Impact of Leadership Conflicts on Faith Communities: A Case Study of the Episcopal Church Bor Diocese, Jonglei Internal Province
David Matiop Gai, PhD Candidate; Christian Life Teaching: A College of Bible, Kenya/USA, October 2024
By David Matiop Gai, PhD Candidate; Christian Life Teaching: A College of Bible, Kenya/USA, October 2024
Sunday, 26 January 2025 (PW) — This PhD Thesis investigates the impact of leadership conflict on church members and spiritual growth within the Jonglei Internal Province of the Episcopal Church Bor Diocese. The study was prompted by a pressing issue within the diocese, where leadership disputes have negatively affected the spiritual lives of congregants, exemplified by the closure of the Langbaar local church and injuries to members during 2021-2022. The research emphasizes the critical role of dynamic leadership in religious organizations for fostering supportive environments. It argues that conflicts among leaders can create an atmosphere of distrust and division, impacting the entire congregation.
The research sets out to achieve four main objectives: to assess the level of leadership conflict within the Episcopal Church in Jonglei Internal Province; to examine the effects of this conflict on church members and their spiritual growth; to identify the coping mechanisms employed by members in response to these challenges; and to explore the role of communication in resolving leadership conflicts within the church.
The study employed a cross-sectional and descriptive research design, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. This mixed-methods approach allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics at play. The study population consisted of 500 individuals, from which a sample of 321 respondents was selected from various local churches within the Bor Diocese. Data analysis was conducted using the descriptive analysis functions of IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0.
The research drew upon a variety of sources for its literature review, including biblical commentaries and dictionaries, Christian international journals, encyclopedias, and Christian magazines. This broad range of resources provided a robust foundation for understanding the impact of leadership conflict within a religious context.
The major findings of the study revealed a significant positive correlation between leadership conflict, its impact on church members, and its influence on spiritual growth. This suggests that unresolved leadership conflicts have a direct and measurable negative effect on the well-being and spiritual development of church members.
Based on these findings, the study recommends leveraging the multidimensional nature of communication as a key tool for effectively addressing various conflicting situations. By improving communication strategies and fostering open dialogue, the church can mitigate the negative impacts of leadership disputes and promote a more harmonious and spiritually enriching environment for its members.
The author, David Matiop Gai, is South Sudanese PhD Candidate at the Christian Life Teaching: A College of Bible, USA/Kenya, P. O. Box 1303, Bungoma, Kenya 50200 East Africa. He can be reached via his email: David Matiop Gai <david.matiopgai@gmail.com>.
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