Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 30 of 250

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

The Stratified Leadership Model Of The First-Century Christian Church, Barton Schuyler Garratt Edsall Iv May 2024

The Stratified Leadership Model Of The First-Century Christian Church, Barton Schuyler Garratt Edsall Iv

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As Christianity enters its third millennium, it faces the sharpest decline in the number of people attending church congregations compared to the total population. In Romans 1:13, the Apostle Paul states that God’s people should not be ignorant that the purpose for leaders within the collective church body, beginning with himself as the example, is so the people’s lives would be fruitful–spiritually enriched and productive. Logic dictates that if the lives of those who attended Christian churches in the twenty-first century experienced and displayed such spiritual quality, attendance would not be declining but contrarily on the rise. Regarding church clergy …


A Study Of Followership In An Organizational-Wide Change Of The Ministry Of Child Evangelism Fellowship, Michelle M. Russell May 2024

A Study Of Followership In An Organizational-Wide Change Of The Ministry Of Child Evangelism Fellowship, Michelle M. Russell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The influence of Child Evangelism Fellowship saw a significant increase across the United States of America after an organizational change following a 2001 Supreme Court case ruling. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the role of followership on the change and followership principles that emerged during the change that was implemented following the ruling Good News Club v. Milford Central School on the Good News Club ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Organizational change was defined as intentional actions promoted by leadership and intentional actions taken by followers who took advantage of the rights guaranteed by the ruling. …


A Phenomenological Study: Experiences Of The Church Of God In Christ Women And The Power Of Resilience, Debra Wylene Martin May 2024

A Phenomenological Study: Experiences Of The Church Of God In Christ Women And The Power Of Resilience, Debra Wylene Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the perceived experiences of Black women in the Church of God In Christ (COGIC), who hold senior leadership missionary roles, and the power of resilience they appear to possess. Previous studies (Starr-Parker, 2012) regarding women in the COGIC discuss barriers for women in leadership; however, there is a gap in the literature that explores the perceived tenacity of women who hold senior leadership missionary roles. The researcher did not aim to criticize the Church of God In Christ doctrine but to examine the perceived experiences of Black women in that church who hold senior leadership missionary …


Developing A Discipleship Training Guide At Greater Love Baptist Church For The Retention Of Young Adults, Frances W. Cox May 2024

Developing A Discipleship Training Guide At Greater Love Baptist Church For The Retention Of Young Adults, Frances W. Cox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that Greater Love Baptist is struggling to sustain young adults' attendance because the leadership lacks the necessary tools and training to disciple them. As a result, there is a mass exodus of young people from the church. Therefore, this research project’s purpose is to develop a Discipleship Training Guide to equip the leadership of Greater Love Church to disciple young adults. The primary theme of the guide is “Knowing Jesus.” The concept of the guide is based on the premise that no one can effectively train, teach or model the life of Christ without having a personal …


Perceptions Of Leadership From Hispanic, Latino, And Spanish Employees In The Department Of Defense, Howard D. Thevenin May 2024

Perceptions Of Leadership From Hispanic, Latino, And Spanish Employees In The Department Of Defense, Howard D. Thevenin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to identify the satisfaction levels within the Department of Defense (DOD) of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish (HLS) employees. The Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) is used to identify the perspectives and attitudes of HLS employees as they pertain to organizational and leadership satisfaction. These perspectives are conceptualized using the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory, which points to the relationships among these workplace actors as a principal characteristic of workplace satisfaction and intentions to leave an organization. The sample size acquired from the 2020 FEVS, administered from September 16th, 2020, …


Impact Of Leadership Decisions On Police Officer Well-Being: A Covid-19 Response, Jason N. Spencer May 2024

Impact Of Leadership Decisions On Police Officer Well-Being: A Covid-19 Response, Jason N. Spencer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative dissertation research project is to determine the impact that law enforcement leaders, their leadership styles, and decision-making processes have on the well-being of police officers. This study sought to understand this impact by focusing on the perspectives of frontline police officers, detectives, and first-line supervisors from various law enforcement organizations in the Central Virginia Region and within the context of leadership decisions made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the constructivist grounded theory approach to research design, 12 participants responded to an initial qualitative questionnaire, followed by a semi-structured interview to gain the rich, …


