BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence A. Foppen METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260120T134500 DTEND:20260120T151500 DTSTAMP:20260120T134500 UID:2026/phd-defence-a-foppen@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260410T025005 LOCATION:(1st floor) Auditorium, Main building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence A. Foppen X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

A multidimensional appr oach to (e)valuating religious leadership

Effective r eligious leadership is about more than full churches

What makes a religious leader effective at a time when churches are e mptying, trust in religious institutions is declining, and abuses of power are more frequently coming to light? Success cannot simply be m easured by growing membership numbers, according to the doctoral rese arch of theologian Annemarie Poppen. Instead, the social and relation al role of religious leaders proves to be of great value for faith co mmunities—and for society beyond them.

Foppen investigated ho w the effectiveness of religious leaders can be better assessed. Trad itionally, leadership is often linked to visible growth: full churche s, active communities, and increasing engagement. According to her, t his image is too narrow and fails to do justice to the complex realit y in which many religious leaders operate today, often in contexts of decline and societal pressure.

The research shows that there a re major differences in how religious leadership is shaped and valued . Criteria for “good leadership” turn out to be highly context-de pendent: religious tradition, the local community, and the broader so cial environment all play a role. There is therefore no universal for mula for success. Instead, Foppen argues for a tailored approach to e valuating religious leadership.

Based on the research findings, a multidimensional evaluation model was developed. This model looks not only at organizational or numerical outcomes, but focuses primari ly on the dynamic interaction between religious leaders, individual m embers, and the community as a whole. Particular attention is given t o the social and relational functions of religious leaders, such as f ostering connectedness, care, and mutual engagement.

These insi ghts also have broader societal significance. In a time of growing po larization, in which religion often plays a role in ideological divis ions, the research highlights the importance of religious leaders as bridge builders. Through their position within communities, they can contribute to social cohesion and mutual understanding—not only wit hin faith communities, but ideally beyond them as well.

Accordi ng to Foppen, this context-sensitive approach offers practical tools for religious professionals, faith communities, and educational insti tutions to critically reflect on leadership. By defining effectivenes s more broadly than growth alone, space is created for healthier, mor e careful, and more socially relevant religious leadership.

Mor e information on the thesis

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Effective religious leadership is about more than full churches

What makes a religious leader effect ive at a time when churches are emptying, trust in religious institut ions is declining, and abuses of power are more frequently coming to light? Success cannot simply be measured by growing membership number s, according to the doctoral research of theologian Annemarie Poppen. Instead, the social and relational role of religious leaders proves to be of great value for faith communities—and for society beyond t hem. Foppen investigated how the effectiveness of religious leaders c an be better assessed. Traditionally, leadership is often linked to v isible growth: full churches, active communities, and increasing enga gement. According to her, this image is too narrow and fails to do ju stice to the complex reality in which many religious leaders operate today, often in contexts of decline and societal pressure. The resear ch shows that there are major differences in how religious leadership is shaped and valued. Criteria for “good leadership” turn out to be highly context-dependent: religious tradition, the local communit y, and the broader social environment all play a role. There is there fore no universal formula for success. Instead, Foppen argues for a t ailored approach to evaluating religious leadership. Based on the res earch findings, a multidimensional evaluation model was developed. Th is model looks not only at organizational or numerical outcomes, but focuses primarily on the dynamic interaction between religious leader s, individual members, and the community as a whole. Particular atten tion is given to the social and relational functions of religious lea ders, such as fostering connectedness, care, and mutual engagement. T hese insights also have broader societal significance. In a time of g rowing polarization, in which religion often plays a role in ideologi cal divisions, the research highlights the importance of religious le aders as bridge builders. Through their position within communities, they can contribute to social cohesion and mutual understanding—not only within faith communities, but ideally beyond them as well. Acco rding to Foppen, this context-sensitive approach offers practical too ls for religious professionals, faith communities, and educational in stitutions to critically reflect on leadership. By defining effective ness more broadly than growth alone, space is created for healthier, more careful, and more socially relevant religious leadership. More i nformation on the thesis A multidimensional approach to (e)va luating religious leadership END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR