Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology
VOL 15 NO 2 JUNE 2026

Unity In Diversity: The Psychological Role of Teamwork in Fostering Compassion and Broadening Perspective in Christian Leadership

 Kevin Thomas Marlietama (Departmen of Theology, STT Anugrah Indonesia)
Janto Chandra (Department of Theology, STT Anugrah Indonesia)
Warren Chandra (Independent Researcher)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 May 2026

Abstract

This study examined the role of high-intensity teamwork experiences in fostering compassion and perspective-taking among emerging Christian leaders. Although teamwork is frequently emphasized in Christian ministry formation, the psychological processes through which collaborative experiences shape leader character remain insufficiently examined. Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, data were collected from 186 emerging Christian leaders aged 22–35 years from five Protestant seminaries and Bible schools in Central Java. Quantitative data were obtained using measures of dispositional compassion, perspective-taking, and team experience quality, while qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 24 purposively selected participants. Quantitative findings showed that high-quality teamwork experiences significantly predicted compassion (β = .61, p < .001) and perspective-taking (β = .55, p < .001). Shared vulnerability and conflict-resolution experience also emerged as significant mediating processes. Qualitative analysis identified three themes: encountering others through collaborative failure, spiritual accountability in relational growth, and exposure to diversity as a broadener of theological and interpersonal perspective. Integrated findings suggest that structured teamwork experiences may serve as an important psycho-spiritual context for cultivating compassionate and perspective-oriented Christian leadership. The findings highlight the need for seminaries and ministry-training institutions to design collaborative formation experiences that combine responsibility, diversity, reflection, and relational accountability.  

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

Psychology

Publisher

Subject

Education Public Health

Description

Journal of Educational, Health, and Community Psychology (JEHCP) published an article, and empirical study that have originality, novelty and fill the gap of knowledge, that focused on educational psychology, health psychology and community psychology. JEHCP is an open access peer reviewed, ...