Providing Biblical Knowledge To Women Ages 25–70 To Place Women In Ministry And Leadership Positions In The Church, Evelyn Diane Scott Apr 2024

Providing Biblical Knowledge To Women Ages 25–70 To Place Women In Ministry And Leadership Positions In The Church, Evelyn Diane Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide biblical knowledge to equip women to assume scriptural roles in church ministry and leadership. The project was conducted at The Word Ministry Church in rural Dallas County, Alabama. The writer reviewed women’s challenges and issues in the Christian community dominated by patriarchal theories. This project provides an overview of the study group and the training criteria for preparing women for ministry and leadership. The goal was to educate women not serving in leadership or ministry positions to obtain biblical knowledge to give them the confidence and support to accept their gift of …


A Study Of Leadership's Role In Building Relationships Among Virtual Team Members, Danna V. Smith Apr 2024

A Study Of Leadership's Role In Building Relationships Among Virtual Team Members, Danna V. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study focused on leadership's role in building relationships among virtual team members. A qualitative case study, the research focused on organizations in the medical device industry within the Charlotte Metropolitan region of North Carolina. The research was formed using 15 open ended questions in an interview of 20 leaders of virtual teams. Each leader was interviewed individually and allowed to elaborate on their answers to help the researcher to thoroughly understand the approach used to help the relationships form among their virtual team members. During the interview, the discussion between the researcher and the leader being interviewed covered …


The Relationship Between Leadership Styles Of A Principal And African-American Student Achievement In Elementary Reading, Joel James Abe Apr 2024

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles Of A Principal And African-American Student Achievement In Elementary Reading, Joel James Abe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between the self-assessed leadership style of a building principal and the achievement of elementary African-American students on a state level reading assessment. The results of this study could have an impact on principal training and preparation, impacting decisions made by central office personnel, as well as improving the performance of the identified group of students in reading. The relationship between a principal’s self-assessed style of leadership and the combined pass rate of third through fifth grade African-American students in their school on the end-of-year state assessments. Principal leadership …


Exploring How Church Leadership Strives For Effective Ministry By Developing A Viable Leadership Training Program At A Small Nondenominational Church In Scranton, South Carolina, Willa Dean Montgomery Apr 2024

Exploring How Church Leadership Strives For Effective Ministry By Developing A Viable Leadership Training Program At A Small Nondenominational Church In Scranton, South Carolina, Willa Dean Montgomery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Gospel of Grace Church in Scranton, South Carolina is the church lacks a viable leadership training program to develop competent leaders. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and implement a viable leadership training program. If a viable leadership training program is implemented, then leadership at Gospel of Grace Church would model servant-leadership characteristics found in Jesus’s Servant Leadership Model. This viable leadership training program aims to teach leaders how to apply biblical principles to their daily lives. They will learn to be a servant first, to serve the needs of others before …


A Mixed-Method Approach Identifying Antecedents Of Employee Engagement In A Nondenominational Church: Perspective From Volunteers And Employees, Gregory A. Rodriguez Apr 2024

A Mixed-Method Approach Identifying Antecedents Of Employee Engagement In A Nondenominational Church: Perspective From Volunteers And Employees, Gregory A. Rodriguez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Employee engagement is a crucial factor that affects organizational success, productivity, and overall well-being. Extensive research has been conducted on factors contributing to employee engagement in secular organizations. However, additional study on the volunteer workforce is needed, particularly on the factors influencing engagement within the Christian community. This study explored the antecedents of employee engagement from a comparative perspective, examining volunteers and employees to shed light on the factors that drive engagement across different work commitments. Drawing upon a mixed-methods research approach, data was collected from a diverse sample of Christian church volunteers and employees. The research used an adapted …


We Clear The Way: United States Army Combat Engineers In The Second World War's Southwest Pacific Theater, 1942-1945, Marc C. Jeter Apr 2024

We Clear The Way: United States Army Combat Engineers In The Second World War's Southwest Pacific Theater, 1942-1945, Marc C. Jeter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The immense scope and scale of World War II required its combatants to conduct operations in every conceivable climatic condition and topographical setting. This fact has continued to represent a double-edged sword for the historiography of this conflict. The researcher may pursue any number of elements of this war to pursue and have done so. That said, aspects remain not yet mined from the cavernous topographical lode eight decades after this war. One such angle of this war not yet fully researched and analyzed by historians is that of General Douglas MacArthur and the US Army’s operational record and experiences …


