FROM THE CO-EDITOR
Carlo Serrano, Ph.D.
Regent University
School of Business and Leadership

On behalf of Regent University's School of Business and Leadership and the editorial board of the Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, I thank you for supporting the journal.

This issue continues our mission of exploring, engaging, and extending the field of knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon of leadership as found within the contexts of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. The response to our recent Research Roundtables and the continued relevance of spirituality in workplace dynamics motivated us to explore the vital conversation of "Biblical Perspectives of Spirituality in Organizational Leadership."

Volume 2 of this issue includes articles examining resilience; Pauline leadership; servant and authentic leadership as seen in the Gospels; denominational organizational design; and spiritual formation in Christian higher education. This issue also explores human vocation in secular contexts.

The JBPL is impossible without the guidance and leadership from our respected reviewers and the visionary support of Dr. Gomez and Dr. Winston at the Regent University School of Business and Leadership.

Grace and peace in the name of Jesus Christ.

There are four enduring qualities that will allow the resilient leader to lead through adversity. First, the resilient leader chooses optimism. Scripture affirms, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (New International Version, 2011, Rom. 8:28). Second, the resilient leader is courageous. Paul exhorted, "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you" (NIV, 1 Cor. 15:58). Next, leaders guide with endurance. James encourages, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (NIV, James 1:2-3). The final enduring quality of resilient leadership is transcendence. Jesus reassured, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer . . . be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown" (NIV, Rev 2:10). Considering adversity will occur, the resilient leader proactively chooses to develop the four enduring qualities of resilient leadership to lead through the pain.

Keywords: Resilient leadership, leading through the pain, optimistic leadership, transcendent leadership
download/print article

Scripture is ripe with lessons for contemporary leaders, but the Pastoral Epistles, in particular, provide specific instructions on the roles and responsibilities of Christian leaders (deSilva, 2004). Therefore, a genre analysis was conducted of 1 Timothy 6:11-21 to gain even more insight into the call, nature, and praxis of organizational research (Osborne, 2006). The major arguments relate to Christian character and discipleship, taking the "charge" to defend the faith and spread it to others, using earthly wealth to serve the greater good, and standing up against challengers. The context also revealed that Timothy was a younger teacher that needed to be reminded to be a Christian role model and stay true to his values during opposition. With so much emphasis on material wealth and so many corrupt organizations and people attempting to influence others negatively, it is even more important for Christian leaders to stand strong in their faith and show their integrity as they lead their organizations and empower future leaders. As such, Christian leaders should focus on their character and be prepared to be soldiers who "fight the good fight of faith" (6:12) to the glory of God.
download/print article

Organizational spirituality improves well-being, provides a sense of belonging and establishes a purpose for employees (Karakas, 2010). To this end, many organizations seek ways to add meaning to their employees' work (Giacalone & Jurkiewicz, 2010), which forms this paper's purpose. The author performed a literature review on organizational spirituality and an exegetical analysis using narrative criticism to understand the texts of 1 Corinthians 12-14. The narrative criticism employed settings, characters, plot, story, and implicit commentary to understand the central message. Finally, this article explores the referenced pericope. It draws insights and applications to organizational spirituality, particularly focusing on how an organization can improve this construct.
download/print article

Christian leaders encounter a range of modern challenges, including claims of water injustice. Water injustice claims are found throughout the procedural and substantive aspects of providing drinking water and wastewater services to society. In the United States, evidence suggests persons of color are historic recipients of the inequitable or unjust distribution of the benefits and burdens of environmental protection, including the provision of clean water. Metaphorically, persons of color may be viewed as "contemporary lepers" in the context of water injustice. This paper provides a social and cultural texture analysis of Mark 1:40-45 to provide Christian leaders with an enhanced approach to demonstrating servant leadership in responding to water injustices. This paper concludes that Christian leaders should deploy the virtues of servant leadership to promote physical, social, and spiritual healing in response to water injustices.
download/print article

