Assessment of Democratic Principles and Leadership in Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria (2001 – 2020)
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Date
2023-12
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Lead City University
Abstract
Reports of infringements on fundamental democratic rights among church members and pastors of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria have raised concerns among stakeholders, prompting the need for investigations. The Church consists of churches, zones, districts, axis and regions. This study assesses the democratic principles within the Church. Despite the absence of previous studies addressing this issue, this research aims to fill the gap by analysing the period from 2001 to 2020 in the history of the Church. A descriptive research design was employed using a structured questionnaire. The findings showed that the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria demonstrated a relatively high level of member sovereignty. These findings highlighted the presence of distinct roles and responsibilities, essential for maintaining checks and balances and avoiding power concentration. These findings suggest that pastors and members viewed the governance of the church favourably during the specified period. The findings suggest that the implementation of democratic principles within the Church positively impacted its ability to achieve its vision during that time period. It was, therefore, concluded that pastors and church members of the Church are exhibiting positive perception, with high levels of satisfaction in various aspects of leadership and governance. The implementation of democratic principles, including member sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights, positively influenced the Church's ability to fulfil its vision. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Church should prioritize strengthening of the protection of individual rights within its governance framework, and regular evaluation and adaptation of these democratic principles should be maintained for growth and relevance.
Keywords: Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Church Growth, Democratic Principles, Separation of Powers, Sovereignty of Church Members
Word Count: 261
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Keywords
Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Church Growth, Democratic Principles, Separation of Powers, Sovereignty of Church Members
Citation
Kate Turabian