When the pastor (author of this project) began her tenure at the Calvary Presbyterian Church, USA in Wilson, North Carolina, she assumed that the leadership patterns of the elders would be consistent with any other Presbyterian USA congregation, all of whom share a common Reformed Theology and polity. To her surprise, the pastor observed and experienced varying degrees of tension and resistance to proposed leadership initiatives. With the guidance of the project faculty advisors, Dr. Dana Fearon and Dr. Jacqueline Lapsley, research was undertaken to determine possible underlying factors contributing to the elders' leadership patterns of behavior. The key element to illumining these factors was to determine how the elders of one African American Presbyterian congregation perceived their role and the role of the Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the life of the church. This is the question that fueled the project. The project itself is set within an ecclesiological framework.

Seventy-two letters inviting members to participate in the study were mailed. Twenty-seven letters were returned. Twelve individual interviews were conducted. One focus group interview was conducted consisting of nine persons. Participants varied in gender, office, class and tenure.

Results included quotations from the interviews and focus group discussion. A theological and sociological analysis of the data is provided, Chapters Three and Four respectively. Primary findings of the study: (1) The elders' perception and actualization of their leadership role is partly shaped by their historical and cultural experiences. (2) The elders' expectations of the pastor are consistent with the historical and traditional administrative role of the pastor in the Black Church experience. (3) The elders' perceive themselves as assistants to the pastor. (4) Ministry is understood as what God "calls" pastors and preachers to do. (5) It is expected that the pastor will function as the leader among the leaders (elders). (6) The variables of age, sex, education and denomination are underlying factors influencing both the elders' and the pastor's leadership expectations. These findings will assist in the development of officer training modules which seek to lead elders toward more reformed leadership patterns of behavior.