Leadership development in progressive Pentecostal churches: three case studies from Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aging leaders with unclear succession plans in Africa's institutions are a symptom of an underlying problem of leadership development. This is evident in the rapidly expanding church on the continent. For instance, from a group of 38 mega churches across Africa, the Leadership Network found only five churches with a leader other than the founder. Many founder leaders remain at the helm of leadership in their 60s and 70s, without a proper plan for future leadership in place. Our research identified three Pentecostal churches, which went against this trend. They raised generations of younger leaders who went on to serve in significant roles beyond the founders. Research on corporate and church leadership shows that effective organisations actively promote a leadership development through moderately transformational cultures with internal practices and organisational structures which produce leaders who will maximise organisational impact and strengthen their succession strategy. This project investigated how leadership development happens in these Progressive Pentecostal Churches (PPCs) which effectively raised multiple leaders who carry on the work of the founder, and other leaders who started new congregations. The research used a qualitative methodology using in-depth interviews historical, and other data. These case studies are the Nairobi Chapel, Christ is the Answer Ministry (CITAM), and International Christian Church (ICC). The data revealed the ways in which these PPCs, over time, experienced vibrant revitalization, positioning themselves to raise new leadership for the future. Each of the PPCs uniquely demonstrated intentionality through leadership development cultures that harness relational interactions among leaders, thoughtfully formed useful leadership and governance structures, while articulating a compelling vision for their congregations. Implications of these findings are that the leadership development crisis in African churches can be addressed through promoting this kind transformational leadership development culture. We draw lessons for churches on developing organisational vision, evolving relational approaches to leadership development through carefully developed organizational structures geared to produce a new generation of effective leaders.