Dear Roundtable members,

The Roundtable seeks to provide you with relevant formation and professional development opportunities to enhance your work in the midst of a changing world. To this end, we’ve developed a series of education and formation opportunities that respond to the greatest needs and interests that you’ve expressed over the past year.

We hope you’ll join us again on Thursday, May 31 at 1-2pm ET (10-11am PT) for a webinar on Developing Leaders in your Diocese.

This interactive webinar will examine the disciplines of doing justice ministry in a relational and engaging way. It will feature the topics of: deepening relationship with leaders, especially young people; the importance of focus and vision for teams; and making justice ministry integral to the practical realities of parish life.

Featuring Lonnie Ellis OFS, age 30, who has six years of faith-based organizing and parish experience, much of it in St. Paul, MN. He now works for Franciscan Action Network.

To receive call-in information for the webinar, please RSVP to coordinator@catholicroundtable.org. Our conversation will be limited to 25 participants. Thank you!

Dear Roundtable,

On Thursday, the FY13 budget proposed by Rep. Ryan was approved, which includes deep cuts to safety net programs which protect the most vulnerable people in the U.S. and around the world.

The day the Ryan proposal was released, 2012 Social Action Summer Institute keynote speaker Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, responded:  “At a time when we should be supporting programs that help poor people get a leg up, we are opting to balance our federal deficit on the backs of the most vulnerable in our society. Unfortunately, this budget proposal fails to create a circle of protection around programs that are vital to hungry and poor people, the elderly, and children.”

Bread for the World’s release continues, “This FY 2013 budget proposal would have a devastating impact on programs

Photo: Ivan Muñoz/Oxfam (Creative Commons)

like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), low-income tax credits, and would make international food aid and poverty-focused foreign assistance vulnerable to cuts that would undermine our national security.”

Now is a crucial time for educators and advocates working in diocesan life and justice ministry to respond to what Cardinal Dolan has called our “broken economy.” For that reason, our 2012 Social Action Summer Institute will be on focused on “Creating Transformative Community: Addressing Poverty Today.” Please join us July 29-Aug. 1 at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. Information is available on our website & registration will open in late April.

Speaking of training opportunities, we were delighted to see many of you at our 27^th Annual Roundtable Symposium in February on The Constitution & Catholic Social Teaching: A Healthy Tension (Thanks be to God!) with Dr. Maryann Love, Dr. Dan Finn, and Fr. Bryan Hehir. Read some of the highlights from the Symposium and check out the photos!

During the Award Banquet, we had an opportunity to hear from Fagan Award winner Jan Benton, who inspired members with her personal story and challenged us to ensure that our ministries are inviting for people of all abilities.

And it’s already time to nominate 2013 winners – make sure to turn in a nomination form by April 20!

In addition to our in-person trainings, the Roundtable continues to host regular webinars. Videos from our January webinar on Building of a Life and Dignity Movement have been posted, as well as our March webinar on the Importance of Pastoral Planning.

In each quarterly newsletter, we like to highlight significant initiatives in dioceses around the country. We know that community organizing can be one of the most effective ways to build relationships and create systemic change in our communities, so in this issue, we highlight the unique community organizing model offered by Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens. Read more about the successes of their unique model of organizing.

At the annual membership meeting, we elected four new board members. You can learn more about them here. As always, the Roundtable Roundup features much of the wonderful work that you are doing around the country.

We need your support to continue this work; please pay your 2012 membership dues soon! Thank you in advance.

May your Holy Week be a time of reflection, personal conversion, and renewal, and your Easter Season a time of great joy and hope!

Blessings,

Jenn Svetlik
Roundtable Coordinator

By: Sara Suman, Community Project Director, Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens

Perhaps you have found that the term “community organizing” is an elusive one for many of the people you work with in parish life, and yet community organizing has deep roots in many religious traditions. While the term has various definitions, the PICO Network defines faith-based community organizing as “a method of working with faith communities to address the problems and concerns of their communities, and in turn, vitalize and strengthen the life of congregations.”

