Authentic Leadership as a Call of Faith: An Analysis of the Role of Female Congregation Leaders in Church Ministry and Congregational Faith Education

Selvi Mardalena; Agus Surya

doi:10.63922/ijevss.v5i03.6296

Selvi Mardalena Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Palangka Raya, Indonesia
Agus Surya Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Palangka Raya, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i03.6296

Keywords: Authentic Leadership, Faith Calling, Female Congregation Leaders, Church Ministry, Congregational Faith Education, Spiritual Leadership

Abstract

This study examines authentic leadership as a call of faith by analyzing the role of female congregation leaders in church ministry and congregational faith education. The study is based on the premise that church leadership is not merely an organizational responsibility but also a spiritual vocation requiring integrity, self-awareness, relational transparency, moral consistency, and commitment to service. Using a qualitative conceptual approach based on relevant scholarly literature, the study analyzes three interconnected dimensions: authentic leadership practices of female congregation leaders, faith calling and the formation of female leadership identity, and the role of female leaders in congregational faith education. The analysis demonstrates that female congregation leaders practice authentic leadership through self-awareness, transparent communication, ethical decision-making, balanced processing of congregational perspectives, and consistency between Christian values and ministry behavior. Faith calling provides an important foundation for their leadership identity by motivating women to serve, overcome institutional and cultural challenges, and understand leadership as a form of spiritual responsibility rather than merely organizational authority. Furthermore, female congregation leaders contribute significantly to congregational faith education through Bible study, mentoring, pastoral accompaniment, spiritual guidance, role modeling, community service, and participatory learning activities. Their everyday leadership becomes an informal educational process through which congregants learn Christian values through observation, interaction, and practical participation. The study concludes that authentic leadership enables female congregation leaders to integrate faith, character, service, and educational ministry into a coherent leadership practice. Recognizing and strengthening the role of female congregation leaders can contribute to more inclusive, participatory, relational, and spiritually mature congregations while providing a broader understanding of leadership as both a vocation of faith and a ministry of education

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