2009
Daniel Frank Diss
Transformative Pastoral Leadership in the Congregation: Engaging Chaos
Pastoral leadership in a pastoral size congregational context can be transformative for the life and ministry of a congregation if that leadership is built on relational power. We will look specifically at the use of power, the transformation of its use, and how “giving power away” has, and is, transforming a congregation into a vibrant, growing, and sustainable congregational culture. Informed by the work of others, the thesis shows the importance of the pastoral leadership in a congregation experiencing rapid pastoral leadership transition. The stabilization motivates a congregation from the experience of chaos during rapid pastoral transitions to growth and community engagement which is transformative for the ministry and mission of the congregation. Pastoral leadership in a congregational context as described herein can be transformative for the life and ministry of the congregation if that leadership is built on relational power.