Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Church Health: A Survey of Selected Denominational Churches in Nairobi City County, Kenya
Keywords:
Church Health, Economic Health, Numerical Health, Spiritual Health, Transformational Leadership
Abstract
The subject of church health and its deteriorating condition has taken center-stage in leadership discourse across the world. A decline in the health of a church has negative implications not only on the sustainability of the church but also on the wider society owing to the role of the church as the moral custodian of society. An argument has been advanced in extant scholarship that transformational leadership is suitable for guiding religious organizations. However, most studies on this front take focus almost exclusively on the numerical health aspect of the organizations. The aim of the present study was to estimate the differential effect of transformational leadership on spiritual health and economic health in addition to the numerical health of selected churches in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The target population comprised members of selected denominational churches from which a sample size of 330 members was drawn. The participants filled out the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Natural Church Development tools. Data analysis was done using SPSS. Results showed that the four transformational leadership dimensions explained 40% of numerical health metrics, 56.9% of economic health metrics, and 50.2% of spiritual health metrics. The conclusion was drawn that transformational leadership had a positive but differential effect on church health dimensions. The study has affirmed the relevance of transformational leadership in enhancing the numeric, economic, and spiritual health of the church in Kenya. However, in as much as the effect sizes were large, a substantial share of church health metrics still remained unexplained, thereby providing grounds for continued empirical inquiry.
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References
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38. Ogola, M., Sikalieh, D., & Linge, T. K. (2017). The Influence of Individualized Consideration Leadership Behavior on Employee Performance in Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 163-173.
39. Ogunewu, M. A. (2020). “Salt and Light” in a Decaying and Darkening World: Accentuating a Life of Integrity for Christian Politicians in Nigeria in the Light of Matthew 5:13-16. Biblicaltheology.com, pp. 180-203.
40. Oluseyi, A. S. (2020). Youth Contributions to Church Growth: A Case Study of The Light of the World Society (Lows) of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria, 1966-1992. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 319-322.
41. Packard, J., & Hope, A. (2015). Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal Why People are DONE with Church but not their Faith. The Christian Librarian, 114-118.
42. Robbins, S., & Judge, T. (2017). Organizational Behaviour, 17th edition. England: Pearson Education Limited.
43. Rowold, J. (2005). Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. Retrieved from Mind Garden, Inc.: www.mindgarden.com
44. Rumley, D. (2011). Transformational Leadership: The Senior Pastor's Impact on Church Effectiveness. Illinois: Lulu.com.
45. Rwigi, J. G. (2018). An Assessment of Perceptions on Transformational Leadership in Promoting Bible Engagement Culture in Selected Urban Churches. Thesis, Pan Africa Christian University, Nairobi. Retrieved from http://dspace.pacuniversity.ac.ke:8080/123456789/1814
46. Tengeya, I. N. (2021). Influence of church leadership on membership growth: A case of Pentecostal Assemblies of God Kianungu District – Nyamira County, Kenya. Nairobi: (Unpublished Thesis, KAG EAST University).
47. The Church of England. (2020). Closed Churches. Retrieved from THe Church of England: https://www.churchofengland.org
48. Tsuma, D. M., Siringi, E., & Wambua, L. (2019). The Intervening Effect of Leadership Style on the Relationship between Stakeholder Engagement and Sustainability of Anglican Church Funded Projects in Kenya. Journal of Human Resource & Leadership, 27-43.
2. Atuahene, D. (2018). The status of the Church in Africa. Review & Expositor, 182–199.
3. Awuku-Gyampoh, R. K., Sarpong-Akoto, J., & Ocran, C. (2021). Strategic Youth Management: Returning the Youth to Church in Australia. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 71-76.
4. Bariu, R. M. (2017). Transformations of Christianity in Kenya: A Historical Survey. The International Journal Of Humanities & Social Studies, 307-311.
