Responding to Leadership Change: A Qualitative Multi-Case Study of Female Pastors and Their Congregations

The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore the lived experiences of female senior pastors and their congregants who have embraced leadership change from male to female. Although many denominations openly accept and ordain female pastors, and the number of women in pastoral leadership roles has risen, many women in ministry still face obstacles. Guided by the theory of change, in conjunction with liberation theology, this study addressed a gap in research related to the experience of female pastors in ministerial leadership, as minimal similar studies exist, and no other studies within the Congregational Christian Church were found. Data were collected from female senior pastors utilizing open-ended semi-structured interviews, focus groups comprising male and female congregants of the sampled pastors, and the documentation analysis related to the pastoral job description from the selected participating churches. The data were triangulated, and several noteworthy themes emerged relating to the leadership and qualities of the female senior pastors as perceived by their congregations. In addition, the analyzed document data complemented the emerging themes. The findings suggest that the study’s three heterogeneous Congregational Christian Churches have embraced and adapted to the leadership change from male to female. The findings also indicate that although the female senior pastors encountered some resistance, their overall experience proved positive, suggesting that they acted as agents of change.