Emotional intelligence in the exercise of pastoral leadership: An analysis in an ecclesial community
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61236/utcprospectivas.v9i2.1344Keywords:
emotional intelligence, pastoral leadership, religious community, stress managementAbstract
Pastoral leadership is exercised in emotionally demanding settings, where human accompaniment, conflict mediation, and the motivation of volunteer teams require competencies that are not always systematically developed. In Cotopaxi, this gap is especially visible in ecclesial communities, where close leadership is decisive for community cohesion. The study aimed to analyze the level of emotional intelligence shown by pastoral and administrative leaders of an ecclesial community in Latacunga canton, in order to provide useful evidence for managing emotional well-being and strengthening leadership. The research adopted a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and descriptive scope. A total of 34 members participated and were assessed through a Likert-scale questionnaire that measured five dimensions: intrapersonal component, interpersonal component, adaptability, stress management, and general mood. The instrument showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0,942). Results indicate that emotional intelligence was concentrated at the medium level (41,18%), with equivalent low and high levels (29,41% each); the intrapersonal and adaptability dimensions were the most favorable, whereas stress management and general mood were priority areas for improvement. Compared with studies focused on educational or general organizational settings, this manuscript contributes a census-based diagnosis of pastoral leadership in a local ecclesial context. It is concluded that training strategies are needed to strengthen the emotional competencies of pastoral leadership.
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