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CHAPTER ONE                       

INTRODUCTION

     

                        1.1       Background to the Study

 

 In a global sense and with respect to leadership, every organization has its system of operation. Nigeria for example, runs a participative leadership. An effective leadership is patterned by its goals and vision which help in achieving positive results. This is because any given organization with a faulty leadership the foundation is prone to collapse. Therefore, leadership remains a fundamental process in every organization in which such an organization builds a style of operation. On this basis, Adam (2003), notes that leadership is a common phenomenon in every facet of life. This implies that leadership is a thing that has captured the attention of many in order bring all pending matters to orderliness. In the same vein, Hybels (2002) states that leader often has impact not only because they are highly gifted but because their pastoral leadership styles mesh perfectly with specific ministry needs.       

Therefore, to distinguish leadership, it must be borne in mind that different styles of leadership abounds. These are political leadership, economic leadership, and socio-cultural leadership. Each of these leadership type operates based on the principles required within the setting. On this basis, the major focus of this study is religious leadership with special reference to Congregation of the living God, inc. Church in Kaduna State.  It is interesting to know that leadership within Congregation of the living God, inc. Church involves series of vital roles such as in the teaching, counseling, discipline, policy implementation, and co-ordination, recruitment of staff and retirement of staff. Based on these, leadership in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church faces a great challenge. This implies that various pastoral leadership styles like shepherding, democratic, visionary, motivational pastoral leadership styles are practiced. With this, the study is poised to find out which of these pastoral leadership styles is mostly practiced in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church. Also, handling of church funds varies from one Pentecostal church to the other.

In most cases, it is believed that the church treasurer, financial secretary, board of auditors and the general overseer handle the church funds. Based on different opinions, this study wants to examine who really handles the church funds in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church and also to find out if pastoral leadership styles are more of positive or negative impact on the growth of the gospel.

Leadership in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church goes along with high level of responsibility and for any pentecostal church to achieve its primary objective, which is the growth of the gospel, a determinant force (co-operation) from the subordinates must be encouraged. Akpami (2002) asserts that church leadership to some extent is based on what is known as ―divine calling.‖ In a right sense, one may be chosen by God to serve either as a teacher, evangelist, pastor, apostle or prophet. The researcher observed that church leadership is very different with the leadership appointment in professional settings such as medicine, education, governances and finance.

Munroe (1993), asserts that leaders are those who accept or are placed on extraordinary circumstances which bring forth their latent spiritual potentials, such as producing character that implies confidence and trust of their followers or members of God. Nmadu (2010), says that leadership has a great challenge both positive and negative, which depends on the style of its operations. Thus, it is of interest to point out that this study is expository having stated that leadership in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church faces great challenges. In view of the above, this study was designed to examine pastoral leadership and the problems of church growth in Congregation of the living God, inc. Church

  1.2       Statement of the Problem

 

The various pastoral leadership styles emanating from the ever increasing Congregation of the living God, inc. Church and their consequences on the growth of the gospel calls for concern. Eckman (2010), asserts that Jesus Christ is the originator of godly leadership. He added that, this was as a result of the sacrifice on the cross and his leading ability in our hearts.  It is uncommon to find different pastoral leadership styles in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church. It is common knowledge that some Congregation of the living God, inc. Church practice a sort of democratic pastoral leadership style by carrying every member along in their decision making. A significant number of them practice autocratic pastoral leadership style in which decisions are taken solely by the general overseer while some practice other pastoral leadership styles like shepherding and motivational pastoral leadership styles. However, Mamman (2007), stated that leadership in the New Testament deeply depends on ―servanthood‖ which posses the life of Jesus Christ (as cited in Mk.10:43).

Another central phenomenon in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church is the way in which church funds are handled. Quite a number of church funds in most cases are handled by the general overseers in conjunction with the central working committees, board of auditors and church treasurers. This scenario has in most cases caused disaffection among church members who resort to opening their own Congregation of the living God, inc. Church in order to solely handle the church funds. This is the reason the preaching for donations, sowing of seeds, tithes and offerings are the central preaching in the place of true salvation.

Another factor is the rate at which members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church go for

discipleship training. In view of this, this study assessed the impact of pastoral leadership styles in Congregation of the living God, inc. Church on the growth of the gospel. Whether the impact of pastoral leadership styles on the growth of the gospel are more of positive or negative.

  1.3       Objectives of the Study

 

The general objective of this study is to examine pastoral leadership and the problems of church growth in Congregation of the living God, inc. Church. Based on this, the specific objectives of this study were to:

1. Identify the opinions of male and female members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church on the pastoral leadership styles in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church in Kaduna State.
2. Compare the opinions of ministers and members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church on the pastoral leadership styles used in handling church funds.
3. Examine the opinions of single and married members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church on the impact of pastoral leadership styles on the growth of the gospel in Kaduna State.

1.4       Research Questions

 

This study aimed at finding answers to the following research questions:

1. What are the opinions of male and female members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church in respect of pastoral leadership styles in the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church in Kaduna State?
2. What are the opinions of ministers and members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church as regards the pastoral leadership styles used in handling of church funds?
3. What are the opinions of single and married members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church on the impact of pastoral leadership styles on the growth of the gospel in Kaduna State?

 1.5       Null Hypotheses 

 

H_O1: There is no significant difference in the opinions of male and female members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church on the impact of pastoral leadership styles on the Congregation of the living God, inc. Church in Kaduna State.

H_O2: There is no significant difference in the opinions of ministers and members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church as regards the pastoral leadership styles used in handling church funds.

H_O3: There is no significant difference between the opinions of married and single members of Congregation of the living God, inc. Church as regards the impact of pastoral leadership styles on the growth of the gospel in Kaduna State.