Empowering Church Leaders in Leadership Effectiveness: A Transformational Approach in Anglican Church in Butare Rwanda, Africa

Abstract

Leadership is an important factor in the effective management of churches. This study examines the transformational leadership approach of church leaders to determine whether the transformational leadership role of church leaders empowers leaders in leadership effectiveness. The paper is anchored on Bass’ “Transformational Leadership Theory.” This paper is based on responses from 240 respondents in Butare Diocese of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. The study results show a majority of church leaders had primary or secondary level of education and it indirectly influences the transformational leadership role of church leaders. In addition, the youth below 40 years old were not fully involved in the church leadership and activities, there seemed little mentorship from the old clergy. It is suggested that; mentorship plans, delegating and empowering, communicating the church vision and inspirational motivation are strategies to improve church leadership. Need for training church leaders was imperative for church leaders to increase their levels of proficiency in leadership and to learn to model the transformational leadership components of idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration in their churches.