Date

10-2020

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Rodney Dempsey

Keywords

Church, Emotional Intelligence, Emotions, Leadership, Personality, Baptist

Disciplines

Christianity | Religion

Abstract

In On Leadership, John Gardner wrote, “Most of what leaders have that enables them to lead is learned.” Effective leadership skills can be learned and become habits. In Primal Leadership, Daniel Goleman wrote, “Not only can emotional intelligence be learned, but it also can be retained over the long term.” Southern Baptist congregants expect their pastors to be theologians, but also effective leaders. The emotional quotient barrier suggests that pastoral leadership is less effective because of behaviors such as inconsistent management of emotions, inability to genuinely connect with people, or leading without inspiration. This has led to stagnated or declining ministries, shorter tenures in a single ministry, leader burnout, and premature resignations. Utilizing case studies, church leader interviews, and surveys, this project will evaluate the leadership style and emotional intelligence of traditional, attractional, organic, and hybrid church leaders. It will detail the emergence of emotional intelligence in church leadership, determine reasons for and the risks of underdeveloped emotional intelligence, and introduce a model for developing and cultivating healthy habits for effective church leadership through emotional intelligence.

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