environments or multiple embedded contexts impact the coherence of the group? To answer the research question, a single case study methodology was used to examine 1 missionary team operating in Europe. The embedded contexts included its sending organization, U.S. partner churches, and local partners in the host country. The research confirmed these embedded contexts do impact team coherence through the flow of their resources and attempts to address their own fitness needs. Implications for researchers and practitioners, the significance of the study, and its limitations conclude the study. Recommendations for future research include further exploration into the local and global CAS dynamics of missionary groups, particularly the impact of the team’s local resource network.

Examining the Roles of Sacrifice, Spirituality, and Stewardship in Ethical Leadership Theory from a Socio-rhetorical Analysis of 1 Corinthians 9

Examining the Roles of Sacrifice, Spirituality, and Stewardship in Ethical Leadership Theory from a Socio-rhetorical Analysis of 1 Corinthians 9

Karen Marie Smith | 2019

Abstract

This study examined the roles of spirituality, sacrifice, and stewardship in ethical leadership theory by comparing the leadership principles found in Paul’s letter of 1 Corinthians 9. This study assessed ethical leadership theory from the standpoint of values and virtues that proceed from the inner life of the leader in the form of sacrifice and stewardship while setting the premise in a context of spirituality. This study offered a multidimensional view of ethical leadership by pairing the social scientific aspect of the theory with that of a Christian worldview and the exegetical analysis of the biblical text, bridging the gaps of the lack of cohesion of the leadership concept. This exegetical process was developed in the purview of socio-rhetorical analysis was applied particularly to 1 Corinthians 9, which yielded three themes from which seven principles for leadership studies were discovered from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. It was found that the principles in 1 Corinthians 9 generally support the literature on the principle of leadership as mimetic, the principle of leadership core values/virtues framework, and the principle of morality in leadership. In the case when there were differences, it was found that the principles of 1 Corinthians 9 expand and elevate the standards found in the literature. The study concluded that there is a close connection between Christian Scripture and secular contexts such that the ethical and moral ideals of the Christian faith can engage and influence the ethical values of a secular cultural context and reconstruct them through the revelation of Jesus Christ. The study discovered the values of spirituality, sacrifice, and stewardship as new and interesting domains for further study of ethical leadership.

Leading Racial Reconciliation: Understanding the Role of Africans in the Bible

Leading Racial Reconciliation: Understanding the Role of Africans in the Bible

Siobhan Danielle Spruill | 2019

Abstract

This study examined if there were any biblical justifications for the lack of diversity in Christian organizations in America. Moreover, this study reviewed the type of jobs, functions, duties, and roles people of African descent held in the Holy Bible. This study of racial reconciliation in Christian organizations in the United States of America draws from the literature on racially and culturally based organizational theories like microaggression, critical race theory, cultural deficiency theory, and upper echelon theory. Research contained in this study followed the exegetical methodologies outlined in social–cultural texture analysis and ideological texture analysis. The data from this study were interpreted for principles connected to reconciliation around culture and race in America and organizations. This study revealed five themes to help understand the role, job, duties, and functions of people with African heritage throughout the Old and New Testament. The results of this study demonstrate that current-day believers of the Bible may have a misunderstanding of the presence of Africa and Africans in the Bible, which may be a contributing reason to why there is an absence of people of African descent in leadership roles in Christian, for-profit organizations. The five themes summarize the findings of the sociorhetorical analysis and function as the guideline for future research about other cultures documented in the Holy Bible.

