A comparative analysis of leadership development models in post-baccalaureate theological education

Abstract

This research study was concerned with higher education, leadership development, and understanding and examining the training models that are employed to prepare men and women for Christian ministry. The study combines qualitative and quantitative research elements to examine the growing number of leadership development training models in Christian higher education and consider their relationship to the employment, leadership effectiveness, satisfaction, and tenure of the graduates who were developed as a result of them. The study attempts to broaden the research base related to leadership development and to initiate a conversation in the research community regarding possible relationships between leadership development training models used in seminaries and select outcome criteria.

The research population for this study was five-year seminary graduates of ministerial leadership degree programs of institutions accredited by ABHE, ATS, and TRACS. The researcher established a taxonomic classification of leadership development training models from precedent literature, document analysis of 57 institutions in the research population, and interviews with select academic administrators. Study participants completed an online survey that combined the Leadership Practices Inventory (Kouzes and Posner) and the Hoppock Job Satisfaction Blank, and other questions related to employment and tenure.

From the self-reported data, possible relationships between the training model categories and variables were examined ANOVA, Post-Hoc Tukey Tests, and MANOVA. This research study sought to identify and examine leadership development models in post-baccalaureate theological education. The primary aim on the study was to determine if there were any relationships between the leadership development model by which one was equipped for ministerial leadership and select outcome assessment criteria: ministry employment, leadership effectiveness in ministry, ministry job satisfaction, and ministry tenure. The study identified seven leadership development models among the research sample: Applied, Apprentice, Classic, Distance, Extension, Hybrid, and Partnership. Statistical analysis revealed some relationship between leadership development models and hiring for ministry, and some relationship between leadership development models and ministry tenure. The statistical analysis showed no significant relationships between leadership development models and the variables of leadership effectiveness and ministry job satisfaction.