Date

1-13-2023

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)

Chair

Micheal S. Pardue, Sr

Keywords

Administrator Leaders, Code of Ethics, Ethical Leadership, Ethical Decision-making, Ethical Leadership Principles

Disciplines

Christianity

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology research study was to examine the administrator’s ethical leadership principles and decision-making significance. The desired outcome of the study provided educator leaders in Christian universities and theology seminaries with information to improve their strategies when making ethical decisions and better safeguard their organizations against unethical behavior. The ability of a leader to make sound decision-making is essential to their ability to run any organization. The guiding theory of Kitchener’s five-model ethical leadership paradigm, which served as the basis for this investigation, was relevant based on the four research questions. The study utilized purposeful and random sampling to acquire eight willing participants with at least five years of experience from various Christian institutions. Survey questionnaires, in-depth interviews, observations, audiotape recordings, and note-taking were the critical methods used to gather data. The analysis of the data transcript revealed three emerging themes: a) Ethics and Standards for Decision Making, b) Administrative Roles Experiences, and c) Advancing Ethics and Ethical Decision Making. The study’s observation based on the transcripts, this researcher concluded that theologically and theoretically, additional research is required to analyze other factors that may impact the link between ethical leadership principles and the decision-making performance of Christian educators. Future research may extend its demography to global Christian universities and theology seminaries.

Included in

Christianity Commons

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