Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

College of Education and International Services

Program

Leadership PhD

First Advisor

Jay Brand

Second Advisor

Karla Basurto-Gutierrez

Third Advisor

Pardon Mwansa

Abstract

Problem

In an increasingly polarized world, church leaders are expected to foster inclusion, belonging, and unity within diverse congregations. Inclusive leadership (IL), supported by emotional intelligence (EQ) and cultural intelligence (CQ), may offer a relational leadership posture well-suited to this challenge. Growing evidence suggests that relational qualities such as EQ and CQ help leaders develop inclusive communities, foster belonging, and bridge differences (Thomas & Inkson, 2017; Wise, 2022). Emotional and cultural intelligence are studied increasingly in organizational settings, but little is known about how they affect inclusive leadership in faith-based institutions, such as among pastors and church leaders in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC), where cultural diversity presents unique leadership challenges. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among three constructs: EQ, CQ, and IL among Seventh-day Adventist pastors and church leaders serving diverse communities within the SDACC.

Method

A quantitative correlational survey research study explored the associations between EQ, CQ, and IL among SDACC Seventh-day Adventist pastors and church leaders to address this gap in the relevant knowledge base. The Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) by Ang et al. (2007), the 10-item Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale (BEIS-10; Davies et al., 2010), and the Inclusive Leadership Scale (ILS) by Carmeli et al. (2010) exhibited model fit for the study, which means all the instruments mentioned confirm accurately captured the intended latent constructs in this study. SurveyMonkey combined all three instruments, including demographics, into a single online survey. All participants had a month to finish the 50-item survey. The three construct variables were measured using 5-point Likert-scaleitems. The study analyzed the variables using various statistical analyses, including Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and structural equation modelling (SEM). Pearson’s r correlation was used to examine the strength and direction of the bivariate relationships among the paired study variables. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and SmartPLS. SEM was used to determine both the direct, indirect, and overall effects of the variables.

Results

The study included 421 respondents: 113 pastors (26.8%) and 308 church leaders (73.2%) within the SDACC. Most respondents were male (63.7%); females comprised 36.3% of the sample. The results of the study aligned with prior research demonstrating strong associations between EQ and CQ (Cabral et al., 2020; Moon, 2010; Putranto et al., 2018) and extended the literature by empirically linking both constructs to inclusive leadership within a faith-based context. To ascertain demographic influences on the three main constructs (CQ, EQ, and IL), the results suggested that these influences were selective rather than uniform.For instance, the findings indicated that gender and education were associated with differences in specific leadership-related constructs, whereas age and international travel frequency were not significant predictors. The findings confirmed that both CQ and EQ significantly predicted IL among pastors and church leaders in the SDACC. Specifically, the direct path from CQ to IL was statistically significant (β = 0.149, t = 3.080, p = 0.002), indicating that individuals with higher cultural awareness and adaptability were more likely to exhibit IL behaviours. Emotional intelligence had a stronger direct effect on IL (β = 0.549, t = 12.279, p< 0.001), indicating that leaders who can effectively manage emotions and interpersonal relationships are more likely to adopt an inclusive approach. These results support the idea that both intelligences are essential, with EQ playing perhaps a more dominant role in predicting IL. The findings impact church leadership, leadership development, and inclusive leadership research in faith-based organizations. This study revealed that emotional intelligence mediates the relationships between cultural intelligence and inclusive leadership. It provides theoretical and practical insights beyond statistical correlations and path analyses.

Conclusion

This study examined the relationships between EQ, CQ, and IL in diverse Canadian Seventh-day Adventist pastors and church leaders. The sub-construct interrelationships and predictive and mediator roles in inclusive leadership were also examined. This study suggests that EQ and CQ are connected and work together to enhance inclusive leadership. The study found that emotional intelligence mediates cultural intelligence’s association with inclusive leadership. Also, the study shows that inclusive leadership in the SDACC is a relational practice impacted by leaders' emotional awareness, cultural knowledge, and purposeful engagement with diversity.

Subject Area

Christian leadership--Canada--Seventh-day Adventists, Emotional intelligence, Cultural intelligence, Leadership

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