Community organizing is one of the fullest expressions of the Catholic social teaching principle The Call to Family, Community, and Participation, which states, “The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society—in economics and politics, in law and policy—directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community.  Every person has a right to participate in society and a corresponding duty to work for the advancement of the common good and the wellbeing of all.”

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens has created a style of Catholic social teaching- based community organizing that works with parishes to address the community’s immediate needs and work towards social justice and systemic change on a state, national, and global level.  For us, the importance of a Catholic-branded model is clear; parishes feel more comfortable working with a model informed by Catholic teaching, and many are surprised and excited to learn about Catholic social teaching through this work.

Utilizing four full-time staff called Community Project Directors or “CPDs,” we assist parishes in identifying local issues and seek to develop strong partnerships with parish leaders to respond to the needs of individuals and families throughout the diocese. Each CPD functions as a liaison and community organizer for one of the four vicariates that make up the Diocese of Brooklyn.  I am responsible for the parishes of Brooklyn West.

Practical Application

How do we do this in practice? The quick answer:  relationship building. We introduce ourselves to parishes and are invited to parish council and parish cluster meetings. We demonstrate that we have something to offer parishes.  We are always actively listening for the needs of the parish or community.  We offer assistance in addressing that need in a strategic, careful way. We are not there to be “super heroes;” but we offer guidance, connection to resources, and work with the parish and community to find their own way to address the identified problem.

I have worked with parishes on affordable housing, food access, and gang awareness.  We invite pastors to join us in city-wide campaigns for affordable housing, which brings important voice to issue and provides the pastor and parish an opportunity to engage in individual and community change.

Fr. Hilaire speaks at a housing press conference, with CCBQ staff including author in back.

Individual Change

Recently, I spoke with a parish food pantry administrator about creating a food justice forum that links the need for emergency food with the justice issue of hunger. She said she didn’t know about Catholic social teaching and never thought to connect her commitment to justice with her devout Catholic faith.  It was a revelation for her to integrate her faith and justice.

Community Change

Currently, the CPD in Brooklyn East is helping a parish that reached out to him for support in addressing issues the youth of the community face, particularly unemployment and gang involvement.  The CPD drafted a survey and distributed it to parishioners after each Sunday mass a few months ago. He discussed the results with the parish council, who found the results to be “very powerful” and decided to create a social justice committee to address the top needs that emerged. The CPD connected them with the NYC Department of Education’s Gang Intervention and Prevention Unit, which resulted in a gang forum advertised through the parish cluster.

Another successful example has been the citywide campaign on affordable housing. In it, a variety of secular and faith-based groups came together to target saving rent stabilization, one of the last rental laws preserving affordable rent in New York City. Unions, tenant groups, and a variety of community organizing groups were involved. Catholic Charities led the way in creating a sub-committee of the campaign for faith-based organizations. Catholic parishes, along with other faith groups, got involved primarily through “Housing Sabbath Sunday” where pulpit talks were held after mass. As parishioners left mass, they signed postcards, identifying themselves as persons of faith, and calling on New York’s governor and state legislature to save rent stabilization. Religious women and clergy also signed a letter sent to the governor. The campaign didn’t win all of its goals but we did save rent stabilization.

Over the years, Community Project Directors, working with parishes, have also fought for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, better funding for food pantries, and better youth programming, to name a few.

Nuts and Bolts

As far as resources are concerned, it might appear at first that your diocese doesn’t have the resources to do this kind of work, but in reality, so much of what we do is link parishes and communities to existing city resources outside of our agency.  The example of connecting the Brooklyn East parishes with the Department of Education’s Gang Intervention and Prevention Unit to host a gang forum is one of many. While this work does require knowing your communities really well, it doesn’t require a lot of money.

Tom Allio was honored with the Servant of Justice Award during the 2011 Roundtable Symposium. His remarks at the Symposium Luncheon are below. Tom can be reached at tallio@aol.com.

