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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the African American pastor's leadership style (transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire) and the involvement of the African American church in sociopolitical issues in the community, measured by political involvement, type of social programs, community involvement and outreach. A sample of 102 African American Baptist pastors were surveyed using a modified instrument which included the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. Results from this study indicate that churches with transformational leaders were more likely to be involved in some type of sociopolitical activity. Implications of the results for organizational development (OD) practice and research are discussed.
Background
As one of the few stable and coherent institutions to emerge from slavery, the African American church stands without challenge as the "cultural womb" of the African American community. "Not only did it give birth to new institutions such as schools, banks, insurance companies, and low income housing, it also provided an academy and an arena for political activities, and it nurtured young talent for musical, dramatic and artistic development" (Lincoln & Mamiya, 1990, p. 8). Through the leadership of African American clergy, the role of the church as the catalyst for generating social and political changes to improve the lives of African Americans is unequivocally accepted by this community. Further, the African American pastor continues to be seen as a leader and voice of hope for the growing number of socioeconomically disadvantaged African Americans (Dewart, 1990; Harris, 1993; Simmons, 1995; Tapia, 1996).
"Full Range" Leadership Model
Leadership is a complex social phenomenon that has generated an extensive body of research that has identified attributes, characteristics, styles and qualities of leadership, but not a universally accepted definition (Bista, 1994; Kramer & Lewis, 1996; Van Fleet & Yukl, 1986; Wofford, 1993; Zorn & Violanti, 1993). However, in spite of conflicting findings and scholarly debates, "the importance of leadership is generally unquestioned by management scholars and practitioners" (Trice & Beyer, 1993, p. 254).
One model of leadership that has received extensive research is the "full range" leadership model, which includes transformational, transactional and avoidant or laissez-faire leadership styles (Bass, Avolio, & Jung, 1995; Heilbrunn, 1994; Johns & Moser, 1989; Leithwood, 1992). For over a decade, the new paradigm of transformational and transactional...