Date

12-4-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Kevin Gift

Keywords

Revitalization, Leadership, Church Growth

Disciplines

Leadership Studies | Religion

Abstract

Church revitalization is a complex process. The stress it brings can challenge even the most experienced pastor’s spiritual and emotional resilience. Revitalization experts note that revitalization anxiety is especially true for pastors with certain personality traits. One such trait is the DISC personality category of steadiness. Leadership specialists argue that relief from this stress is found through gaining emotional intelligence. The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to teach emotional intelligence to eight to ten pastors with the steadiness personality. The training was delivered in a six-session, two-day retreat format. It introduced the participants to the concept of emotional intelligence and its relationship to church revitalization. This action research project also covered how acquiring emotional intelligence can improve understanding of the leader’s role in Christ. It further instructed the participants about managing stress related to conflict and change. For the pastor with the steadiness personality, it will help create a generally stable and content congregation. Qualitative questionnaires were administered before and after the project, which gauged the participants’ beginning and ending levels of emotional intelligence. The information received from this intervention helped with enhancing the understanding of the relationship between revitalization and emotional intelligence. The training in this project should prove helpful in other local church contexts. Acquiring strong emotional intelligence will make all levels of leadership stronger. This includes not just vocational ministers but lay leaders as well. With strong leadership in the local church, spiritual health can be significantly enhanced.

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