An examination of the utilization of transformational speech techniques in Southern Baptist homiletical theory since 1870.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of the dissertation was to analyze the question, What is the role of transformational speech techniques in Southern Baptist homiletical theory? Since James Burns in 1978 distinguished between transactional and transformational leadership, attention has been given to organizational transformation through transformational leadership. Leadership theory has proposed an understanding of transformational leadership and its inherent mode of speaking. Five speech techniques have been delineated from the literature of leadership theory. The techniques are creative speech, interactive speech, visionary speech, empowering speech, and passionate speech. Chapter 1 discussed the five transformational speech techniques in light of leadership and organizational transformation.
Chapter 2 surveyed thirty-eight published Southern Baptist homiletical theories, beginning with the 1870 publication of John A. Broadus, in order to identify concepts similar to transformational leadership. Three issues emerged from the survey. First, Southern Baptist homiletical theory presented diversity in approach and content. Second, relational affinities were discovered which included scriptural authority, historical appreciation of preaching, formal and functional analysis, communication analysis, and pastoral preparation. Third, the theories gave limited attention to concepts similar to transformational speech techniques.
Chapter 3 hypothesized that a correlation existed between transformational speech techniques and Southern Baptist homiletical theory. The characteristics of the five transformational speech techniques were applied to the theories. Fourteen of the thirty-eight theorists surveyed provided limited correlation. Three considerations emerged from the study. First, Southern Baptist homiletical theory did not intentionally employ the nomenclature or characteristics of transformational speech techniques. Second, only fourteen of the thirty-eight theorists provided limited correlation. Third, no replicable patterns of transformational speech techniques emerged from Southern Baptist homiletical theory.
Further study indicated that a qualitative analysis would provide a statistical understanding of transformational speech techniques. Such an instrument would provide objectivity of the qualities of transformational speech techniques and allow homileticians, their theories, or their sermons to be evaluated for transformational intentionality.