A New Model of Christian Leadership: Insights from the Job Demands–Resources Model and Trinitarian Theology

Abstract

Much secular research into leadership examines the traits and behaviors of leaders towards valued organizational goals. Similarly, biblical approaches to Christian leadership examine the traits and activities of biblical figures towards God’s kingdom ends. However, these and relational theories of Christian leadership such as the incarnational approach of servant leadership and the motivational approach of transformational leadership have been criticized. In this article we review research findings based on the Job Demands–Resources model of organizational behavior, in which personal resources of the leader interact with job characteristics in order to increase valued outcomes of work engagement, reduced turnover, and other indicators of healthy functioning. Spiritual resources, such as a secure attachment relationship with God, are examined as a subcategory of personal resources. We consider the results in terms of a trinitarian approach to relational leadership and propose a Trinitarian Resources Model of leadership. We suggest that questions such as “How do I best express my faith in my leadership?” (orthopraxy) can be partly answered in terms of trinitarian theology (orthodoxy) that highlights the relational nature of God, God’s creation of a relational universe, the centrality of kenosis, and the work of the Holy Spirit to embrace and empower humans at work for God’s kingdom ends.