Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Religious Education, PhD

First Advisor

David Sedlacek

Second Advisor

Petr Činčala

Third Advisor

Elvin Gabriel

Abstract

Problem

While traditional leadership models, such as transactional and transformational leadership, have shown success, recent research highlights the need for leadership approaches that address the spiritual and ethical dimensions of individuals in the workplace. Leaders who fail to integrate spiritual leadership risk negatively impacting employee satisfaction, creativity, and overall organizational performance. Despite the well-established concepts of inner life and spiritual well-being, more research is needed to understand their effects on employee performance in faith-based institutions. This study sought to fill that gap by examining the relationship among inner life, spiritual leadership, and spiritual well-being as predictors of organizational performance among employees at a Seventh-day Adventist university in Latin America.

Method

This research employed a quantitative, non-experimental approach to exploring relationships among variables by identifying patterns, correlations, and causal interactions. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to determine both the direct, indirect, and total effects of the variables. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS version 21. The study population consisted of employees from a Seventh-day Adventist university in Latin America (SDAULA), who completed the Spiritual Leadership Scale (Fry, 2003) via the SurveyMonkey platform. The scale included 40 items rated on a 5- point Likert scale, measuring inner life, spiritual leadership, spiritual well-being (calling and membership), and organizational performance (organizational commitment, life satisfaction, and productivity). For model evaluation, several fit indices were applied: Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR).

Results

The SDAULA study found an important connection (β = 0.661, p < 0.000) between spiritual leadership and organizational commitment. This suggests that effective leadership has a considerable impact on employees’ emotional attachment and loyalty to the institution. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation (β = -0.444, p < 0.003) between organizational commitment and life satisfaction. This shows that when employees perceive a lack of altruistic love from their leaders, their life satisfaction suffers, which in turn reduces their commitment to the firm. The study also found a substantial positive correlation (β = 0.711, p < 0.000) between inner life and employee satisfaction. The study demonstrated a considerable correlation (β = 0.754, p < 0.000) between inner life and spiritual leadership, indicating that practices like Bible reading and prayer improve spiritual leadership. The growth of one’s inner life has a direct impact on and accentuates spiritual leadership attributes. The research found a non-significant negative connection (β = -0.047, p < 0.416) between calling and organizational commitment. Calling significantly increased life satisfaction (β = 0.259, p < 0.000) and staff productivity (β = 0.205, p < 0.000). Membership had a significant beneficial impact on organizational commitment (β = 0.403, p< 0.000), life satisfaction (β = 0.343, p < 0.002), and staff productivity (β = 0.512, p < 0.000). These findings show the critical role that both calling, and membership play in shaping various elements of employee performance and well-being.

Conclusions

This study thoroughly studied and analyzed a broad sample of 361 employees from different sectors and backgrounds at a Seventh-day Adventist university in Latin America. The findings demonstrated that cultivating an inner life characterized by prayer, Bible reading, Sabbath observance, and spiritual growth are highly helpful resources for effective leadership and organizational success. A well-developed inner life has a considerable impact on organizational culture and dynamics, as well as individual leadership styles. Leaders who cultivate their inner lives are better able to inspire and motivate their colleagues, creating an environment that values spiritual well-being, connection, and purpose. This influence can promote internal collaboration and trust, resulting in more employee engagement and loyalty. Furthermore, the study found that firms that actively value their employees’ inner lives and spiritual well-being can result in a more committed, satisfied, and productive workforce. Organizations can help employees find deeper meaning in their work by incorporating practices that promote spiritual growth. This, in turn, can result in improved job satisfaction, less employee turnover, and increased productivity.

Subject Area

Leadership; Christian leadership; Spirituality--Seventh-day Adventists; Organizational behavior; Christian life; Seventh-day Adventist universities and colleges

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