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Corresponding Author

Elmar Nass

Abstract

A fundamental methodology for Christian leadership ethics will be proposed, which has long been pending in the discourse on ethical leadership. It is necessary to first clarify what characterizes leadership ethics, and secondly, what Christian leadership ethics imply and how this methodology should be classified with regard to alternative paradigms. Thirdly, the practical impact for selected areas of application will be pointed out. It will be demonstrated that leadership ethics in general is based on a transparent basis of values and apply to specific scopes. It defines the relationship between economic efficiency and human utility in a narrower sense as objective dualism. Christian leadership ethics is based on the biblical conception of man and therefore the arguments are metaphysical. The related answer to objective-dualism implies direct consequences for the design of human resource management, motivation and communication. At least from a Christian point of view, it is undisputable that there are and should be Christian leaders in management. But can or should there be Christian leadership ethics? This has been questioned in principle by the example of Ferdinand Rohrhirsch – even though recently, several approaches have raised this claim: for instance, the model of Servant Leadership, which comes from the U.S. and is slowly being established in Europe. The perspective leadership ethics by Cornelius Keppeler or the Business Metaphysics by Michael Schramm, is another example. In this article we clear the way for a Christian methodology which goes beyond virtue. We clarify what is meant by corresponding Christian leadership ethics and where, from a fundamental ethical point of view, such a system can be classified in relation to alternative paradigms. Corresponding consequences for selected areas of application will be shown.

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