Fourteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Leadership styles and methods greatly impact how groups function and their effectiveness. Group dynamics are also dependent on the application of the leader’s style, meaning either individual, group, or organizationally centered. Leader-centered leaders can be characterized based on the active and imposing role of the leader over the group. Group-centered leaders, in contrast, may be identified by the promotion of group discussion and growth in which information is exchanged between members. This paper analyzes 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 using socio-rhetorical analysis to identify the main message of the text and show that there is a sacred text example of group-centered leadership in a spiritual group. Overall, spiritual leaders should consider using group-centered leadership to promote unity and purity in their religious and spiritual groups through self-directed methods. This involves using a hands-off facilitating approach by enabling followers with the necessary tools for growth. This paper illustrates how the sacred text demonstrates the place of group-centered groups in religious congregations, how they should function through hands-off leadership, and the value of this method for members of the religious community.