Remarks by Thomas J. Allio Jr. to the Roundtable – February 13, 2011 Symposium Luncheon

Thank you Scott for your kind remarks. I greatly appreciate this recognition of the Roundtable. Your work is needed more than ever in our Church and the nation. I want you to know that I am extremely humbled by this award. The title “Servant of Justice” is rather daunting. If anything, I view myself as an unworthy servant, who surrounded himself with outstanding cast of (characters, I mean) leaders in Cleveland and Ohio, and, with them, tried to advance the ball of social justice and peace in our diocese, state and nation. So, I accept this honor in their behalf and all those who have inspired me throughout the years.

In my remarks, I intend to pay tribute to a real servant of justice, offer three challenges for our Church and conclude with some reflections on hope.

The real servants of justice are people like my former boss during 25 years of this wonderful run, Bishop Anthony M. Pilla. The Roundtable would not be recognizing me today if I had not had the privilege of being mentored and shepherded by him.

Through his support and leadership, Cleveland became the largest system of Catholic Social Action in the nation. (At the height, we had 16 full time people on staff. Sadly, today, five years after Bishop Pilla retired, six remain).

Bishop Pilla elevated the work of justice and peace in Cleveland through his own pastorals on poverty, peace, the environment and others, the nationally recognized Church in the City Initiative, his many interfaith efforts to overcome poverty in NEO, the empowerment of lay leaders who served on our five Catholic Commissions, the establishment of numerous community organizations, the founding of Catholic Schools for Peace and Justice, his intervention in the bankruptcy of LTV steel, our diocesan missionary work in El Salvador, the creation of the Leadership of Justice Institute and the Council on Global Solidarity, and his active support for the agenda of the Catholic Conference of Ohio and the USCCB.

Bishop Pilla saw the value of a strong and united USCCB. In the 1980’s and 90’s, he helped shape an agenda in which remarkable work was accomplished by the conference. He served the conference in several capacities including President. He was first and foremost a spiritual leader with keen pastoral skills. He was extremely versed and committed to Catholic Social Teaching and an astute student of history. He had sharp political instincts, which he used locally to champion the plight of the poor, and nationally when he played a significant role in 2001 that convinced President George W. Bush to include the refundable child tax credit in his budget. This initiative lifted 500,000 children out of poverty. He was a leader who understood that trust and relationships are everything. He was a consensus builder, who was unafraid of genuine debate, diverse opinions and honest dialogue. His inspiring example gave credibility and life to our four decades of work in Cleveland.

He taught us that anyone who aspired to be a “Servant of Justice” must always strive to manifest Christ’s love for the poor and most vulnerable. He insisted that we effectively give voice to the least in the halls and offices of the powerful. He also taught us that respect for the leaders we oppose is a requirement of Catholic social action.

Servants of justice must be unwavering in their commitment to defend human life and promote human dignity. However, such advocacy must be done in a spirit of love and in a manner that persuades, rather than, polarizes. Such servants must have the courage to stand for core principles no matter how unpopular they may be. Bishop Pilla often reminded us that the positions we take are not based upon some popularity polls but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition, he believed that such servants should strive to build community, work in coalition, empower and mentor others. Winning on issues was important; however, the development of people was as equally important.

Servants of justice clearly understand that their allegiance is to the Gospel, which requires them to take prophetic stances that challenge corrupt structures, unjust policies and, at times, Church leaders. They are nourished by a spiritual and prayer centered community that provides them the strength to persevere in the struggle and withstand the personal attacks that they are certain to endure. Finally, Bishop Pilla taught us that a servant of justice is one who regularly inspires hope…that our efforts, no matter how small are meaningful in the context of a merciful God, who only asks that we love others unconditionally.

I think these fundamental characteristics of a servant of justice can guide us in confronting the challenges we face as a Church and as social action leaders. Let me suggest three immediate challenges for us:

1. It is imperative that we be at the table with those who do not completely embrace our principles or values on all issues. Our efforts to promote the common good, to evangelize, and to transform our society become extremely limited if our Church isolates itself from other religious, civic, national, international and secular partners. The stakes are too high in the current budget and tax debate, immigration reform, and health care and all the other issues we care so much about if we try to act alone.

