17Chastity JhingreeLIBERTY UNIVERSITYJOHN W. RAWLINGS SC

17
Chastity Jhingree
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
INTRAGROUP CONFLICT AMONG SOUTHERN BAPTIST
PASTORS AND
THE RESULTING LOSS OF CREDIBILITY
A Prospectus Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Education
by
Chastity Selma Jhingree
Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
2021
PASTORS AND
by Chastity Selma Jhingree
A Prospectus Presented in Partial Fulfillme nt

Doctor of Education
14 November 2021
APPROVED BY:
__________________________________
Name and degree, Dissertation Supervisor
__________________________________
Name and degree, Second Reader
ABSTRACT
Chapter one, the prospectus, will provide the reader with a
compact framework of key process elements that will be
investigated, synthesized, and analyzed during dissertation
research phases. The proposed topic will be Intragroup Conflict
among Southern Baptist Pastors and the Resulting Loss of
Credibility. The motivation or rationale driving the study will
be predicated on an attempt to understand the statistical
trending toward a downward spiraling of a loss of credibility
among Southern Baptist Pastors. The researcher’s intent will be
to present the research problem as set of internal conflicts
underscored by “authoritarianism, church politics, and conflict
over leadership styles, financial deficiencies, and
relational/communicative incompetence” (Breen 2008). Against
a historical background of the research problem, the study will
seek to find reasonable answers to the key research question:
“How do intragroup conflicts affect pastoral credibility?” To
ascertain the possible correlation between intragroup conflicts
and pastoral credibility among Southern Baptist Pastors, the
researcher’s methodological approach will be to survey sampled
focus groups within the Southern region of the State of Florida.
This will utilize the qualitative method and would, therefore,

impose limits to the generalization of the findings.
Keywords: intragroup, credibility, authoritarianism, conflict,
correlation, methodological, generalization
Copyright © 2021. Chastity Selma Jhingree. All rights
reserved.
Liberty University has permission to reproduce and disseminate
this document in any form by
any means for purposes chosen by the University, including,
without limitation, preservation or
instruction.
Dedication
We Owe it all to God, the Heavenly Father for it is said, “For of
Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be
glory forever. Amen”
(Romans 11:36)
To my earthly parents, I honor you as the Bible has taught me,
and so enshrined in the Fifth Commandment that the Lord
decreed through Moses: “Honor thy father and thy mother: that
thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God

giveth thee” (Ex. 20:12).
Acknowledgements
The overall effort behind this phase of the dissertation process
has been guided by the unseen hand of God. I am compelled to
acknowledge his direct counseling through a distinguished
faculty as they toiled uncomplainingly in ensuring that I fulfill
all accredited requirements of this rigorous research process.
Dr. Bredfeldt kept me close to the methodological framework,
helping me to craft out a research design that would work
efficiently and effectively for my topic of interest. His mention
is but one of many who have had a very direct influence on the
progress of this culminating exercise that would have left me
midway had it not been for their Samaritan hands.
List of Figures

1. Increase in Church Dropouts (pg.15)
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT...................................................... ......................
........................................................3
Copyright © Year. Full Legal Name. All rights
reserved...........................................................4
Dedication
(Optional)...............................................................................
.......................................5
Acknowledgments
(Optional)...............................................................................
...........................6
List of
Figures………………………………………………………………
……………………..7
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH
CONCERN..............................................................................
....8
Introduction............................................................................
.........................................................8

Background to the Problem
...............................................................................................
............9
Statement of the
Problem................................................................................ ..
.............................11
Purpose
Statement................................................................................
.........................................11
Research Questions
...............................................................................................
........................12
Assumptions and Delimitations
...............................................................................................
.....12
Delimitations of the Research
Design.................................................................................12
Significance of the Study
...............................................................................................
..............14
Summary of the Design
...............................................................................................
.................15
REFERENCES.........................................................................
....................................................16
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH CONCERN
Introduction
Finding a premise to frame the issue of a loss of credibility
among Southern Baptist Pastors is less challenging based on
existing research literature. Data gathered from many empirical
and qualitative studies validate the position that Baptist Pastors
have not lost credence because of theological and educational
credentials, but because sociological and leadership reasons. In

an extensive research study of a set of clergy members and
pastors, Speight and Speight (2017) noted that “Forced
termination of clergy has been the topic of limited research and
little or no attention has been given to the long-term lived
experiences of forced termination.” This will offer much
rationale for undergoing this research on the loss of credibility
because of the inadequacy of existing literature on this topic. In
addition, the problem of a loss of credibility is heightened in an
observation made by Speight and Speight. They observed:
One of the challenges facing many evangelical faith groups is
the autonomous and self-governing structure. In such structures
clergy are often left without support and resources to assist
them during crises such as a forced termination. In fact, few
faith groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
nor its entities, provide a safe haven or place for clergy and
their spouses to heal and recover from the painful experience.
The issue here is not one that is founded on education or
theology, but one that is predicated on sociological factors; it
will be one based on a relational matrix where the goal is not to
follow a biblical path to making disciples of all, but to exercise
high-handed authority over others. It is a problem of leadership
that does not serve but dictates. This will be viewed as in
contravention to the leadership model established by Jesus, the
Model Servant Leader. Jesus submitted his own life to
sacrificial service under the will of God (Luke 22:42). A lack of
this approach to relationship and leadership is what has
generated the problem of a loss of credibility. In the following
sections of this chapter there will be salient highlights
beginning with a background to the problem. This would work
in conjunction with a statement of the problem to produce a
more restrictive focus. Subsequent to this part of chapter one
will be a declaration of the purpose of the study that will adhere
to a Creswell (2013) construct. This will be followed by a
section explaining the delimitations and limitations of the
research that will help to define the extent of the significance of
the study. Finally, the researcher will provide a summary of the

research design with relevant signals to chapter two, the
literature review.
An issue that has received much research attention and archival
documentation is intragroup conflict in pastoral relationships.
According to Matusitz and Breen (2006), intragroup conflict is
defined as “perceived incompatibilities by members of a group
who carry discrepant views or have interpersonal differences.”
Statistically, the magnitude of intragroup conflict is
underscored by the fact that: "These conflicts are prevalent in
the Southern Baptist Church, one of the world’s largest
Christian denominations with an estimated worldwide
membership of over 43 million and approximately 162,000
churches. The Southern Baptist Convention is the second
biggest religious organization in the USA, and has
approximately 40,000 churches in the USA. As such, Southern
Baptist churches comprise the greatest number of churches
associated with one denomination in the USA (Breen 2008).
In a survey of US pastoral subjects conducted by La Rue
(1995), “35% claimed that intragroup conflict was as a result of
poor communication, leadership, and relational difficulties that
damaged their ministry.” Breen (2008) noted that these
conflicts, if graphed, would represent the “lowest points in
pastoral ministry.” A summary of the contributing factors to
intragroup conflicts includes, but not limited to
“authoritarianism, church politics, and conflict over leadership
styles, financial deficiencies, and relational/communicative
incompetence.” Breen adopts the position that “As a result of
these conflicts, pastors may abandon their positions, the
churches may dissolve, and communities may be harmed.” The
loss of credibility is predicated upon these outcomes especially
on the premise of communities being harmed. Credibility is
relational; it is a relationship between the church and pastors,
and as the Fahrenheit on intragroup conflicts amps up, so too
credibility inversely diminishes. Pastors are forced to leave
their positions in their respective churches and with a

