Faith-Inspired Educational Leadership for Character Formation in Indonesian Theological Higher Education: An Integrative Qualitative Study
Keywords:
Educational Leadership, Christian Higher Education, Character Formation, Faith-Inspired Leadership, Theological Education, IndonesiaAbstract
The increasing complexity of educational leadership in Indonesian theological higher education requires models that extend beyond managerial competence toward holistic character formation. Although previous scholarship has examined Christian virtue formation, faith-inspired praxis, humanistic leadership, servant leadership, and ethical or spiritual authority, these perspectives have rarely been integrated into a unified framework for theological higher education in Indonesia. This study develops the Faith-Inspired Educational Leadership (FIEL) Model through a purposive integrative qualitative synthesis of four recent peer-reviewed studies addressing Christian character formation, faith-inspired praxis, humanistic leadership, and ethical or spiritual authority. The study used directed content analysis to identify recurring concepts, compare their functions, and synthesise them into four interconnected dimensions. The findings indicate that virtue-centred character formation provides the moral foundation of leadership; faith-inspired praxis translates Christian convictions into institutional practice; humanistic relational leadership fosters trust, collaboration, and human flourishing; and ethical spiritual authority safeguards institutional integrity through accountability and shared stewardship. The model is interpreted within the Indonesian context of theological higher education, including relevant regulatory and governance requirements. The FIEL Model contributes conceptually by specifying how Christian faith integrates character, organisational practice, relational leadership, and ethical authority within a unified institutional framework. Its distinctiveness lies in defining the institutional relationships and functions of these dimensions rather than merely aggregating existing leadership perspectives. The study offers practical implications for leadership development, quality assurance, and governance in Indonesian theological colleges.
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