It concerns me greatly that there are strident and influential voices that would be content to put a chilling effect on virtually all Catholic participation in outside coalitions and community organizations. Let me be very clear, as Church, I believe it would be wrong to participate in initiatives or partnerships in which the platform of the coalition includes professed values, principles, policies or actions that are contrary to Catholic moral or social teaching. That is to say, if the agenda of the coalition or community organization is inconsistent with Catholic Social Teaching, we cannot participate. (The review and renewal of CCHD is most helpful). We should not avoid potential collaborations because of bloggers and strident critics who oppose any kind of coalition building. Simply put, there needs to be a dispassionate dialogue about this question. Hopefully, more education can be done with Church leaders so that they can better understand and appreciate the fundamentals of coalition building and the positive impact of such engagement.

2. The second challenge is that of building a life and human dignity movement in our nation. Such a movement would embrace the totality of Catholic social teaching and the call to stand with the unborn and vulnerable, as well as, the poor, those without health care, the unemployed, those on death row and those losing their homes to foreclosure. Such a movement would stand for human rights, care for God’s creation, peace and nonviolence, and all the issues related to reducing global poverty. Such a movement would acknowledge that all issues do not have the same moral weight but as Church we have an obligation to confront attacks against human life and dignity, injustice, and violations of human rights whenever and wherever we encounter them. The current legislative priorities of the USCCB, articulated by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, including the Protect Life Act, exemplify this vision.

Such a movement would create a “big tent and large table” that would put aside partisanship and invite  each believer to do what he or she does best. If advocating for the unborn and terminally ill are your callings, you have a role to play and you will be affirmed and supported in these endeavors. If advocating issues that protect low income families and promoting global solidarity are your callings, you have a role to play and you will be affirmed and supported. However, as Catholics we must recognize that both callings and many, many others are legitimate expressions of our Catholic faith and indeed mark who we are as a faith community. One person cannot do everything, however, each of us can do one or more things that advance respect for human life and human dignity in our society. Perhaps, it is time to think of establishing a distinctly catholic organizing institute.

If we are to truly build such a movement, it must be more about announcing the Good News, rather than, inflicting personal attacks and demonizing individuals. It would truly be about proclaiming the Good News to the poor and liberation to captives. I think most of us want to be known as believers who announce and proclaim rather than people who denounce and condemn.

3. The final challenge for us is to do our part to end (what David Gibson calls) the Catholic civil war being waged within our Church. The lack of civility and dialogue divides the Body of Christ, keeps us from being all God calls us to be and diminishes our voice in the public policy arena. Last week, Archbishop Dolan warned that the church must “speak as one voice against the increasing political and social pressures that are trying to force the church to compromise her principles.”

I don’t think I have to say much to this audience about what characterizes this conflict. The vilification, character assassination, guilt by association and the practice of the politics of personal destruction are unchristian acts that cry out for Episcopal intervention.

Too many lay leaders are unfairly demonized as social progressives, liberals, activists, and radicals. We cannot allow the secular media and their friends in the blogosphere to define us. Despite what some pundits say, social justice is not a dirty word. In fact, Catholicism without social justice is a contradiction in terms.

It is unfortunate but true that many would rather personally smear, distort and assassinate the character of leaders rather than enter into dialogue with fellow Catholics with whom they would find there is much common ground. It ought to be apparent to all that what unites us as Catholics is so much stronger than our differences.

Today, truth is sacrificed if it gets in the way of serving some hyper partisan agenda. Rumor, gossip and partial information are like a spiritual sickness that spread from one anonymous blogger to another until they metastasize into a cancer that immobilizes Church leaders, debilitates lay leaders and paralyzes actions for the common good. Sadly, those who act in this manner view civility as a weakness.

Recently Cardinal Donald Wuerl wrote about this topic in a piece entitled Christian Discourse: Both Truth and Love (highly recommend it to you). In part, the Cardinal said: “Christians must not only speak the truth but must also do so in love. It is not enough that we know or believe something to be true. We must express that truth in charity, with respect for others so that the bonds between us can be strengthened in building up the Church or Christ.” The constructive dialogue between the CHA and the Bishops is a wonderful example of what is possible.

My sincere hope is that new leadership of the USCCB might consider taking on this challenge of ending the civil war within the Church. Already outside groups are formulating their strategies and score cards for the 2012 elections.

