Date

4-17-2024

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)

Chair

Don Bosch

Keywords

Antecedent of Engagement, Transformational, Leadership, Christian Church Leaders

Disciplines

Educational Leadership

Abstract

Employee engagement is a crucial factor that affects organizational success, productivity, and overall well-being. Extensive research has been conducted on factors contributing to employee engagement in secular organizations. However, additional study on the volunteer workforce is needed, particularly on the factors influencing engagement within the Christian community. This study explored the antecedents of employee engagement from a comparative perspective, examining volunteers and employees to shed light on the factors that drive engagement across different work commitments. Drawing upon a mixed-methods research approach, data was collected from a diverse sample of Christian church volunteers and employees. The research used an adapted version of the Gallup Q-12 and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire surveys to measure the dynamics shaping engagement among volunteers and employees and find its antecedents. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain qualitative insights into the antecedents of engagement. The results showed various factors, such as work satisfaction, leadership support, and ministry opportunities, significantly influenced employee engagement. Volunteers expressed similar factors that contributed to their level of engagement, including intrinsic motivation, a strong sense of purpose in their work, meaningful ministry involvement, and the fulfillment of their personal spiritual beliefs. Understanding the antecedents of employee engagement is vital for organizations wanting an engaged workforce. Since volunteers and paid employees are essential to the function of church ministries, it is imperative to understand the leadership practices that keep ministry servants engaged.

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