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:phd-defence-a-foppen@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260925T024108 LOCATION: SUMMARY:PhD defence A. Foppen X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

A multidimensional a pproach to (e)valuating religious leadership

Effe ctive religious leadership is about more than full churches< /h3>
What makes a religious leader effective at a time when churche s are emptying, trust in religious institutions is declining, and abu ses of power are more frequently coming to light? Success cannot simp ly be measured by growing membership numbers, according to the doctor al research of theologian Annemarie Poppen. Instead, the social and r elational role of religious leaders proves to be of great value for f aith communities—and for society beyond them.
Foppen investig ated how the effectiveness of religious leaders can be better assesse d. Traditionally, leadership is often linked to visible growth: full churches, active communities, and increasing engagement. According to her, this image is too narrow and fails to do justice to the complex reality in which many religious leaders operate today, often in cont exts of decline and societal pressure.
The research shows that there are major differences in how religious leadership is shaped and valued. Criteria for “good leadership” turn out to be highly con text-dependent: religious tradition, the local community, and the bro ader social environment all play a role. There is therefore no univer sal formula for success. Instead, Foppen argues for a tailored approa ch to evaluating religious leadership.
Based on the research fi ndings, a multidimensional evaluation model was developed. This model looks not only at organizational or numerical outcomes, but focuses primarily on the dynamic interaction between religious leaders, indiv idual members, and the community as a whole. Particular attention is given to the social and relational functions of religious leaders, su ch as fostering connectedness, care, and mutual engagement.
The se insights also have broader societal significance. In a time of gro wing polarization, in which religion often plays a role in ideologica l divisions, the research highlights the importance of religious lead ers as bridge builders. Through their position within communities, th ey can contribute to social cohesion and mutual understanding—not o nly within faith communities, but ideally beyond them as well.
According to Foppen, this context-sensitive approach offers practical tools for religious professionals, faith communities, and educationa l institutions to critically reflect on leadership. By defining effec tiveness more broadly than growth alone, space is created for healthi er, more careful, and more socially relevant religious leadership.
More information on the thesis
DESCRIPTION: A multidimensional approach to (e)valuating religious lea dership

Effective religious leadership is about more than full churches

What makes a religious leader effective a t a time when churches are emptying, trust in religious institutions is declining, and abuses of power are more frequently coming to light ? Success cannot simply be measured by growing membership numbers, ac cording to the doctoral research of theologian Annemarie Poppen. Inst ead, the social and relational role of religious leaders proves to be of great value for faith communities—and for society beyond them.F oppen investigated how the effectiveness of religious leaders can be better assessed. Traditionally, leadership is often linked to visible growth: full churches, active communities, and increasing engagement . According to her, this image is too narrow and fails to do justice to the complex reality in which many religious leaders operate today, often in contexts of decline and societal pressure.The research show s that there are major differences in how religious leadership is sha ped and valued. Criteria for “good leadership” turn out to be hig hly context-dependent: religious tradition, the local community, and the broader social environment all play a role. There is therefore no universal formula for success. Instead, Foppen argues for a tailored approach to evaluating religious leadership.Based on the research fi ndings, a multidimensional evaluation model was developed. This model looks not only at organizational or numerical outcomes, but focuses primarily on the dynamic interaction between religious leaders, indiv idual members, and the community as a whole. Particular attention is given to the social and relational functions of religious leaders, su ch as fostering 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.According to F oppen, this context-sensitive approach offers practical tools for rel igious professionals, faith communities, and educational institutions to critically reflect on leadership. By defining effectiveness more broadly than growth alone, space is created for healthier, more caref ul, and more socially relevant religious leadership.More information on the thesis END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR