Mixed Method Study to Examine Leadership Characteristics that Result in Collaboration and Distributive Ministry with Team Engagement: Evidence-Based Solutions for Pastoral Leaders to Navigate the Responsibilities of 21st-Century Congregational Ministry to Lessen Burnout
Date of Award
Spring 2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (EdD)
Committee Chair
Tracy Greene
Committee Member
Tonia Young-Babb
Committee Member
Meghan Raehll
Abstract
This research sought to define pastoral leaders' leadership characteristics in congregational settings that create collaborative and distributive ministry leadership through team engagement. The purpose of this research was to examine leadership characteristics resulting in collaboration and distributive ministry leadership with team engagement. The research aimed to help pastoral leaders with the responsibilities of 21st-century congregational ministry and lessen the experiences of burnout. Study participants were pastoral leaders and at least two council members from congregations affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in the Southern Ohio Synod (SOS). The mixed methods concurrent QUAN-qual study utilized the Leadership Practices Inventory and the Shared Professional Leadership Inventory to measure various leadership characteristics and team engagement in the quantitative strand. The qualitative strand used three open-ended questions to assess further the presence of team engagement and pastoral leaders’ leadership characteristics. The research question encompassed several components, including the leadership characteristics of pastoral leaders and the relationship between specific leadership characteristics of Transformational, Servant, and Shared leadership models and team engagement. The study findings found relationships between several leadership behaviors and team engagement in congregations. The research into leadership characteristics and team engagement assisted in the development of a best practices profile and training outline for congregational pastoral leaders to share and distribute ministry responsibilities with members to reduce feelings of burnout.
Recommended Citation
Schwiger-Alexander, Diane, "Mixed Method Study to Examine Leadership Characteristics that Result in Collaboration and Distributive Ministry with Team Engagement: Evidence-Based Solutions for Pastoral Leaders to Navigate the Responsibilities of 21st-Century Congregational Ministry to Lessen Burnout" (2024). All Doctoral Student Dissertations. 162.
https://fuse.franklin.edu/docpub/162