The issue that this research addresses is the lack of biblical research available for organizations and authentic leaders, utilizing an inner texture analysis of selected Matthean texts. To address this problem, the purpose of this study will be analyzing the pericope Matthew 11:28-30 using inner texture analysis to identify specific aspects of authentic leadership (AL), that can be used in both church and secular organizational contexts regardless of the gender of the leader. To gather data, AL traits identified from Jesus Christ will be extrapolated and examined from the intrapersonal, interpersonal developmental, and pragmatic aspects of AL. These findings will be useful for understanding how biblical perspectives of AL can benefit followers in churches and other organizations.
download/print article

In this study, an epistolary genre analysis of the Apostle Paul's leadership of the Corinthian community explores his preference for Distributed Leadership. Faced with the challenge of leading this community through adversity, Paul demonstrated a preference for Distributed Leadership by encouraging collective identity and greater engagement for cultivating organizational maturity. A thorough review of Paul's approach and the situational realities of the Corinthian context suggest metaphors can be powerful rhetorical tools for developing organizational culture open to Distributed Leadership. Ultimately, recommendations for further study are offered for the continued study of Distributed Leadership and its application in the contemporary context.
download/print article

This article specifically connects ecclesial leadership and organizational design by exploring the relationship between ordination and the organizational design of American Baptist churches. Briefly, a history and theology of traditional Baptist ordinations is given, followed by an outline of the traditional Baptist ordination process. Using Morgan's (2006) metaphorical approach to organizational design and Dulles' (1991) five models of ecclesial design, an analysis of the Baptist praxis and theology is conducted. Classifying the Baptist tradition as (a) an institution and (b) a mystical communion, these two models are juxtaposed as a design paradox whose tension negatively impacts Baptist ordination theology. The goal is two-fold: (a) to compel the church and the academy to go beyond Addie Davis' ordination and create new ordination conversations for the Baptist tradition and (b) to answer Davis' (2002) call towards a reformulation of Baptist ordination theology.
download/print article

Even before the unprecedented events following the Covid-19 pandemic, the digital revolution had already caused paradigmatic shifts in higher education. Although digital technology has been part of higher education since the nineties, its prevalence has expanded to institutions that previously did not offer online programs. Christian educational institutions greatly value transformative learning that produces spiritual formation. The current educational shifts toward online learning have proven challenging to many Christian institutions and educators. Although research has shown that online learning can produce spiritual transformation, various Christian institutions remain uncertain that such an outcome is achievable. The Old and New Testaments provided several models of effective distance learning communities. History has recorded how Christian communities often were in the vanguard of innovation with technological tools for spreading the Gospel. This qualitative research aimed at exploring the integration of spiritual formation through distance learning at Christian colleges, seminaries, and universities. The research results will help educators develop models for integrating spiritual formation through online courses and virtual learning communities.

Keywords: distance learning, higher education learning community, spiritual formation.
download/print article

Much of the literature on the topic of vocation provides either a secular viewpoint of skills to benefit humanity (Jaffery & Abid, 2020) or in the Christian viewpoint, participation in new creation and co-creation through one's skill set (Fujimura, 2020, Volf, 2001). This paper explores Christian vocation in the workplace through the lens of new creation and renewed human vocation (Wright, 2018). The framework for new creation and renewed human vocation includes a) sin/idolatry, b) Christ's crucifixion, c) the royal priesthood, and d) the Fruit of the Spirit. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, this study tracked the shared experiences of professionals over four weeks as participants interacted with a devotional on the above framework. Five themes emerged, which include 1) observations of idolatry/sin in the workplace, 2) selfish motivations in the workplace, 3) authority of the Christian believer in the workplace through the role of the royal priesthood, 4) rescue from exile helps to establish identity, and 5) reliance on the Holy Spirit for the Fruit of the Spirit in workplace happenings. This paper utilizes socio-rhetorical criticism, specifically intertexture analysis via recontextualization, to explore 1 Pet. 2:9-10 which demonstrates the Apostle Peter's recontextualization of Ex. 19:6, Is. 43:20-21, and Hos. 1:6 and 9, 2:23.

Keywords: vocation, royal priesthood, workplace, phenomenological study
download/print article