Date

12-19-2024

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)

Chair

David Roberts

Keywords

SLT, Christian, female leadership, compatibility, phenomonology

Disciplines

Christianity | Leadership Studies

Abstract

The problem under investigation has two facets: the lack of testing the Spiritual Leadership Theory (SLT) in religious organizations and the lack of any study of Christian women who lead the nonprofit evangelical ministry organization or the classical Christian education (CCE) school they founded or cofounded. This qualitative phenomenological study addressed this problem by exploring the phenomenon of beneficial member outcomes from SLT’s practice by these women who lead those Christian organizations. The literature review includes SLT’s compatibility with Christian leadership and an extensive analysis of the biblical, theological, and historical literature concerning the leadership role of women in the church. The sample population was adult English-speaking women who currently lead the Christian ministry or school they founded and employ at least 10 people. This researcher collected and recorded the data from those women via video conferencing interviews and then transcribed and stored the data on password-protected computer files. The thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of these women provided the data for this study. The semi-structured interview format allowed this researcher to adapt her interview questions to further explore meanings that emerged during the conversations. This researcher then organized, repeatedly read and coded the data in preparation for analyzing that data. The research findings of beneficial member outcomes authenticated SLT in religious organizations. The focus on female Christian leadership gave a voice to these women who continue to contribute to the mission of the worldwide church as well.

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