preponderance of literature on all the ills of the church and
forced terminations, what is starkly lacking is how the church
can be reconnected to the communities they serve. Here the
scope of literature is sparse and this is the motivation behind
the research. This research effort can add to an existing body of
literature on the topic of a loss of credibility through intragroup
conflicts by surveying and observing ways in which a
reconnection between church and community can be established.
Researcher’s Relationship to The Problem
The researcher is affiliated with the First Baptist Church of
Boynton Beach and has firsthand knowledge and experience of
what a loss of credibility means if certain pastoral mechanics
are not put in place to ensure that there is a collective and
common representation of what the goals of the church are, and
how representatives of the church realize these goals of
reaching out not only to immediate congregants but to
communities at large. The researcher pleads that no reader will
misconstrue her intentions in stating this fact as associated with
her affiliation. It is only intended to offer partial authenticity to
the research problem as one that is right in the midst of the
gospel-consciousness of the researcher.
Statement of the Problem
In finding a confluence for the streams of literature that
have discussed intragroup conflicts among Southern Baptist
Pastors and there apparent religious divorce from their
immediate communities, this study proposes a reconnection via
a restoration of authentic pastoral communication. Therefore,
this research study will like to state the problem as a loss of
pastoral credibility triggered, nurtured and sustained by
intragroup conflicts, and in the process has distanced many
pastors from their congregants and communities. Therefore,
there is justification for this study as it proposes that to redeem
credibility among pastors, there needs to be an urgent
transformation of pastoral attitudes toward each other. It is a
problem that will allow for a valid qualitative approach in
finding out what variables would work toward a restoration of

credibility.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this ethnographic study is to describe the
credibility crisis phenomenon among Southern Baptist Pastors
based on intragroup conflicts. It is a research attempt that aims
to bring to fore the possibility of reestablishing an authentic
relationship between Southern Baptist Pastors and their
communities by exploring the inherent flaws of the relationship
between one pastor and another especially on the issue of forced
terminations. The theory guiding this study is one that has been
used substantively in the social sciences, the grounded theory as
it examines the genuine concerns of the sampled study
participants.
Research Questions
With the nature and magnitude of the research problem as it
exists in today’s Baptist Church environment, the following
research questions have been carefully crafted:
RQ1: What is the social impact of intragroup conflicts?
RQ2: How do intragroup conflicts affect pastoral credibility?
RQ3: How can intragroup conflicts be used to reconnect the
church with the community it serves?
The characteristics that limit the scope and describe the
boundaries of this study are as follows:
1. The geographical setting in which the study takes place. This
ethnographic study is restricted to Southern Baptist Pastors.
2. The main objective of the research is to observe how the
incompatibilities of church members is a concrete subscriber to
a loss of credibility
3. The sample size would involve focus groups of pastors and
congregants that would be the study participants.
4. Population traits considered would be those inclined to serve;
those inclined to preach; those inclined preach and serve.
5. The variables will be loss of credibility (DV) and intragroup
conflicts (IV)
Delimitations of the Research Design

The research design used in this study is ethnographic. More
specifically, since it is non-numerical in nature, the approach
will involve both interviews and focus groups. There will be
two focus groups. One focus group will concentrate on group
members’ interaction and will be made up of six pastoral
members of the First Baptist Church of Boynton Beach. The
objective is to observe the behavior of group members as they
interact. The second focus group will have group members
expressing their feelings and beliefs as it relates to intragroup
conflict and the loss of credibility and the composition of the
second focus group will be both pastors and members of the
congregation.
The methodological design will also employ real time
interviews. These interviews will be preceded by written
requests to members of the church. Strict confidentiality will be
observed and study participants will be reassured that data or
information collected will not include names or any related
personal information. A questionnaire format of the
interviewing questions will be constructed and a copy will be
enclosed with the written request to offer timely preparation for
the interviews.
Data collected through note-taking at the interviews
will be placed within a saturation point where no new views or
categories of intragroup conflicts will be noted. The interviews,
focus groups study and data collection will culminate in the
formation of a substantive grounded theory. That is, the entire
methodological design is intended to construct the hypothesis
that revolves around intragroup conflicts and the loss of
credibility, assessing the relationship between the two
variables, intragroup conflicts (IV) and loss of credibility (DV)
Because of the very abstract nature of a qualitative research
under which this study is classified, and its non-numerical form,
one of the key limitations of the research design is that the
findings cannot be used to validate similar situations. It is
almost practically impossible to investigate and determine
causality as in the relationship between intragroup conflicts and

the loss of credibility. The range or dominance of one
contributing factor may vary in another situation. Added to this,
is the fact that results cannot be verified as responses from
study participants are mainly subjective. Probably the most
important limitation to the design is that this research is not
statistically representative. There is the risk of intruding bias on
the part of the researcher because interviews and observations
are functions of the researcher’s perceptions.
Obviously, with a huge sociological chasm among pastors, it is
incumbent that a serious review of pastoral behaviors be
conducted. Too many pastors, clergy and congregants have lived
to witness a steady decline in credibility as intragroup conflicts
take a stranglehold on those charged with the responsibility to
spread the gospel. Figure 1 below sounds off the statistical
alarm. With this decline in church dropouts, it begs the
question: What can be done to stagger or stop this trend? This
study will help to put the problem in perspective and be a call
to all pastors to rethink all those intragroup factors contributing
to a long-lasting conflict that does nothing but destroy the
mission of the church.
Fig. 1
With an upward trend in church dropouts, it reaffirms the
rationale behind this study; it is to find conclusive reasons
behind the problem of a loss of credibility among Southern
Baptist Pastors. It is intended for the pastoral population as this
is the source of the problem in terms of public perception of
pastoral credibility.
The research questions considered will be responded to by
employing the use of the instruments of a qualitative research
design. Since this is a qualitative research study and one that
centralizes the use of focus groups and interviews, the primary
instrument will be the researcher. I will be actively involved in
making observations, conducting interview and taking notes that

will be ultimately be used in the construction of the hypothesis
predicated on a substantive grounded theory. It will follow the
pattern below:
Questionnaires.
Interviews.
Observations.
Archival documents
Archival documents will be researched to add secondary
supporting materials to the study. The focus will be on
literature that is within a five-year period to avoid information
obsolescence.
References
Barna Group. (2019). “Church Dropouts Have Risen to 64%—
But What About Those Who Stay?”
https://www.barna.com/research/resilient-disciples/
Breen, G.M. (2008). “Interpersonal, Intragroup Conflict
between Southern Baptist Pastors: A Qualitative Inquiry
Examining Contributing Factors.” Pastoral Psychology, 56(3),
249-268.DOI:10.1007/s11089-007-0112-z
Exantus, W.R. (2011). “Pastoral burnout and leadership styles:
A mixed-method study of Southern Baptist pastors in Central
Florida.” ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Joynt, S. (2018). “Exodus of clergy: When the fight is just not
worth it anymore – The role of conflict in responding to the
call.” Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326568179_Exodus_of
_clergy_'When_the_fight_is_just_not_worth_it_anymore'_-
_The_role_of_conflict_in_responding_to_the_call
Matusitz, J., & Breen, G. M. (2006). “Negotiation tactics in
organizations applied to hostage negotiation.” Journal of
Security Education, 2(1), 5372.
Speight, D.E., & Speight, S. (2017). “Exploring the Lived

Experience of Forced Termination Among Southern Baptist
Clergy Couples: A Retrospective Study.” Journal of Psychology
and Christianity, 36(2), 149-160.
17
Chastity Jhingree
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
PASTORS AND
Doctor of Education
by
Chastity Selma Jhingree
2021
PASTORS AND
by Chastity Selma Jhingree

