The effect of servant leadership style on membership retention in Ada district of the Seventh- Day Adventist Church, Greater Accra Region

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the Servant Leadership style and its effects on membership retention in the Ada district of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the Greater Accra Region. The objectives that drove the study were to identify the importance of Servant Leadership in the Ada district, to identify factors that affect membership retention in the Ada district and the Effects of Servant Leadership on membership retention in the Ada district. The study is descriptive by its nature and the researcher as well as employed a qualitative research approach. For this study, the population was the church members in the three (3) churches of Ada district of Seventh-Day Adventists in the Greater Accra region: Big Ada SDA church (109 recorded members), Kasseh SDA church (158 recorded members) and Ada Foah SDA church (56 members). Purposive sampling also used to select three (3) church elders, one from each church. For selections of the church members simple random sampling and probability sampling technique used to select twenty-five (25) members from each church. Twenty-five members from each church were chosen due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Data collection was analysed qualitatively using the content analyses approach. Results presented descriptively, making use of themes and sub-themes, verbatim reporting and quotations. The study revealed that church members knew about Servant Leadership. Church members appreciated leaders that practised the Servant Leadership style. The study also established that church members know the importance of Servant Leadership. The results showed that the Servant Leadership approach helps build team spirit, promotes unity and helps productivity. The study revealed that the usage of the Servant Leadership style reveal positive church member retention. The practice of the Servant Leadership approach as reported by the study's result increased trust among the members of the church. The study concludes that there is a relevance in practicing the Servant Leadership style. One of these is church unity and inclusiveness. The study concludes that the practice of the Servant Leadership style has effects on the retention of church members. These effects include servant leadership style increasing members trust, loyalty and satisfaction with the leader and promoting the active participation of members in church activities. The study recommend that church leaders should be encouraged to adopt the Servant Leadership style in leading their congregation.