A Proposed Framework of Faith-Based School Leadership Model (FBSLM)

Abstract

Existing models for educational leadership often struggle to capture the nuanced, faith-driven dynamics at play within religious school systems. To address this, the present paper puts forward a new conceptual framework for studying leadership in faith-based institutions, one that was derived directly from a qualitative, descriptive-narrative study of school principals in the South-Central Luzon Conference (SCLC) of the Philippines. This proposed framework moves beyond traditional theories by centering on a "Divine Calling" as the primary motivating driver of leadership. From this core, a unified practice of Spiritual and Instructional Leadership emerges, which is constantly shaped by external Contextual Factors such as culture, society, and economics. This integrated practice ultimately leads to the creation of holistic best practices and a resilient, effective Adventist learning environment. As an empirically-grounded model, it offers a more accurate and contextually-aware tool for anyone seeking to understand and cultivate effective leadership in similar settings.