Although we have many challenges in the days ahead, I truly believe that we can advance our movement by: continuing to work with coalitions and diverse partners; building a life and human dignity movement in our parishes and doing our part to end the Catholic civil war. My call today is for more inclusivity and engagement, more civility and understanding and greater unity within our Catholic family.

Let me conclude with some reflections on hope. The hope is that despite the recent dark times and the current economic hardships, we are members of a Church that does justice. We continue to change hearts and minds of parishioners while making life tolerable for millions around the world. And we do it on such a remarkable scale.

We are members of a Church that strives to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ through such life giving institutions and vehicles like CRS, CCHD, our educational system, Catholic Health Care, Catholic Charities and Catholic Social Action. Our human and financial investments are substantial. What would our world be without these instruments of hope, healing and justice?

Twelve years ago, the U.S. Bishops issued a wonderful statement entitled: Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics. The Bishops said: “We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a ‘Gospel of Life.’ It invites all persons and societies to a new life lived abundantly in respect for human dignity. We believe that this Gospel is not only a complement to American political principles, but also a cure for the spiritual sickness now infecting our society. As scripture says, no house can stand divided against itself (Luke 11:17). We cannot simultaneously commit ourselves to human rights and progress while eliminating or marginalizing the weakest among us. Nor can we practice the Gospel of life only as a private piety. American Catholics must live it vigorously and publicly, as a matter of national leadership and witness, or we will not live it at all.”

My sisters and brothers: you are signs of hope to so many. May you continue to take the banner from those who have gone before you and move forward in faith…mindful that we are people of hope and compassion. And with the guidance of our loving God, we will live the Gospel of Life authentically, vigorously, faithfully and publicly.

Thank you very much.

For text and resources from the other Roundtable events, visit the Members’ Virtual Roundtable.

By Taylor Kingston, Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Archdiocese of Santa Fe

I recently attended the 24^th annual Social Action Summer Institute (SASI) at Santa Clara University in San Jose, CA for parish and diocesan social ministry.  The theme for this year’s SASI was Peacebuilding for the 21^st Century. Seven representatives from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe attended including Anne Avellone, Director of Social Justice and Respect Life, Bunny Miller, theology teacher at St. Pius, Susan Tomita from St. Bernadette, Emmet Garrity from Newman Center, Christina Benitez from Holy Rosary and UNM student, Joseph Montiel from Holy Rosary and UNM student, and myself, Taylor Kingston from St. Charles, UNM student and office aide for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

The 4-day conference focused on how Catholic leaders could be peacemakers in these times of conflict in our world and was packed with prayer, workshops, and speakers from around the world.  SASI was a great opportunity to learn about social issues across the globe and how Catholics are called to respond.  I learned about how social justice is rooted in Scripture and about the basics of Catholic social teaching.  I heard about great work being done in parishes, in dioceses and organizations such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Charities USA, and JustFaith Ministries.

Like many young people, I knew that social justice is about respect for human life, service to the poor, and aiding those who have been through natural disasters.  While these are all important parts of our faith, I learned that social justice is all those things and more!  For instance, one presenter told a story of how young people wanted a skate park in their community so they could have a safe place to skate.  Community organizing members from parishes in this community trained these young people in leadership and gave them the tools to advocate for themselves.  They approached city officials, presented their reasoning for a skate park and in the end received it.  Giving those who do not have a voice the tools to speak for themselves is a part of social justice that I am excited to put into action throughout our diocese.

I also learned new ideas for other ministries in which I am involved.  For example, there was a wonderful workshop Hispanics and Social Ministry: Time for a New Conversation? with Fr. Eduardo Fernandez and Ms. Anne Grycz, Diocese of San Jose.  These speakers talked about how they have been successful with Hispanic Ministry in their diocese, what challenges they faced and how they overcame them.