Doctor of Education
14 November 2021
APPROVED BY:
__________________________________
__________________________________
ABSTRACT
Chapter one, the prospectus, will provide the reader with a
compact framework of key process elements that will be
investigated, synthesized, and analyzed during dissertation
research phases. The proposed topic will be Intragroup Conflict
among Southern Baptist Pastors and the Resulting Loss of
Credibility. The motivation or rationale driving the study will
be predicated on an attempt to understand the statistical
trending toward a downward spiraling of a loss of credibility
among Southern Baptist Pastors. The researcher’s intent will be
to present the research problem as set of internal conflicts
underscored by “authoritarianism, church politics, and conflict
over leadership styles, financial deficiencies, and
relational/communicative incompetence” (Breen 2008). Against
a historical background of the research problem, the study will
seek to find reasonable answers to the key research question:
“How do intragroup conflicts affect pastoral credibility?” To
ascertain the possible correlation between intragroup conflicts

and pastoral credibility among Southern Baptist Pastors, the
researcher’s methodological approach will be to survey sampled
focus groups within the Southern region of the State of Florida.
This will utilize the qualitative method and would, therefore,
impose limits to the generalization of the findings.
Keywords: intragroup, credibility, authoritarianism, conflict,
correlation, methodological, generalization
Copyright © 2021. Chastity Selma Jhingree. All rights
reserved.
this document in any form by
any means for purposes chosen by the University, including,
without limitation, preservation or
instruction.
Dedication
We Owe it all to God, the Heavenly Father for it is said, “For of
Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be
glory forever. Amen”
(Romans 11:36)

To my earthly parents, I honor you as the Bible has taught me,
and so enshrined in the Fifth Commandment that the Lord
decreed through Moses: “Honor thy father and thy mother: that
thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God
giveth thee” (Ex. 20:12).
Acknowledgements
The overall effort behind this phase of the dissertation process
has been guided by the unseen hand of God. I am compelled to
acknowledge his direct counseling through a distinguished
faculty as they toiled uncomplainingly in ensuring that I fulfill
all accredited requirements of this rigorous research process.
Dr. Bredfeldt kept me close to the methodological framework,
helping me to craft out a research design that would work
efficiently and effectively for my topic of interest. His mention
is but one of many who have had a very direct influence on the
progress of this culminating exercise that would have left me
midway had it not been for their Samaritan hands.

List of Figures
1. Increase in Church Dropouts (pg.15)
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT............................................................................
........................................................3
Copyright © Year. Full Legal Name. All rights
reserved...........................................................4
Dedication
(Optional)...............................................................................
.......................................5
Acknowledgments
(Optional)...............................................................................
...........................6
List of
Figures………………………………………………………………
……………………..7
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH

CONCERN..............................................................................
....8
Introduction............................................................................
.........................................................8
...............................................................................................
............9
Statement of the
Problem..................................................................................
.............................11
Purpose
Statement................................................................................
.........................................11
Research Questions
...............................................................................................
........................12
...............................................................................................
.....12
Delimitations of the Research
Design.................................................................................12
...............................................................................................
..............14
...............................................................................................
.................15
REFERENCES.........................................................................
....................................................16
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH CONCERN
Introduction
Finding a premise to frame the issue of a loss of credibility
among Southern Baptist Pastors is less challenging based on

existing research literature. Data gathered from many empirical
and qualitative studies validate the position that Baptist Pastors
have not lost credence because of theological and educational
credentials, but because sociological and leadership reasons. In
an extensive research study of a set of clergy members and
pastors, Speight and Speight (2017) noted that “Forced
termination of clergy has been the topic of limited research and
little or no attention has been given to the long-term lived
experiences of forced termination.” This will offer much
rationale for undergoing this research on the loss of credibility
because of the inadequacy of existing literature on this topic. In
addition, the problem of a loss of credibility is heightened in an
observation made by Speight and Speight. They observed:
One of the challenges facing many evangelical faith groups is
the autonomous and self-governing structure. In such structures
clergy are often left without support and resources to assist
them during crises such as a forced termination. In fact, few
faith groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
nor its entities, provide a safe haven or place for clergy and
their spouses to heal and recover from the painful experience.
The issue here is not one that is founded on education or
theology, but one that is predicated on sociological factors; it
will be one based on a relational matrix where the goal is not to
follow a biblical path to making disciples of all, but to exercise
high-handed authority over others. It is a problem of leadership
that does not serve but dictates. This will be viewed as in
contravention to the leadership model established by Jesus, the
Model Servant Leader. Jesus submitted his own life to
sacrificial service under the will of God (Luke 22:42). A lack of
this approach to relationship and leadership is what has
generated the problem of a loss of credibility. In the following
sections of this chapter there will be salient highlights
beginning with a background to the problem. This would work
in conjunction with a statement of the problem to produce a
more restrictive focus. Subsequent to this part of chapter one
will be a declaration of the purpose of the study that will adhere

to a Creswell (2013) construct. This will be followed by a
section explaining the delimitations and limitations of the
research that will help to define the extent of the significance of
the study. Finally, the researcher will provide a summary of the
research design with relevant signals to chapter two, the
literature review.
An issue that has received much research attention and archival
documentation is intragroup conflict in pastoral relationships.
According to Matusitz and Breen (2006), intragroup conflict is
defined as “perceived incompatibilities by members of a group
who carry discrepant views or have interpersonal differences.”
Statistically, the magnitude of intragroup conflict is
underscored by the fact that: "These conflicts are prevalent in
the Southern Baptist Church, one of the world’s largest
Christian denominations with an estimated worldwide
membership of over 43 million and approximately 162,000
churches. The Southern Baptist Convention is the second
biggest religious organization in the USA, and has
approximately 40,000 churches in the USA. As such, Southern
Baptist churches comprise the greatest number of churches
associated with one denomination in the USA (Breen 2008).
In a survey of US pastoral subjects conducted by La Rue
(1995), “35% claimed that intragroup conflict was as a result of
poor communication, leadership, and relational difficulties that
damaged their ministry.” Breen (2008) noted that these
conflicts, if graphed, would represent the “lowest points in
pastoral ministry.” A summary of the contributing factors to
intragroup conflicts includes, but not limited to
“authoritarianism, church politics, and conflict over leadership
styles, financial deficiencies, and relational/communicative
incompetence.” Breen adopts the position that “As a result of
these conflicts, pastors may abandon their positions, the
churches may dissolve, and communities may be harmed.” The
loss of credibility is predicated upon these outcomes especially
on the premise of communities being harmed. Credibility is

relational; it is a relationship between the church and pastors,
and as the Fahrenheit on intragroup conflicts amps up, so too
credibility inversely diminishes. Pastors are forced to leave
their positions in their respective churches and with a
preponderance of literature on all the ills of the church and
forced terminations, what is starkly lacking is how the church
can be reconnected to the communities they serve. Here the
scope of literature is sparse and this is the motivation behind
the research. This research effort can add to an existing body of
literature on the topic of a loss of credibility through intragroup
conflicts by surveying and observing ways in which a
reconnection between church and community can be established.
Researcher’s Relationship to The Problem
The researcher is affiliated with the First Baptist Church of
Boynton Beach and has firsthand knowledge and experience of
what a loss of credibility means if certain pastoral mechanics
are not put in place to ensure that there is a collective and
common representation of what the goals of the church are, and
how representatives of the church realize these goals of
reaching out not only to immediate congregants but to
communities at large. The researcher pleads that no reader will
misconstrue her intentions in stating this fact as associated with
her affiliation. It is only intended to offer partial authenticity to
the research problem as one that is right in the midst of the
gospel-consciousness of the researcher.
In finding a confluence for the streams of literature that
have discussed intragroup conflicts among Southern Baptist
Pastors and there apparent religious divorce from their
immediate communities, this study proposes a reconnection via
a restoration of authentic pastoral communication. Therefore,
this research study will like to state the problem as a loss of
pastoral credibility triggered, nurtured and sustained by
intragroup conflicts, and in the process has distanced many
pastors from their congregants and communities. Therefore,
there is justification for this study as it proposes that to redeem

