lindonforde

This doctoral degree has enabled me to demonstrate my ability to assess organizations by relying on research, evidence, and critical thinking. Develop the ability to anticipate the impact of strategic initiatives and organizational change while applying theories and models of human and organizational behavior. Strategically identify and pursue a focused research interest that contributes to knowledge in my field of study. My qualitative case study shared and gained consensus from a nationwide panel of church leaders within the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) on implementing a Crisis Emergency Plan (CEP) within places of worship. The Steeple Award church recipient (2019), who served as an AME Church Pastor of 2000 plus members in Southeast Georgia, participated in a semi-structured interview process along with other leaders and laypersons. They provided insight into and understanding of their experience of having a full-time armed security officer for safety, training, and preparation to handle an active shooter. Church leaders need to direct congregants to which exits to use, instruct the elderly or members who use wheelchairs, and help parents with children to evacuate in an emergency. Due to the decline in membership and church attendance, leaders must seek solutions to promote church safety. The implication of this research has the potential to answer the questions: (a) How prepared are churches for an active shooter, bomb threat, or fire? (b) When an alarm goes off in church, what steps should the congregation take? Qualitative methodology was chosen to understand better church congregants' concepts or views in a real-life study involving leadership, gender, and social norms of safety and security at Turner Chapel church.