A Comparison of Pastor Leadership Behavior in Churches of 1,000 or More Members to Transformational Leadership Behavior as Identified in the Transformational Leadership Skills Inventory

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how pastors of autonomous church congregations of 1,000 members or more describe the impact of biblical principles on their leadership in the areas of visionary leadership, communication, problem solving and decision making, personal/interpersonal skills, character/integrity, collaboration, creativity and sustained innovation, diversity, team building, and political intelligence. In this study, qualitative research methods that included interviewing pastors were used. Interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, analyzed, and coded for the purposes of comparison to the Transformational Leadership Skills Inventory (TLSi). The study produced data that showed alignment to pastor leadership traits and transformational leadership skills as measured by the TLSi. Results from the study can be used for training and curriculum in transformational leadership for pastors, as a tool for selecting and monitoring pastors, and to create church action plans that align to transformational leadership principles.