Transformational Leadership, Organizational Structure and Growth of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Kenya

Abstract

The church plays a critical role in faith formation and social transformation yet slow spiritual and numerical growth has been cited in research with effective leadership being regarded as one of the critical factors that can bring a turn around to this phenomenon. The general objective of this study was to establish the effect of transformational leadership on growth of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: to determine the effect of idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration on church growth and to establish the moderating effect of rganizational structure on the relationship between transformational leadership and growth of the PCEA, Kenya. This study was anchored on the Transformational Leadership, Weber’s Bureaucratic and Natural Church Development Theories. The study adopted a positivism philosophy and employed a descriptive survey design with explanatory analysis. The target population was 11,046 church leaders. A stratified sampling method was used to generate a sample of 370 respondents. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire measuring transformational leadership, organizational structure and church growth indicators which comprised of evangelism, fellowship, discipleship and numerical growth. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 30 was used for data analysis and the descriptive data was analyzed and presented in figures and tables. Normality, linearity, multicollinearity and homoscedasticity tests were done. Regression analysis was then done and Pearson moment correlation (r) employed. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between transformational leadership and church growth with the four dimensions showing a positive and significant effect. Organizational structure had no significant moderating effect in the relationship between transformational leadership and church growth. The study therefore concluded that transformational leadership significantly affects church growth. Recommendations were made to PCEA to institutionalize transformational leadership development at all levels of ministry. The study contributed to the body of knowledge on leadership and growth in Faith-based organizations and it also informed policy and strategic planning. Further research could compare transformational leadership practice and church growth with other mainstream denominations.