A Contextual Model of Transformational Leadership from Filipino Baptists Perspective

Transformational leadership and its contextual model from a Filipino Baptist leadership context were the focus of this study. In this research project, biblical data on Jesus' leadership on one hand and the Filipino Baptist leadership traits, approaches, and practices, and their views of the leadership of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, were investigated. The study of Jesus Christ's leadership provided data, which served as the theoretical framework of transformational leadership.

In its approach, this research project adapted the critical contextualization of Paul Hiebert and George Soares-Prabhus' prophetic theologizing. The critical contextualization requires a certain contextual theme, evaluated in the light of its biblical teaching, thereby creating a new contextualized Christian practice. Soares-Prabhu's theologizing necessitates the interplay of situation and text, but the starting point of this dialogue must be the situation, not the text. The biblical-theological perspective of the leadership of Jesus Christ is the theoretical framework of the dialogical study; the Filipino Baptist leadership context is the starting point only. Simply put, the transformational leadership of Jesus Christ is the lens through which the Filipino Baptist leadership was reviewed.

In the first step of the adapted critical contextualization or prophetic theologizing, different leadership traits, approaches, and practices of the Filipino Baptist leaders in the year 1950 through 2000 were studied (Chapter IV). This study resulted in national image of Filipino Baptist leadership traits and approaches during the period. The leadership of Jesus Christ was studied in step two of the approach (Chapter V). This resulted to the biblical image of transformational leadership.

Based on the results of studies in steps one and two, a Contextual Filipino Baptist Model of Transformational Leadership (CFBMTL) was developed. The CFBMTL reflects the interfacing elements from both the biblical image of Jesus Christ's leadership and its socio-cultural and historical expressions in the Filipino Baptist leadership context. So CFBMTL contains the call of God (Bahala na ang Dios), compassionate (Kalu-oy; Maayong Kabubut-on) and service-oriented life (Bayanihan spirit), and the missiological (Bugsay Padulong sa Kaginhawa-an)and ecumenical (Baranganic strategy) approaches to leadership. This model, therefore, manifests the socio-cultural and historical construction of the biblical heritage of Jesus' leadership converging with each other, thereby constituting one reality of transformational leadership.
Based on the CFBMTL we can confidently say that a contextual Filipino Baptist and transformational leader has a deep sense her calling from God to the ministry. Because of a calling from God, he or she demonstrates compassionate and service-oriented life. This sense of calling from God enables him or her to building God's encroaching influences with people, in missiological and ecumenical approaches, to God first and then to His purpose.

Attendant to these findings and results of this research study, the following are strongly recommended.
1. To publish this research project to facilitate wider and greater availability of this research work to those who are working in churches and para-church organizations, particularly the Filipino and American Baptist leaders;
2. To process the mentoring of the CFBMTL to the next generations of Filipino Baptist leaders, to keep the spirit of this model alive and well; and
3. To establish the Schole for Contextual Transformational Leadership, to intentionally (in effective and efficient manner) nurture the values of CFBMTL. In its design, the proposed Schole will adapt Nestor Bunda's seminal concept of Kaupod, where the mentor and the mentee will formally commit to each other in growing intimately as sojourners in the discipleship of Jesus Christ.