Exploring the Transition Experience for the First Time Local Conference Presidents in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists: Narratives from Conference Presidents' Career Transitions

<p>The position of the president of a conference in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (a senior leadership role) has currently no policy stipulating leadership training prerequisites. Leaders transitioning into the president’s position typically are selected from a pool of successful pastors, departmental directors, and executive secretaries by a constituency meeting of delegates from local churches and conference institutions.</p> <p>This qualitative study probed the transition of 12 first-time local conference presidents. The information was gathered by recording in-depth interviews. Eight themes surfaced from the exploration. Leaders experienced the transition as overwhelming, challenging their spirituality, involving new constellations of relationships, and a shifting of identity. They also noted its impact on their family. Other themes dealt with the leaders’ prior job experience, intentional leadership preparation, and mentors.</p> <p>The findings suggest the need for more intentional leadership and managerial training, including knowledge of basic business principles and financial management. There is also a need for gender diversity training and for support in the form of mentors, assessments, and cohort groupings.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Leadership PhD

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Weigley, David E

Contributors dc:contributor

• Erich Baumgartner
• Shirley Freed
• Stan Patterson

• Leadership
• Conference Presidents
• Transition Experience
• Leadership Studies
• Religion

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1596

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.andrews.edu:dissertations-2847