<p> This researcher considers that confusion observed amongst church leadership teams within Churches of Christ in Western Australia (COCWA) may be explained, in part, as a reflection of an Australian cultural phenomenon: &ldquo;The Australian Authority Paradox&rdquo; as described by social researchers, Aigner and Skelton. The effects of this paradox appear to limit the effectiveness of leadership exercised in the Australian context. </p><p> The researcher conducted a study of church leaders, sourced within two clusters of COCWA Churches between February and August 2017. The researcher found attitude indicators consistent with the proposition of an authority paradox. </p><p> A key outcome of the project, is the presentation of a theoretical model (TALC). The model offers a way of understanding how the dynamic relationship between trust and authority may have an influence on the way that leadership functions in the Australian cultural context. </p><p> Whilst it is hoped that the findings of this study may have immediate and important applications for COCWA, this researcher believes that this project provides some important insights that have the potential to be quite useful in other organizational contexts in Australia.</p><p>

<p> In this dissertation I matched <i>gutpela sindaun</i>, the &lsquo;highest value&rsquo; in Melanesia, represented by the cognitive schema of Kamea people through their brand, with the Biblical schema of <i> shalom</i>. The purpose of my dissertation was to show how a Kamea understanding of <i>gutpela sindaun</i> enables them to appreciate Biblical <i> shalom</i>. </p><p> I used cognitive studies as it pertains to valuing a perspective of human wellbeing which is all about <i>gutpela sindaun</i>. I did a literature search to understand the schema of <i>gutpela sindaun</i> from a Melanesian perspective. This relates to a scriptural presentation of <i> shalom</i> using the analogy of a tree, which I call Shalom Tree. Understanding &lsquo;human wellbeing&rsquo; from the Melanesian world and the Hebraic world helped me to enter the Kamea world to identify their brand of <i>gutpela sindaun</i> (which is yapmea awarmangardi) and helped them make adjustments only as the Biblical input challenges their understanding. </p><p> Using ethnographic methods, I had my participants discuss their experiences and then used that to derive their cognitive schema which, in turn, reveals their &ldquo;understanding&rdquo; about what they had to know in order to manifest/experience <i>gutpela sindaun</i> appropriate to their cultural expectations. Applying Grounded Theory in my data analysis, assisted me to present their brand of <i>gutpela sindaun</i> through the analogy of the Kamea creation tree, which I called the <i>Haogka</i> Code Tree. </p><p> Guided by the principles of Cognitive Theory, I then assisted I my participants to match <i>shalom</i> tree, what God&rsquo;s view is of <i> shalom</i> (intent) with the <i>haogka</i> code tree, how they understand <i>gutpela sindaun</i> in light their understanding of <i> shalom</i> (inferences). What emerges from this exercise is their development of a hybrid schema, a new hybrid tree which I called the Kamea <i>Kristen </i> Tree. </p><p> I have done this dissertation from a methodological perspective that helps me understand the cognition of the Kamea group of people in respect to this topic. I am developing a methodology of helping Kamea people develop their own theology. This methodology can be used for other people groups in Melanesia to research Christian truths dynamically informed by cultural insights. </p><p>