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The role of evangelical leadership in Uganda for effective church ministry: a strategic practical theological study by Asea. B.K. Wilson BA (Hons), MA (Theology) Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Philosophiae Doctor in Pastoral Studies at the North-West University - Potchefstroom Campus Promoter: Prof. Dr. Rantoa. S. Letšosa November 2012 Declaration I hereby declare that this PhD thesis: The role of the evangelical leadership in Uganda for effective church ministry: a strategic practical theological study is my own work and has not been submitted by me to any other university. ASEA. B.K. WILSON North-West University Potchefstroom Campus South Africa November 2012 i Abstract God is the ultimate leader, and the church leadership mandate and responsibility is from Him. The Lord prepares those He calls to take leadership responsibilities. He does not intend to use persons who are not properly equipped and developed to occupy high leadership positions in the church. Hence church leaders in evangelical churches in Uganda who wish to be proficiently used by God should be holistically trained in theology and leadership for effective church ministry and church growth. However, lack of proper leadership training poses a huge challenge to evangelical churches in Uganda. The traditional theological educational system in Uganda is too academic, paying too little attention to practical relevance; to pastoral ministry, mission and spiritual formation. In addition, the weak relationship of many Pentecostal leaders with theological training in Uganda has led to dead intellectualism and heresy upon heresy. As such these church leaders do not address the felt needs of the church correctly. This study commences by noting the limitations of leadership training models of ministers, and the lack of theological and leadership training, especially among many Pentecostal pastors in Uganda. It is divided into three phases. The first phase focuses on basic-theoretical principles, the second on meta-theoretical guidelines and empirical findings and the third phase focuses on critical-hermeneutical interaction between the basis-theoretical principles and the meta-theoretical guidelines. The purpose of the basis-theoretical perspectives was to explore the role played by different categories of leaders in the Bible: visionary, administrative and shepherding leaders, and to research early church fathers and other historical church leadership. Visionary leadership functioned as change agents: brought change in the church, and new life in the people of God. Administrative leadership performed the task of governance and guidance: teaching, discipline, conflict resolution and the management of resources. Shepherd-servant leadership cared for the daily needs of church family; not only the spiritually weak, but also physical sick and the needy. The autocratic leaders ruled over others and democratic leaders shared responsibilities. In the meta-theoretical perspectives a literature study was conducted of recent research in Sociology on the challenges encountered by visionary, administrative and shepherding leaders in Uganda and approaches to each. An empirical study consisting of the quantitative interviews with a selected group of Uganda evangelical leaders was also carried out to establish the challenges and approaches to these challenges. A practice- theoretical perspective offers some guiding principles to the evangelical leadership for effective church ministry and church growth. ii Opsomming God is die hoogste Heerser. Die kerkleiding en mandaat kom van Hom. Die Here berei die wat Hy roep voor om leierskapverantwoordelikheid te neem. Hy wil nie mense gebruik wat nie volkome voorberei en ontwikkel is om die hoë leierskapsposisies in te neem nie. Daarom moet kerkleiers in evangeliese kerke in Uganda holistiese opleiding ontvang om effektiewe kerkgroei en bediening te verseker. Die afwesigheid van voldoende leierskapsontwikkeling hou egter 'n groot uitdaging in vir evangeliese kerke in Uganda. Die vlak van die tradisionele teologiese opleidingstelsel in Uganda is te akademies. Daar word te min gefokus op praktiese riglyne, die pastorale bediening, evangelisasie en geestelike formasie. Die swak opleiding van charismatiese kerkleiers het ook 'n hoë insidensie van dwaalleer tot gevolg. Die ware nood van die kerk word nie aangespreek nie. Hierdie studie begin deur die beperkings van die opleiding van kerkleiers in Uganda te noteer asook die gebrek aan teologiese- en