Authentic Leadership Effect on Workplace Spirituality: A Quantitative Evaluation

Authentic Leadership Effect on Workplace Spirituality: A Quantitative Evaluation

Shirley Ann Suarez | 2019

Abstract

Organization leaders must contribute to the whole person. Therefore, this dissertation researched the impact of authentic leadership on workplace spirituality from the perspective of the employees by asking the following question: Does authentic leadership positively affect workplace spirituality? Based on Ashmos and Duchon’s (2000) Spirituality at Work Scale and Neider and Schriesheim’s (2011) Authentic Leadership Inventory, this researcher proposed that the constructs of an employee’s perception of authentic leadership (relational transparency, internal moral perspective, self-awareness, and balanced processing) were positively related to the constructs of an employee’s self-report of workplace spirituality (inner self, meaningful work, and sense of community and connectedness). SurveyMonkey was used to survey a random sampling of employees from the Augusta, GA area. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using a survey constructed from the Authentic Leadership Inventory and Workplace Spirituality scales. The questionnaires received 156 respondents with 118 completed results, meeting the reliability amount established by Hair, Black, Babin, and Anderson (2010), where they recommended studies should include 15 to 20 participants per variable for multiple regression. They stated that regression analysis was useful to most areas of business strategy and planning. The independent variables were relational transparency, internal moral perspective, self-awareness, and balanced processing, and the dependent variables used included inner self, meaningful work, and sense of community and connectedness with control variables of gender, age, and tenure. Gender was significant for all variables, and age for some. Although most of the hypotheses were rejected, these findings opened opportunities for more research and study into the subject. Two hypotheses showed a significance in an authentic leader’s self-awareness and internal moral perspective impact on the employee’s meaningful work factor in workplace spirituality. This dissertation adds to the literature and research to assist organizations in reflecting on the type of leadership that lends to an employee’s workplace spirituality.

Identifying Leadership Development Needs of Dental Hygienists Using an Online Delphi Technique

Identifying Leadership Development Needs of Dental Hygienists Using an Online Delphi Technique

Kelly Gale Tanner | 2019

Abstract

Leadership is necessary for many aspects of the dental hygiene profession, including research, patient care, education, public health, and in regulatory and governmental affairs. Although dental hygiene research consistently demands the “need to develop leadership” within the dental hygiene profession, the amount of planned and intentional leadership education/training for dental hygienists is limited. The purpose of this online Delphi was to investigate the opinions of dental hygienists to understand leadership needs of dental hygienist and preferences of how the leadership skills should be developed. The study included dental hygienists with expertise in 7 areas of dental hygiene, clinical dental hygiene, administration, education, public health, entrepreneur, corporate, and research. Through the evolution of the online Delphi using a crowdsourcing platform, the most critical leadership skills and leadership skills development preferences were identified. The most critical leadership skill identified for dental hygienists was the ability to work with others at all levels, including speaking, writing, listening, and compromising when necessary for the overall good. The study showed that dental hygienists preferred leadership development delivered using a multi-prong approach that included effective training modules, seminars, books/videos and collaboration with mentors, coaches, and role models, while catering to an individual’s learning style. As dental hygienists develop leadership frameworks, sustainable leadership strategies should be interwoven into the methods by which leadership is imparted. By strengthening leadership, the profession of dental hygiene will have an influence on health systems to improve and influence oral and overall health.

Unearthing the Definition and Attributes of Peace Leadership: An Exploratory Holistic Bounded Case Study

Unearthing the Definition and Attributes of Peace Leadership: An Exploratory Holistic Bounded Case Study

Gia R. Tatone | 2019

Abstract

This dissertation is an exploratory holistic bounded case study that used empirical research methods to construct the definition of peace leadership and unearth its attributes. The need for evidence-based research in the field of peace leadership is great (Alomair, 2016; McIntyre Miller & Green, 2015; Ricke-Kiely, 2016; Van Zyl & Campbell, 2018). While the concept of peace leadership exists, it has been a neglected field of inquiry and, therefore, has not been thoroughly developed or empirically examined. This study used a triple tier process by utilizing three different data collection approaches to create the holistic research design to unearth the definition of peace leadership and its attributes, which involved conducting and analyzing in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion of individuals who have worked for or with a peace leader, as well as an autobiographical selection of a peace leader identified through literature. Additionally, multiple coding methods and coding cycles were utilized in the qualitative data analytic (QDA) process. These included: Descriptive, Initial, In Vivo, Holistic, and Middle Order Coding for the first cycle of coding, followed by Axial and Focused Coding for the second cycle. The results were then triangulated to test for consistency and cross verification from all three methods, which provided stronger validity and reliability (Creswell, 2014; Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2011; Patton, 2015). As this study provides raw data from real-world context, it serves as a resource for scholars and practitioners, who are interested in peace leadership, and can be used for future research in addition to leader development. By studying peace leadership through specific research methodology, evidence-based findings are now provided for scholars and practitioners to gain a better understanding of peace leadership upon which they will be able to build.

