Date
12-19-2024
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)
Chair
Donald W. Bosch
Keywords
succession planning, Christian leadership, directing, coaching, supporting, delegating, situational leadership
Disciplines
Leadership Studies
Recommended Citation
Cooper, Kedeisha Aleicia, "Succession Planning and Situational Leadership: The Perceptions and Experiences of Pastors at Charismatic Bahamian Churches" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6345.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6345
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental-hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore and understand the succession planning experiences for pastors at charismatic churches in New Providence, Bahamas. The central phenomenon of succession planning is a complex, intentional, continuous, and systemic organizational process that seeks to identify, develop, appoint, and transfer authority to potential leaders (Barbu, 2024; Lacey, 2003; Rothwell, 2016). The guiding theory was Hersey and Blanchard Situational Leadership II (Sbeih & Jones, 2021). The theory’s primary styles were directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating, and they were integrated with succession planning to consider the charismatic nondenominational Bahamian pastoral experiences. The method of inquiry was transcendental hermeneutic, a combination of Husserl’s and Heidegger’s approach to phenomenology (Smith et al., 2022). The sample population was senior and assistant senior pastors in New Providence, Bahamas. Interviews, questionnaires, observation, and field notes were used to collect data. Data analysis was conducted with bracketing, reduction, imaginative variation, and textual and structural descriptions. The findings implied complications come with and without succession preparation. The dominant themes were supporting spiritual maturity, spiritual growth, the perceived impact of situational leadership styles, and perceptions of succession planning in the church. Pastors perceived situational leadership to have a positive influence on succession leader development. Pastors have overwhelming concerns and differing beliefs regarding the approach to church succession planning. There is an extended understanding of church succession planning, emotional.
