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A Study of Identity Issues That Affect Clergy Leadership on LGBTQ Inclusion

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University of New England DUNE: DigitalUNE All Theses And Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1-2019 A Study Of Identity Issues That Affect Clergy Leadership On LGBTQ Inclusion James Jeffrey Butcher University of New England Follow this and additional works at: https://dune.une.edu/theses Part of the Educational Leadership Commons, and the Religion Commons © 2019 James Jeffrey Butcher Preferred Citation Butcher, James Jeffrey, "A Study Of Identity Issues That Affect Clergy Leadership On LGBTQ Inclusion" (2019). All Theses And Dissertations. 193. https://dune.une.edu/theses/193 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at DUNE: DigitalUNE. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses And Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DUNE: DigitalUNE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A STUDY OF IDENTITY ISSUES THAT AFFECT CLERGY LEADERSHIP ON LGBTQ INCLUSION by James Jeffrey Butcher B.S. (University of Virginia) 1974 M. Div. (Duke University) 1979 M.A. (Eastern Mennonite University) 2004 A DISSERTATION Presented to the Affiliated Faculty of The College of Graduate and Professional Studies at the University of New England In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the degree of Doctor of Education Portland & Biddeford, Maine September, 2018 Copyright by James Jeffrey Butcher ii James Jeffrey Butcher September 26, 2018 Educational Leadership A STUDY OF IDENTITY ISSUES THAT AFFECT CLERGY LEADERSHIP ON LGBTQ INCLUSION Abstract This dissertation analyzes how the leadership decisions of thirty local church Protestant clergy in Virginia were influenced by personal, organizational, and cultural identity issues on matters related to homosexuality or LGBTQ inclusion. Self-understanding of identity issues affected clergy practice of biblical and theological interpretations on topics that include: purity, inclusion, same-sex marriage, ordination of LGBTQ persons, denominational loyalty, local church loyalty, transactional leadership, transformational leadership, and transformative leadership. The researcher used semi-structured phenomenological interviews with seven focus groups and seven individual follow-up interviews. The researcher explored the process by which clergy construct their identities, while noting the resulting leadership strategies implemented by local church Protestant clergy in their local congregations. This qualitative research study fills an existing gap caused by a majority of research being conducted on denominational level rather than local church level leadership decisions in relationship to homosexuality or LGBTQ inclusion. This study advances substantive knowledge about how personal, organizational, and cultural identities play integral roles in leadership methods employed by clergy at the local church level on issues related to homosexuality or LGBTQ inclusion. The study revealed that traditional clergy did not believe same-sex attraction to be a sin, but that sin occurred through the participation in homosexual acts. In response to same-sex attraction traditional clergy advocated for celibacy, while progressive clergy advocated for same-sex marriage. When doing biblical iii interpretation on homosexuality, traditional clergy focused on specific passages where God commands “You shall not (commit this homosexual act)” in order to maintain purity. When doing biblical interpretation on homosexuality, progressive clergy allow for contextualization of the narrative stories in the Bible, and focus on passages that contain the word “all” as a witness for inclusion. Both traditional and progressive clergy gravitate toward transformational leadership to promote dialogue on homosexuality or LGBTQ inclusion, however, only progressive clergy follow transformative leadership in creating new leaders of LGBTQ persons. Also, both traditional and progressive clergy have a stronger gestalt identity through their local church, than an aggregate identity with their denomination. Keywords: mainline Protestant clergy, homosexuality, LGBTQ inclusion, personal religious identity, organizational religious identity, cultural religious identity, purity, inclusion, transactional leadership, transformational leadership, transformative leadership iv University of New England Doctor of Education Educational Leadership This dissertation was presented By James Jeffrey Butcher It was presented on September 26, 2018 and approved by: Carol Burbank, Ph.D., Lead Advisor University of New England Angela Young, Ed.D., Secondary Advisor University of New England Robert Vaughn, Ph.D., Affiliate Committee Member University of Pennsylvania v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of two college roommates and friends, Chuck Koch and Duncan McRae. Christian men, whose gay identities in church were semi- closeted, and who struggled for full inclusion in society. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the following individuals for their guidance and support throughout this incredible journey: Dr. Carol Burbank, Dr. Angela Young, and Dr. Rob Vaughn. This work would not have been possible without your patience, comments, wisdom, and encouragement. I would like to thank the Rev. J. Brooke Willson for inviting me to attend a Richmond Flying Squirrels minor league baseball game during the summer of 2017. By the third inning the Flying Squirrels were hopelessly behind, so we began to talk about my research on personal, organizational, and cultural identity issues that affect clergy leadership for matters of purity and inclusion. Brooke suggested I examine the historic effect of Puritan theology and practice to promote personal, organizational, and cultural purity. The examination proved fruitful, so I want to acknowledge the helpful role the Richmond Flying Squirrels played in this dissertation. An additional thank you goes to Dr. Shelley McClure who suggested I use crystallization as my method for analysis. Crystallization broadened and deepened my analysis. Most of all I want to express my deepest gratitude to my wife, Jan, for her support, comments, and encouragement during this journey to fulfill a dream of mine that would not go away. Thanks for your love and sacrifice. Finally, thanks to everyone who has helped me with technology issues. You were indispensible, and you are well aware of that fact. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 Background of the Study ................................................................................................. 1 Researcher Role .............................................................................................................. 4 Statement of the Problem................................................................................................. 6 Purpose of the Study ...................................................................................................... 11 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................... 13 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 15 Conceptual Framework.................................................................................................. 17 Assumptions and Limitations ........................................................................................ 20 Definitions .................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter Summary .......................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 25 Personal Identity ............................................................................................................ 26 Purity ................................................................................................................. 26 Inclusion ............................................................................................................ 30 Uncertainty ........................................................................................................ 36 Organizational Identity .................................................................................................. 39 Purity ................................................................................................................. 40 Inclusion ............................................................................................................ 45 Uncertainty ........................................................................................................ 50 Cultural Identity ............................................................................................................ 54 viii Purity ................................................................................................................. 55 Inclusion ............................................................................................................ 60 Uncertainty ........................................................................................................ 66 Local Church Protestant Clergy Leadership ................................................................... 70 Transactional ....................................................................................................
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