| |
| author |
Lewanda Denise Miller
| | title |
From Transactional Leader to Transformative Collaborator: Paradigm Shift of Black Church Leadership
| | abstract |
Sociocultural and economic influences, ecclesial governance, misuse of social capital, and media branding in the 21st century have influenced the leadership dynamics of some Black churches. Commercialism infiltrated communities and churches of color as financial needs and social media presence increased. Virtual worship during the pandemic affirms the need for social media yet provides some preachers and ministries with a means of self-promotion. The lure of image and snare of obligations enticed leaders to participate in self-serving leadership patterns that subverted their Christian and Ubuntu heritage. The collective advancement in the Black church of our ancestors has now become the New Black Church embedded in marketability, prosperity, and personality. Leaders' and lay persons' social capital—intellect, influence, and money—is networked and bartered as position and politics are established. These behaviors diverge from Christian values, and a capitalistic Christianity emerges. This professional paper explores the paradigm shift in Black church leadership and uses a new term, "transformative collaborator," to counter the New Black Church's transactional, consumeristic leadership model. Examinations of leadership styles, gender roles, ecclesial traditions and governance, and societal influences are explored through literature and clergy interviews. The model will evidence a paradigm shift from leader to collaborator in dynamics between clergy and lay—one rooted in Christian and Ubuntu beliefs of accountability and collective responsibility. Thus, illustrating the collective ethnic empowerment of transformative collaborators associated with the Black Church.
| | school |
The Theological School, Drew University
| | degree |
D.Min. (2023)
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| advisor |
J. Terry Todd
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| committee |
Nancy Fields
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| full text | LMiller.pdf - requires Drew uLogin |
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