credibility among pastors, there needs to be an urgent
transformation of pastoral attitudes toward each other. It is a
problem that will allow for a valid qualitative approach in
finding out what variables would work toward a restoration of
credibility.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this ethnographic study is to describe the
credibility crisis phenomenon among Southern Baptist Pastors
based on intragroup conflicts. It is a research attempt that aims
to bring to fore the possibility of reestablishing an authentic
relationship between Southern Baptist Pastors and their
communities by exploring the inherent flaws of the relationship
between one pastor and another especially on the issue of forced
terminations. The theory guiding this study is one that has been
used substantively in the social sciences, the grounded theory as
it examines the genuine concerns of the sampled study
participants.
Research Questions
With the nature and magnitude of the research problem as it
exists in today’s Baptist Church environment, the following
research questions have been carefully crafted:
RQ1: What is the social impact of intragroup conflicts?
RQ2: How do intragroup conflicts affect pastoral credibility?
RQ3: How can intragroup conflicts be used to reconnect the
church with the community it serves?
The characteristics that limit the scope and describe the
boundaries of this study are as follows:
1. The geographical setting in which the study takes place. This
ethnographic study is restricted to Southern Baptist Pastors.
2. The main objective of the research is to observe how the
incompatibilities of church members is a concrete subscriber to
a loss of credibility
3. The sample size would involve focus groups of pastors and
congregants that would be the study participants.
4. Population traits considered would be those inclined to serve;

those inclined to preach; those inclined preach and serve.
5. The variables will be loss of credibility (DV) and intragr oup
conflicts (IV)
The research design used in this study is ethnographic. More
specifically, since it is non-numerical in nature, the approach
will involve both interviews and focus groups. There will be
two focus groups. One focus group will concentrate on group
members’ interaction and will be made up of six pastoral
members of the First Baptist Church of Boynton Beach. The
objective is to observe the behavior of group members as they
interact. The second focus group will have group members
expressing their feelings and beliefs as it relates to intragroup
conflict and the loss of credibility and the composition of the
second focus group will be both pastors and members of the
congregation.
The methodological design will also employ real time
interviews. These interviews will be preceded by written
requests to members of the church. Strict confidentiality will be
observed and study participants will be reassured that data or
information collected will not include names or any related
personal information. A questionnaire format of the
interviewing questions will be constructed and a copy will be
enclosed with the written request to offer timely preparation for
the interviews.
Data collected through note-taking at the interviews
will be placed within a saturation point where no new views or
categories of intragroup conflicts will be noted. The interviews,
focus groups study and data collection will culminate in the
formation of a substantive grounded theory. That is, the entire
methodological design is intended to construct the hypothesis
that revolves around intragroup conflicts and the loss of
credibility, assessing the relationship between the two
variables, intragroup conflicts (IV) and loss of credibility (DV)
Because of the very abstract nature of a qualitative research
under which this study is classified, and its non-numerical form,

one of the key limitations of the research design is that the
findings cannot be used to validate similar situations. It is
almost practically impossible to investigate and determine
causality as in the relationship between intragroup conflicts and
the loss of credibility. The range or dominance of one
contributing factor may vary in another situation. Added to this,
is the fact that results cannot be verified as responses from
study participants are mainly subjective. Probably the most
important limitation to the design is that this research is not
statistically representative. There is the risk of intruding bias on
the part of the researcher because interviews and observations
are functions of the researcher’s perceptions.
Obviously, with a huge sociological chasm among pastors, it is
incumbent that a serious review of pastoral behaviors be
conducted. Too many pastors, clergy and congregants have lived
to witness a steady decline in credibility as intragroup conflicts
take a stranglehold on those charged with the responsibility to
spread the gospel. Figure 1 below sounds off the statistical
alarm. With this decline in church dropouts, it begs the
question: What can be done to stagger or stop this trend? This
study will help to put the problem in perspective and be a call
to all pastors to rethink all those intragroup factors contributing
to a long-lasting conflict that does nothing but destroy the
mission of the church.
Fig. 1
With an upward trend in church dropouts, it reaffirms the
rationale behind this study; it is to find conclusive reasons
behind the problem of a loss of credibility among Southern
Baptist Pastors. It is intended for the pastoral population as this
is the source of the problem in terms of public perception of
pastoral credibility.
The research questions considered will be responded to by
employing the use of the instruments of a qualitative research

design. Since this is a qualitative research study and one that
centralizes the use of focus groups and interviews, the primary
instrument will be the researcher. I will be actively involved in
making observations, conducting interview and taking notes that
will be ultimately be used in the construction of the hypothesis
predicated on a substantive grounded theory. It will follow the
pattern below:
Questionnaires.
Interviews.
Observations.
Archival documents
Archival documents will be researched to add secondary
supporting materials to the study. The focus will be on
literature that is within a five-year period to avoid information
obsolescence.
References
Barna Group. (2019). “Church Dropouts Have Risen to 64%—
But What About Those Who Stay?”
https://www.barna.com/research/resilient-disciples/
Breen, G.M. (2008). “Interpersonal, Intragroup Conflict
between Southern Baptist Pastors: A Qualitative Inquiry
Examining Contributing Factors.” Pastoral Psychology, 56(3),
249-268.DOI:10.1007/s11089-007-0112-z
Exantus, W.R. (2011). “Pastoral burnout and leadership styles:
A mixed-method study of Southern Baptist pastors in Central
Florida.” ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Joynt, S. (2018). “Exodus of clergy: When the fight is just not
worth it anymore – The role of conflict in responding to the
call.” Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326568179_Exodus_of
_clergy_'When_the_fight_is_just_not_worth_it_anymore'_-
_The_role_of_conflict_in_responding_to_the_call

Matusitz, J., & Breen, G. M. (2006). “Negotiation tactics in
organizations applied to hostage negotiation.” Journal of
Security Education, 2(1), 5372.
Speight, D.E., & Speight, S. (2017). “Exploring the Lived
Experience of Forced Termination Among Southern Baptist
Clergy Couples: A Retrospective Study.” Journal of Psychology
and Christianity, 36(2), 149-160.
21
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND IN PERSON WORSHIP
Doctor of Education
by
Neil Burgess
2021
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND IN PERSON WORSHIP

by
Neil Burgess
Doctor of Education
Date Defended
APPROVED BY:
__________________________________
__________________________________
ABSTRACT
The Coronavirus pandemic has changed our world forever like
nothing before it time. The unprecedented nature of this
modern-day catastrophe has reigned. As like in the days of the
Old Testament plagues of Egypt. This research will expl ore the
impact on in person worship in the wake of the pandemic. The
many adjustments that had to take place in terms of the
transition for assembled worship to converting homes into
places of worship. Interacting via zoom and YouTube and other

social media platforms. Subsequently the years that followed in
the aftermath of the lockdowns. This research will look to find
correlation to increase mental health conditions including
depression, stress and anxiety related to the look downs and the
prolonged effects in the years that followed.
The world will be forever changed the challenge now is how to
move forward and what lessons were learned as a result. What
will be the new normal be? This mixed method study will apply
qualitative and quantitative data along with ethnographic data
computation to derive its findings. According to Johnson “26
in-depth interviews with church-appointed United Methodist
pastors conducted between June and August 2020 in which we
asked pastors to describe how, if at all, their ministry changed
in the wake of COVID-19”. He went on to say “The majority of
clergy we spoke with described the pandemic as profoundly
disruptive of ministry-as-usual, upending their usual habits,
practices, and routines in relation to core aspects of their w ork
such as worship services and pastoral care” (Johnston, 2021)
Copyright © 2021. Neil Burgess. All rights reserved.
this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by
the University, including, without limitation, preservation or
instruction.
Dedication (Optional)
The dedication page is a page in which the candidate dedicates
the manuscript. This page is optional.
Acknowledgments (Optional)
The acknowledgments page provides the opportunity for the
candidate to acknowledge individuals who influenced the
writing and completion of the dissertation. This page is
optional.
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT3

