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Collective Leadership and Church Growth: A Study of Leadership and Church Growth at GKPB “Masa Depan Cerah” Surabaya, Indonesia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The complexity of twenty-first century church leadership calls for adaptive models that move beyond the dominance of a single pastoral figure. This study examined the effect of collective leadership on pastoral ministry and church growth, with pastoral ministry tested as a mediating variable. The research was conducted at the Gereja Kristen Perjanjian Baru (GKPB) “Masa Depan Cerah” in Surabaya, Indonesia, involving 100 valid respondents drawn from both leaders and active members. Data were gathered through a structured Likert-scale questionnaire and analysed using linear regression and mediation analysis. The results indicated that collective leadership had a positive and significant influence on pastoral ministry (R² = 0.514). Furthermore, both collective leadership and pastoral ministry together explained a substantial proportion of church growth (R² = 0.706). The mediation test revealed that pastoral ministry significantly strengthened the effect of collective leadership on church growth. This suggests that leadership structures are most effective when translated into concrete pastoral practices that equip and nurture the congregation. Theologically, these findings affirm the principle of the body of Christ in Ephesians 4:11-16, which stresses the complementarity of diverse leadership gifts in building up the church. Church growth is thereby understood not merely in numerical terms, but also in spiritual maturity and congregational involvement. This study provides one of the first quantitative examinations of collective leadership within an Indonesian church context. It demonstrates that a model of collective leadership integrated with pastoral ministry can serve as a biblically grounded and contextually effective strategy for sustainable church growth, and contributes fresh insights from the Global South to current global debates on church leadership.

Source: Pharos Journal of Theology

DOI: 10.46222/pharosjot.107.14

Authors: Ponco M. Basuki, Pieter G.O Sunkudon, Agustinus Depparua, Kristiana Fitriani

Institutions: Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Injili Indonesia Surabaya, Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Injili Indonesia Palu

Language: English

Topic: Contemporary Christian Leadership and Education

Subfield: Religious studies

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $375