Educational Leadership of Jesus and Confucius Focusing on Moral Leadership

ABSTRACT

The aims of this study are to investigate whether principles of moral leadership are implemented in Jesus’ and Confucius’ education for disciples and, if so, how the principles are to be implemented. The nine principles of moral leadership are followership for values, modeling a high ethical standard, establishing moral authority, sharing values and a vision, consolidating self-motivation, empowering followers (sharing leadership), building a culture of collaboration, building trust in relationships, and building a moral community. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, Jesus and Confucius built a strong followership for the values and vision they pursued. Second, Jesus and Confucius became models for their disciples by showing a life that emphasized moral virtues. Third, Jesus and Confucius showed strong leadership based on moral authority formed by a life committed to righteous values and based on professional authority that came from wisdom and intellectual professionalism. Fourth, Jesus and Confucius tried to share their values and vision with their disciples and used four phases, viz., modeling→dialogue→awakening→confirmation. Fifth, Jesus and Confucius led the self-motivation of their disciples by, in the case of Jesus, inspiring a mission, building their identity, establishing community norms, intrinsic satisfaction, and familiar relationships and, in the case of Confucius, acting as a role model living an ethical life, awakening and inspiring a mission, and establishing community norms. Sixth, Jesus and Confucius tried to empower their disciples to maximize their competencies by taking ownership of their lives and duties. Seventh, Jesus willingly received collaborations offered by his disciples when he performed miracles. DaeDong-Society(the utopia of Confucius) was a society based on collaboration. Eighth, Jesus and Confucius tried to establish trust in relationships with their disciples. Ninth, Jesus built a loving community with his disciples in phases, such as opening→invitation→sharing a mission→educating collaborators. Confucius tried to build a peaceful community that creates love, benevolence, and caring for others.