Copyright.4
Dedication5
Acknowledgments6
List of Tables9
List of Figures10
List of Abbreviations11
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH CONCERN12
Introduction12
Background to the Problem12
Statement of the Problem13
Purpose Statement14
Research Questions15
Assumptions and Delimitations16
Research Assumptions16
Delimitations of the Research Design17
Definition of Terms18
Significance of the Study18
Summary of the Design19
REFERENCES20
APPENDIX or APPENDICES21
List of Tables
The List of Tables cites the tables and the corresponding pages
of each table. This enables the reader to easily locate the tables
in the manuscript. The title of this page should be a Level 1
heading, centered, 1 inch from the top of the page. Entries
should be double-spaced.
List of Figures
The List of Figures cites the figures and the corresponding
pages of each figure. This enables the reader to easily locate the
figures in the manuscript. The title of this page should be a
Level 1 heading, centered, 1 inch from the top of the page.
Entries should be double-spaced.
Tips for Formatting Tables and Figures
· Use tables for tabular data such as reporting raw data,

statistical findings, and displaying textual lists.
· Use figures for charts, graphs, etc.
· Choose the type of display that works best for your data. Be
consistent: do not choose different display types for variety.
The best display is often the simplest one.
· Every table and figure placed in the text is numbered
separately, starting with the number 1 for each type.
· Numbering continues throughout the document including all
chapters in a dissertation.
· Table or figures in appendices are numbered, starting with the
number 1 for each type and prefixed with the letter “A” as in
A1, A2, A3, etc.
· Table titles are provided in title case with each major word
capitalized and are placed above the table. Figure titles are
provided in sentence case and are placed below the figure (see
chapter 5 of the APA manual for examples).
· If the title is longer than the width of the table or figure, type
it as two or more lines in an inverted pyramid style.
· All references to a table or figure refer to the table or figure
number not its title or a phrase like “in the following table” or
“as seen in the next figure.” The reference may be in running
text, such as “In Table 5 . . .” or “In Figure 5,” or in
parentheses, as in (See Table A7 in Appendix 3) or (Figure 2).
· Capitalize “Table,” “Figure,” and “Appendix” when they are
referenced in the text.
· Refer to a table or figure in the text before it appears in the
document. Use the full word “Table” or “Figure” in the title of
tables and figures rather than the abbreviations “Tbl.” or “Fig.”
· When tables or figures appearing in appendices are referenced
in the text, always include with the reference the appropriate
appendix number such as “Table A3 in Appendix A” or (see
Figure A5 in Appendix C).
List of Abbreviations
The title of this page should be a Level 1 heading, centered, 1
inch from the top of the page. Entries should be double-spaced.
Examples are provided below.

Society of Professors of Christian Education (SPCE)
National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
Liberty University (LU)
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH CONCERNIntroduction
The COVID-19 epidemic created the worst disruption such the
likes this or any generation has ever witnessed. The pandemic
changed the way in person worship is conducted presenting an
unprecedented challenge for the leadership body and the
average church member alike. The impact to churches has been
devasting as the adjustments have long term complications.
Lockdown and other mandates have not only crippled in person
fellowship but has forced the church to redefine the meaning of
small group. March 2020, public health officials across the
country ordered religious organizations to limit in-person
activities and move worship and other services online. This
mandate disrupted one of the most fundamental activities of
religious congregations–bringing people together for corporate
worship (Chaves 2004)
This research aim is to provide a more detailed look at the
impact it had on the Black Churches in the Grater New Haven
County and assess the long-term effect of the mandates impact
on one the most disproportionate groups in the country.
The unprecedented nature of the Coronavirus outbreak has
been one of the most proleptic in recent times. Of many forms
of viral infections to have graced the face of the earth this
particular virus would equate to a modern-day Egyptian plague.
The Coronavirus has been an unmatched global crisis of the era.
The global footprint of this virus has had major impact of the
community of faith. By definition this is the community of
believers more specifically the body of Christ. In the wake of
this massive outbreak the departure from the faith based on the
disease catastrophically impacted the community of faith. The
minority community were the greatest at-risk countless surveys
pointed to this dilemma. The Coronavirus spanned the spectrum
of the faith community irrespective of race, gender and belief.

The greatest impact was among the people of color, especially
the black communities. According to Pew Research, "56% of
those in the historically Black Protestant tradition say they
typically attend religious services at least once or twice a
month, far higher than the share of Catholics (39%) and
mainline Protestants (37%) who do so" (Life in U.S., 2021).
This review will explore how will the faith community return to
in-person worship. The study will be using a mixed
methodology to highlight the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) cases and other data sources in our immediate location.
This research is aimed at the African American community
of the Greater New Haven County. The gap in the study will
focus primarily on the two to three span of the virus and the
impact that still have on this community. The sample church
sizes will be of churches with attendance no greater than 100
members or less. Churches must be in the New Haven County to
qualify and meet the membership requirements. Special
emphasis will be made on the Apostolic Pentecostal groups
compared the compared to other groups. Income, gender and
ethnicity will be factors addressed in this study to prove if a
correlation exist between other ethnic groups. The use of
ethnography will be applied where it is deemed to be necessary.
The study will seek to expose differences if any after the
lockdowns ended and in person services resumed.
Summarize the recent research on the topic.Purpose Statement
The purpose of this mixed-methods research will be
to analyze the impact of Coronavirus on the return of in-person
worship by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data.
This study will first collect qualitative data. This research will
then collect quantitative data from the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) and Pew Research Center as data sources along
with ethnographic data to capture a more relational person to
person boots on the ground approach. This data will then be
analyzed to determine the impact ratio ofin-person worship
based on the lockdowns opposed to lifting of the lockdowns and

other mandates.
Research Questions
The following research questions guided this study:
RQ1. What, if any, are the influence of Coronavirus on
individual believers' ability to worship in person?
RQ2. How many hours per week is spent in online worship in
comparison to in-person service?
RQ3. What, if any, are the differences between the online
worship experience and the in-person worship experience?
It is important to note that this study is delimited to
parishioners of African American churches in Connecticut's
Greater New Haven County. Additionally, the study will not
comprehensively research all aspects of the effects of the
pandemic on in-person worship but the impact on the faith of
parishioners of communities of color.
Research Assumptions
The research assumes that churches that fall outside the
requirement will not be included in the study. The research
assumed that church that are not with the inner city of the study
will be excluded for the study. It is important to note that this
study is delimited to parishioners of African American churches
in Connecticut's Greater New Haven County. Additionally, the
study will not comprehensively research all aspects of the
effects of the pandemic on in-person worship but the impact on
the faith of parishioners of communities of color.
It is important to note that this study is delimited to
parishioners of African American churches in Connecticut's
Greater New Haven County. Additionally, the study will not
comprehensively research all aspects of the effects of the