Mentorship Experiences Of College Level Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca M. Arsenault Apr 2024

Mentorship Experiences Of College Level Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca M. Arsenault

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact that mentorship had on the retention of ten participating educators working at various post-secondary educational institutions. The theory guiding this study was Dansereau’s leader-member theory guided as it pertained to the interactions between a dyadic relationship such as the one represented by one-on-one mentorship. The central research question for this study asked about the mentorship experiences of educators in higher education who have been in the field of education for five years or more. This study used transcendental phenomenological to study the essence of the experiences of 10 educators …


Mentorship For African American Female Officers Of Faith In The United States Air Force, Tanquer L. Dyer Apr 2024

Mentorship For African American Female Officers Of Faith In The United States Air Force, Tanquer L. Dyer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mentorship has emerged as a critical component for the cultivation and development of leaders. Mentoring is beneficial for the mentee and mentor both personally and professionally. The United States Air Force (USAF) encourages formal and informal mentoring for their leaders through initiatives and regulations. Other branches emphasize leadership development; whereas, the USAF emphasizes career development. While African American female officers of faith continue to hold leadership positions, it is unclear whether mentorship serves as a factor of success. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and understand the lived experience of African American female officers in the USAF …


A Phenomenological Study Of Church Polity And Its Impact On Pastoral Leadership And Congregational Health, Travis L. Biller Mar 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Church Polity And Its Impact On Pastoral Leadership And Congregational Health, Travis L. Biller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is reported that deacon-led churches produce conflict and high pastoral turnover (Harbuck, 2018; Payne, 1996). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how a church governance structure impacts a pastor’s ability to lead, the health of the church, and pastoral retention. The experiences of pastors from deacon-led churches were evaluated for clusters of meaning and compared with the experiences of pastors who serve under an elder-led model of leadership. Nine interviews were conducted—five pastors from deacon-led churches and four from elder-led churches. This study approached the phenomenological design from an interpretive, or hermeneutical approach to understand the …


Impact Of Worldview Development On Spiritual Vitality In Evangelical Protestant Churches: A Phenomenological Study, Nicholas Jared Curtis Mar 2024

Impact Of Worldview Development On Spiritual Vitality In Evangelical Protestant Churches: A Phenomenological Study, Nicholas Jared Curtis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The need for a biblical worldview is important in the church since only ten percent of Americans (17% in the church) have a biblical worldview (Foley, 2017, paragraph one; Barna, 2017, paragraph twenty). This is directly connected with one’s spiritual growth in the church as relationships help form one’s worldview which in turn will form one’s values and actions (McDowell and Wallace, 2019). The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the perceived impact of biblical worldview development on spiritual development in the church for pastors who oversee discipleship at doctrinally conservative, Evangelical Protestant churches in Texas. At this …


Servant Leadership: The Change Needed In Law Enforcement, Shane H. Shetler Feb 2024

Servant Leadership: The Change Needed In Law Enforcement, Shane H. Shetler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Servant leadership is a moral-based form of leadership in which leaders place the well-being of followers before their own (Canavesi & Minelli, 2022). It is a theory that has gained increased notoriety over the past several decades. Despite this, there remains a limited amount of empirical research on it and its potential benefits. However, several professions have adopted it, and their results have been positive. Leadership change is needed in many professions, and law enforcement is no exception. The policing profession faces many challenges, such as recruiting quality candidates and retaining existing personnel. Furthermore, the challenges plaguing policing also exert …


Crowdsourcing Strategizing: A View From The Top, Priscilla L. Eddings Jan 2024

Crowdsourcing Strategizing: A View From The Top, Priscilla L. Eddings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Crowdsourcing strategizing is the application of crowdsourcing for organizational strategy development. While crowdsourcing is experiencing popularity in application and discussion, the concept is not new. However, literature on the value of crowdsourcing strategizing is not widespread in academic or business works. This qualitative case study explored crowdsourcing strategizing in Richmond, Virginia metro area nonprofits. The study was conducted to explore the lack of understanding on the value of crowdsourcing strategizing, with a focus on leaderships perspective of value. The results showed that nonprofit leaders found value in the crowdsourced data gathered through crowdsourcing strategizing.


