Diverting the Shift: Creating a Sustainable Church through Transformational Leadership Open Access

Abstract

In the 21st Century AME Church, the over-dependence on a transactional leadership culture has contributed to a trend of terminal decline. Transformational leadership under the context of a ethical leadership model, allows for cultural transformation and can lead to systemic restoration of the Church itself. This project explores the benefits of implementing a transformational/ethical leadership model from a pastoral context; and how this model will contribute to the sustainability of the AME Church.

Table of Contents

Historical Context … 1

The Problem … 2

Significance of the Problem … 5

Transformational Leadership … 12

The Remedy … 21

How Does the AMEC Remember Its Story? … 32

Vision – Retelling the Story … 38

Reliving the Story in the Present – Our Mission … 50

Appendices and Key Terms … 63

Bibliography … 67

About this Dissertation

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School	Candler School of Theology
Department	Ministry
Degree	DMin
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Education, Religious Black Studies Sociology, Organization Theory
Keyword	habitus sustainable church AME church ethical leadership terminal decline ethical leadership model transformational leadership rationalist - rule based ethics church sustainability black church transactional leadership
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Fluker, Walter Earl, Emory University
Committee Members	Ayres, Jennifer, Emory University

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