pandemic on in-person worship but the impact on the faith of
parishioners of communities of color.
Definition of Terms Significance of the Study
The significance of the study is to evaluate the level of the
impact to the African American communities of faith in the
aftermath of the lockdowns due to the Coronavirus. The advent
of online worship instead of in-person worship. As stated in
scripture neglect not to assemble. The study takes a deeper look
at the post lockdowns and the effect that are present in churches
today. It will examine situation that may have been exacerbated
based on the inability to worship more in the assembly of
others. The phycological impact on individuals with mental
health conditions that benefit from being in a group setting.
Conversely individuals that were more fearful that have now
become more averse to being in a situation where they are now
susceptible to contract the virus. What and how does leadership
deal with these fallout issues while dealing with individual
short. Summary of the Design
This qualitative study will be conducted by reviewing several
related studies from previous literature to identify the
correlations compared to the researcher's central focus. The
author will then perform the research process with the steps as
follows:
1. Defining the problem. The problem that the author tries
to explore is the impact of depression on African American
pastors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Data collection. The data collection method chosen will
be conducted with interviews and questionnaires. The
interviews can be conducted in-person, over the telephone or
through the internet.
3. Defining the terms. At this stage, the author defines the
term "Depression," as defined by the American Psychiatric
Association: "A common and serious medical illness that
negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you
act" (What is Depression, 2020).
Additionally, other definitions include "COVID-19," as defined

by John Hopkins Medicine: "COVID-19 is the disease caused
by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that emerged in December
2019" (What Is Coronavirus, 2021). According to Cambridge
University Press, the term "Lockdown" specifies "A period of
time in which people are not allowed to leave their homes or
travel freely, because of a dangerous disease" (Cambridge
University Press, 2021).
1. Identification of the study population. The study population
will be pastors of African American churches within
Connecticut's Greater New Haven County regardless of
attendance size.
2. Data analysis. The collected data will be analyzed to achieve
the objectives. The objectives include answering the research
questions, testing the hypotheses, and reporting the final
findings.
.
REFERENCES
Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning,
conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative
research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Morse, J. M. (1994). Designing funded qualitative research. In
N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative
research (pp. 220-235). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Newman, I., & Benz, C. R. (1998). Qualitative-quantitative
research methodology: Exploring the interactive
continuum. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University
Press
Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Johnson, R. B. (2004). Mixed method
and mixed model research. In R.B. Johnson & L. B.
Christensen, Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative,
and mixed approaches (pp. 408-431). Needham Heights,
MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Pew Research. (2021, March 22). Life in U.S. Religious
Congregations Slowly Edges Back Toward
Normal.https://www.pewforum.org/2021/03/22/life-in-u- s-
religious- congregations-slowly-edges-back-toward-normal/
Keeter, S. (2021, March 16). Many Americans continue to
experience mental healthdifficulties as pandemic enters
second year. Pew Research Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/03/16/many-
americans-continue-to- experience-mental-health-difficulties-
as-pandemic-enters-second-year/
Jhangiani, R., Chiang, I. A., Price, P. (2014). Research methods
in psychology. Australia: BC Open Textbook Project.
Johnston, Erin F. “Pastoral Ministry in Unsettled Times: A
Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Clergy During the
COVID-19 Pandemic.” Review of religious research (2021): 1–
23. Web.
Brook, J. (2020). Church at home: A reflection on
congregational life during Covid-19. Lutheran Theological
Journal, 54(2), 99–101. https://search-informit-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/doi/10.3316/informit.427589443059626
Greene, Alan. “Closing Places of Worship and COVID-19:
Towards a Culture of Justification?” The Edinburgh law review.
25.3 (2021): 393–400. Web.
APPENDIX or APPENDICES

19
QUANTITATIVE PROSPECTUS TEMPLATE
CHAPTER ONE (FOR USE IN CLED805)
The EdD in Christian Leadership is a terminal degree requiring
the writing of a social science model dissertation. This
dissertation is produced as a result as a result of a sequence of
research courses and integrates work from all seminars in the
program. While each student develops their dissertation with
specific sections and content appropriate to their research
problem and design, the purpose of the template is to ensure
that the dissertation manuscript is a quality document that meets
the standard of the program. This template provides information
about formatting and the content contained in each section of
the dissertation. This template is designed for use in creating a
quantitative dissertation. Students should use the qualitative
template for qualitative dissertation designs. For mixed-methods
designs, it is suggested that modify the qualitative and
quantitative templates, thus creating a hybrid model appropriate
to your research.
A Word About Formatting
The margins for all chapters are 1 inch at the top and bottom
and sides. All text should be Times New Roman, 12-point font.
The use of Times New Roman, 10-point font in tables and
figures is considered acceptable usage. Text within the body of
the manuscript should be left justified leaving a jagged right
margin. Double-spacing should be employed throughout the
manuscript except for exceptions found in the Program
Handbook. There should be one space after the punctuation at
the end of sentences. Page numbers should all be Arabic
numerals and placed in the upper right-hand corner (with the
page number on the first page suppressed). All

manuscripts should follow the newest version of the APA style
manual. The” Running Head” is not used.
Prospectus Template Sections
1
What follows is the Prospectus Template with a description of
each section. This template is designed for writing chapter one
and is for use in CLED805.
iv
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
AN EXAMPLE OF THE TITLE PAGE: THE TITLE GOES
HERE
ALL CAPS. INVERTED TRIANGLE,
17 WORDS MAXIMUM

Doctor of Education
by
Student’s Full Legal Name
Year
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE SIGNATURE PAGE: THE
TITLE SHOULD GO HERE (ALL CAPS)
by Student’s Full Legal Name
Doctor of Education
Date Defended
APPROVED BY:
__________________________________

__________________________________
ABSTRACT
The abstract summarizes the contents of the prospectus or
dissertation. It should include the purpose (see template below),
a brief rationale of the study, the research questions as
appropriate, the methodology, and the results. For the
Prospectus, the abstract is written in the future tense because
the study is yet to be undertaken. For the Dissertation, the
abstract is written in past tense because the study is complete.
Descriptions of the methodology should include the design, the
sample, setting, and data collection and analysis methods. The
abstract should include results of the study, but should not
include statistics. With regards to format, the word
“ABSTRACT” should be in all caps and a Level 1 heading,
centered, and bold. The abstract should be written as one,
double-spaced paragraph in which the first sentence of the
abstract is not indented. The typical length of the abstract is
approximately 250 words or less. While some dissertation
abstracts may need to be, no more than one page is permitted.
The purpose statement should follow the construction taught in
CLED770 and the Creswell textbook (Creswell, 2013).
The purpose of this ______ (descriptive, correlational, causal,
quasi-experimental, experimental) study will be to ______
(understand, determine, compare, predict, explain, classify,
evaluate) if a relationship exists between ______ (independent
variable) and ______ (dependent variable), controlling for
______ (control variables) for ______ (population).
Keywords: This is a list of 4-7 words (separated by commas)
central to your study.
Copyright © Year. Full Legal Name. All rights reserved.
this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by
the University, including, without limitation, preservation or

instruction.
Dedication (Optional)
The dedication page is a page in which the candidate dedicates
the manuscript. This page is optional.
Acknowledgments (Optional)
The acknowledgments page provides the opportunity for the
candidate to acknowledge individuals who influenced the
writing and completion of the dissertation. This page is
optional.
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents lists the various chapters and subsections
of the manuscript along with their page numbers. The Table of
Contents should include the Abstract, Copyright Page (written
as illustrated on the copyright page in this document),
Dedication (optional), Acknowledgements (optional), List of
Tables, List of Figures, CHAPTER TITLES (all caps), Level 1
headings, Level 2 headings, REFERENCES (all caps), and
APPENDIX or APPENDICES (all caps). These should be left
justified. The subsections included should only be APA Level 1
and Level 2 headings within the manuscript. Level 1 headings
should be indented one-half inch, and Level 2 headings should
be indented one inch. Chapter titles are not considered Level 1
headings. Entries should be double-spaced. Identify the page
number where each heading and sub-heading begin flush against
the right margin.
ABSTRACT3
Copyright4
Dedication (Optional)5
Acknowledgments (Optional)6
List of Tables9
List of Figures10
List of Abbreviations11
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH CONCERN12