Improving Teacher Retention Within Archdiocese Of Washington Schools, Denise M. Ball Dec 2023

Improving Teacher Retention Within Archdiocese Of Washington Schools, Denise M. Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of teacher retention for the Archdiocese of Washington Schools and to design training to address the problem. Specifically, this study solicited input from teachers to help define and or identify (1) the need for teacher retention, (2) what type of school environment they work in, and (3) how a school environment affects teacher retention. Individual teacher and focus group interviews were conducted, and a survey was utilized for data collection and analysis. The measurement instruments captured data on target teachers regarding school environment/climate and job retention, specifically, years in …


Exploring Leadership Support And Its Influence On Self-Efficacy: The Lived Experiences Of Novice Teachers, Lauryn Elizabeth Stripling Dec 2023

Exploring Leadership Support And Its Influence On Self-Efficacy: The Lived Experiences Of Novice Teachers, Lauryn Elizabeth Stripling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to understand the retention influence of leadership support for novice teachers at a southern Georgia school district. At this stage in the research, the retention influence of leadership support was generally defined as the systems available to novice teachers that raise levels of morality and motivation, influencing new teachers to continue in the education field (Burns, 1978). Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided the exploration of novice teacher retention relating to leadership system support. The investigation was guided by sub-questions that delve into self-efficacy, novice teachers’ attitudes, and social norms. Participants were teachers with no more than …


Church Leadership Personalities: A Comparative Study Of The Personality Components Of Senior And Executive Pastors, Christopher Sean Conrad Nov 2023

Church Leadership Personalities: A Comparative Study Of The Personality Components Of Senior And Executive Pastors, Christopher Sean Conrad

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational research was to understand the relationship between the personality components of Senior and Executive Pastors. This study collected data in a quantitative form using a personality assessment called The Birkman Method. The data was then analyzed to understand the relationship between the personality types of Senior and Executive Pastors. Research was needed to understand the relationship of personality types of Senior and Executive Pastors. Research questions derived from the problem statement and research purpose are presented as they provide the structure for the dissertation. These questions led to the gathering of information related to …


Leadership Development Through Service-Learning For First-Year Students: A Phenomenological Study Of The Significance To Leadership Studies, Jennifer E. Wilson Nov 2023

Leadership Development Through Service-Learning For First-Year Students: A Phenomenological Study Of The Significance To Leadership Studies, Jennifer E. Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the leadership development experiences of first-year undergraduate students who participated in service learning. The central research question is: What are the shared leadership experiences of alumni who participated in service-learning activities during their first-year courses? Ten recent graduates from a large public research university in the Midwest make up the sample for this study. The theory guiding this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory as it aims to explore experiential leadership development through service-learning during first-year undergraduate studies. Data collection methods included a timeline and digital data collection, individual interviews, …


An Exploration Of Mentorship Among African American Male Youth Ministers Within The Nondenominational Church, Christina K. Crayton Nov 2023

An Exploration Of Mentorship Among African American Male Youth Ministers Within The Nondenominational Church, Christina K. Crayton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African American male youth ministers in the non-denominational church, lack long-standing career mentorship. The thought which suggests the most significant reason this deficiency exists, is due to the non-denominational church being independent of a larger denominational structure. While individual mentorship is obtained based on personal preference, it only takes one person to imbed generational seeds of wisdom, faith, hope, and love into the hearts and minds of an individual or a generation (Quick, 2020). To determine if lifespan career mentorship is needed in African American male youth ministers in the non-denominational church, extensive research was conducted to understand what the …


Shared Experiences Of Novice School Principals' Mentor Training: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experience Of Peer Educators, Bryan Martyn Sep 2023

Shared Experiences Of Novice School Principals' Mentor Training: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experience Of Peer Educators, Bryan Martyn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the shared experiences of novice school principals’ mentor training and to gain an understanding of the experience of peer educators. This dissertation employed a qualitative case study methodology to interview Arizona principals with less than three years of experience who did not receive district-provided, formal mentorship training during their first years as principals to determine their experiences and support needs. I assessed the current literature on inexperienced principal mentorship programs in the United States via the lens of Kram’s Mentoring Model and then linked this literature to the principals’ reported concerns. …


Perceived Differences Between Religious And Corporate Leaders In Terms Of Modes Of Power, Self-Efficacy, And Self-Leadership, Martin Wesley Kaufmann Aug 2023