5. Benedicte, B., Andemariam, K., & Wasike, S. (2022). Leadership Styles and Church Performance; A Survey of Protestant Churches in Ongata Rongai. Journal of Human Resource & Leadership, 99-113.
6. Butler, P. A., & Senses-Ozyurt, S. (2020). The Effects of Transformational Leadership and Management Experience of Pastors on Church Business Operations. Theology of Leadership Journal, 5-23. Retrieved from http://theologyofleadership.com/index.php/tlj/article/view/81
7. Chan, A., Fawcett, B., & Lee, S.-K. (2015). Increasing revenue and attendance in Canadian Baptist churches. International Journal of Social Economics, 071-1089.
8. Chigozie, A. O., Munene, W. M., & Gakuo, C. (2017). Factors influencing sustainability of church funded projects: A case of the catholic diocese of Isiolo, Kenya. International Academic Journal of Information Sciences and Project Management, 502-519.
9. Daft, R. (2010). Organization Theory and Design. Mason, USA: South-Western Cengage Learning.
10. del Castillo, F., Biana, H., & Joaquin, J. J. (2020). ChurchInAction: the role of religious interventions in times of COVID-19. Journal of Public Health, 1-2.
11. Drummond, J. (2019). Leadership Formation Through Mentoring in The Old Testament. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, 319-329.
12. Earls, A. (2019, Jan 15). Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults. Retrieved from Lifeway Research: https://lifewayresearch.com/
13. Ferreira, I., & Chipenyu, W. (2021). Church decline: A comparative investigation assessing more than numbers. In die Skriflig, 1-10. doi:https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v55i1.2645
14. Fourie, M. (2014). Spirituality in the workplace: An introductory overview. In die Skriflig, 1-8.
15. Fowler, D., Musgrave, J., & Musgrave, J. (2020). A traditional protestant church experiencing substantial membership decline: an organizational strength analysis and observations to attend or leave the institution. International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior, 207-223.
16. Gez, Y., & Droz, Y. (2017). The Sheep-Stealing Dilemma. Journal of Religion in Africa, 163-189.
17. Gregory, T. (2019). Transformational Pastoral Leadership. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, 56-75.
18. Gregory, W. T. (2020). Towards a Model of Transformational Pastoral Leadership: A Socio-Rhetorical Analysis of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. Doctoral dissertation. Regent University.
19. Haruna, J. B. (2021). Transformational Leadership Practice in the Context of the Church in Nigeria: Literature Review. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology, 976-984.
20. Hay, I. (2006). Transformational leadership: characteristics and criticisms. E-Journal of Organizational Learning and Leadership, 5(2).
21. Hayashi, J. (2019, 03 25). 5 Reasons a Small Group is Essential for Your Health. Retrieved from Lifeway Research: https://research.lifeway.com/2019/03/25/5-reasons-a-small-group-is-essential-for-your-health/
22. Isiko, A. P. (2020). Religious Conflict among Pentecostal Churches in Uganda: A Struggle for Power and Supremacy. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 616-644.
23. Ivancevich, J., Konopaske, R., & Matteson, M. (2014). Organizational Behavior and Management (Tenth ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
24. Keita, Y., & Lao, T. (2020). Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Church Growth in Alexandria and Springfield, Virginia. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, 53-72.
25. Kithokilo , M. M., Wamitu, S., & Barante, D. (2022). Leader Motivation And Performance Of Churches In Kenya: The Case Of A.C.K. Churches In Voi, Tsavo Deanery. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS), 1-4.
26. Koveshnikov, A., & Ehrnrooth, M. (2018). The Cross-Cultural Variation of the Effects of Transformational Leadership Behaviors on Followers’ Organizational Identification: The Case of Idealized Influence and Individualized Consideration in Finland and Russia. Management and Organization Review, 747-779.
27. Kusaah, C. K. (2017). Determinants of financial sustainability of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). Dissertations. University of Cape Coast.
28. Ledgister, N. (2017). A study of transformational leadership and job satisfaction among leaders in Jamaica Baptist Union churches. Doctoral dissertation, University of Phoenix.