Introduction12
Background to the Problem12
Statement of the Problem13
Purpose Statement14
Research Questions15
Assumptions and Delimitations16
Research Assumptions16
Delimitations of the Research Design17
Definition of Terms18
Significance of the Study19
Summary of the Design19
REFERENCES20
APPENDIX or APPENDICES21
List of Tables
The List of Tables cites the tables and the corresponding pages
of each table. This enables the reader to easily locate the tables
in the manuscript. The title of this page should be a Level 1
heading, centered, 1 inch from the top of the page. Entries
should be double-spaced.
List of Figures
The List of Figures cites the figures and the corresponding
pages of each figure. This enables the reader to easily locate the
figures in the manuscript. The title of this page should be a
Level 1 heading, centered, 1 inch from the top of the page.
Entries should be double-spaced.
Tips for Formatting Tables and Figures
· Use tables for tabular data such as reporting raw data,
statistical findings, and displaying textual lists.
· Use figures for charts, graphs, etc.
· Choose the type of display that works best for your data. Be
consistent: do not choose different display types for variety.
The best display is often the simplest one.
· Every table and figure placed in the text is numbered
separately, starting with the number 1 for each type.

· Numbering continues throughout the document including all
chapters in a dissertation.
· Table or figures in appendices are numbered, starting with the
number 1 for each type and prefixed with the letter “A” as in
A1, A2, A3, etc.
· Table titles are provided in title case with each major word
capitalized and are placed above the table. Figure titles are
provided in sentence case and are placed below the figure (see
chapter 5 of the APA manual for examples).
· If the title is longer than the width of the table or figure, type
it as two or more lines in an inverted pyramid style.
· All references to a table or figure refer to the table or figure
number not its title or a phrase like “in the following table” or
“as seen in the next figure.” The reference may be in running
text, such as “In Table 5 . . .” or “In Figure 5,” or in
parentheses, as in (See Table A7 in Appendix 3) or (Figure 2).
· Capitalize “Table,” “Figure,” and “Appendix” when they are
referenced in the text.
· Refer to a table or figure in the text before it appears in the
document. Use the full word “Table” or “Figure” in the title of
tables and figures rather than the abbreviations “Tbl.” or “Fig.”
· When tables or figures appearing in appendices are referenced
in the text, always include with the reference the appropriate
appendix number such as “Table A3 in Appendix A” or (see
Figure A5 in Appendix C).
List of Abbreviations
The title of this page should be a Level 1 heading, centered, 1
inch from the top of the page. Entries should be double-spaced.
Examples are provided below.
Society of Professors of Christian Education (SPCE)
National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
Liberty University (LU)
CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH CONCERNIntroduction
The purpose of Chapter One is to provide an introduction,
overview, and foundational framework for the research. The
chapter should create reader interest, provide awareness of a

problem that necessitates the research, establish literature
context in which the research is founded, identify the
importance of the research for a specific audience, and briefly
introduce the research via the research questions. The
introduction segment of the chapter, should briefly identify the
theological, sociological, educational and/or leadership concern
generating the research problem. The introduction must also
clearly and concisely describe the contents and organization of
the chapter. Chapter One may vary in length from 12-20
pages.Background to the Problem
The research problem is an issue or concern that is within the
broad research topic area. In qualitative research, research
problems tend to explore a process, a people group, an event or
a phenomenon. The “Background to the Problem” section of the
chapter provides a compelling backdrop to the problem being
researched. Generally, this section contains a summary of the
most relevant literature and provides the theological, historical
(i.e., how the problem has evolved), sociological (i.e.,
contexts), and theoretical (e.g., important variables and
concepts, and the principles underpinning the research) contexts
for the research problem. The author often uses this section to
create a sense of anticipation and an early interest on the part of
the reader in the problem being studied. It is best to remember
that the reader is just being introduced to this problem. You
have been reflecting on it for some time. Use this section to
bring them into the conversation and gain a sense of your
passion about this topic. In essence, the background segment
creates a sense of urgency in addressing an issue that is
dissertation worthy.
Each of the four contexts mentioned above (theological,
historical, sociological, and theoretical) are often covered by
dissertation writers using APA Level 2 headings for each. You
should be sure to link and relate the background of the study to
the proposed research. Questions that may be asked or
addressed in this section may include, but are not limited to: Is

there a biblical or theological issue or concern at stake here?
What is the problem and why is it an interest? Who else is
affected by the problem? What research has been done to
investigate or address the problem? How will the proposed
research extend or refine the existing knowledge in the area
under study? Who will benefit or use the proposed research?
What new information does the current research add to the body
of existing literature regarding the topic? The majority of
literature cited in this section should be no more than five years
old.
You will remember from your research courses, that there is a
funneling effect created in the background section. The reader
is moved from the wider topic of interest to the specific
problem being studied. A “gap” is identified in the existing
literature specific to the issue or problem. The reader is then
with to see how this research will fill that gap in
understanding.Statement of the Problem
“A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the
literature, theory, or practice that leads to a need for the study”
(Creswell, 2013, p. 50). The “Statement of the Problem” section
continues to build the case for the research work and informs
the reader of the nature of the problem being studied. In
simplest terms, a research problem is a statement of the research
concern and why it needs to be studied. This section varies in
length depending on the problem and the need to aid the reader
in understanding the context of the study. As you develop this
section, seek to accomplish three results.
1. Summarize the recent research on the topic.
2. Explain how/why the current research is deficient or falls
short.
3. Conclude with a focused statement identifying the problem in
relation to your research design. Purpose Statement
The purpose statement should follow the “Statement of the
Problem” and clearly and succinctly state the focus and
intentions of the proposed research. The purpose statement is a
declarative sentence which gives specific direction to the

research. It orients your reader to your study, provides a short
statement of why the study is being done and what it hopes to
understand, and gives the reader an immediate sense of where
the research is heading and what the researcher was hoping to
accomplish.
Purpose statements follow a common template and begin
with these words, “The purpose of this study is . . .” It
foreshadows the research questions that follow, creating an
elevated view of the entire research endeavor. It is used several
times in the dissertation and employs consistently wording
whenever it appears in the prospectus and dissertation. You are
encouraged to use the following template adapted from Creswell
(2013):
The purpose of this ______ (descriptive, correlational,
causal, quasi-experimental, experimental) study will be to
______ (understand, determine, compare, predict, explain,
classify, evaluate) if a relationship exists between ______
(independent variable) and ______ (dependent variabl e),
controlling for ______ (control variables) for ______
(population).
The statement template above works well for a
correlational design. This statement will like need to be revised
for descriptive, causal, and quasi-experimental designs.
The statement of the problem and purpose statements are
two distinct and very important elements of the prospectus or
dissertation. Together, these statements create the structure and
direction of the study. They also establish the importance of the
study and identify the goal of the research. All preceding
writing within should funnel into the problem and purpose
statements. The writing that follows will refine, expand,
explain, support and align with these foundational statements.
All content in the prospectus and dissertation is included to
answer the problem and fulfill the purpose. Content that does
not, should be considered unnecessary and not included, no
matter how interesting it is the manuscript author. Use these
statements as a measure to determine what to include and what

