Trustworthy Leadership: The Foundation for Thriving in Christian Higher Education

Crabtree, Aaron T. (2025) Trustworthy Leadership: The Foundation for Thriving in Christian Higher Education. In: Ethical Leadership in Complex Times. Károli könyvek. Tanulmánykötet . Éditions L'Harmattan; L'Harmattan Kiadó; Károli Gáspár Református Egyetem, Paris, Budapest, pp. 163-179. ISBN 9782336540870; 9789636464202

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Abstract

This paper explores the critical role of trust in ethical leadership within faithbased higher education, a sector currently facing a crisis of trust, particularly between faculty and administration. It examines the internal and external pressures impacting higher education, including faculty burnout and the faculty–administration divide, exacerbated by differing perspectives on power and organizational culture. The paper introduces “trustworthy leadership,” a model integrating organizational trust factors (competence, honesty, care, reliability, identification), servant leadership, transformational leadership, and Christian values (truthfulness, humility, love). Grounded in a quantitative study demonstrating a strong correlation between a culture of trust and a thriving faculty, this paper argues that cultivating trustworthy leadership is essential for the flourishing of faculty members and administrators in faith-based colleges and universities. The paper concludes with practical strategies related to shared governance, faculty development, hiring processes, institutional planning, and support for underrepresented faculty, to foster trustworthy leadership and rebuild trust within these institutions.

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