Another workshop was a panel on the state of social action and included Greg Kepferle, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, Ralph McCloud, USCCB/CCHD, Joan Rosenhauer, CRS, Kath Saile, USCCB/JPHD and others. Panel members were asked various questions about their organizations and about social justice issues.  One question raised was about how young people fit into social justice ministry and what is being done to help these young people stay involved.  Panelists mentioned that young people need to have opportunities to do service for others, that we need to encourage them to ask questions, to reflect on their service and to give them tools to speak for themselves.  In the end the best advocates for young people are in fact young people.

As a first-time attendee, I found SASI very helpful, educational, spiritual and fun.  The Archdiocese of Santa Fe Young Adult Advisory Team is looking to grow in numbers, spiritually, educationally and now in social justice ministry.  Through this conference I learned there are many resources and organizations that will be able to help the young adults implement plans in the area of charity and justice.  I am looking forward to working with others on social justice issues and helping build from the strong social justice communities the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has in place.

In June, the Roundtable spoke with Dan Ebener, former Social Action Director (and Roundtable member) in the Diocese of Davenport, about his work and his latest book on Servant Leadership. Read their conversation here:

Roundtable Report:  You’ve had a long history working in ministry and education. You were a diocesan social action director for twenty years, you’ve taught in universities and workshops on leadership, non-profit management, and conflict resolution, among other topics, throughout the years. Now you are director for Stewardship and Planning for the Diocese of Davenport and have recently written a book on servant leadership. How did you find yourself where you are today?

Dan Ebener: One part of my story may be of particular interest to Roundtable members. Very early in my social action ministry, at one of my very first Roundtable meetings in the 1980s, [first Roundtable secretariat] Harry Fagan got up and said, “If you’re not developing leaders, you might as well get out of this business.” That particular statement changed my whole approach to ministry.

At that time I was guilty of trying to do too much myself. I was not delegating and creating structures for others to get involved in my ministry. But from Harry Fagan I learned that we shouldn’t be doing it ourselves, we should develop the people so that the people will do it. Lao Tzu once said, “of the best leader, the people will say when the job is finished, we did it ourselves.”

This experience first changed my ideas about leadership. And now, as you can probably tell, I am very passionate about servant leadership. I feel like it’s my next calling in life.

RR: What is servant leadership? And where in Scripture do you find the foundations for servant leadership?

DE: Servant leadership is teaching and leading the way that Jesus taught and led. It’s about welcoming people and their ideas, encouraging the initiative of all, and building greater trust, commitment and cohesion among people. It about building a greater sense of mission.

I’ve been rereading the Sermon on the Mount during the past few months. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is there also your heart will be.” And I think what I’ve come to realize about the Sermon on the Mount is that it’s all about the heart.

Where the heart is, that’s a question central to servant leadership. Is my heart with the people, the mission of the organization, with God? Or is it with selfish interests and selfish motives? Is it willing to step on anybody until I get what I want? These are the questions of servant leadership that can transform ourselves, our churches, as well as corporations and society at large.

RR: In March 2010, you published a new book entitled Servant Leadership Models for Your Parish. Tell me more about that. What models do you offer for parishes in the book?

DE: My book is about how servant leadership changes how we do church. The thing that’s great about teaching leadership is that it applies to all walks of life. I teach at the graduate level and I see nurses, teachers, social workers, pastors, business leaders, coaches in my classes. All these people create an incredible learning environment to talk about and apply to leadership, because it applies to all those fields. However, we often overlook the way that leadership applies to the way that we do church.

One of the primary ways servant leadership works in a parish is that this model brings out the best in people, it welcomes their physical presence, their ideas, initiative, participation and leadership. To be truly welcoming is to open oneself up to the full personhood of those entering the parish, not just their physical presence. If people feel like they should be “seen, not heard,” that’s not welcoming.

What my research showed too is that servant leadership increased participation in parish life. When that leadership structure is in place, people are going to take their role as follower of Christ more seriously and sharpen the saw, train themselves, and develop themselves as leaders for social action. Servant leaders guide and nurture parishioners in that process.

The beginning of the book defines servant leadership. The middle is lots of stories of what it looks like in a parish. The last section puts servant leadership into various different models that could work for  parishes.  One of the great strengths of the book is the stories about how and why servant leadership works.

Roundtable Report: Can you share an example of one of the stories in your book?

