A study of the correlation between servant leadership and ministry satisfaction in church leaders in Alaska

Abstract

This dissertation examines the relationship between servant leadership and ministry satisfaction. The data gathered from this descriptive quantitative study will allow Christian leaders to understand their roles as church leaders in Alaska, and will enable prospective leaders a better understanding of the dynamics of Alaskan churches.

The research consisted of administering the Hall-Tonna Inventory of Values (HTIV), which identifies the primary leadership style of the subject. Using the HTIV enabled the researcher to study ministry satisfaction values as they related to servants and non-servants, as well as a host of other factors. These included age, ministry setting, position, experience, degree and seminary training.

Each of the participants then completed the Ministry Satisfaction Survey, developed and administered by the researcher. This instrument gauged the satisfaction that each leader possessed in his or her current ministry.

The findings have shown that those leaders who espouse servant leadership as their primary leadership style are more apt to be satisfied in their present positions. The data also revealed that older pastors, and that those in city settings have a greater tendency to embrace servant leadership over non-servant leadership styles.

Further research is encouraged to examine whether these findings could possible translate into the congregation itself. Do church members in city areas display servant leadership characteristics more often, and are these same people more or less satisfied in their personal lives?

It was the goal of this researcher to provide data which will aid both churches and church leaders in making leadership decisions, especially in Alaskan churches.