The Roman Catholic Church in a leadership paradox: A case study of an Angami parish in Nagaland, India

Abraham Orapankal, Fordham University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand how two divergent models of leadership are coexisting in one unit. When the Angami tribal parishioners of Christ King Church in Kohima, India, who have a rich tradition of democratic self-governing, come in contact with the hierarchically structured Catholic Church, how does it affect the pastoral life? This study is an investigation into the convergence of two styles of leadership, notwithstanding the tensions that are bound to arise. Research questions were formulated with a view to understand the pastoral strategies and initiatives employed by the clergy in order to adapt themselves to the Angami notion of leadership. The research tried to elicit the response of the people in the way they collaborated and participated in the total life of the parish. An analysis of the various secular theories of leadership provided an adequate theoretical framework for this research. The recent teachings of the Church shed light on the ecclesiological guidelines on pastoral life, with a particular emphasis on inculturation.

Subject Area

Religious education|Ethnic studies|Clergy|South Asian Studies

Recommended Citation

Orapankal, Abraham, "The Roman Catholic Church in a leadership paradox: A case study of an Angami parish in Nagaland, India" (1999). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9938914.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9938914

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