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The effects of faith, theology and denominational governance on decision making by senior- level administrators at Christian universities Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Watkins, Joseph Ezra Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 03/10/2021 20:41:30 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/289154 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has t)een reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in tyfiewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. 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Bell & Howell Information arxl Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 THE EFFECTS OF FAITH, THEOLOGY AND DENOMINATIONAL GOVERNANCE ON DECISION MAKING BY SENIOR LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS AT CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITIES by Joseph Ezra Watkins III Copyright © Joseph Ezra Watkins III 2000 A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF HIGHER EDUCATION In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2000 UMI Number 9972133 Copyright 2000 by Watkins, Joseph Ezra, III All rights reserved. iS UMI UMI Microform9972133 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Infonmation and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. 00x1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ® GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared bv-^Q^^P^ Ezra Watkins III entitled The Effects of Faith, Theology and Denominational Gnvernanre On Decision Making By Senior Level Admini grra mrg At Christian Universities and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Gary Rhoades Doug Wooda Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ^ Dissert^t^n Director Gary Rhoades Date J STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations fi-om this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation firom or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Every person who leams something stands on the shoulders of someone who has learned before them and shared their knowledge with those who come later. The following persons have been significant in this dissertation project, and I extend to them my deepest appreciation for letting me stand on their shoulders. The faculty members at the Center for the Study of Higher Education have been exceptional in their interest, encouragement and insight: Dr. Gary Rhoades. adviser, dissertation chair, and non-mentor. Thank You. Gary. Dr. Doug Woodard and Dr. John Levin, committee members, friendly inquisitors and advisors. This research was made possible by the presidents of the two universities in this study and the individuals who agreed to be interviewed not once but three times. Thank you for opening your lives in very special ways during our hours together. I applaud your willingness to live and work in small, private. Christian liberal arts institutions that demonstrate the vitality and viability of religious colleges and universities. This dissertation would not have been possible without the willing support and encouragement of the people who are the First Church of the Nazarene in Sierra Vista. Arizona. They were patient with me during my absences for research and always encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream. Many of them patiently typed the interview transcripts that were central to this research. Special thanks to Michelle Schaeffer-Powell and Danella Davis. Finally, thank you Patrick Allen. 5 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated foremost to my wife, Joan, who said, "If you're going to get your doctorate you'd better get busy. You're getting too old." Joan laid her own educational aspirations on hold so there would be some sanity in our home. Now it's her turn. Our children Jennifer, Sarah and Andrew always encouraged and supported their dad in this thirty-three month adventure. To all of them I say. "If you want to. you can." My father and mother, Joseph Jr. and Joanne, who have lived lives of faithful perseverance regardless of the obstacles they faced, are my heroes. Thank you for imparting to me the "stuff" of dogged determination. Finally to Tom and Jane Bilby, thank you for making the first year less stressful. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES 8 ABSTRACT 9 CHAPTER ONE 10 INTRODUCTION 10 The Research Problem 12 The Research Purpose 15 The Significance of the Research 23 Conceptual Framework 25 Research Questions 26 The Researcher 29 The Organization of the Dissertation 31 CHAPTER TWO 32 SURVEY OF RELATED LITERATURE 32 Religious Institutions 32 Denominational Theology 34 Lutheran Theology and Higher Education 35 Assemblies of God Theology and Higher Education 40 Decision Making Literature 47 Governance Literature 51 The Literature On Presidents 59 The Literature on Goveming Boards 61 Critical Literature Review and Conceptual Framework 64 CHAPTER THREE 72 METHODOLOGY 72 Research Design 72 Data Sources 76 Documents 77 Interviews 80 Field Notes 82 Data Collection 83 Document Types 93 Field Notes 94 Data Analysis 95 Research Question 1 96 Research Question II 97 Research Question III 98 Research Question IV 98 Trustworthiness and Limitations of the Analysis 99 Summary 100 CHAPTER FOUR 102 7 FINDINGS - TWO KINGDOMS UNIVERSITY 102 Two Decision Making Events 103 Missed Enrollment Targets 104 Masterplanning 108 Analysis 111 Theology 1' I Identity 114 Tolerance and Diversity 122 Conflict 128 Denominational Governance 133 Status Seeking and Academic Capitalism 142 Status Seeking 142 Academic Capitalism 144 An Emergent Theme - Globalization 148 Summary 151 CHAPTER FIVE 153 FINDINGS - PNEUMA UNIVERSITY 153 Two Decision Making Events 154 Presidential Selection and Financial Crisis 155 Decision Making Structure and Context 163 Theology 165 Identity 168 Denominational Governance 176 Control and Power 177 Status Seeking 185 Academic Capitalism 188 Summary 191 CHAPTER SIX 193 CONCLUSIONS 193 Conceptual Framework 195 Theology 198 Denominational Governance 203 Status Seeking and Academic Capitalism 210 Limitations of the Research 2 i 3 Implications of the Research 213 The Lesson 215 REFERENCES 217 8 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 3.1 - First Interview Question Guide: Life Experience Questions 87 Table 3.2 - Second Interview Question Guide; Contemporary Experience Questions 89 Table 3.3 - Third Interview Question Guide: The Meaning of Decision Making 91 Figure 4.1 - Governing Structure of Two Kingdoms University 135 Table 4.1 - Lutheran Experience of the Informants at Two Kingdoms University 117 Table 4.2 - Affiliations of Regents 147 Table 5.1 - Pentecostal Experience of the Informants at Pneuma University 173 Figure 5.1 - Governing Structure of Two Kingdoms University 180 Table 5.2 - Allocation of Trustee Positions 181 9 ABSTRACT The Effects of Faith, Theology and Denominational Governance on Decision Making by Senior Level Administrators at Christian Universities uses two case studies to explore what effects, if any, powerful systems of belief have upon decisions made at two denominationally affiliated Christian liberal arts universities. This study grows out of the framework of Lukes' (1973) work on power and decision making that describes how belief systems form an organizational bias for power and decision making that is often unrecognized