The Role of Intercultural Relational Skills in Enhancing Peaceful Co-existence among Churches in New Heights Baptist Association, Lagos, Nigeria
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Abstract
The increasing cultural diversity of urban churches in Lagos, Nigeria, presents significant challenges for leadership in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence. This study investigated the role of intercultural relational skills among church leaders in promoting peaceful coexistence within the New Heights Baptist Association. A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design was adopted, involving 150 participants comprising 144 survey respondents and six interview participants selected through purposive sampling. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. Findings indicate that church leaders demonstrate relatively high levels of intercultural relational skills, particularly empathy (M = 4.08), inclusive communication (M = 3.88), and emotional intelligence (M = 3.87). A majority of respondents (73.6%) affirmed that these skills contribute to reducing conflict and enhancing unity within congregations. Although 54.2% of respondents agreed that church leaders receive training in intercultural competence, the relatively modest mean score (M = 3.36) suggests that such training is neither widespread nor consistently institutionalised across churches, indicating a gap in structured capacity development. Qualitative findings further highlight underlying cultural tensions, including language barriers, minority exclusion, and informal approaches to conflict management. The study concludes that while intercultural relational skills are present among church leaders, their inconsistent application limits their effectiveness in sustaining peaceful coexistence. The study therefore recommends integrating structured intercultural competence training into ministerial formation and leadership development within Baptist associations.
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