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Abstract This conceptual essay examines the controversial idea of faith‐based leadership without relying on traditional notions of conservative, essentialist theology. The essay challenges scholars as well as practitioners in educational leadership to grapple with the realities of an esoteric or spiritual existence that has a phenomenal impact on their personal as well as professional behavior. It eschews the Western, modernist subscription to binaries and dualisms and suggests that an educational leadership which applauds such bifurcations handicaps the leader and the entire learning community. It argues that a leader's 'faith to' see and 'faith in' ideas and notions of democracy and social justice as well as his/her belief in the humanity of those serving in the school community can provide the fundamental steps for essential school reform. Finally, the essay explores Cornel West's notions of a deep‐seated moralism and profound pessimism, two planks of his African‐American prophetic spirituality, in constructing what the author calls principled and purposive leadership.
Michael E. Dantley (Sat,) studied this question.