This dissertation discovered multi-cultural principles of leadership transition from missionaries to locals from (1) historical analysis of Korean Presbyterian Church history from 1884 to 1907; (2) ethnographic research on transitional work with current missionaries and representatives of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Korean Presbyterian Church (PCK), and national leaders; and (3) survey research through asking questions building upon the findings of historical and ethnographic research. PCA missionaries were included because they can be considered as near cousins of Korean Presbyterians from another culture that shares the Reformed theological commitment. This reduces the variables and different cultures to test meta-cultural and emergent commonality on the theme.

Framed by those parameters, the research question is, "Under what conditions, time frame, and relationships is leadership transition from missionaries to locals most effectively accomplished?" The research findings are as follows: (1) Conditions: Leadership is the most decisive condition for transition meta-culturally in terms of time, space, and people. Self-support and self-propagation are the subsequent elements for transition. (2) Time frame: Transition readiness most likely can be reached in not more than twenty years, a missionary generation. (3) Relationship: Close cooperation with senders and a good relationship with locals are essential. Relationship with locals should be developed on the basis of awareness of sending and receiving cultures within the boundaries of biblical ontology. (4) Post transition: Four options for post transition were found in the following order of preference: "a missionary goes with locals to a new area" (favored by American and national respondents), "a missionary engages in leadership development," "a missionary goes to a new area" (favored by Korean respondents), and "locals go to new areas." Finally, (5) Cooperation: The necessity of cooperation between Korean and American missionaries emerged as a finding. Joint effort may produce the effect of mutually beneficial synergy in missions.