29. Løvaas, B., Jungert, T., Broeck, A. V., & Haug, H. (2020). Does managers' motivation matter? Exploringthe associations between motivation,transformational leadership, and innovation ina religious organization. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 569–589.
30. Low, J., & Ayoko, O. (2020). The Emergence of Spiritual Leader and Leadership in Religion-Based Organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 513–530.
31. McCall, C. (2019). Pastoral transformational leadership: Influences on African-American churches. Doctoral dissertation, Grand Canyon University.
32. McKeehan, C. (2017). Sustainability of Urban Church Growth. 1-18. mcstor.library.milligan.edu.
33. Mind Garden Inc. (2019). Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). Retrieved from Mind Garden: https://www.mindgarden.com
34. Muterera, J., Hemsworth, D., Baregheh, A., & Garcia-Rivera, B. R. (2018). The Leader–Follower Dyad: The Link Between Leader and Follower Perceptions of Transformational Leadership and Its Impact on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Performance. International Public Management Journal, 131-162.
35. Mwabonje, J. K. (2019). Can Church Conflict Inhibit Moral Development and Christian Formation? A Study of Emmanuel Church Kengeleni, Diocese of Mombasa in the Anglican Church of Kenya. Kabarak Journal of Research & Innovation, 8-17.
36. NCD International. (2021, Jan.). About Natural Church Development (NCD). Retrieved from Natural Church Development (NCD): http://www.ncd-international.org/
37. Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc.
38. Ogola, M., Sikalieh, D., & Linge, T. K. (2017). The Influence of Individualized Consideration Leadership Behavior on Employee Performance in Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 163-173.
39. Ogunewu, M. A. (2020). “Salt and Light” in a Decaying and Darkening World: Accentuating a Life of Integrity for Christian Politicians in Nigeria in the Light of Matthew 5:13-16. Biblicaltheology.com, pp. 180-203.
40. Oluseyi, A. S. (2020). Youth Contributions to Church Growth: A Case Study of The Light of the World Society (Lows) of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria, 1966-1992. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 319-322.
41. Packard, J., & Hope, A. (2015). Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal Why People are DONE with Church but not their Faith. The Christian Librarian, 114-118.
42. Robbins, S., & Judge, T. (2017). Organizational Behaviour, 17th edition. England: Pearson Education Limited.
43. Rowold, J. (2005). Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. Retrieved from Mind Garden, Inc.: www.mindgarden.com
44. Rumley, D. (2011). Transformational Leadership: The Senior Pastor's Impact on Church Effectiveness. Illinois: Lulu.com.
45. Rwigi, J. G. (2018). An Assessment of Perceptions on Transformational Leadership in Promoting Bible Engagement Culture in Selected Urban Churches. Thesis, Pan Africa Christian University, Nairobi. Retrieved from http://dspace.pacuniversity.ac.ke:8080/123456789/1814
46. Tengeya, I. N. (2021). Influence of church leadership on membership growth: A case of Pentecostal Assemblies of God Kianungu District – Nyamira County, Kenya. Nairobi: (Unpublished Thesis, KAG EAST University).
47. The Church of England. (2020). Closed Churches. Retrieved from THe Church of England: https://www.churchofengland.org
48. Tsuma, D. M., Siringi, E., & Wambua, L. (2019). The Intervening Effect of Leadership Style on the Relationship between Stakeholder Engagement and Sustainability of Anglican Church Funded Projects in Kenya. Journal of Human Resource & Leadership, 27-43.
Published
2023-05-31
How to Cite
Muthuku, M., Oginde, D., & Chiroma, N. (2023). Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Church Health: A Survey of Selected Denominational Churches in Nairobi City County, Kenya. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 19(13), 107. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2023.v19n13p107
Section
ESJ Social Sciences
Copyright (c) 2023 Mwongeli Muthuku, David Oginde, Nathan Chiroma
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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