CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Leadership is commonly understood as a process in which one person influences a group of people to achieve a shared goal (Northouse, 2021). In church settings, this influence works through direction, motivation, correction and the development of people toward the church's mission. Leadership is not a fixed trait. It can be learned, improved and refined, and it always involves leaders and followers who interact in particular situations and draw on their shared values and goals (Dairo, 2014).

The idea of church leadership is not new. Long before modern leadership theory emerged, the Apostle Paul listed the qualifications of church leaders in the Pastoral Epistles. Recent studies treat these lists as still relevant to the church today. Ukeachusim (2021) argues that Paul's instructions to Timothy on the qualifications of overseers (1 Timothy 3:1–7) remain applicable to the church in Nigeria. Olajide (2024) finds that the same passage rests on character, ministerial, spiritual, household and social criteria, and that these should serve as standards for choosing people for ecclesiastical leadership.

Contemporary experience in Nigeria, however, shows a considerable gap between this ideal and practice. Ukeachusim (2021) links the rapid growth in the number of churches and self-declared overseers to unrighteous leadership that undermines the church's mission. Olajide (2024), drawing on media reports, observes that many Nigerian churches are led by individuals marked by character deficits and weak leadership competence. Where leaders and followers lack the mutual understanding that healthy leadership requires, crises often arise within the body of Christ, with direct consequences for church growth and survival.

Leadership should also be judged by its results. It is meaningful only when it is linked to a collective purpose. Its effectiveness shows in the long-term growth and development of the church and in how well it meets human needs, not in public image.

Biblical terminology for church leaders

The New Testament uses several terms for church leadership. In passages such as Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7; and 1 Peter 5:1–3, the terms "elder," "bishop" (overseer) and "pastor" (shepherd) appear to describe overlapping functions. "Elder" translates the Greek presbyteros, which literally means an older person. Paul also uses presbyterion in 1 Timothy 4:14 for the body of elders who ordained Timothy. "Bishop" means overseer, and "pastor" means shepherd, one who guides and cares for God's flock. These terms indicate mature people with spiritual wisdom and experience who were entrusted with the church's oversight and continuity (Ukeachusim, 2021; Olajide, 2024).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Many churches in Nigeria are affected by false teaching, preconceived ideas and human regulations that override biblical guidance, and these have hindered growth and survival (Dairo, 2014). According to Paul, a church leader must be able to carry followers along. Not every leader will display every quality equally, but each must show them to a noticeable degree. A leader who is harsh instead of gentle, intemperate instead of temperate, or disreputable instead of respectable has disqualified himself from the office. Church leadership is a noble task that requires the right kind of people.

A related problem is the use of the ministry for personal enrichment. Some leaders exploit congregants' limited knowledge of what the Bible says about wealth. Research on Nigerian Pentecostalism shows that pastors' displays of wealth and accusations of fraud and corruption are now widely discussed and scrutinised by their own congregations (Casciano, 2022). As this awareness grows, such practices erode trust and limit the growth and survival of the churches concerned. This study therefore examines the role of church leaders in the growth and survival of the church.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the role of church leaders in the growth and survival of a church.
2. To identify the functions and duties of church leaders in a church.
3. To identify the other factors militating against church growth and survival.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the role of church leaders in the growth and survival of a church?
2. What are the functions and duties of church leaders in a church?
3. What other factors militate against church growth and survival?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H₀: Church leaders do not have a role in church growth and survival.

Hₐ: Church leaders have a role in church growth and survival.

1.6 Significance of the Study

1. The findings will educate church authorities and the general public in Nigeria on what church leaders need to do to ensure growth and survival.
2. The study will serve as a resource for scholars and researchers interested in church leadership and may offer fresh explanations on the subject.

1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study

Scope. The study covers the activities of churches in Nigeria, with particular focus on the roles and duties of church leaders.

Limitations.

1. Financial constraints: Limited funds may restrict access to relevant literature and the costs of data collection, including internet access, questionnaires and interviews.
2. Time constraints: The researcher is undertaking this study alongside other academic work, which reduces the time available for it.

References

Casciano, D. (2022). Popular tales of pastors, luxury, frauds and corruption: Pentecostalism, conspicuous consumption, and the moral economy of corruption in Nigeria. Journal of Extreme Anthropology, 5(2), 52–71. https://doi.org/10.5617/jea.9008

Dairo, A. (2014). Church leadership in Nigeria in the light of leadership qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1–7. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences.

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Olajide, M. D. (2024). Paul's guidelines for church leadership in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 as a template for churches in Nigeria. Pharos Journal of Theology, 105(5), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.51

Ukeachusim, C. P. (2021). Understanding 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and the need for righteous church overseers in Nigerian Christendom. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 77(1), Article a6350. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i1.6350