DE: One story from the smallest parish in the Davenport Diocese involves a guy who showed up for Mass 15 minutes early, and he noticed that the front door wasn’t swinging properly. So he went to his truck, pulled out a toolbox and fixed the door. He went to Mass and that was the end of it. But what’s significant about the story is that first, in a small parish, you can get things done smoothly and easily. Also, if the pastor of the church had seen him doing this, and asked him to stop and go through the building committee, see if it was in the budget, and fill out the paperwork, the guy would lose his initiative. A servant leadership model gives people a sense of ownership of their parish. That guy treated his church like his home. Of course, in a larger parish there are more rules. But the culture of a parish is contingent on the leadership of the pastor. It can either encourage or extinguish initiative. That story was just one simple story, but there are lots more in the book.

Roundtable Report: What are the trends you are seeing in the field of leadership, in our church and in our society?

DE: We’re in a kairos moment right now around servant leadership.  There is interest mounting from lots of directions.

Take, for example, one organization called “Lead Like Jesus,” which was formed out of the evangelical churches. There are lots of evangelical Christians who are CEOs of corporations who are now looking at how they can lead their companies like Jesus would. This group has spurred a lot of interest around servant leadership in the for-profit world. The CEOs of these companies are realizing that they can’t lead like Jesus without changing the workplace. And, of course, changing the workplace in a significant way like this creates an opportunity to make major transformations in our society toward social justice and human dignity, particularly around the dignity of the worker, one of the principles of Catholic social teaching.

One of the first things I say in my book is, “Every leadership situation offers an opportunity to put our faith into practice.” In every leadership situation, a CEO of an organization has an opportunity to say, “Am I going to put my corporate hat on and think only of the financial bottom line? Or am I going to go with my gut and lead like Jesus would?” They are asking themselves how they can be disciples in the workplace.

And it’s had a great impact so far on a growing number of CEOs and top organizational leaders in very large corporations. Some 40% of Fortune 500 companies have adopted servant leadership as their philosophy. Walmart has adopted servant leadership as a corporate philosophy. We have strong Christian leaders in that company, southern evangelicals who want to practice their faith at work.

People want to practice their faith while at work. If we spend the greatest number of our waking hours at work, then we should be practicing our religion there. If corporate leaders want to practice the Sermon on the Mount at work, this could be a major breakthrough for us who believe in Catholic social action.

RR: How do the ideas of servant leadership and stewardship speak to the work of diocesan social action directors? How can promoting models of servant leadership support their work?

DE: In social ministry, we’re not looking for charismatic leaders.  We are looking for transformational leaders who will create structures where people will do things themselves. We’re looking for leaders who will develop the people. As a diocesan staffperson, you can’t do it all yourself. If you try, you won’t be able to get as much done, and eventually you will burn out, but you’re also taking away the opportunity from others to get involved.

Leadership is about giving people an opportunity to practice discipleship. It’s not about work that needs to get done, it’s not about checking tasks off a “To Do” list, it’s a life that needs to be lived. The sooner we can all realize that social action ministry is a part of Christian discipleship, the sooner we will transform society.

As diocesan staffpeople, our role is to empower, enhance, and enable. Sometimes we think, “If I can just have this meeting, conference, dinner, then our social action ministry is going to excel.”  But it’s not about that. It’s about the people. It’s about creating an environment where everyone practices social action ministry because it’s a part of discipleship.

When you go to community organizing school, we talk about the iron rule, which says, “don’t do unto others what they can do unto themselves.” Our role as social action ministers is empowerment. Our role is organizing, it’s not to be the leader ourselves. The best measure of leadership is not how many followers you lead but how many leaders you develop. Social action ministry just flows throughout my latest book. Everything I learned as a diocesan social action director just flows through the book.

RR: Anything else you’d like to share with Roundtable members?

DE: My bishop sent a copy of Servant Leadership Models for Your Parish to every bishop in the country. To get a copy to every pastor in the country will take diocesan work. Every diocesan social action director should know that his or her bishop has a copy of my book.

RR: Thank you, Dan, for your time and for sharing your insights!

Purchase a copy of Dan’s book from Paulist Press.