Capacity Building and Its Influence on Leadership Development of Sunday School Teachers in the Anglican Church of Kenya, Nairobi Diocese

Abstract

Sunday school ministry within the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) plays a vital role in children's spiritual formation and biblical education. Despite training programs implemented by ACK Nairobi Diocese, limited evidence exists on how capacity building translates into leadership development. Therefore, this study examined how capacity building influences leadership development among Sunday school teachers. The study was guided by the following research objectives: to determine the influence of stakeholder engagement on leadership development among Sunday school teachers, to examine the influence of financial sustainability on leadership development among Sunday school teachers, to assess the influence of skills on leadership development among Sunday school teachers, and to establish the influence of efficiency on leadership development among Sunday school teachers of ACK churches in Nairobi Diocese. The target population comprised all Sunday school teachers serving in 77 ACK Nairobi Diocese parishes. Stratified random sampling selected 268 teachers across nine archdeaconries using proportionate allocation. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, cleaned, edited, and coded. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, mode, mean, percentages and standard deviations. SPSS V.28 analyzed data, while regression analysis examined capacity building and leadership development. The study may benefit stakeholders in the Sunday school ministry, namely teachers and children, as well as ACK Nairobi Diocese leadership, including the bishop, archdeacons, and diocesan board members, as they formulate policies and strategies for children's ministry development. The major findings of the study include the existence of a statistically significant relationship between capacity building (stakeholder engagement, financial sustainability, skills, and efficiency) and leadership development. Financial stability in the Sunday school ministry in ACK churches of Nairobi diocese is a major concern due to inadequate finances. Therefore, the budget allocated to Sunday school programs should be increased, necessary supplies provided, and financial support offered to Sunday school teachers.