Perceived Differences Between Religious And Corporate Leaders In Terms Of Modes Of Power, Self-Efficacy, And Self-Leadership, Martin Wesley Kaufmann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to Martin Luther’s doctrine of vocation, although the church is not a business, leaders require spiritual wisdom that is likened to Jesus’ parable about counting the cost before building a tower (Button, 2016). This strongly implies that church leaders can improve the vocational efficacy of the institution by utilizing sustainable organizational models that are embodied in the constructs of self-leadership, modes of power, and self-efficacy. The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to examine the difference between religious leaders and corporate leaders in terms of modes of power, self-efficacy, and self-leadership, as perceived by members of Northwest protestant …


The Paradoxical Effect Of National Diversity And Inclusion Management On Organizational Commitment, Clara Iyabo Stephens Aug 2023

The Paradoxical Effect Of National Diversity And Inclusion Management On Organizational Commitment, Clara Iyabo Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States demographic and workforce are increasingly becoming more diverse. However, the question remains of how the leaders within diverse organizations can consistently manage workforce interaction to attain employee commitment. This quantitative study examines the relational effect of diversity and inclusion management on organizational commitment. Data for this study was collected using the SurveyMonkey online identity anonymity survey weblink. Voluntary participants entered the online survey through an invitation link to the consent page, explained the study's purpose focus on Nigerian American Immigrants and relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria. Initial one hundred thirty-five responses, whereas one hundred and twenty met …


Biblical Leadership: Combatting Authoritarianism, Katherine M. Inman Aug 2023

Biblical Leadership: Combatting Authoritarianism, Katherine M. Inman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The radio station in Oil City, Pa became a non-existent entity when the owner sold the organization. This caused dissatisfaction among many members of the community, as well as resentment among former employees. Understanding the leadership's impact provides insight into the radio station's potential sustainability or inevitable failure. This phenomenological study allows for a focus on the events surrounding the radio station's sale, which sheds light on the leadership style used by the radio station's most recent owner. Each interviewee offers a unique perspective, including information about the events that led up to the radio station's sale. The study of …


E Pluribum Una Ecclesia: Addressing Ideologically Driven Disunity Through A Multifaceted Approach, John M. Craft Iv Aug 2023

E Pluribum Una Ecclesia: Addressing Ideologically Driven Disunity Through A Multifaceted Approach, John M. Craft Iv

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors and church leaders within the Rocky Mountain Church Network, an association of 48 churches, face difficulty caused by ideologically driven disunity (IDD). Current polling shows IDD's negative effect on pastors, church leaders, and congregations. Due to the foundational nature of ideologies, attempts to alleviate IDD have typically worsened the situation. This action research project seeks to identify the presence and impact of IDD as well as provide a strategy and tools to address IDD in a congregation. Using surveys, focus groups, and personal interviews, the researcher acquired quantitative and qualitative data from 22 project participants that affirmed the data …


Career Pathway Of Women In Higher Education Leadership: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Avel Shenika Fulp Aug 2023

Career Pathway Of Women In Higher Education Leadership: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Avel Shenika Fulp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study aimed to explore the real-life experiences of women serving in senior-level higher education leadership positions in higher education institutions. The theory guiding this study was the Self-Efficacy Theory, as presented by theorist Albert Bandura, was used as a theoretical guide, identifying if participant's self-efficacy could be or was affected by whether or not they were successful in the studied environment, along with how others within the environment contributed to that perception as imposed by their experiences. This research employed a qualitative method, with the design being a transcendental phenomenological study. Purposeful and snowball sampling identified …


Recommendations To Improve Curriculum Alignment In Core Leadership Courses At A Military Academy In The Midwest, Gloria L. Kuzmicki Aug 2023

Recommendations To Improve Curriculum Alignment In Core Leadership Courses At A Military Academy In The Midwest, Gloria L. Kuzmicki

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to provide recommendations to improve curriculum alignment in core leadership courses at a military academy located in the Midwest. The problem was that the core leadership courses had undergone significant format, instructor, and course director changes over the past few years, and this perceivably affected the alignment of curriculum across these courses. The rationale for this study was that it is critical to improve alignment within and across the core leadership courses to enhance the ability to meet the organizational mission and better prepare the students for their future role as military officers. …