The results of this study revealed the relationship between the pastor’s servant
leadership and the staff member’s organizational commitment to the church. Data
collected was from 37 Southern Baptist churches in the state of Mississippi with a
resident membership of 500 or more. Ninety-one participated in the study.
Using the Servant Leadership Questionnaire (SLQ) (Barbuto & Wheeler, 2006), the
Three-Component Model (TCM) Employee Commitment Survey (Meyer & Allen, 2004),
and a demographic survey, the data was collected. Full-time ministerial staff members
and administrative assistants participated, rating the servant leadership style of their
pastor in addition to providing their organizational commitment. Evidence supported the
reliability and validity of both servant leadership and organizational commitment models
and the associated instruments.
This study found a statistically significant correlation between the pastor’s servant
leadership style of leadership and the staff’s affective and normative organizational
commitment. No statistical significant correlation existed between the pastor’s servant
leadership style of leadership and the staff’s continuance commitment to the organization.
Statistical data and implications for the findings were included.
This research presented information that can be used in future studies relating to
leadership behavior, as outlined in servant leadership theories and its effect on
subordinates in organizations.