Date

5-1-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership (PhD)

Chair

Derwin Lewis

Keywords

Liberty, Christianity, Morality, Virtue, Self-Government

Disciplines

Christianity | Leadership Studies

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study explored the assumptions, perceptions, and understood responsibility of church leaders in New England to maintain liberty and virtue in a free republic. The theory that guided this study is transformational leadership, as it emphasizes morality in both the leader and the follower (Burns, 1978; Northouse, 2015). Within the last six decades, the United States Supreme Court has made rulings to remove from public schools, prayer, general Bible reading, and the Ten Commandments (Abington School District V. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963); Facts and Case Summary - Engel V. Vitale, 1962; Stone V. Graham, 449 U.S. 39 (1980)). In addition, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of homosexual marriage (Obergefell V. Hodges, 576 U.S. (2015). In more recent times, during the COVID-19 pandemic, State governors unilaterally prohibited churches from gathering, restricted certain worship practices, and jailed those who were found to be in defiance of their injunctions (Hutchinson, 2020; Lush & O'Meara, 2020; Orecchio-Egresitz, 2020; State of Connecticut, 2020). With the increase of lawless behavior, morality and the promotion of virtuous living would appear to be necessary to preserve freedom and good order. As church leaders are fundamentally transformational leaders due to being ministers of the gospel, historically, they have been instrumental in sustaining freedom due to its undergirding moral element. The findings of this study suggest that church leaders do not directly have a role in upholding liberty. However, church leaders indirectly affect the upholding of liberty by preaching the gospel and fulfilling the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20).

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