to exclude from your document.Research Questions
Research questions provide the skeletal structure of the
dissertation. Therefore, they are critically important to the
entire research and writing task. The proposed research
questions should be derived from the problem and purpose
statements. A well-formulated research question (a) asks about
the relationship/differences between two or more variables, (b)
is stated clearly and in the form of a question, (c) is testable
(i.e., possible to collect quantitative data to answer the
question), (d) does not pose an ethical or moral problem for
implementation, (e) is specific and restricted in scope (i.e., the
aim is not to solve the world's problems), and (f) identifies
exactly what is to be solved. A good research question also
clearly identifies the sample population. In addition, it should
be noted that the research question implies the research design
and statistical analysis. A typical dissertation contains three to
five research questions. Therefore, identify at least three to five
research questions in your Prospectus. Remember that each
research question will need to be addressed in the data
collection, data analysis, and discussion sections of later
chapters. Be sure these questions do not elicit simple yes/no
responses. To summarize, research question creation should be
guided by the following principles.
1. Research questions serve to breakdown the problem into sub-
problems.
2. Each research question should be a completely researchable
unit.
3. Each research question should be tied to the interpretation of
the data.
4. When answered, the research questions will answer the larger
problem.
You are to format your questions as follows. This is an
exception to the APA style guide for this particular heading.
This exception applies wherever research questions are listed in
the Prospectus or Dissertation. Research questions are always
labeled as RQ with the number that applies to the question.

They are indented and single-spaced with 12-point spacing
between questions. All multi-line lists appear in this format.
RQ1. What relationship, if any, exists between a pastor’s
Myers-Brigg’s Personality Type and the pastor’s ministry
satisfaction level?
RQ2. What relationship, if any, exists between a pastor’s
Myers-Brigg’s Personality Type and the pastor’s ministry
tenure?
RQ3. What relationship, if any, exists between a pastor's Myers-
Brigg’s Personality Type and the pastor's conflict management
acumen?
RQ4. To what degree, if any, can a Pastor’s Myers-Brigg
Personality Type serve as a predictor of the perceived ministry
effectiveness level of full-time pastors as observed by their
church board leaders?Assumptions and Delimitations
Assumptions and delimitations help frame the research for
the reader. Assumptions provide a starting point and
delimitations provide boundaries. These are both included in the
first chapter though dissertation outlines differ as to where they
are included. In the EdD in Christian Leadership program, they
are grouped under one heading and follow the research
questions section.
Research Assumptions
All research is built upon assumptions. Because research
must start somewhere, assumptions serve as that starting point.
Assumptions are facts that the researcher believes to be true
and, therefore, will not seek to prove through the research. Most
often, assumptions come from prior research, researcher
worldview, or the literature review.
Assumptions are listed under this heading. They may
simply be listed, or that may be discussed in greater detail as
the researcher determines necessary for clarity in presenting the
research. If the research is working from a particular
assumption, and that assumption is important to the research
and its conclusions, those assumptions should be openly

presented and discussed in the section of the dissertation. If
there is doubt about listing an assumption, you should include it
and then work with your committee chair to determine if it is
needed.
Do not include obvious assumptions here. For example,
there is no need to assume that “Excel accurately calculates t-
test statistics” or that participants will “respond truthfully.”
Those are normally recognized assumptions in all research.
Rather, one might assume that “Piaget’s theory of cognitive
development accurately identifies the cognitive development
stages and processed in children.”
Delimitations are the boundaries of your study. All
research has limits and thus, certain work that will not be
performed. The work that will and will not be undertaken is
described as the delimitations of the research. In quantitative
research designs, delimitations are important for issues relevant
to the generalizability of the research by helping the reader to
understand how to the inclusion criteria and exclusion factors in
designing the study and defining the study population.
Typically, a delimitation is stated as illustrated below. This
example involves a study of study of college students.
This research is delimited to students entering their first
year of college in four-year public university settings. It does
not include students entering community colleges, private
college, religious institutions, or trade schools.
This research is further delimited to entering their first
year of college in four-year public university settings who are
between 17 and 24 years of age. It, therefore, excludes students
re-entering university as mature, adult learners.
This research is delimited to residential students and does
not include students studying through alternative delivery
systems such as online education modalities. Likewise, it does
not include commuting students, part-time students, or students
taking independent study coursework.Definition of Terms

Terms pertinent to the study should be listed and defined
in the final section of Chapter One. Generally, definitions in
this section also need to be supported by the literature, though,
they may be original to the researcher when deemed necessary.
Terms should be defined when they play a critical role
understanding the title, purpose, research questions, or
population. Include terms that use abbreviations. Citations are
needed when a term is based on the literature review. Dictionary
definitions are not acceptable. Note the exception to APA
format for multi-line lists. Here are some examples of definition
of terms.
1. Youth Minister: A paid church staff member whose primary
duties are to provide pastoral care to adolescents.
2. Attitude: Attitude is a psychological tendency that invol ves
evaluating a particular object with some degree of favor or
disfavor (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993).
3. Interest: The combination of emotion and personal valuation
of a task resulting in a desire for various levels of enjoyment
(Ainley & Ainley, 2011). Significance of the Study
The significance of the study section contains a description of
the contributions that the study makes to the knowledge base or
discipline, both theoretically and empirically (i.e., How does it
relate to other studies that are similar or that investigate the
same issue?)
This section also includes a brief description of the practical
significance of the study; why it is important to organizations,
institutions, the general population, or specific population being
studied (e.g., Why and how does it affect them? How will it
improve the conditions, lives, work environment, etc.? How can
this study be used on a wider scale to affect change to help a
wider group of people or similar organizations?). References are
very important here to lend additional credence and support the
study. All assertions in this section need to be supported.
This section provides a summary of the design to be used to
answer the research questions. It will be revised as chapter three

is developed. It may also contain a chapter summary and
transition to chapter two.
REFERENCES
All the references cited within the text should be listed in
accordance with the most recent edition of the Publication
Manual of APA. The reference title should be capitalized, bold,
and centered. Note that the reference list is to be single-spaced
within each entry. Spacing between entries should be 12-point.
See example below of how the reference page should be
formatted.
Please consult the current edition of the APA style manual for
proper formatting guidelines per reference type. Newest edition
now includes citation for online sources, including podcasts and
social medial posts.
Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research design: Qualitative,
quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Saga
Press.
Galvan, J. L., & Galvan, M. C. (2017). Writing literature
reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral
sciences (7th ed.). Routledge.
Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2016). Practical research:
Planning and design (11th ed.). Pearson.
Lowe, S. D., & Lowe, M. E. (2010). Spiritual formation in
theological distance education : an ecosystems model. Christian
Education Journal, 7, 85–102.
Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2017). The literature review:
Six steps to success (3rd ed.). Corwin.
Roberts, C. M. (2010). The dissertation journey: A practical and
comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your
dissertation (2nd ed.). Saga Press.
Shields, J. B. (2008). An assessment of dropout rates of former
youth ministry participants in conservative Southern Baptist
megachurches (Publication No. 3401805) [Doctoral dissertation,
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]. ProQuest Dissertations
Publishing.

Smith, C. (2007, January 1). Evangelicals behaving badly with
statistics. Books & Culture: A Christian Review.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/janfeb/ 5.11.html.
APPENDIX or APPENDICES
The appendix must include a variety of artifacts. The
appendices must include the IRB application (replace with the
approval letter for the complete dissertation), informed
consent/assent forms, surveys/questionnaires/instruments,
protocols (interviews or observations), sample transcripts of
interviews, theoretical memos, and other documents used to
establish an audit trail. Any identifying or personal information
(names, schools, districts, phone numbers, email addresses)
should be eliminated. If numerous types of artifacts are
included as appendices, each type should have a section labeled
as Appendix A, Appendix B, etc. Each appendix must be
addressed in the narrative text. The appendix title should be
capitalized, bold, and centered.

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