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The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of women leaders licensed to preach the gospel experiences regarding leadership barriers in the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Southern California. Through face-to-face interviews with open-ended questions, 10 qualified women leaders each with over 20 years of ministry in the COGIC described their experiences. Moustakas’ (1994) modified van Kaam method of analysis was used to analyze the data. Through the analysis of the data, eight themes emerged: (a) Opportunities are plentiful but limited, (b) Women have left the church, (c) A shift and a change, (d) Authority and power held by men, (e) Inconsistent Practices, (f) Established relationships, (g) Lifetime positions, and (h) By-laws. Four recommendations based on the findings of the study include: (a) The General Board should move the issue of women pastors from a discussion to an action item and consider giving women an equal opportunity to participate in the voting process at the General Board meetings, (b) The Church of God in Christ General Board should consider addressing the issue of women pastors in the General Assembly, (c) The Church of God in Christ General Board should reinforce the church’s practices regarding women in ministry, and (d) The Church of God in Christ General Board should hold everyone accountable for upholding the same practices regarding women in ministry. Information from the present study could add insight to the organization structure that does not include women in its top position. In addition, the church’s leadership could use the perspective from qualified women to determine if a review of the church’s current policies and practices regarding women in leadership is needed.
Advisor: | Steele, Patricia |
Commitee: | |
School: | University of Phoenix |
School Location: | United States -- Arizona |
Source: | DAI-A 74/04(E), Dissertation Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Religion, Clerical studies, Womens studies, Organizational behavior |
Keywords: | Barriers, Leadership, Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, Qualified women leader perceptions, Women pastors |
Publication Number: | 3533753 |
ISBN: | 978-1-267-79152-8 |