Relationship Between Followers

Relationship Between Followers’ Perceptions of Authentic Leadership Regarding Job Involvement and Organizational Commitment

Todd Lowell Terry | 2019

Abstract

Having a better understanding of how to comprehend a follower’s perceptions of a leader’s authentic leadership ability is advantageous as organizational success is often dependent upon the leader’s actions or behaviors being understood (Kirshman, 2005). This study explored how authentic leadership behaviors are perceived by a leader’s followers regarding job involvement and organizational commitment. Using entrepreneurial organizations located in western Michigan as respondents to the research questions results indicated there is a connection between the followers’ perception of authentic leadership behaviors as these perceptions relate to an increase in a followers’ job involvement and to the followers’ organizational commitment. The intent of this study was to determine if a followers’ perception of a leader’s authentic leadership behaviors will positively affect a followers’ level of job involvement and organizational commitment. This study provides insight to the need to better understand how when an entrepreneurial leader displaying authentic leadership practices may have an opportunity to enhance their business.

Key words: Authentic Leadership, Job Involvement and Organizational Commitment

Considering the Impact of Leadership Succession in Hebrews 13:7-19: A Study of Global Christian Leaders

Considering the Impact of Leadership Succession in Hebrews 13:7-19: A Study of Global Christian Leaders

Marcel Hattingh | 2019

Abstract

Reflecting on the characteristics of leadership, the Bible becomes a rich source that accounts for both the positive and the negative. Keeping this in mind, one area in which most biblical leaders seem to have failed is that of raising effective successors—a challenge that continues up until the present day in both the ecclesial domain and the greater organizational environment. Few scholars have engaged this challenge from a scriptural point of view. Of these, none have addressed the reference to succession found in Hebrews 13:7-19. The narrative setting is that of second-generation church leaders, who are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the first. What were the key considerations conveyed to them, and what validity does it hold for modern day society? Consequently, the methodological approach to the study is twofold. First, a firm and credible understanding of the textual reference is gained through sociorhetorical analysis—more specifically, the methods of intertextual criticism and social and cultural criticism. The outcome of the exegetical study is the articulation of six interview questions. Following on the exegetical component, an in-depth qualitative approach has been employed, incorporating elements from both phenomenology and case study, to gain insight into modern-day relationships between Christian leader predecessors and successors. Triangulation is also utilized that explores the biblical interpretation of the text, correlating and contrasting views of the interviewed participants, and various perspectives amongst the church and other Christian organizational leaders. The results presented not only contribute to the foundation of a Bible-based succession planning model but also open the way for further quantitative research into the phenomenon of leadership succession.

The Impact of Entrepreneurial Leadership on Authentic Followership in Nigeria and the United States

The Impact of Entrepreneurial Leadership on Authentic Followership in Nigeria and  the United States  

Oiseomokhai Imoukhuede | 2019

Abstract

This study examined the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership due to calls for more research on both constructs. The control variables for the relationship were gender, the position of the follower, and whether the evaluated leader was a founder or not to investigate the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership in Nigeria and the United States. The research question was: Does the perceived entrepreneurial leadership of a leader have any impact on the internalized moral perspective, relational transparency, self-awareness, and psychological ownership components of the authentic followership of employees in Nigeria and United States? This study measured the perceived entrepreneurial leadership behaviors exhibited by founders and leaders of an organization utilizing the ENTRELEAD scale developed by Renko, El Tarabishy, Carsrud, and Brännback (2015), while the authentic followership scale by VanWhy (2015) measured the authentic followership of the employee. The impact of entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership was analyzed using multiple regression analysis from a sample size of 257 participants (119 Nigeria, 138 United States) from a random list of startups, nonprofit, corporate, and educational organizations. Four hypotheses were presented to test the research question to determine the impact of perceived entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership in Nigeria and the United States. The findings indicated that entrepreneurial leadership impacted authentic followership in both countries in the areas of relational transparency and self-awareness dimensions; however, the relationship was partially accepted in Nigeria when it came to psychological ownership and internalized moral perspective due to differences inposition of the participants.