The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Religious Leadership

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on religious leadership, with an emphasis on pastors serving in Neo-Protestant Christian contexts. Drawing on major theoretical models of EI, including those of Mayer and Salovey, Bar-On, and Goleman, the study explores how core EI competencies such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management shape leadership behaviors within religious communities. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, using scientific databases to identify peer-reviewed studies published between 2007 and 2025. Out of 140 initial sources, eight studies met all inclusion criteria. Their findings collectively indicate that EI contributes both directly and indirectly to effective pastoral leadership. Higher EI is associated with leadership styles marked by empathy, collaboration, principled behavior, conflict-resolution ability, and servant-oriented practices. Studies consistently highlight emotional self-regulation, empathy, and communication as essential components for managing complex interpersonal dynamics within churches. Deficits in EI skills, particularly self-regulation and social skills, correlate with reduced leadership effectiveness, diminished congregational trust, and difficulty managing organizational challenges. The review underscores a recurring gap across theological education programs, which often neglect emotional development despite its demonstrated impact on ministry effectiveness. The paper concludes by recommending the integration of EI training into pastoral preparation and calls for future research to develop validated EI instruments for religious contexts and to design targeted training interventions for spiritual leaders.