leierskapsopleiding. Dit gebeur spesifiek onder baie charismatiese pastore in Uganda. Die studie is opgedeel in drie fases. Die eerste fase fokus op die basiese teoretiese beginsels, die tweede op meta-teoretiese riglyne en empiriese bevindings, en die derde fokus op krities-hermeneutiese interaksie tussen die basis-teoretiese beginsels en die meta-teoretiese riglyne. Die doel van die basies-teoretiese perspektiewe was om die rol van die verskeie kategorieë van Bybelse leiers te ondersoek: Visionêre leiers, administratiewe en herderlike leiers, en om die vroeë kerkvaders asook die historiese kerkleiers te ondersoek. Visionêre leiers het gefunksioneer as agente vir verandering: hulle het verandering in die kerk gebring en nuwe lewe in die volk van God. Administratiewe leiers het die rol vervul om leiding en begeleiding te bied: onderrig, konflik oplossing en die besturing van hulpbronne. Herder- diensknegleiers het omgegee vir die daaglikse nood van die kerkfamilie, nie alleenlik vir die geestelik-swakkes nie, maar ook vir die siekes en hulle in nood. Die outokratiese leiers het regeer oor ander en demokratiese leiers het hulle verantwoordelikhede verdeel. Rondom die meta-teoretiese perspektiewe, is 'n literêre studie gedoen in Sosiology van resente navorsing aangaande die uitdagings wat oor die pad gekom het van visionêre, administratiewe- en herderlike leiers in Uganda en die benaderings van elk. 'n Empiriese studie, wat bestaan uit kwantatiewe onderhoude van geselekteerde groepe Ugandese evangeliese leiers, is uitgevoer om te bepaal wat die uitdagings en benaderings tot hierdie uitdagings is. Prakties-teoretiese perspektiewe word gebied tesame met begeleidende beginsels wat toegepas kan word by evangeliese leierskap vir effektiewe kerkbediening en groei. iii Preface Unless otherwise indicated, the primary Bible translation used in this project is the New International Version. Citations of authors and materials retain the original authors' translations of the biblical sources, often made by the authors themselves. iv Acknowledgments Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). My utmost word of thanks goes to the triune God who gave me the revelation, wisdom, knowledge, experience, insight and strength to sit behind the desk for long hours while being robbed by tiredness and weakness. Otherwise, this work could not have been completed without His grace. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my Promoter Prof. Dr. Rantoa Letšosa who guided, advised and encouraged me as a friend to work profoundly. I also need to thank the University of North-West, Potchefstroom Campus especially Mr. Danie Hefer and Mrs. Westhuizen Susan at the Financial Aid office, Prof. Francois Viljoen and Mrs. Elmien Scott of the Research of the Faculty of Theology for their financial support. My appreciation also goes to Prof. Mashau who shared general insight concerning my research work, Dr. Dick Mwamba for his advice, Prof. Faan Steyn of the Faculty of Statistics who guided me on the questionnaire included in empirical research, Mrs. Nardine Bothma who formatted the questionnaire, Rev. Madira Jackson, Rev.Onzima Blake Thompson and Pastor Paul Wamala, all from Uganda, who conducted quantitative empirical-research on my behalf. A word of thanks also to the Librarians of main Campus and Faculty of Theology, and Mrs. Antoinette Moerdyk, the Academic Registra for their assistance. How can I forget my colleagues like Rev. Thomas Masase, Rev. Eugene Coetzee, Mr. Kgotlaetsile Mokgatlhe, Mr. Thomas, Pastor Alsen Pieterse, Mphela and others. Thank you all for your words of encouragement. Last but not least, a special word of gratitude is also due to my father Paulino Akole and mother Mary Feeku, who stood with me and showed patience and encouragement throughout my academic pursuit. May God bless you all!!! May He receive the glory, honor and majesty. v Table of contents Declaration ........................................................................................................................................................... i Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................... ii Opsomming ........................................................................................................................................................ iii Preface ............................................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments ..............................................................................................................................................